TDS on coverage of the Obama cartoon

I really did miss Jon Stewart when he was on vacation, and the above video is a great reason why: Stewart never ceases to miss an opportunity to hick our corporate media right in the figonias. (Now if Bill Maher would only hurry back from vacation.)

As usual, Stewart is spot on with his analysis of yet another media "firestorm."

The chilling thought I had while watching the last few minutes of this clip, a pretty good round-up of the ridiculous, absurd assertions about the Obamas, is that sadly, there are people who will believe these things when they see them, and I feel nothing but pity for them.

I'm just happy that there are a few stalwarts in the media like Stewart who point out the inane ramblings from the rest of our corporate media masquerading as a free press. He's at his best in the video above when he says, "There are so many more important things to report on."

Weighing in on the New Yorker cover

After initially being unsure about how to react to this week's New Yorker cover (at right), which depicts all of the insane, asinine, blatant falsehoods and stereotypes about Barack and Michelle Obama, I have to say that much of the reaction is bordering on overreaction.

I do agree with both the McCain and Obama camps that it's in very poor taste. It is. However, it's a satirical cartoon, and satirical cartoons often are just that. However, what rankles me most about the cover is that it's so outrageous, it's missing the mark by taking away from the piece on Obama that appears inside the issue. What's more, it only seeks to reinforce the stereotypes and lies spread about Obama.

For instance, conservative convict G. Gordon Liddy of Watergate fame, stated earlier today that the New Yorker "finally got it right" with this week's cover. Like just about everything in his life, "G. Gordon" (who calls himself G. Gordon, anyway?!?) gets it wrong. By attempting to satirize the ridiculous and absurd coverage and whispering campaigns that the Obamas have had to endure, the New Yorker is merely adding to the problem.

However, having said all that, is anyone honestly going to look at the magazine cover and not vote for Barack Obama? If that's the type of criteria that voters are using to make up their minds in the voting booth, then there's really no hope for us whatsoever.

By the way, the New Yorker didn't even get a tasteless cartoon right - missing from the image is Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Wiener and Ann Coulter throwing the flag into the fireplace while pointing at Barack. That would have completed the point the magazine was trying to make.

Anyway, on to the more important issues. ...

Fox Attacks: Michelle Obama

Brave New Films has put out another video, this one about Faux News' attacks on Michelle Obama, which have been frequent, hateful and slanderous. Typical of the network, it will say something way out of bounds, and then issue a tepid apology, after which it will go right back on the attack.

From a Brave New Films press release:

Not only are they [Fox News] smearing Michelle Obama with racist stereotypes, but then they offer a feeble apology that they believe gives them the right to slander her again. FOX's long history of racism is nothing new, but it has been particularly egregious when it comes to their coverage of the Obamas. Racism and fear mongering have no place in our country or its politics, despite what FOX would have you believe.

You can sign Brave New Films' petition to demand Fox "stop injecting racism, prejudice, and fear into our political dialogue" by clicking Here, although I think that probably encourages the hate monger decision makers who run the network.

The would-be first ladies take center stage

This morning, Cindy McCain appeared on ABC's Good Morning America for an interview while she's in Vietnam. It was a pretty interesting interview for several reasons, but first, I must give her heartfelt and much-deserved praise for her work with Operation Smile. I mean that in all sincerity, and good for her and Senator McCain for putting their money where their mouths are by adopting a baby from Bangladesh, Bridget, in 1991.

I don't know too much about either Cindy McCain or Michelle Obama, but it certainly seems like the media is keeping the whole pseudo-controversy alive about Michelle Obama "not being proud of her country." It probably wasn't a very smart thing to say, but so what? I have to be honest with you, I haven't been proud of my country in recent memory in many (but not all) ways - Bush's ill-advised War in Iraq has cost us hundreds of billions, and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. What's to be proud of there? Or Hurricane Katrina? Or Abu Ghraib? Or Haditha? Guantánamo Bay? Torturing terrorists? Valerie Plame? Bush, in a thinly veiled threat that cheapened the presidency (he's beyond cheapening at this point) calling Barack Obama an appeaser in front of the Knesset? The Bush presidency, aside from the immediate aftermath of 9-11, has given me very little to be proud about. Does that make me (or Michelle Obama) any less of a patriot? Please.

Tonight, Dan Abrams unearthed a pretty interesting piece of John McCain footage from March of this year...

I really didn't love America until I was deprived of her company.

I'm not a veteran of the military, and God willing, unless tragedy strikes, I won't be in this lifetime, but I've read enough about the military to appreciate what McCain is saying here. I don't really see anything wrong with what he said, and Dan Abrams is right on - McCain's comments are eloquent.

But, at the very least, this ought to blunt the stupid criticism that the media is keeping alive about Michelle Obama (like the interview at top).

Will Abrams' footage end this stupid distraction? Fat chance.

Oh, and Lars Larson? Another Rush Limbaugh wannabe that we can add to a growing roster of right wing jackasses polluting our airwaves.

It's America, and Larson has the right to say what he wants, but it irks me to no end that a company will give him any sort of job to spew his hateful comments. It's totally amazing to me that the left has Air America Radio and little else, and right-wing talk radio has dominated the airwaves for decades now. Hmm - I wonder if the corporate media has anything to do with that? You don't need an MBA to make that connection.

Faux News Channel's in-depth analysis on the Obamas' fist bump

It's comments like the video above that makes me insane with outrage at our nation's most ridiculous and biased news "outlet" - Fox News. You only have to watch the first few seconds to get the mindlessly stupid line - "A fist bump, a pound, a terrorist fist jab?..." Seriously, what in the world is wrong with these people?

I'm sick and tired of Fox News defenders laughing and saying, "It was just a joke." This is a media outlet that bills itself as a serious news organization. At this point, it's blatantly apparent that its on-air personalities, at the behest of the stooges that run the network, will do or say just about anything to keep the Republicans in power.

The only thing missing from the above footage is, "Barack HUSSEIN Obama!"

Footage from Media Matters

Michelle Obama is un-American! Riiight.

Did anyone catch the latest useless media sensationalization of the '08 campaign? In case you didn't, it was Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, had this to say this past week:

For the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country, and not just because Barack is doing well, but because America is crying out for change.

Not surprisingly, her entire quotation wasn't played on every network that I saw. What was replayed was simply, "For the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country." I guess playing the whole thing wouldn't have fit the profile of Obama's wife being "un-American" or worse, depending on where you get your commentary.

I don't happen to agree with Michelle Obama - in my adult life, I've been plenty proud of my country on a number of occasions - 1992, when Bill Clinton defeated who was thought to be an unbeatable incumbent president - George H.W. Bush; how America pulled together in the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing; when America played a key role in toppling Slobodan Milošević; American resolve following the 9-11 attacks; and many others. But, quite frankly, I haven't felt this disenchanted with our government in my lifetime, so I can totally relate to what Michelle Obama said. In 1992, I couldn't wait to vote against President Bush, because I felt he was so out of touch, but that was it - I didn't revile and despise Bush Sr. nearly as much as I do his son.

Of course, the hysterical right, including John McCain and his wife, Cindy, jumped all over the Obamas as if they had just spit on, burned and shredded the American flag. With glee.

I don’t know if you’ve heard those words, but I’m proud of my country!" intoned Cindy McCain a short time later.

Well, good for you, Cindy - not all of us feel that way.

Going back to the ridiculous, disgraceful spectacle that was the Clinton Impeachment in 1998-1999, I haven't felt all that wonderful about our government. In fact, since President Bush ascended the throne courtesy of the Supreme Court in '00, the only time or incident I can point to with pride is our nation's resolve following 9-11.

Does that make me un-American? I surly don't think so. What it makes me is angry, very angry, and I'm ready to do something about it during the '08 election, just as I did in '04.