Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Senator McSteamy-Ears


Link from Adrastos

Geez, McCain makes Big Time seem relaxed, sedate, and fully observant of proper decorum in comparison...take a look.

The real question, though, is whether or not this actually becomes part of the narrative, or is merely the exception that proves the rule about the media anointing him Saint John Who-Can-do-no-McWrong. A single article, in the whole scheme of things, generates all the punching power of feather. It's only when pattern emerges, i.e., if something survives multiple media cycles, that a cumulative effect is generated...and then, like it or not, the truth or falsehood of a particular item no longer matters: it becomes part of the the folklore.

Hence, wingnuttia's feverish attempt to pin something--anything--on Barack Obama that reinforces the stereotype of "angry black man/radical," even as any reading of the WaPo piece makes it pretty clear that Johnny Mac (like another Johnny Mac) is the one who's a single pedal-to-the-metal away from bursting a gasket...which isn't exactly what you want in someone whose finger would be on the button.

And you know what might really, really honk him off? If someone pressed him on his "disability" pension he receives courtesy of his years in captivity. (credit to First Draft) Personally, I'm not bothered by any stipend he might receive as a token of appreciation; however, to describe it as "disability" is certainly a slap in the face to those veterans who've been turned down for the same. If it's a "POW" pension, fine; otherwise, questions as to his health really ARE legitimate and worth asking.

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