Old Whine in New Glasses

September 22nd, 2008 by TRex @ 6:37 pm| Posted in 2008 Race, media |

The whiny-ass titty babies running the McLame campaign have realized they’re out of options, so they have returned to a familiar theme, attacking the media, in particular the New York Times, which, according to them, is “150% in the tank for Obama” and has become an arm of the Liberal Media Elites, never mind that Bill Kristol gets to pull his pud on their OpEd page every week.  This declaration of war was made on a bile and invective filled conference call today, where McCrashypants’s campaign manager Steve Schmidt all but soiled himself with rage.

Trouble is, they’ve been to the well too many times on this one.  Not even those Gossip Girls at the Politico are buying Schmidt’s soap this week:

Sen. John McCain’s top campaign aides convened a conference call today to complain of being called “liars.” They pressed the media to scrutinize specific elements of Sen. Barack Obama’s record.

But the call was so rife with simple, often inexplicable misstatements of fact that it may have had the opposite effect: to deepen the perception, dangerous to McCain, that he and his aides have little regard for factual accuracy.

Okay, when the Drudge-Packers are calling you out on your lies, I think you’ve got a sucking chest wound on your credibility, there, Schmidt.

“Any time the Obama campaign is criticized at any level, the critics are immediately derided as liars,” Schmidt told reporters.
But as he went on to list a series of stories he thought reporters should be writing about Obama and Biden, in almost every instance he got the details wrong.

Um, no, Steve.  Any time you LIE about the Obama campaign, you get called a liar.  There’s a distinct cause and effect thing at work, here, numb-nuts.  Did you get your college degree out of a box of Cap’n Crunch or what?

And then, oh, then, when the Politico emailed for clarification, all the McCain flunkies could do was bang on their high chairs and squeal:

Asked about the series of errors, McCain aides could not provide evidence to back up Schmidt’s assertions.

One McCain aide, Michael Goldfarb, said Politico was “quibbling with ridiculously small details when the basic things are completely right.”

Another, Brian Rogers, responded more directly:

“You are in the tank,” he e-mailed.

Well, alrighty then.  Joe Klein says:

Ben Smith fact-checks the McCain campaign’s ridiculous conference call assault on the press. But it should be remembered that Steve Schmidt is doing this for two (nefarious) reasons:

1. he’s hoping to work the refs: if he complains enough about press bias, we mainstream sorts will cower, cringe and try to seek false equivalences between the two campaigns.

2. the more time we spend covering this nonsense, the less we’ll spend on the real issues in this campaign.

Sorry, Steve. Not buying.

Stevie, let me share with you a little something I learned in my days as a touring musician.

The most important person in any club you play in is not the owner.  Yes, he will be giving you your money (or putting it up his nose) at the end of the night, sure, but you can come back to this town and play a different club next time, and you probably will.  It’s not the superfan who turns up to the gig to get you to sign copies of your CD, his t-shirt, his posters, and that rare copy of your 7″ single.  He’s a great guy and will play a big part in spreading your message to the folks in this town, but he’s not the most important person there.  Nor is it the rock writer who’s there to compare you to a bunch of bands you hate and slag you off in his weekly column.

No.

The most important person in any club to you, the musician, is the soundman.  The soundman is your bridge to the audience, especially if you’re the singer.  I can’t tell you how many bands I’ve seen get snotty with the soundman during set-up only to go on stage for the actual gig and find that their microphones are turned all the way down and that they can’t hear any of the other band members because the monitors are off, leaving them flying completely in the dark.

Pull attitude with the soundman at your peril.  Your destiny for the night is squarely in his hands.

Maybe the McSame stooges think they can run a successful campaign against the media.  Somehow, I doubt that.  The media carries your message as surely as the soundman in a club engineers your sound.  You may think you can win by only playing sympathetic outlets like Pox News and hate radio, but you guys have already maxed out your base.

But, you know, whatever.  Actually I think this strategy is brilliant and you guys should get out there and trash everyone in America who buys their ink by the barrel.  Good luck with that.  I’ll be here with a huge bowl of popcorn, laughing at your pain.

See you clowns in November.

  1. 38 Responses to “Old Whine in New Glasses”

  2. By Jamie Holts on Sep 22, 2008 6:58 pm |

    Hi. I read a few of your other posts and wanted to know if you would be interested in exchanging blogroll links?

  3. By Jamie Holts on Sep 22, 2008 6:59 pm |

    Hi,

    I’m just getting started with my new blog. Would you want to exchange links on our blog-rolls?

    BTW - I’m up to about 100 visitors per day.

  4. By burnspbesq on Sep 22, 2008 7:27 pm |

    I do believe our genial host just cited Joe Klein (fka Joke Line) with something approaching approval.

    One wonders what other strange and wondrous occurences may be in store.

  5. By litbrit on Sep 22, 2008 8:45 pm |

    T, that video clip made me want to go out into the street and punch a Republican in the face.

    Was that the intended result? ;-)

    Good God, they lie as readily as if they were simply breathing in and out. And I can’t stand liars, oh how I loathe them. *Grrr*

  6. By may on Sep 22, 2008 10:31 pm |

    one of the reasons i always read you Trex is the way you invariably put your finger on the small area that defines a subject.

    soundman. indeed.indeed.

    also–never annoy the cook!

  7. By Titanyum on Sep 22, 2008 10:41 pm |

    TRex,
    I am just checking in to let you know that I agree with your analysis. I think it is hard for a media outlet that has been castigated to turn around and glowingly wax about the culprit. It would be so easy for the McCain campaign to receive unbiased press coverage. Start telling the truth.

  8. By may on Sep 22, 2008 11:00 pm |

    and on mercury rising is a reason why for USA all is not lost.

    a 12 yr old boy no less

    USA where things happen

  9. By Nevorick on Sep 23, 2008 12:01 am |

    Excellent post.

    Republicans = Liars

  10. By neurophius on Sep 23, 2008 12:54 am |

    TRex!

    Heard your name bandied about at another place and decided to stop by and see how you are doing.

    So how are you doing?

    Your writing is as sharp as ever. Good to see you pounding away at the McSamites.

    btw my brother is a soundman.

  11. By e on Sep 23, 2008 1:17 am |

    yep, that there’s a brilliant analogy, that soundman thing.

    Still, it’s almost enough to make you feel kinda sorry for the emmessemm. They rode his “Express”…..ate his barbecue……smiled indulgently when he mixed up Shia and Sunni……nodded politely when he talked about nonexistent countries and borders…….whispered sweet “mavericks” into his ear. They laughed at all his jokes. Their love he didn’t need to coax.

    and this –THIS, is the thanks they get. Scorned, spat upon, cast aside, as though they were no more than — oh, I don’t know, cheap whores, or something.

  12. By Mungen_Cakes on Sep 23, 2008 1:21 am |

    Ich bin ein soundman.

    Oh NOES! Feedbax!!!

  13. By silverball on Sep 23, 2008 9:18 am |

    …steve…and we hope in the next 42 days that you will release lil’ ms “ready to lead on day one” from captivity so she can be asked questions by anyone and/or the media in general….then we can discuss the coverage…..

  14. By Dr.Toxic on Sep 23, 2008 9:27 am |

    Can I re-post this at my site? It’s brilliant (your post, not my site…well, I *like* to think my site is brilliant). Thanks so much for being part of the political fight of our lives. We need as many “soldiers” as possible!

    All the fighting in the world will not do us any good unless we uncover the crimes being committed right now by Rovian operatives who are working feverishly to STEAL every VOTE they can from real Americans. Blacks, Hispanics, the Foreclosed, the disenfranchised are all targets of these Nazi tactics to remove our brothers and sisters from the legal voting rolls in towns across the country. This plot cannot succeed again while we stand idly by. The theft of votes, which was first executed in 2000 and again in 2004, has to be exposed or all the campaigning, debating, registering, blogging, and politicking in the world will come to nothing but a McCain victory - despite what the polls say.

    Please, please, please uncover this subject and expose it to the light of truth - keep hammering this topic until everyone is educated and the media can no longer ignore it.

    Keep up the fight and good luck to us all.

    -Dr. Toxic
    http://www.endtheaddictionnow.com

  15. By Professor Peewee on Sep 23, 2008 9:52 am |

    Great analogy!

    Gotta love the soundman!!!

    Please America, do the right thing this time. I want to be able to envy my neighbours to the south the way I used to…

  16. By Captain Canada on Sep 23, 2008 10:10 am |

    “Okay, when the Drudge-Packers are calling you out on your lies, I think you’ve got a sucking chest wound on your credibility, there, Schmidt.”

    As my former Pl Sgt used to say “a sucking chest wound is Mother Nature’s way of saying ‘it’s time to slow down’”.

  17. By Dilireus on Sep 23, 2008 10:31 am |

    Sounds like McGoo needs to have more barbeques.

  18. By Aunty Em Ericann on Sep 23, 2008 10:39 am |

    Great essay. Having been a band manager, what you say is absolutely correct. I would always buy the soundman drinks.

    I would also like to blogroll with people. I’ve been working on my blog on and off for a few years, but don’t know the best way to bring in traffic. If you like my humour and politics, let me know. Thanks.

    With all my love,
    Aunty Em

  19. By Kay on Sep 23, 2008 10:57 am |

    Beautifully put, and tragically true. Found the link on one of my fave sites, crooks & liars. I really want McLame to take a mental function and acuity test, like Franklin Roosevelt did. I think anyone over X age running for Federal office, or being appointed to Federal office should get to take it, every year. If your acuity & processing ability drops by X percentage, you agree to step down from your position.

  20. By Imavehmontah on Sep 23, 2008 11:09 am |

    I have a good friend from South Carolina, one-time home to Strom Thurmond. His proposal for a mental status test for Senator Thurmond was to have Strom show in public that he could balance a checkbook. For some reason, Thurmond declined the challenge…..

    I wonder how McCain would perform on that task? It might give people pause if they discovered how truly incompetent he is. Then again, perhaps such a simple competency test is beyond the capacity of many of the voters in this country.

  21. By Comrade Rutherford on Sep 23, 2008 11:12 am |

    “Pull attitude with the soundman at your peril!!!”

    Damn straight! Having done concert sound for 20 years I can attest that asshole bands always sound shitty to the audience, and that’s because they intentionally pissed of the FOH and/or monitors mixer.

  22. By Mrethiopian on Sep 23, 2008 12:53 pm |

    The problem is that Bush and his gang of thrives have unjustly and illegally manipulated the press and individuals, the republicans view the press as a propaganda source just for them, this is how its been over the last 8 years, now that times are changing and the truth is starting to come back to MSM the republicans don’t like it.

    When in 2000 the republicans came up with Freedom zones away from the RNC, the press did not question this, in any meeting or interview with Bush the press would always ask softball questions. The press job is to be unbiased thats NOT the style of news we have got from MSM over the last 8 years.

    Now the press is seeing that change is going to happen is starting to go back to the way news should be reported.

  23. By bughunter on Sep 23, 2008 12:56 pm |

    Awesome post. I don’t know why I’m not already reading your blog every damn day.

    (sent here via C&L)

  24. By Charm City on Sep 23, 2008 1:11 pm |

    Ouch. No truer words have been spoken. Well said. Great analogy.

  25. By THeDRiFTeR on Sep 23, 2008 2:41 pm |

    Soundman, yes, don’t mess with him. Someone else said the cook, and that’d probably be true too. But I was thinking your barber/hairdresser. They hold your life in your hands. Best to tip them buggers.

    Great post, thanks…

  26. By Syborg on Sep 23, 2008 3:38 pm |

    As a recording engineer that used to own a fairly large live sound company, I can confirm that you hit the nail right on the head! Perfect analogy.

    Of course, I’d keep it sounding good out front but not care about their monitors…Then the band would have a train wreck on stage and the front of house sound would be fine for the audience. MMMhhhhaaaaaaaa!

  27. By westchesterdead on Sep 23, 2008 4:07 pm |

    Being the soundman for my band, that post was bang on. I’m baffled as to why Schmidt and company are choosing to go this route. True, they have no other choice, but it is absolute suicide to do so.

    I’m lovin’ it.

  28. By JUDGE NAUGHT on Sep 23, 2008 5:10 pm |

    So, it was the sound man all along! Now i know why my music career didn’t work out. Just cause I can.t play fer crap, I feel better now. Soundmen- who needs ‘em. I’ll try opera!

  29. By ce on Sep 23, 2008 6:58 pm |

    I think you’re not getting the point of the McCain War on the Press. It’s not hotheaded or misguided, it’s intentional and purposeful. It started at the RNC with the run-up to the Palin speech, and it’s continuing. See, because McCain didn’t vet Palin, the Press is going to. And the campaign wants the base to idolize Palin, and not hear things that will tarnish the idealism. And where might the base hear things about Palin? From the press! So the message is: They’re lying to you. Dear Base, you must disregard every bad thing They say about Palin because They Are Bad People Who Want To Hurt Us.

    It’s that simple. They want to fuck over the soundman because they don’t want the audience to hear what shitty musicians they are, and instead let the crowd go home thinking they heard an awesome concert because they heard nothing but cheering.

  30. By danny in fresno on Sep 23, 2008 9:05 pm |

    Something else to ponder… The Republicans have spent the last 8 years falsely painting the MSM as the “Liberal Media”. Their base is used to interpreting much of what they say as just so much “Liberal” drivel so who cares what the NYTimes says? It’ll be just that much more waah waa waa! “Oh… Listen to what the Liberal Media has to say about our poor, poor John. But don’t worry John. We aren’t listening. La La La La I can’t hear you La La La…” Let’s just hope I’m wrong, shall we?

  31. By wangdangdoodle on Sep 23, 2008 10:07 pm |

    Welcome back T, missed you! Great stuff, as always.

  32. By jack fate on Sep 23, 2008 10:31 pm |

    Five years on the road playing damn near every shit-hole with the lights turned on and I don’t think I’ve heard it put more eloquently. God Bless Soundguys. Even the creepy ones.

    Truth be told, however, the MSM is pretty fucking useless with teh faders.

  33. By sunnynobility on Sep 23, 2008 10:43 pm |

    Trex!

    Great post. You are on your game, bigtime!

  34. By amazona on Sep 24, 2008 1:34 am |

    So good to see and read you T. How could we have traveled through the end of this election without you?

  35. By siri on Sep 24, 2008 10:29 am |

    All my morning reads and blogs directed me here today, to this post!
    That’s some pretty wonderful and way due exposure!
    Good job!!! :)

  36. By brico on Sep 24, 2008 11:00 am |

    Unfortunately, I think ce hit it on the head even more soundly than your excellent post. They WANT the media to be seen as bad while they go out and use their little town hall chats and rallies and spread teh word that the vile MSM is ALL liberal and elite and can’t tell the truth, so everyone would be best to ignore them…Sure…it’s mostly going to boil down to getting their message out by word of mouth, but they’ll run their ads, do their abusive push-polls on the phone, send out outrageous fliers filled with lies, get people on the street, etc.
    It’s this same strategy that allows people (13% of voters) to think that Obama is Muslim and other such crap. the word will spread in driblets and drops and people will doubt and vote against their best interests, because the media is just “spewing lies.”

  37. By dmcrane on Sep 24, 2008 12:57 pm |

    Crooks and Liars sent me. This is a great piece. Thanks for the interesting read.

  38. By fahrrad on Mar 8, 2009 11:25 pm |

    Dies ist ein groer Ort. Ich mchte hier noch einmal.

  39. By fussball on Mar 11, 2009 12:58 pm |

    Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.

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