First 25 comments on Rich's Wonderful Op-Ed Today

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Sunday, August 31, 2008
Obama Outwits the BloviatorsBack to Article »
The disconnect between the reality of this campaign and how it is perceived and presented by the mainstream media is now a major part of the year’s story.
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1.
August 31st, 2008 8:58 am
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Talk about a home run. Frank Rich hit this one out of the park. The media right now is like a flailing animal -- someone should put it out of its misery.
— patty, Villa Park, IL
Recommend Recommended by 259 Readers
2.
August 31st, 2008 9:00 am
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We are in a war in Iraq, Islamic fundamentalists are determined to destroy us, Iran is rushing to build a nuclear weapon, Russia is once again becoming a tyrannical regime threatening it's neighbors, our economy is tanking, and John McCain, a seventy two year old man who has had four cancer operations choses as his running mate and the person who will be a heartbeat away from the Presidency a woman with zero experience in foreign relations and who was elected governor of Alaska by winning the votes of 130,000 people, about fifty thousand more than attended Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco field, a football field. The American people should be horrified and deeply frightened.If this choice was a snide attempt to lure the Hillary Clinton supporters over to McCain, it will backfire, as Ms. Palin's positions on choice, universal healthcare, and the minimum wage are the complete antithesis of what Hillary Clinton has cared deeply about her entire life. If this was an attempt to get the evangelicals on McCain's side that will work somewhat as most were not going to vote for an African American Democrat anyway.The pro-life movement in America has hijacked the Republican party and has caused it to lose the presidency, numerous governorships, and several senatorial races. Their single issue monopoly over the choice of who gets to run under the Republican banner is that of no choice whatsoever. You can be the most inexperienced candidate for vice president since Dan Quayle at a time our nation needs experience more than any time in our history since the second world war, but according to the Republicans, as long as you are pro-life issues life terrorism,the economy, healthcare, the environment, and the war in Iraq all come a distant second.The left wing feminists in the Democratic party who are whining about the fact that Barack Obama fairly, legitimately, and in every way possible defeated Hillary Clinton in caucuses and primaries nationwide and earned the nomination, and are threatening to vote for McCain to show their displeasure are people who do not care one iota about the issues Hillary Clinton devoted her life to, issues that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are agreement with almost one hundred percent. Any Clinton supporter who votes for McCain clearly cared more about Ms. Clinton celebrity status and persona than about anything Ms. Clinton fought for all her entire life.I hope that the American people will not allow a person to become Vice President at this most dangerous time in our history who has the lack of experience Ms. Palin has and that the American voter will not vote for McCain solely because he chose a pro-life running mate. I also hope that the women that supported Ms. Clinton who are threatening to vote for McCain will think twice before voting for someone who disagrees with 98% of the positions Ms.Clinton ran for President on.Barack Obama brings a needed change to the White House.
— Mark Jeffery Koch, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Recommend Recommended by 794 Readers
3.
August 31st, 2008 9:00 am
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This comment has been removed. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
4.
August 31st, 2008 9:01 am
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"We will only begin to confront the magnitude of our choice when and if we stop being distracted by small, let alone utterly fictitious, things."I don't remember who said "Arrogance is arrogance is arrogance" or was is "ignorance is ignorance is ignorance," but I like either version.The reality is that billionaires, such as Oprah and George, countless overfed liberal millionaires (famous or not) and countless "special" privileged white kids from Beverly Hills, Greenwich, or Saddle River (check your forums) have decided that a biracial President would make them feel good.Who cares about the uninsured and wage slaves. When did they matter? N'est-ce pas, Frank?Yes, I visited Obama's website. Thank you very much.
— Anna, New York
Recommend Recommended by 39 Readers
5.
August 31st, 2008 9:08 am
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A brilliantly insightful article!
— T. Underwood, Marblehead,Mass.
Recommend Recommended by 98 Readers
6.
August 31st, 2008 9:09 am
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This is an interesting column. Calling out the media who were trying to create friction between the Clintons and Senator Obama. However, Mr. Rich you said in 2000 that there was little difference between George Bush and Al Gore. As I recall you along with the rest of the idiot pack journalism (Maureen Dowd included) ridiculed Al Gore endlessly in 2000, so you are partly responsible for the mess the country is in and the lack of seriouss journalism in the country today.
— Alan, Chicago
Recommend Recommended by 317 Readers
7.
August 31st, 2008 9:09 am
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"After the catastrophic Bush presidency, the troubles that afflict us on nearly every front almost make you nostalgic for the day when America’s gravest problems could still be seen in blacks and whites" ----- you obviously are one of the whites. Nothing Bush has done compares to losing my culture, language, religion, freedom, so many lives, etc. for three hundred years. You speak for the white folks who meted out all that hell, certainly not anyone Black who suffers through it all.Just by saying that you must not think what was done was all the very bad.
— nubiannews, Trenton, NJ
Recommend Recommended by 49 Readers
8.
August 31st, 2008 9:09 am
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"The disconnect between the reality of this campaign and how it is perceived and presented by the mainstream media is now a major part of the year’s story."Is it self-criticism, Frank?
— Anna, New York
Recommend Recommended by 53 Readers
9.
August 31st, 2008 9:10 am
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Thank you Mr Rich for aiming your discerning eye on the media and their pathetic coverage of the Democratic Convention. These are the same people that issued Breaking News Alerts when Obama's 'bitter' comment was revealed and blew Reverend Wright way out of proportion. They are no longer news programs and should be called what they are...opinion. It is the separation of opinion from news that separates the newspapers from the television networks. God preserve the New York Times!
— greg, tulsa, oklahoma
Recommend Recommended by 167 Readers
10.
August 31st, 2008 9:10 am
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Just for clarification, "deus ex machina" is Latin, not greek.... Also buying into the whole "Greek Column" thing dismisses the idea that the stage was supposed to represent the oval office and seems to indicate the republican misdirection is working, even if only to get you to repeat it....
— w987, boston
Recommend Recommended by 74 Readers
11.
August 31st, 2008 9:10 am
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This comment has been removed. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
12.
August 31st, 2008 9:10 am
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Just a small correction. I am sure I will not be the only one to point out that "deux ex machina" is not actually Greek too. It is a Latin phrase.
— Tom M, Williamstown, MA
Recommend Recommended by 34 Readers
13.
August 31st, 2008 9:11 am
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This comment has been removed. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
14.
August 31st, 2008 9:11 am
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This comment has been removed. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
15.
August 31st, 2008 9:16 am
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Mr. McCain sure enough just doesn't get it! Brilliant tactics for controlling the flow of media attention day to day, but even if it undercuts his own position. He sacrifices his inexperience charge against Obama by offering up such a disparate choice that eyes roll trying to defend him. It all feels like politics before country, the very mud he's slinging.But why, indeed, are the journalists bamboozled? Talking corporate heads will earn their paychecks, scripted and coiffed; that's understood. But print journalists, if they truly are to be "better than the rest of them," must see more clearly. I think it would be helpful if they remember that Uncle Bill is right, that history does have a right side.dmbones
— dmbones, Portland, Oregon
Recommend Recommended by 46 Readers
16.
August 31st, 2008 9:16 am
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Thank you for putting into words the reality that so many of us watching this campaign have noticed and wondered what in the world is going on. As someone who never questioned the credibility of news organizations, I find myself now no longer able to watch or read corporate media outlets. I get my news directly from the Internet, CSPAN (the best way to watch the convention), and PBS (although Brooks is a poor substitute for Gergan). If the internet links to a story, I will only open it if I trust the source to write something with integrity.Perhaps I am the only one so naive to think that media has a responsibility to report on issues fairly and accurately, which I realize can contradict the business mission of a media company which is to make money by selling (and manufacturing) controversy. Someone could do a great service to our country by writing a book covering this election and the media manipulation that has been rampant. Hopefully the days of so called experts telling comatose Americans what to think are over. I can't think of a better thing for a democratic society.
— Dave, California
Recommend Recommended by 282 Readers
17.
August 31st, 2008 9:24 am
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"Deus ex machina" is a latin term used to describe a mechanism mediating catharsis in earlier forms of Greek tragedy. The concept is Greek, but the term is latin and coined much, much later. If your reaction is to nod and say "whatever" at such comments, remember that it is this kind of attitude (here, in miniature) that gets american foreign policy in the trouble it is today.
— Eleni Gagari, Greece
Recommend Recommended by 89 Readers
18.
August 31st, 2008 9:24 am
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Mr. Rich:Interesting read, as usual.BUT "deus ex machina" is Latin, not Greek - unless you mean that the stage business --not the phrase-- originated in Greece.
— Judith Weiss, Sackville, NB, Canada
Recommend Recommended by 20 Readers
19.
August 31st, 2008 9:24 am
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The press has been absent since the Trade Center fell.Completely irresponsible.(By the way,'deus ex machina' is Latin.)
— Bronx, Bronx
Recommend Recommended by 68 Readers
20.
August 31st, 2008 9:24 am
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I don't understand this line: "Barack Obama descended in classic deus ex machina fashion — yes, that’s Greek too — to set the record straight." This is a Latin expression, are you being ironic or what? Also, Obama did not appear from out of nowhere but his speech was shaped by speech writers, anticipation of media reaction, his own values and ideology shaped by dozens of mentors, fundraisers and "advisors" (some of whom are invariably gatekeepers), and the like.Obama gave a momentous speech, although the bit about nuclear power and some other parts were not so great.The great parts stand in stark contrast, however, to the status quo discourse, so here you make sense.I agree that: "the disconnect between the reality of this campaign and how it is perceived and presented by the mainstream media is now a major part of the year’s story." How do they continue to do it? Well, blame the journalism schools for producing a faulty product.
— Jonathan, The World
Recommend Recommended by 29 Readers
21.
August 31st, 2008 9:26 am
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30th, 2008 8:70 pmWitty, dramatic, interesting article. Congratulations. But please, get your erudite allusions straight. The columns of the Acropolis are Doric. The columns at at Invesco Field are Ionian. And the expression "Deus ex machina" is not Greek; it is Latin. Good writing deserves accuracy. Cheers, Corinna
— mowgli15, Woodside, CA 94062
Recommend Recommended by 43 Readers
22.
August 31st, 2008 9:26 am
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As I malate for a dinner, I've only had a chance to glance at the beginning of the story. I want to savor it when I return later! Is not, however, "Deus ex machina" Latin not Greek? Maybe I missed something when reading the story so quickly. Or maybe my three years of Latiun truly WERE wasted. I love these columns.
— Jonathan Dana, Los Angeles
Recommend Recommended by 5 Readers
23.
August 31st, 2008 9:30 am
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Frank, with all due respect, this election isn't about what you mention, either. It's about who has 270 electoral votes, come the early hours of 11/5.As a former (courtesy of dubya) lifelong Republican who was very enamored with Obama till a couple of weeks ago, I'd puzzled till then on why he hadn't closed the deal. Now I know.I'd given him the benefit of the doubt that he'd be a thoughtful centrist - notwithstanding his bringing sharp Southside elbows to the game.But, on what - for me - are the two biggest issues in this election, namely US energy policy and the continued viability of the US economy as a creator of wealth, he's lost me completely.So, I'd jumped too soon. But now, I've settled back.Barack still has my respect as one of the most astute politicians of our time. But as an executive or legislator, the (lack of any) record speaks for itself.I'd been rooting for Bobby Jindal, but my first impression of Sarah Palin in her new role has been favorable.She's gotten more money for her state and its residents from the oil companies than Obama or Biden have for theirs - or McCain, for that matter.So, while Obama may have a stealth internet ecosystem out there that rivals Google, the polls - based on 19th century telephone technology, as they are - have been on the mark.In closing the deal, or reaching certain demographics, Barack appears stalled and sliding back.Let's see what the centrists think of Sarah Palin in a couple of weeks.Could be a quayle. Could be a hawk.
— W in the Middle, New York State
Recommend Recommended by 33 Readers
24.
August 31st, 2008 9:30 am
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Great article!
— SR, GB
Recommend Recommended by 23 Readers
25.
August 31st, 2008 9:31 am
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Re: "Given the press’s track record so far, there’s no reason to believe that the bogus scenarios will stop now.... Journalists ... may simply be as discombobulated as everyone else," I have simply been thinking that the press has a vested, financial interest in highlighting (and thereby creating) drama in the campaign. It certainly sells news. Bogus scenarios have become a byproduct that we must expect of the news business.The job insecurity at the center of a reporter's life now, as reported in this article, makes the professional creation of drama understandable on a personal level. I find that clarifying.Isn't all this a direct result of the relaxation of media ownership rules initiated by Reagan's administration and then greatly facilitated by Clinton's? Didn't that set the stage for the emergence of media conglomerates and ramp up the importance of advertising revenue at the expense high-quality news coverage and diversity of views and opinions? That piece of government intervention changed the lay of the land for the news business so that now, the landscape becomes more treacherous by the minute for anyone who reads the news to learn about the world.
— Nate, Marlboro, VT
Recommend Recommended by 81 Readers
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