Posted on 11/30/2011 5:07:35 AM PST by Kaslin
From the breaking news, one might think that with a woman who claims she had a 13-year affair with presidential candidate Herman Cain, someone is being seriously exposed as a hypocrite. That would be the press. The media can't deny they continue to display a lousy double standard. For Republican candidates, scandalous news is instant. For Democrats, it's eventual, if at all!
Ginger White's charges sound a lot like Gennifer Flowers in 1992, when she said she had a 12-year affair with Bill Clinton. So many in the press pounce on Flowers as unequivocal evidence of the media's sense of balance. After all, they will remind us, just look how we covered that scandal!
Yes, look. It's a wonderful exercise in media disinformation. Political junkies will recall that Flowers held a press conference carried live on CNN on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 23, 1992. It had all the elements for snappy news. She played audiotapes of phone conversations with Clinton. Despite all this, the first network mention was a short story by NBCs Lisa Myers, more than 24 hours later. Other than that, the three broadcast network morning and evening newscasts waited to breathe the name "Flowers" for four days.
nd then they dismissed the scandal as a non-scandal. On ABC, anchorman Peter Jennings (who was married four times) set the tone: "At several stops today, talking about Gennifer Flowers, Gov. Clinton denounced what he called 'trash for cash'. And there appear to be quite a few people who agree." Jennings declared a quick ABC poll found only 26 percent wouldn't vote for an adulterous candidate. "But our polling unit points out that at least half of those people who said no are Republicans and unlikely to vote for Gov. Clinton anyway."
The networks rewarded Clinton with all this tolerance because, as liberal journalist Hendrik Hertzberg explained, at the time, reporters loved Clinton's potential: "(T) hey think he would make a very good, perhaps a great, president. Several told me they were convinced that Clinton is the most talented presidential candidate they have ever encountered, JFK included."
Herman Cain is the polar opposite of Bill Clinton to these people. Political reporters consider him an under-educated buffoon and, as a black conservative, possibly self-loathing to boot. So there are no reasons to delay adultery charges. In fact, they should be rushed on the air, followed by sneering political death notices.
"NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams was the first network anchor on the scene. This is the same anchorman that just expressed great joy and delight that NBC will be blessed by a woman with zero journalistic experience named Chelsea Clinton. Williams oozed on CNN that Chelsea was "super smart and worldly and curious," an "impressive, impressive woman" with a "very, very unique viewpoint." Grovel, grovel, grovel.
But here's what's sick. Ginger White makes an adultery charge against Cain and she's on NBC within hours. But when Juanita Broaddick accused Chelsea's father of raping her in a 1999 Dateline NBC interview, then-anchor Tom Brokaw never allowed one second of her voice to break into the NBC Nightly News.
By morning, Cain was dismissed as a political corpse, or a ghost. On ABC, anchor Robin Roberts suggestively asked, "Do (White's) shocking revelations spell doom for his troubled campaign?" On CBS, political analyst John Dickerson proclaimed, "It's hard to see how he comes back from this...At the worst, it's a death blow to the campaign."
But NBCs Chuck Todd was the most colorful, citing movies: "Now we're in sort of 'The Sixth Sense' mode. Everybody knows this candidacy is basically dead except the campaign." Todd then suggested he wasn't so much a ghost as an object: "I think that Cain is not necessarily hurting the field anymore. He's become a sideshow. It's almost a shiny, metal object at this point."
These death notices may be entirely accurate, but that's not the point. What is salient here is that Cain's scandals have been covered aggressively from day one by the same media that summarily refused -- and to this day refuse -- to cover allegations against Bill Clinton that are a hundred-fold more serious.
To my knowledge, the only TV reporter to ask Clinton directly about the rape charge (twice) was Sam Donaldson. Did it not send red flags skyward when both times instead of denying the charge, Clinton referred the matter to his attorney?
Night after night and morning after morning, the broadcast TV "news" makers demonstrate their "journalism" is carefully managed and manipulated into tidy packages designed to provide the maximum political benefit to liberals and the maximum political damage to conservatives.
Why am I not the slightest bit surprised that a Washington Post employee is tweeting over the Internet: "Hey Tweeps: Looking for outlandish/incorrect predictions and quotes from Newt Gingrich's past. Any ideas for me?"
Gingrich, it's your turn.
See post #99 for additional point.
I don’t think people that are leaving Cain’s side because they believe he is guilty - fact is - he can’t handle the heat.
Even honest people with integrity can stand strong.
How could we ever think Cain could deal with Iran, Russia or China????
It’s informative when we go back and draw parallels to Gennifer Flowers, but it exists today.
Accusation: Cain had a 13 year affair: on every news show, killing his campaign.
Accusation: Obama had a gay affair while married and while state Senator; while running for President his people try to squelch this partner coming forward, sending another gay lover to find out what this affair knows, and when the lover gets too chatty with the affair, the lover is gangland murdered. Never on a single news show. Not one peep.
It’s a clear double standard against conservatives. I want all candidates vetted in the same manner. I don’t want conservatives not vetted because liberals are not either.
LOL!!!! FR POST OF THE MONTH!!! You just slipped in under the wire.
Thank you!
I seldom bother posting anything that long...I assume it will not mean a hill of beans to the person I am addressing, and try to manage my time well, instead of wasting my breath(or fingers)....
But I felt the urge to respond because the thoughts were so in line with exactly what I think many folks think....
it is comforting for me to know that taking the time to share my thoughts could bring some good for at least someone out there in the cyber world....
Well— it is easier for me to trust the guy....since I’ve known him for over 7 yrs....
he is very old school....just not the cheating type....his upbringing took some strong and deep roots....
AMEN!!
NO WOBBLY KNEES!
about to post something I think you will like....I will ping you...
;-)
Yes and fires are sometimes started by arsonist.
I really don't think Herman is that stupid. If this floozie is telling the truth, Herman had to know it was going to be discovered. I really don't think he would put his wife and family through something like that.
I am staying with Herman. There is nobody else. . . . .
ping me too, please
Even Ann Coulter said as much on Hannity last night. She pointed out the women’s financial troubles (bankruptcies, etc.,) and their litigious histories. She said Cain deserves our absolute defense. I’m not a Cain supporter for reasons other than these accusations, but I was encouraged to hear Ann support his character so strongly.
If there must be death involved in the current campaign, it should be the campaign killers who die
Cain wrote a letter his supporters yesterday unequivocally denying White's accusations. (You can find here at FR.) He left no room for further clarifications or claims of being misquoted.
The 9th Commandment is not a suggestion
Mr. Cain has my prayers.
Mr. Cain has my prayers.
Great analysis, unfortunately the truth within it will be lost to many here.
Mine as well!
It might just be someone blowing smoke up your butt hoping you're gullible enough to fall for it. Apparently you are.
I sorta like Brian Kilmeade a few years ago. Then something happened. He got cocky and mean. He also seems to have a real contempt for politicians outside the northeastern sphere of power. But I’d like to have him in a bar fight. lol
Keep in mind that Cain is also a minister. In that role it's easy to imagine him trying to help those of questionable character.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.