McCain the Cynic

Obama emerged as a different kind of candidate, one that could transcend the politics of the past by both overcoming the battles of the 60s and by bringing a more positive face to politics. McCain and the media seem to want to make sure that doesn't happen. As an article in Slate argues today (http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=2195762), McCain is attacking indiscrimately and, quite often, based on misleading or downright false information.

Cynicism has dominated American politics since Reagan (and really Nixon, with a potential Carter lacuna, depending on your perspective). Rather than attempting to address the real problems of this country, attack ads, false promises and playing on a lack of hope in the possibility of change have dominated. People are inspired by those that promise change, but they are more worried about the possibility change could actually occur.

The media seems to be more receptive to this paradox than the average citizen. When Nader started to gain a following, they ignored him or offered short stories that discounted his candidacy. When Dean garnered a massive popular following, they took him down with a decontextualized video clip that ensured a milquetoast candidate they decided to destroy anyway. Four years earlier, when Gore started talking like a populist against the big corporations and for the people; the press played up the "lying" motif and allowed the race to be close enough to be stolen. And now they appear to be doing it again. Articles about Obama always include McCain's critique, no matter how absurd -- generally without any clarification or reference back to the facts. I remember a similar theme a few years ago, in the build up to a war.