David Brock: Redefining 'Mainstream'

[Robbien]

There is nothing moderate about Republican efforts to recast John Kerry as an ultra-liberal

By David Brock and Jamison Foser, AlterNet. Posted July 30, 2004.

Last week, in advance of the Democratic National Convention, the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign unveiled their attack strategy for the Democratic convention: claim that Democrats are undergoing an "extreme makeover" to hide their ultra-liberal, out-of-the-mainstream views.

It may seem implausible that a political party that 54 percent of Americans – according to a CBS News/New York Times poll this month – have a favorable impression of, is "out of the mainstream." But the press corps, credulous as always when it comes to conservative spin, swallowed the Bush camp's talking points, hook, line, and sinker.

Conservative journalists and pundits were most enthusiastic about parroting the GOP's rhetoric, of course. Sean Hannity, best-known as co-host of FOX News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," was a particularly egregious practitioner of this craft. On his nationally syndicated radio show, Hannity announced: "That's why we call it the Reinvention Convention, 'cause they want to convince you that he is something that he is not. John Kerry is out of the mainstream."

It is less clear, however, on exactly which issues John Kerry is out of the mainstream.

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/19406/

[aquart]

1. Republicans always accuse Democrats of their own sins.

Nothing more out of the mainstream than a billionaire.