Table Scraps #2 – Mr. Edwards, Stop Blaming the Media
Leftovers and scraps from the media’s round-tables.
I’m so tired of John Edwards.
Apparently, in another act of campaign desperation, with interest in his presidential bid fading faster than a setting sun, the Edwards campaign is now blaming the media for his failures to earn primary votes. During a recent interview with MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer, Edwards campaign manager David Bonior, a former Democratic whip in the House of Representatives, turned testy when asked why Edwards wasn’t gaining more traction. His answer? It’s the 5% less media coverage Edwards has been receiving compared to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Such a claim insults the intelligence of American voters. How can anyone believe John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator and Vice-Presidential nominee, has not received ample media coverage? Bonior’s own numbers reveal the absurdity of this claim: Does any rational human believe 5% less media coverage will result is such overwhelming differences between Clinton, Obama, and Edwards in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina?
Haven’t we seen this playbook before? The Bush administration has masterfully manipulated public opinion by pointing fingers at the media instead of themselves and their policies whenever criticism has grown too harsh. Edwards, another candidate trumpeting change, seems immune from it with this new twist. Here is just one anecdote revealing Edwards’s failed strategies: Recently, while driving home from work, I listened to a NPR interview that featured three leading Hispanic thinkers commenting on the presidential primaries and the influence Hispanics would have on the elections. One commentator said the Edwards campaign was “invisible” when trying to reach out to national Hispanic organizations.
The reasons Edwards isn’t gaining traction are simple: his campaign is poorly organized, and his messages don’t resonate with the American people. He is a millionaire lawyer with minimal experience as a legislator, no experience as an executive, and a former Vice-Presidential nominee that LOST an important presidential election. Sure, he’s attractive, smart, and energetic; however, his ideas are unattractive, and he should bow out of the race sooner than later.
Chris Justice is the Director of Expository Writing at The University of Baltimore.
Comments
Wow. Does anybody believe this tripe that passes for writing?
This lifelong Democrat will not vote for either Obama or Hillary (even in the general) for the sole reason that our media has obviously decided these two big $$$ candidates are the only ones worth really covering.
Keep pretending this isn’t happening and we’ll all be looking forward to President McCain.
The real question is whether the author of this article is knowingly propagandizing and brainwashing, or whether they are just beyond stupid!
Comment by bardonaut from seattle — January 29, 2008 @ 9:52 am
This article sucks. Go vote for Romney.
Comment by Dan — January 29, 2008 @ 10:46 am
You are tired of Edwards? You shouldn’t be. I consistently watch cable news channels each evening and Edwards is mentioned less than 10% of the time. So, if his campaign says it’s 5% I believe it.
It’s a natural turn of events that the media focuses on Obama (first black) and Clinton (first female). They are not reporting for the American people just the history making candidacies.
Comment by Villarreal from Houston — January 29, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Wow, it’s hard to believe that the United States of America is even considering a muslim candidate to be the president. Please look up the Church that Obama attends. It’s on your computer. In Chicago, Il. I will vote for John Edwards no matter what. He is the United States of America’s only hope. He will fight for our freedom just as our forefathers have. He believes that we deserve the freedom that our forefathers gave us. He loves America so much that he said 2 days ago. “I’m in this for the long haul.” He’s not a quitter and neither am I. My grandfather was a world was II veteran and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and would never have even considered a muslim. Our country needs to study just what a Muslim is. They don’t believe in the savior Jesus Christ. Please look on the internet for the word Muslim. May God, in the name of Jesus help this country. And of course I believe he will.
Comment by B Hatcher from Missouri — January 29, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Chris Justice is a prime example of a MSM lemming. The media decided who the important candidates were and essentially blocked coverage of any of them who would interfere with their “historic horserace” between a black man and a woman. Didn’t matter that others have better ideas, are more progressive, or have been out in front on all the issues. (What? Care more about issues that money and hype? Heaven forbid!)
Thank God that John Edwards has chosen to stay in this race, since he’s been driving the dialogue all along. Something which writers more astute than Chris Justice have pointed out.
And when the Republicans maintain control of the White House, because all only John Edwards can reliably beat any of them with a double-digit margin, the lemmings should, in shame, throw themselves off that cliff.
Comment by S More from Reno, Nevada — January 29, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
Don’t take him seriously. No one else does. Check it out.
http://ubalt.edu/cla_template.cfm?page=1655
Comment by R U Serious from Montgomery County, MD — January 29, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
His ideas are unattractive? Well, that is quite interesting. His ideas would certainly be unattractive to those with health care, a funded retirement, benefits at work, and are not concerned about the environment, etc. If you are one of those people, then please, do not vote for Mr. John Edwards. However, I want a President, we NEED a president, who wants to work to eradicate poverty, insure those without health care, and make lives better for all citizens. That is attractive to me.
Comment by A.D. from Illinois — January 29, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
Edwards has received 1/8th of Clinton’s coverage and 1/5th of Obama’s since January.
Last year, 82% of Democrats knew Clinton was running based on coverage, and 68% of Democrats knew Obama was running. Only 31% knew that Edwards was running. Overall it was 78% Clinton, 62% Obama, and 28% Edwards.
Anyone who thinks Edwards has received as much coverage as the other two is either uninformed or lying to themselves. The support in national polls and primary voting pretty much tracks media coverage, on a proportional level.
Comment by wetheleaders@yahoo.com — January 29, 2008 @ 4:28 pm