So there’s a debate between a couple of guys who are running for, let’s say, president. Right afterwards, if you’re a member of the media, what do you think is the more prudent course of action?
A) Hire independent analysts to talk about the debate, and wait for the polls to show what people thought and how the words that these people said will influence their vote.
B) Go to a room whose name says “This is where you will be lied to,” and wait for the Democrats to tell you why the Democrat won and the Republicans to tell you why the Republicans won.
You choose B, of course! Because you’re a stupid shameless whore!
(Sorry reader, but as a hypothetical member of the media, you deserve it. You’re part of the problem, buddy.)
I really don’t see how this is remotely relevant to anyone. I mean, analysis that comes from biased sources is worthless. It’s not like Rudy Giuliani is going to show up after a debate and say “Man, McCain got his ass HANDED to him! How could anyone vote for him after that shitshow? Jeeeesus, man. I’m on the wrong side.”
No, he will say, no matter how the debate went, that McCain had an incredible debate and that Obama doesn’t have the experience necessary to lead. He’ll say that he’d be shocked – SHOCKED – if this debate didn’t raise serious questions in the minds of the electorate about Obama.
And Obama’s surrogates will do the same thing. They will crow about how McCain really couldn’t block those criticisms that he’ll be another four years of George Bush. They’ll talk about how Obama really connected with the common man, like any of them knows what the fuck a common man looks like. They’ll say that Obama definitely has the momentum going into the election and that the country is ready for a change.
And everyone sees it coming, too. That’s the part that really gets me. The news networks know that this role is bullshit, but they let these guys play it, and they pass it off as news. And nobody seems too inclined to change it.
Except me.
So, nobody who matters seems too inclined to change it.
(This post was written on Tuesday afternoon, before the second debate. It will apply to every national debate ever until this bullshit ends)
