I Write Letters

I wrote this to Steve Cochran after listening to him talking about Obama's "lipstick" on a pig comment, taking it out of context and from the portion I heard, trying to make something out of nothing, and saying Obama needs to explain the comment. (I tried not to sound like a ranting lunatic in the hopes that he might actually read the entire thing.) Letter starts here.

I'm usually not one to write letters, but I heard you talking about Obama's lipstick comment and it struck a nerve regarding political coverage in this country, especially when the campaign manager of one campaign says that this year's campaign isn't about issues. Why is that? I'd say its because the media in many cases allows it to be that way. The manufactured "lipstick" outrage is a prime example.

I wasn't able to listen to the rest of your show, so you may have covered this but in case you didn't, it might be worthwhile to read an alternative take here before we get all worked up with outrage and head for the fainting couch over a common turn of phrase that Obama has used frequently in the past.

Is this what it's come to? Direct to the internet/print/radio from Republican talking points on a "Truth Squad" conference call. Did anyone actually think Obama was calling Sarah Palin a pig? Was McCain calling Hillary a pig when he used it describe her health care plan? Funny I don't recall any outrage then.

Thankfully some in the media like Jake Tapper and Marc Ambinder are catching on.

Anyone paying attention to the 23 times McCain and Palin have repeated the Bridge to Nowhere lie on the campaign trail? Some of us are counting.

Maybe the McCain campaign should call their conference calls the "Half-Truth" squad.

I Write Letters