There's something to the idea that a lie by omission is really just as bad as a lie. Certainly, when it comes to the media, it does little good to look only at what they say; we ought also to look at what they're not saying.
Unsurprisingly, Glenn Greenwald has been on a roll these last few weeks. While this makes for good reading, it also generally means that the media is doing something terribly wrong. In this case, a lie by omission. Greenwald nodded, approvingly, at Matthew Yglesias's excellent point that:
McCain's ability to get away with endless lying actually has "something to do with the way the campaign press reports news" and that -- in stark contrast to how the press invented multiple false stories in the 2000 election to depict Al Gore as a chronic liar -- the media simply passes along McCain's lies (sometimes debunking them) without ever embracing the narrative that the McCain campaign is continuously spouting falsehoods. As Yglesias concluded: "There are a few dozen people, of whom [Atlantic's] Marc [Ambinder] is one, in a position to create this narrative. They've chosen not to do so, but that's a decision they've made not a fact about 'the way consumers process news.'"
Well, if the media isn't going to construct a narrative, let me. At one point, John McCain had 'maverick tendencies'. Now he's little more than a craven, lying, flip-flopping politician. He dissembles, misleads, and outright lies, and, because he's a "maverick" and a media darling, he gets away with it.
But don't take my word for it.
This ad is--it should go without saying--an outright lie. For those too lazy to click the 'play' button in the embed up top, here's the script (via John McCain):
ANNCR: Education Week says Obama "hasn't made a significant mark on education".
That he's "elusive" on accountability.
A "staunch defender of the existing public school monopoly".
Obama's one accomplishment?
Legislation to teach "comprehensive sex education" to kindergartners.
Learning about sex before learning to read?
Barack Obama.
Wrong on education. Wrong for your family.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.
Well, for starters, this isn't a legislative "accomplishment." He voted for it, he didn't write, sponsor, or co-sponsor the bill. Second, and more importantly, this attack only makes sense if you take out "comprehensive sex education" and replace it with "giving 'schools the ability to warn young children about inappropriate touching and sexual predators.'"
Let me break this down. (1) Obama votes for a law the protects kids against child predators. (2) McCain lies and says that Obama wants to teach kindergartenders about sex. (3) Media calls McCain a maverick. Again.
|