Time's Joe Klein Must Read: Embarracuda

[flpoljunkie]

Swampland, TIME
October 6, 2008

Embarracuda
Posted by Joe Klein

I'm of two minds about how to deal with the McCain campaign's further descent into ugliness. Their strategy is simple: you throw crap against a wall and then giggle as the media try to analyze the putresence in a way that conveys a sense of balance: "Well, it is bull-pucky, but the splatter pattern is interesting..." which, of course, only serves to get your perverse message out. I really don't want to be a part of that. But...every so often, we journalists have a duty to remind readers just how dingy the McCain campaign, and its right-wing acolytes in the media (I'm looking at you, Sean Hannity) have become--especially in their efforts to divert public attention from the economic crisis we're facing. And so inept at it: other campaigns have decided that their only shot is going negative, but usually they don't announce it, as several McCain aides have in recent days--there's no way we can win on the economy, so we're going to go sludge-diving.

But since we are dealing with manure here, I'll put the rest of this post below the fold.

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/10/embarracuda.html

[David__77]

1. I'm thinking the media may not go along with this announced strategy.

These things have already been thoroughly dealt with. I think it might be couched in a most unhelpful narrative for McCain.

[ErinBerin84]

2. I think that everyone knew they would go down this road

But I agree, WTF was up with making such a grand announcement about it three days in advance, complete with "We need to change the subject from the economy!"