You ever wonder why the MSM tends to swoon over centrist Republicans?

[NNguyenMD]

Is it because in general, they support economic policies of Democrats but want a Republican label on it?

[mmonk]

1. No, they want the corporate agenda and legitimacy

of the republican agenda espoused.

[salin]

2. W was introduced to the general public as a "moderate" repub back in 1999.

Most extremist president I can remember - but he was initially marketed, via the media, as a moderate.

[acmejack]

5. Arguably the greatest bait & switch scam ever perpetrated!

What a con job that was...

[NNguyenMD]

3. I meant to say social policies, not economic

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. MSM loves blood

which is why they should cover Democrats more due to our penchant for circular firing squads. LOL!! *wink*

Those "centrist" Republicans breaking from the Borg are rare, though. And the M$M knows that Bushetals usually send the attack dogs out when one of them breaks from the pack.

[HereSince1628]

6. It's because centrists are still moder-right supporters of corporate

tax benefits, and FCC policies favoring media consolidation (bigger market share).

[Robbien]

7. Money. And it is not just GOPers, Centrist Dems are also media favs

The centrists are the ones with the money and influential rich elite backers.

[Hidden Stillness]

8. Republicans Become the Official Standard for Everything

I believe it is part of a larger, corporate Republican media scheme to cut Democrats/liberals/populists/feminists/unions/consumer activists, etc. completely out of the picture, as if they are totally irrelevent, always referred to as "so '60s, '70s," and as if Republicans/corporations can now cover the whole spectrum of life and thought, with no help at all from the pesky enemy anymore, now completely censored and not even referred to. Republicans are supposed to pass for everything now: the "groovy rebel" is Rush Limbaugh, not a real one; the "maverick" is John McCain, not a real one; the "intelligent thinker" is some "moderate" Republican or other; the "popular" Arnold Swarzenneger (sp?) so they don't have to refer to the popular Bill Clinton, etc.; and endless puff pieces on "humanitarian" tax-cheating, outsourcing, union-busting billionare traitors like Bill Gates, etc. It is a corporate media attempt to "normalize" Republicans as the standard of things, and cut out and marginalize the actually mainstream Democratic majority.

[AndyTiedye]

9. They Push "Centrist" Repiglicans Who Are Really Hard Right Wingers In Disguise

They promoted Bush* as a centrist when he was running for President in 2000.

They are pushing McCain as a centrist now, despite his being in the wingnut minority who wants to expand the war.