How The MSM Helps Us Read The Political Tea Leaves (Re: Romney)

Townhall ^ | 12/24/06 | Hugh Hewwit

[Jeff Fuller]

Go to the article at Townhall for the embedded links:

Part 218 of the Boston Globe's attempt to derail Mitt Romney's accelerating presidential campaign details the governor's travels and his PACs' spending this year.

(The Globe neglected to give us the citation to its parallel story on John Kerry's absences from DC or Massachusetts in 2002, or Mike Dukakis' journeys in 1986. Perhaps they are in the same file as the Globe's stories on the citizenship/green card status of the crews working on Kerry's many homes?)

Rarely have we ever had such a clear demonstration of the hard-left nature of a modern MSM paper than in the side-by-side comparison of the Globe's Kerry/Romney coverage.

What the paper's staff doesn't seem to understand is the incredible lift they are giving the Romney campaign. There is no surer signal to the GOP base of a candidate's conservative principles, competence and electability than an early and sustained attempt to damage him by the MSM. One of the reasons that Senator McCain is viewed with such distrust by the Republican base is the fawning coverage he receives from the Beltway-Manahattan media elites. One of the reasons Rudy Giuliani has credibility with base despite his views on abortions rights etc is that the MSM clearly fears him. Negative MSM coverage of Republican candidates is like a divining stick pointing towards those Republicans the Democratic Party fears the most.

[Jeff Fuller]

Gotta believe Hugh will continue to be a voice of reason about a Romney candidacy. He's spot on with this one.

[Jeff Fuller]

Pinging the unofficial "Romney Interest Group" . . . yep, rounding up the usual "pro-", "anti-", and "in between" Romney commentators.

[Jeff Fuller]

P.S.

Merry Christmas!

[Swordfished]

a little Christmas humor from this blog about this article:

"...Mormons are social conservatives - hugely keen on the promotion of family life.

They believe your family group stays with you for eternity - not necessarily a comforting thought by the end of this Christmas season..."

[gidget7]

(The Globe neglected to give us the citation to its parallel story on John Kerry's absences from DC or Massachusetts in 2002, or Mike Dukakis' journeys in 1986. Perhaps they are in the same file as the Globe's stories on the citizenship/green card status of the crews working on Kerry's many homes?)


That was the first thing to come to mind for me when I saw this story!

[To Hell With Poverty]

I'd love to be on this list if I may.

[Jeff Fuller]

You're now on my list.

[Domandred]

About that article:

You may already know that Mormons do not drink coffee or alcohol but what you might not know is that their religious ban is on "hot drinks".

Joseph Smith was a coffee drinker. Big time. This was before the ban on "hot drinks". Well his wife, can't remember her name, one day made a pot of coffee that was BOILING hot.

Someone spilled the coffee or Joseph drank the coffee, either way someone got burned. Strangely enough coffee was declared bad very soon after and thus cofee and other hot drinks were banned.

[To Hell With Poverty]

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

[sitetest]

Dear Jeff Fuller,

I'm pretty sure I'm not a "pro-". Am I an "anti-" or an "in between"?

;-)

Merry Christmas!


sitetest

[Jeff Fuller]

I saw that article earlier. I thought that was a funny line too.

[Jeff Fuller]

Only you can answer that.

I initially had you listed as an "anti-", but I wouldn't be surprised if you make a migration away from "the dark side."

[Domandred]

One of the reasons that Senator McCain is viewed with such distrust by the Republican base is the fawning coverage he receives from the Beltway-Manahattan media elites.

The MSM WANTS McCain on the ticket. They know that a good block of R voting conservatives will vote I if McCain is on the ticket. Even if they still vote R well McCain is still like having two D's on the ballot. Hillary or McCain, either way the D's and MSM win.

One of the reasons Rudy Giuliani has credibility with base despite his views on abortions rights etc is that the MSM clearly fears him.

I think this has everything to do with post-911 Giuliani. Trashing him now in the wrong way will solidify the conservative base. The MSM just haven't figured out how to trash pre-911 Rudy and leave post-911 Rudy alone. There is plenty of skeletons in the pre-911 Giuliani closet to choose from.

Romney, they really got nothing except his religion and working 10 year opinion changes into Kerryesc flip-flopping. I'll say it now, 75% or more of anti-Romney campaining will be based on his religion.

[sitetest]

Dear Jeff Fuller,

LOL!!

Actually, we all root for the bad guys in Star Wars in my family, so don't count on it!

Frankly, I'm less than impressed how Mr. Romney has handled his "conversion." The NRO interview made me almost barf. I felt like writing K-Lo a nasty note about how Republicans aren't supposed to use kneepads.

I'm even less impressed with how his supporters are all over the map with it.

I'd love to give Mr. Romney the benefit of the doubt on the social issues, but he's not really helping his cause.

Maybe he should go to acting school to figure out how to look more sincere.

;-)


sitetest

[BonnieJ]

I am related to some Mormons. They laugh at all the misperceptions about their belief. And there certainly are plenty of them. The religion has evolved over the years from the earliest teachings of a few of their founders, which some persist in posting as "doctrine". And some of the theories frequently listed here they're not quite sure where they came from! Since they've never heard of them.

[Domandred]

And some of the theories frequently listed here they're not quite sure where they came from

Well that particular one I learned in Sunday school, or Primary, as a Mormon.

The tale itself is in LDS books, though only the banning of strong drinks is talked about in D&C or in The Word of Wisdom (also D&C).

I'm not bashing Mormons, I generally stand toe to toe with them when others are bashing. I'm just saying that not all their doctorine came from Divine premonition or prophecy.

Same with all other religions for that matter.

[Nephi]

Interesting bit of fiction you posted.

The truth is that Emma opposed tobacco use. She found the chore of cleaning up after poor aim at the spittoon disgusting. The prophet was impressed to pray about the nasty habit and the Word of Wisdom was the resulting revelation.

THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 89
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet. 1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.

1 A Word OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the aword of wisdom, showing forth the order and bwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly. 10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

14 All agrain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall find bwisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the adestroying angel shall bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

[BonnieJ]

One thing that bothers me about their faith is stated here in that doctrine you are quoting, that animals and birds etc were put here just for our use. Yet many of them existed before we did.

[Plutarch]

There is no surer signal to the GOP base of a candidate's conservative principles, competence and electability than an early and sustained attempt to damage him by the MSM.

Good column from Hugh, obviously inspired by Plutarch's FR posts. ;-)

Such as My post 12/22

Never have we seen the MSM devote such concern over the fealty of a candidate to conservative orthodoxy. This can only mean that Romney is more consevative than RINO, because there is no better RINO test than favorable treatment from the MSM.

My post 12/21

The spate of MSM articles chiding Romney for flip-flopping are to wave conservative GOP primary voters away from Romney. You won't see McCain or Guilini hit pieces, because the MSM can live with these RINO's. No Hunter hit pieces, because he would lose and get a Dem in.

No, it is Romney they fear, because they have the expectation that he would turn out to be reasonably conservative, and could win.

And this one:

---

To: MikeA

Washington Post to conservatives:

"Romney is not the candidate you are looking for."

11 posted on 12/21/2006 1:42:12 PM PST by Plutarch

[Plutarch]

Washington Post to conservatives:

[Mount Athos]

Plutarch nailed it on this one