Posted by debrazza on Wed Aug 6, 2008 at 5:54 AM Pacific

Not having it both ways: A case study in why progressives in the media are so important

Guest post by debrazza

Terry Neal, of whom I must disclose that I had an email exchange with some years ago while he was working for the Washington Post and I quite like him, sets the record straight in stone cold relief for the media regarding McCain, the media and "presumptuous". 

The fact that the mainstream media has embraced the uppity-Obama storyline is further evidence of the right's ability to advance whatever preposterous storyline it chooses, despite its persistent whining about the liberal media.

Interestingly, calling someone a racist has become a worse offense than actually being one. And thus the media will allow McCain and his defenders to have it both ways—play to racial sensitivities and express mock horror than anyone would have the audacity to question their motives.

We have also had a great deal of push back last week on this that should shame almost every reporter who wants to continue to spread this GOP smear.  In the days following Dana Milbank's now infamous error riddled and yes, racially tinged, July 30th smear of Obama, a remarkable thing has happenend in the media.  Let's follow the events as they unfolded.

Up first was Rachel Maddow, who in a July 31st segment on Race to the Whitehouse that MSNBC refuses to provide a clip of, she deftly exposed both the truth and Pat Buchanan.

Next, we had Bob Herbert on Saturday August 2nd, use his column to send a shot across the bow of his media colleagues.

The racial fantasy factor in this presidential campaign is out of control. It was at work in that New Yorker cover that caused such a stir. (Mr. Obama in Muslim garb with the American flag burning in the fireplace.) It’s driving the idea that Barack Obama is somehow presumptuous, too arrogant, too big for his britches — a man who obviously does not know his place.

Then on Sunday August 3rd, we had David Gergen explain in no uncertain terms, in language so clear even George Stephanopolous can understand, what it is all about.

Then on Monday August 4th, we had three of events.  First, Bob Herbert went on Morning Joe and broke it down for everyone what it was all about, deftly shutting down both the vapidity of Jonathan Capehart and Pat Buchanan's nonsense.

Then, LA Times media critic James Rainey published an article that represented the definitive smack down of Dana Milbank and the preposterousness of promoting "presumptuous".

So apparently the verdict is in: Sen. Barack Obama, too confident to govern.

It all would be quite funny if many people didn't seem to be inhaling this multimedia stink bomb as if it were fragrant truth.

But it's a long ways from, in the words of Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, acting like "the presumptuous nominee" whose "biggest challenger may not be Republican John McCain but rather his own hubris."

Milbank, who is often wickedly revealing, last week seemed mostly wicked as he turned benign campaign tableau -- an Obama motorcade, a talk with the Treasury secretary, a "pep rally" with congressional Democrats -- into evidence that Obama thinks he's already the winner.

The candidate's crowning demonstrations of hubris, according to those building a case, came during his extended trip to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Europe. Recall the pundits demanding the freshman Illinois senator prove he could be presidential in the foreign arena?

So he appeared at ease with world leaders, talked animatedly with beaming American troops and drew huge civilian crowds. Then the pundits - who had been taking a round of bashing for supposedly going easy on Obama - told Obama he needed to beware of appearing too presidential.

Later on Monday, because some in the media just didn't want to get it, as Josh Marshall points out. Jimmy Kimmel hilariously and devastatingly exposes this canard and the double standard being applied in a way that only humor can.

And all of this culminated in Monday night's announcement from Keith Olbermann that Dana Milbank quit Countdown and if he hadn't Keith would not have allowed him back anyways.

This case is an excellent example of how progressives in the media and a few honest journalists can effectively fight back against this garbage and shut it down.  It exposes the reason why it is so important to have progressive voices being aired, even if they are only the few. And it is a display of how important community self-regulation of behavioral norms are.  If it was up to the Obama campaign alone to fight against this, like Kerry defending his windsurfing, then we'd be in trouble.

But a question for the media now lingers, do you want to follow Dana Milbank's lead and continue advancing a Republican smear against Obama or are you going to do your jobs?  As with the case of Dana Milbank, we now know that these decisions do not come cost free to a reputation or career.  The presumptuous talk has been muted in the last few days, let's see if it stays that way.