Sarah Palin’s Attack on the Media: Pandering Nonsense or Sour Grapes?

It is neither. As Sean Hannity said, “2008 will be the year journalism died in America.” He was right. From ABC New’s ObamaCare Infomercial to the mishandling of the Gates-Gate affair, the media are so far in the tank for the Left that their oxygen delivery line is running out. One quick example would be to just read Kristian Lin’s premature ejaculation last week on blotch whereby he jumped t he gun and accused Sgt. Crowley of racial profiling and never even bothered to post a retraction. So you ask if it’s pandering nonsense or sour grapes? Professor Buddy says it’s just the truth.

Eric,

What a thoughtful analysis. I know that you are at this free rag trying to be a “journalist” or “reporter,” but perhaps you should try another line of “work.” I agree with the Prof. All you libtards, bedwetters, bleeding hearts, etc, etc, etc are completely in bed with your left-wing masters. You are really showing how absolutely pathetic you are. All tides turn. There is a backlash coming.

Does taking what someone says and picking apart make the world a better place? Sarah Palin isn’t the governor any longer and she isn’t running for vice-president. So can we stop talking about her yet or not?

Who’s Sarah Palin?

Wow Eric, really touched a nerve. Really I have to agree I’m as tired of the Palin bashing as anyone else, but not because I respect or like her. I view her as a benign tumor at best. At this point It’s just like beating a dead horse.
But seriously, how DARE you post your OPINION in an OPINION PAGE? What would Hannity think? (haha, oh God am I laughing as type that). You should form a whole series of Blotch posts bashing her. I know it’s always great when something I write gets a reaction, so here’s your ticket to fame!
And while I have no real hate for Palin as a person, I do hate her for ruining the Sexy Librarian look. Seriously she nosedived that into a mountain. And for that alone she must pay! *clenches fist and raises it to the sky*

eric didn’t even state an opinion in his initial blog, and yet the conservative extremists came out with barbs a blazing.

oversensitive? (that’s not an opinion, that’s a question).

Eric presented a false dichotomy when he wrote “Pandering Nonsense or Sour Grapes”.
Sort of like saying Fort Worth Weekly: Bird Cage Liner or Tomorrow’s fish wrap.
What’s obvious is that the Left feels threatened by Palin or the attacks would have stopped by now. All these attempts to ridicule and be dismissive of her reflect the reality that lefties are really intimidated by what she represents.

the only threat i feel from sarah palin is the threat to my ears from listening to her speak. if i were a true liberal i would be sarah’s biggest fan since getting her nominated as the republican’s next presidential candidacy will ensure the continuing downward spiral of that once proud party that has since been hijacked by moralists and blowhards who use their bibles as weapons and force rational people toward the left.

Prof and DOC,

Name one instance in which the media made something up about Sarah. And the national media isn’t treating Obama anymore gently than they treated Bush after 9-11. They, and the American people, allowed Bush to trample our civil rights, and get away with wiping their asses with the constitution.

Eric G. says –

“Prof and DOC,
Name one instance in which the media made something up about Sarah.”

Here is one from Charlie Gibson’s Interview of S.P. last fall (taken from a web story by John Podhoretz –

And again though, this is Charlie Gibson specifically misquoting S.P. or in Eric G’s words a case where the media “made something up” about her with the precise intent to trip her up.
_____________________________________________________________

Charles Gibson Gets It Wrong
John Podhoretz –

ABC has released excerpts from Charlie Gibson’s interview with Sarah Palin, and in one of them, he attempts to catch her out by asking her to explain something she said:

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, “Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.” Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

In fact, it was not the exact quote; and the way Gibson quoted her is a complete misrepresentation of what she said. It may, indeed, be close to the opposite of what she said. This is the actual quote, and it’s from an article in a Palin-unfriendly source, The Huffington Post:

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”

She was asking the congregation to “pray…that our leaders…are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God.”

She was precisely not declaring that the task was from God. She specifically said the church’s congregants should pray “that that plan is God’s plan.” There would be no need for such a prayer if it were a fact to her and to them.

Palin quickly followed up with Gibson by saying, “the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln’s words when he said…let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God’s side.”

This is the Lincoln quote to which she alluded: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

Chinese Boomerang:

Thank you for pointing out the manner in which the left media has distorted Palin. The problem with these libs is that when they are called out on their crap and complete lack of integrity, it really gets to them and they resort to calling common sense a “vast right wing conspiracy.” The objective media does not exist anymore because it has been overrun by these liberal cockroaches. All you have to do is look at the weekly ratings and compare Fox news (which has been proven to fairly report the news) with MSNBC/CNBC/CNN. All time slots are being dominated by Fox and there is a reason for this. People are becoming sickened by the blatantly left media, and as I said before, there is a backlash coming.

This is really entertaining.

Also concerning Eric G. it’s instructive to note especially after DOC’s statement about E.G.-

“I know that you are at this free rag trying to be a “journalist” or “reporter,” but perhaps you should try another line of “work.” ”

that …. Eric G. fancies himself a music journalist and a musician.

In the Jan ’09 FW Weekly roundup of best music from 2008 Eric G. lists David Byrne’s “My Life In The Bush of Ghosts” as his favorite album of 2008.!! Hilarious! That record came out in 1981. He lamely tries to say something (after fellow fw weekly writer Ken Shimamoto busts him) about it being re-released but that was in 2006. What’s astounding is that he couldn’t even tell the difference in audio between 1981 and 2009. STUNNING. No really.

wow. Eric G, are you paid by this rag, or do you volunteer?

“Govonor.”

Spell Check?

Chinese Boomerang, DOC, et al,

I’m not a music writer. But good job trying to make this about me. That’s the right-wing thing to do, blame the media for their coverage of failed policy and fringe candidates. You guys make me laugh. I just picture you watching FOX news, pens in hand, waiting for them to tell you how to feel.

I’m just glad you’re reading my work.

Mark Levin on Hannity
June 9, 2009:

“The media in this country has become an appendage of the government. And more particularly the Obama administration. It is the Statist media. It promotes national health care. It promotes his economic agenda. It slobbers all over him when he’s over in Cairo throwing Israel under the bus.

The man can do no wrong. He can — he can lie about statistics, and unemployment, about his programs, about — about the saving jobs and so forth. He gets no tough follow-up questions, so that’s what we’re facing.”

As The Doc said, “There will be a backlash.” The pendulum always swings back the other way.

Eric G says: “But good job trying to make this about me.”
Thank you for the complement but I think that you are really missing the point. It’s isn’t about “you” so much as it is about your mindset. Anyone can post half-wit blatherings on a blog or attempt a muck-racking expose on the perils and pitfalls of the Rainbow Lounge. The mindset that you guys share is so lacking in originality, the herd-like thought processes which you guys demonstrate when you post/print this crap. Why not provide an alternative perspective every once in a while? A few story suggestions:

1. Inform your readers of how the National Episcopal Church is trying to steal the property of the Fort Worth Episcopal Diocese which is now a part of an entirely different Anglican Province and how if they (National Episcopal Church) succeed all they’ll gain are empty church buildings.
2. Inform your readers of how the City of Fort Worth wastes tax-payer money by funding a “day laborer exchange” that does nothing more than promote the illegal labor black market.
3. Report on the Tea Party movement from an objective standpoint.

Just three ideas…. I have more if you want them.

“I’m just glad you’re reading my work.”

And by “work,” do you mean:

“You decide. My favorite quote from her speech yesterday, as she handed power over to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell:

“Democracy depends on you, and that is why — that’s why our troops are willing to die for you. So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin’ things up.”

Oh Sarah, will you ever get boring?”

Hardly work, Eric. This is copy, then paste, then skip the spell check, then think up some false dichotomy and pass it off as a title. Common sense conservatism isn’t one wing or the other. It’s the damn bird.

Sorry, looks like I forgot a few steps:

Let my readers correct me on my poor use of spelling, then hurry and change “Govonor” to “Governor.” All in a days “work.”

I’ve tried to post this twice and my computer has frozen both times. Sigh.

Prof,
That is the pot calling the kettle black. Anyone can post snarky, ad hominem, partisan drivel anonymously on a blog. And I don’t feel the need to defend our paper to some random guy with a made-up name. Our numerous awards speak for themselves.

Accusing us of having a herd mentality is laughable. Right-wingers are great at eating what they’re fed and regurgitating it like it’s their own. It’s a party of parrots.

As for your story ideas, we’ve covered the local diocese of the Episcopal church pretty thoroughly, but could always do more. That tea party thing is a perfect example of how politicians use empty symbolism to pander to the extreme elements of their base. I’m always up for story ideas eric.griffey@fwweekly.com

DOC,
Thanks for being interested in what my day is like. If you want, I can ask the publisher if we can start a “take an obnoxious extremist to work day.” I’m sure the powerful investment firm that you no doubt work for will let you off for a day. It will be good for you to see how us liberal media elites spend our day. Bring your own tea pot and monocle.

EG,

You libs always make assumptions, don’t you. What is it with you? “Obnoxious extremist.” If having common sense makes me an extremist, then so be it. Left-wingers, by the way, are merely drinking kool-aid right now. The whole premise of your so-called “work” is regurgitating Rachel Madow/Keith Olberman/Chris Matthews/ talking points. If you had done your homework, you would have come across what Chinese Boomerang so adeptly pointed out to you regarding one example of the media LYING about something that Palin said. You are definitely following suit. Maybe you can get some kind of award for that.

The fact that Fort Worth Weekly has won a few incestuous awards from the “Association of Alternative Newsweeklies” means nothing to me.
You claim originality. Well let’s compare your Web site to perhaps the Houston Press. There’s absolutely no difference at all. Go look at it. http://www.houstonpress.com Did you get a cut-rate deal on graphic design or something? It’s the same with the Phoenix New Times. It looks pretty herd-like to me.
For the record I haven’t made an ad hominem attack against you. If I had I would have accused you of being a drunk, a pervert, or a liar. I merely surmised from the evidence that you’ve provided, that you’re a pretty lousy journalist. I suppose that you can retort that I’m a lousy blog comment poster, but then that isn’t my main gig either.
Regarding the Episcopal Diocese, let’s see you have the courage to write something sympathy to Bishop Iker and the overwhelming majority (like 85%) of Fort Worth Anglicans that fully support his mission. Would you dare? As for the tea party thing, avoid the snarky (your word) label “tea-bagger” and explore why people are turning out for these events in droves. Perhaps, they’re just as inspired as the hordes that show up for Obama’s rallies.

YES! YES! Eric G.

Go through the Charlie Gibson example above and explain to us EXACTLY how that is not journalistic deception. Please go through it point by point and don’t miss anything. You asked for an example and one was provided.

Let’s see your journalistic chops on full display.

Ready …… GO!

At the risk of making an “ad hominem” argument, let me say that I don’t think Eric G is capable of providing a thoughtful explanation to the example that you gave earlier. All he can do is make thoughtless drive-by comments. Besides, he’s probably too busy watching Anderson Cooper right now anyway.

Here’s an ad hominem for ya:

Click to see Eric G at work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiVFaDx6iWo

Actually, this is my favorite example of Eric’s work — it’s called “Hustle and Grind” and allegedly it was written about his previous life as a male stripper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itypk80fnfo — Hustle and Grind baby!

Because of my inability to detect satire and parody I have to ask… Is this really a serious performance or some sort of gong show skit gone horribly wrong? It’s kind of like a Dread Zeppelin video —

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CO7FPU7a2g —

but void of any talent or originality. Is the person with the skipper hat reminds me of Captain and Tennille? Muskrat Love anyone?

Please clarify.

…hate it when I pull a Griffey

meant to write, “The person with the skipper hat reminds me of Captain and Tennille.”

Looks to me like EG lost a bet…

eventhough there are lots of criticisms against Sarah Palin, i still admire her. she also did a lot of things in the area of politics specially in Alaska.