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Jindal Now Targeted by National Mainstream Media
Between the Lines weblog ^ | November 30, 2008 | Jeffrey D. Sadow

Posted on 12/02/2008 5:05:53 AM PST by Wonder Warthog

Wonder why the media have been looking at Republican presidential contenders for three years, 11 months from now, and paying quite a bit of attention to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal? The push on to make him the frontrunner way in advance has more to do with the left’s agenda than covering a good horse race.

Ever since Jindal succumbed to the electoral politics bug, liberals have recognized the danger he presents to their agenda. Jindal does not apologize for his conservatism but neither does he come off as much of an ideologue; he articulates it well both at a philosophical level but also in terms that demonstrate its superiority to the typical citizen; and, worst of all from the liberal perspective, his life to date explodes the myths of racism and upper-class warfare that liberals desperately want to con Americans into thinking, particularly when it comes to conservatives and Republicans.

The only missing ingredient that could make Jindal a virulent political force against liberalism, now with its most complete control over policy-making at the federal level in history, is a sustained record of success in governance. A candidate with this quality not only would win a decision in 2012 over president-elect Barack Obama, given that Obama appears at this point not be to wavering from his stated agenda, but would score a Reaganesque knockout of Democrats and liberals.

Smart liberals know two things, that if they really do try to implement their agenda they are going to make quite a mess of things principally economically, and that they cannot allow conservative candidates with credibility who effectively communicate the flaws and internal contradictions of liberalism contrasted to conservatism to emerge to point out the problems the undiluted Obama agenda is sure to bring. As things go sour on many fronts, they have to be able to distort and to distract to deflect the public from making this realization.

If Jindal can establish a good governing record to go along with superior communication, liberals lose. They can’t do much about the communication aspect, but they can try to frame Jindal’s record. And this is where the media, who will provide many willing, if not eager, allies, can come into play.

By focusing on Jindal now, they want to be there every step of the way to control the public’s image of him. This is a longer-term version of the tactic utilized against Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the wake of her vice presidential nomination, where because of the compressed nature of the campaign quicker hits with less time for rebuttal from forces outside of the media made her easier prey. With Jindal, they want to be able to spot episodes that potentially can be exploitable to damage Jindal’s credibility, and only through constant monitoring can this be maximized.

History shows that the presumed “frontrunners” in presidential nomination contests often fare poorly, precisely because there is so much attention paid to them that any warts discovered can be emphasized time and time again to fatigue potential supporters. Worse for Jindal, that he is an ethnic minority member and conservative invites, if history is any guide, even more media scrutiny and criticism (such as that paid to another potential GOP presidential candidate of the future, former Ohio Sec. of State Ken Blackwell).

So let’s recognize this mainstream media attention for what it is for many: the opening salvo of a national campaign that hopes to neutralize Jindal as a force to be reckoned with in 2012. Whether he will be able to resist that will depend in part on his political skills, and some may be fortune simply beyond his control. Regardless, the battle is commenced.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: 2012electionbias; abuseofpower; dnctalkingpoints; howtostealanelection; jindal; media; partisanpress; stalinisttactics; yellowjournalism; zogbyism
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The MSM is thinking ahead.
1 posted on 12/02/2008 5:05:53 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: Wonder Warthog

I guess it’s open season on Indians.


2 posted on 12/02/2008 5:12:08 AM PST by albie
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To: Wonder Warthog
The only missing ingredient that could make Jindal a virulent political force against liberalism, now with its most complete control over policy-making at the federal level in history, is a sustained record of success in governance.

The MSM will try their damned best to make sure that does not happen..................

3 posted on 12/02/2008 5:15:02 AM PST by Red Badger (Never has a man risen so far, so fast and is expected to do so much, for so many, with so little...)
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To: Wonder Warthog

We need to get the voter registration revved up for 2010 and elect conservatives to both houses!


4 posted on 12/02/2008 5:17:00 AM PST by quintr
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To: Wonder Warthog

“The MSM is thinking ahead.”

Yep. They don’t want to be caught unaware again, like they were with Sarah. With her, they had to work on short notice and burn a lot of overtime in their efforts to destroy her. With Jindal they get a head start. They’ll probably attack his faith; I understand he’s a fundamental Catholic.


5 posted on 12/02/2008 5:17:09 AM PST by ScottinVA (Gloucester County, VA -- Standing for America! 63% for McCain-Palin on 4 Nov)
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To: Wonder Warthog
The MSM is thinking ahead.

I wonder if the GOP is?

6 posted on 12/02/2008 5:18:55 AM PST by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: Wonder Warthog
they want to be there every step of the way to control the public’s image of him.

"They" seek to control the public's perceptions and thought processes. "They" seek to control the court of public opinion. "They" are the enemy.
7 posted on 12/02/2008 5:21:09 AM PST by Canedawg (The media is a ass, a idiot.," said Mr. Bumble.)
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To: albie

It’s open season on anyone with an R after their name.


8 posted on 12/02/2008 5:23:38 AM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma (When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule the people mourn. Proverbs 29;2)
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To: Wonder Warthog

Guess they want to dominate the press with only “state” run media (and when the press is 97% in bed with the DNC on news stories, colluding on public perception, and the Democrats have all the branches of government, it IS defacto state run media) just like their boy Chavez.


9 posted on 12/02/2008 5:31:08 AM PST by weegee (Sec. of State Clinton. What kind of change is it to keep the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton Oligarchy?)
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To: Canedawg

They are Socialists and They do as Socialists always do. Lie.


10 posted on 12/02/2008 5:33:00 AM PST by weegee (Sec. of State Clinton. What kind of change is it to keep the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton Oligarchy?)
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To: little jeremiah; Indian_Fighter_Kite; Knitting A Conundrum; Hari prasad; MimirsWell

The pseudo secular media!

Kurukshetra War - Kali Yuga ping...

To be added to or removed from this ping list, please FReepmail Sir Francis Dashwood.

11 posted on 12/02/2008 5:33:35 AM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (Arjuna, why have you have dropped your bow???)
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To: raybbr
I wonder if the GOP is?

Who?

What is a GOP?
12 posted on 12/02/2008 5:35:15 AM PST by j_k_l
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To: albie
I guess it’s open season on Indians.

See #11...

The Marxist/Maoists are in league with thw terrorists.

13 posted on 12/02/2008 5:36:12 AM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (Arjuna, why have you have dropped your bow???)
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To: Wonder Warthog

Smart liberals..... an oxymoron. If they were smart, they wouldn’t be liberals.


14 posted on 12/02/2008 5:37:13 AM PST by Ouderkirk (Never underestimate the ability of a liberal to deny reality and attempt to change the rules to do s)
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To: ScottinVA
Since he's a scholar with a high IQ, they'll have to use a different tactic than the one employed on Sarah Palin. More than likely it will be to leverage Sarah against Bobby -the divide and conquer approach. In other words, the MSM will claim that the GOP is divided - leaning to the "tacky, unintelligent, just-a-mom" Palin, so Jindal will split the votes. And, the media will convince the party not to take her on as a running mate because, "she'll bring him down."

Sadly, the GOP will buy into the game and turn in on themselves.

15 posted on 12/02/2008 5:40:26 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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Right on. Roll with it, Bobby.

Jindal/Palin 2012.

16 posted on 12/02/2008 5:54:34 AM PST by NoRedTape
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To: Wonder Warthog
The MSM is thinking ahead.

And so should we. It's time to starve the MSM to death!

17 posted on 12/02/2008 6:09:46 AM PST by SMM48
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To: Wonder Warthog

The only missing ingredient that could make Jindal a virulent political force against liberalism, now with its most complete control over policy-making at the federal level in history, is a sustained record of success in governance.


At least this writer understands that Jindal to date hasn’t been in any job for any extended period of time, maybe three years or so. If Jindal is successful as the Gov. of La then he may have a shot at the Presidency.

I’m not too sure that Obama will be dismissed so quickly in 2012 if the economy turns around and the country is on the upswing and nothing major happens around the world. He’ll get the kudos for bringing the country back from economic chaos, imo.


18 posted on 12/02/2008 6:11:04 AM PST by deport
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To: Wonder Warthog

One of my relatives, who is a staunch Democrat, actually has nice things to say about Jindal.


19 posted on 12/02/2008 6:19:42 AM PST by randita
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To: randita

Is there a Jindal ping list? If so, someone add me please. He’s the GOP’s best (only) hope for 2012.


20 posted on 12/02/2008 6:38:05 AM PST by VA_Gentleman ("There are sheep, and there are wolves. In the end, the wolves always win." - Col. Ripley, RIP)
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