KRUGMAN's Memo To The Gullible Vanity-Seeking Media: Wake Up, YOU Are Romney/Ryan's Real Target

[kpete]

So, let me clarify what I believe is really going on in the choice of Paul Ryan as VP nominee. It is not about satisfying the conservative base, which was motivated anyway by Obama-hatred; it is not about refocusing on the issues, because R&R are both determined to avoid providing any of the crucial specifics about their plans. It is — as Jonathan Chait also seems to understand — about exploiting the gullibility and vanity of the news media, in much the same way that George W. Bush did in 2000.


So, let me clarify what I believe is really going on in the choice of Paul Ryan as VP nominee. It is not about satisfying the conservative base, which was motivated anyway by Obama-hatred; it is not about refocusing on the issues, because R&R are both determined to avoid providing any of the crucial specifics about their plans. It is — as Jonathan Chait also seems to understand — about exploiting the gullibility and vanity of the news media, in much the same way that George W. Bush did in 2000.

................................

So that’s the constituency Romney is targeting: not a large segment of the electorate, but a few hundred at most editors, reporters, programmers, and pundits. His hope is that Ryan’s unjustified reputation for honest wonkery will transfer to the ticket as a whole.


So, a memo to the news media: you have now become players in this campaign, not just reporters. Mitt Romney isn’t seeking a debate on the issues; on the contrary, he’s betting that your gullibility and vanity will let him avoid a debate on the issues, including the issue of his own fitness for the presidency. I guess we’ll see if it works.


http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/romneyryan-the-real-target/

[progressivebydesign]

1. and they're hoping the media is so dazzled by Ryan's abs, that they STOP asking about the returns.

fuck. fuck. fuck. Krugman is right.

[freshwest]

3. This just inflates their airheads to no end. Expect them to have orgasms over Ryan.

[KaryninMiami]

2. We can only hope that the media has evolved since the Bush years

One thing that has evolved- is the immediate availability of global news online which is augmenting network news in a huge way. I'd like to believe- call me an optimist- that enough lessons were learned and the media has gotten smarter and has truly shifted - and reporters will no longer stand by like wimps and chickens as they did during the Bush years. hink about it- Bush- Iraq- Afghanistan-Katina-mass killings- I think it's reasonable to have faith. There are some damn good investigative reporters out there now.

The Daily Show audience is bigger then ever- that helps a bit too.

[dsteve01]

4. I want to

Make love to Krugman like an Eagle falling out of the sky.

[HiPointDem]

5. doesn't make sense to me. romney picked ryan so media can tell a story they like? huh?

"many commentators want to tell a story about US politics that makes them feel and look good — a story in which both parties are equally at fault in our national stalemate, and in which said commentators stand above the fray.

This story requires that there be good, honest, technically savvy conservative politicians, so that you can point to these politicians and say how much you admire them, even if you disagree with some of their ideas; after all, unless you lavish praise on some conservatives, you don’t come across as nobly even-handed."

it's difficult to unravel the various forms of duplicity going on here.