National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation for the week of March 3rd, 2008.
3/12/08
The latest on the presidential race, since its Wednesday, Ferraro’s comments on Obama and Obama’s win in Mississippi lead. His win in Mississippi was split along highly racial lines which is worrisome for the Democratic Party. They also discuss how Hillary Clinton has seemed to do a good job of winning back White votes. The Pennsylvania primary is coming up, where Hillary has a large lead right now, but Indiana and other states are coming up.
They also discussed the role that advisors have in impacting the candidates and how people involved with the campaigns can influence how voters look at candidates. They compare it to Donna Brazil’s resignation from Michael Dukakis’ campaign for her focus on George Bush’s alleged girlfriend.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of March 10th, 2008.
3/10/08
Synopsis: Barack Obama’s win in the Wyoming caucuses leads, he makes fun of the significance since its only a win by two delegates, so no real change in the delegate map, but he does concede it gives Obama momentum as he heads into Mississippi.
Newspapers are reporting on the Clinton campaigns suggestion that a Clinton-Obama ticket is the way to go, they are reporting its simply a way to weaken the Obama campaign despite his current delegate lead. Kotecki then ponders what Hillary would be like as VP, and compares her to Cheney in being a strong foreign policy VP.
Notes: Obama’s win is mocked a bit in the beginning and the role of the media in analyzed in the VP discussion going on, and Hillary is compared to the powerful but cunning Cheney.
3/13/08
Synopsis: The Eliot Spitzer scandal dominates.
Geraldine Ferraro’s comments that Barack Obama is only where he is because he is a black man, she hasn’t apologized, but resigned from the Clinton campaign because she didn’t want to hurt the campaign, and that the Obama campaign was twisting her words.
Romney is trying to work his way into the VP spot, to which Kotecki has a field day mocking Romney’s new role in attempting to grovel his way into the spot.
The teasers for next time are Hillary’s experience as first lady, and lastly he shows pictures of famous people admitting their mistakes, among which is President Clinton.
Notes: Ferraro’s comments dominate the campaign news, while Romney is made fun of and McCain is portrayed to be enjoying his new found power over his former rivals.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Florida, Michigan and Ohio, oh my!
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation for the week of March 3rd, 2008.
3/3/08
The discussion focuses around Latino voters and were their allegiances lie, right now Clinton is who Latino have shown up for in droves. Their guest, first outlines that Latinos are not a uniform group, and that you have White Latinos and Afro-Latinos from the Caribbean. He thinks that many Latinos have not voted for Obama because of racism to some extent, and he believes that race plays a role in the selection of the candidate. Younger candidates are more willing to vote for Obama, but the older generation is less wiling to do so the guest argues. He believes it is a racism problem, which partially comes because there is little social mobility for Afro-Latinos within the Latino community. There is then a guest who comes to defend Latinos and argues that there are many times when Latinos have supported African-American candidates.
3/6/08
There is some context given to the current situation on Iraq and each candidates stance on the issue. A discussion then follows of what the next president will have to deal with, and how the election may be impacted by this issue.
The Clinton and Obama camps stances are laid out on Florida and Michigan and possible re-dos in both states. Discussions are held with political observers in both Florida and Michigan. The differences between caucuses and primaries are examined as well as how each might play a different role in choosing a nominee.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of March 3rd, 2008.
3/3/08
Less then one day from the March 4th primary with Clinton leading, although Kotecki notes that despite her lead she still needs to do better in order to capture more then half the delegates. Kotecki recommends taking a pro-Corn hole stance to bump up numbers.
Obama is the second story with his controversy on NAFTA and that his stance on protectionism in Obama’s rhetoric was campaign motivated and not his real stance on NAFTA. The advisor’s is defending the memo he wrote.
Lastly, the controversy of Hillary’s comments on 60 Minutes about how Obama is not a Muslim “As far as I know” Kotecki goes on to make the connection that Hillary thinks SNL is an accurate news source since she refered to it in her last debate, she was also on SNL joking about how here campaign was going well, Kotecki goes on to make convoluted connections to make the point that people are making great leaps in order to achieve the idea that Hillary was attempting to label Obama as a Muslim. Its funny, but confusing, way of making fun of those who take Hillary to literally over a few words. It also makes fun of Obama for potentially being a “Muslim sleeper cell terrorist” if Hillary is right.
Teasers for the next show include McCain’s economic platform, and a promise to not spread rumors that McCain’s office is actually a bordello of female lobbyist, unless you’ve already heard something about that.
Notes: Kotecki starts by pointing out that Hillary is ahead in Ohio, but quickly moves on to the point that even if she is, it may not make a real difference in delegates. The Obama piece is short and somewhat critical, but spends more time making fun of Canadians then anything else. On the Hillary controversy Kotecki attempts to make fun of those taking Hillary Clinton to seriously, but in doing so just confuses the watcher, and doesn’t really say much in terms of interpreting the issue, but uses a lot of SNL references in the process.
3/6/08
Synopsis: John McCain seals the deal by getting the endorsement from the President, but Kotecki interprets it as not so much as a win but given the low approval ratings of the president might actually hurt McCain with democrats. McCain also asked the President to campaign for it as much as his busy schedule allows, Kotecki frames this in the same light that Bill Clinton was “too busy” to campaign for Al Gore, followed by video of Bill Clinton gardening.
Michigan and Florida are demanding their delegates be seated, where Clinton “kind of” won both contest, neither candidate campaigned in either state, and Obama wasn’t on the ballot in Michigan. This may all lead to a do-over, to which Kotecki jokes we should bring Romney out of retirement to give it another go.
In Ohio super delegates are holding back on their endorsements until the candidates line out plans to protect American johs. Kotecki compares it to the Star Wars Trade Federation’s power, to exert their will on government policy, hopefully without the pod racing.
Teasers include questions over Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy experience.
Notes: John McCain leads for once, though the President doesn’t fare so well. The Michigan and Florida story jabs at Hillary for her “kind of” wins, and the teaser questions her foreign policy experience without providing any details as to how the story leans.
3/3/08
The discussion focuses around Latino voters and were their allegiances lie, right now Clinton is who Latino have shown up for in droves. Their guest, first outlines that Latinos are not a uniform group, and that you have White Latinos and Afro-Latinos from the Caribbean. He thinks that many Latinos have not voted for Obama because of racism to some extent, and he believes that race plays a role in the selection of the candidate. Younger candidates are more willing to vote for Obama, but the older generation is less wiling to do so the guest argues. He believes it is a racism problem, which partially comes because there is little social mobility for Afro-Latinos within the Latino community. There is then a guest who comes to defend Latinos and argues that there are many times when Latinos have supported African-American candidates.
3/6/08
There is some context given to the current situation on Iraq and each candidates stance on the issue. A discussion then follows of what the next president will have to deal with, and how the election may be impacted by this issue.
The Clinton and Obama camps stances are laid out on Florida and Michigan and possible re-dos in both states. Discussions are held with political observers in both Florida and Michigan. The differences between caucuses and primaries are examined as well as how each might play a different role in choosing a nominee.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of March 3rd, 2008.
3/3/08
Less then one day from the March 4th primary with Clinton leading, although Kotecki notes that despite her lead she still needs to do better in order to capture more then half the delegates. Kotecki recommends taking a pro-Corn hole stance to bump up numbers.
Obama is the second story with his controversy on NAFTA and that his stance on protectionism in Obama’s rhetoric was campaign motivated and not his real stance on NAFTA. The advisor’s is defending the memo he wrote.
Lastly, the controversy of Hillary’s comments on 60 Minutes about how Obama is not a Muslim “As far as I know” Kotecki goes on to make the connection that Hillary thinks SNL is an accurate news source since she refered to it in her last debate, she was also on SNL joking about how here campaign was going well, Kotecki goes on to make convoluted connections to make the point that people are making great leaps in order to achieve the idea that Hillary was attempting to label Obama as a Muslim. Its funny, but confusing, way of making fun of those who take Hillary to literally over a few words. It also makes fun of Obama for potentially being a “Muslim sleeper cell terrorist” if Hillary is right.
Teasers for the next show include McCain’s economic platform, and a promise to not spread rumors that McCain’s office is actually a bordello of female lobbyist, unless you’ve already heard something about that.
Notes: Kotecki starts by pointing out that Hillary is ahead in Ohio, but quickly moves on to the point that even if she is, it may not make a real difference in delegates. The Obama piece is short and somewhat critical, but spends more time making fun of Canadians then anything else. On the Hillary controversy Kotecki attempts to make fun of those taking Hillary Clinton to seriously, but in doing so just confuses the watcher, and doesn’t really say much in terms of interpreting the issue, but uses a lot of SNL references in the process.
3/6/08
Synopsis: John McCain seals the deal by getting the endorsement from the President, but Kotecki interprets it as not so much as a win but given the low approval ratings of the president might actually hurt McCain with democrats. McCain also asked the President to campaign for it as much as his busy schedule allows, Kotecki frames this in the same light that Bill Clinton was “too busy” to campaign for Al Gore, followed by video of Bill Clinton gardening.
Michigan and Florida are demanding their delegates be seated, where Clinton “kind of” won both contest, neither candidate campaigned in either state, and Obama wasn’t on the ballot in Michigan. This may all lead to a do-over, to which Kotecki jokes we should bring Romney out of retirement to give it another go.
In Ohio super delegates are holding back on their endorsements until the candidates line out plans to protect American johs. Kotecki compares it to the Star Wars Trade Federation’s power, to exert their will on government policy, hopefully without the pod racing.
Teasers include questions over Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy experience.
Notes: John McCain leads for once, though the President doesn’t fare so well. The Michigan and Florida story jabs at Hillary for her “kind of” wins, and the teaser questions her foreign policy experience without providing any details as to how the story leans.
Bloomberg is out but Nader is in
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation for the week of February 25th, 2008.
2/26/08
Opens with a discussion of the hope versus experience debate going on between Obama and Hillary, and ask, are we focusing to much on personality and not on issues. The host them invites listeners to call in and tell their most important issue and how they feel on that issue. Health care is the first issue they discuss, and the difference between them, differentiating between the two plans is Clinton’s mandates, and Obama’s lack of them except for children. They mention most health care economist believe in Clinton’s, and then how the two candidates have attacked each other on these issues. They discuss Clinton’s flip-flops on Iraq. They go on to discuss issues of foreign and domestic policy and how the two candidates are growing closer together on a variety of issues.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of February 25th, 2008.
2/25/08
Ralph Nader is running again! Obama called Nader heroic, Hillary hoped his run would be nothing more then a passing fancy. Nader said only he had the backbone to make sure Republicans don’t win. As Kotecki pointed out, given his past success it’s a surprise Nader doesn’t run every time he can, oh wait, he does.
Obama calls Republicans who support him “Obamakins,” Kotecki has a field day making fun of the label possibilities with Obama-martial law and Obama-rama.
Lastly Chuck Hagel has not yet endorsed John McCain. There is speculation he might run on the bottom half of an Independent Bloomberg ticket. To which Kotecki then suggest Ralph Nader might need a running mate.
As a finishing note Kotecki pumps stories on Politico.com pointing out the obvious that racist and sexist attacks from Republicans might not be effective. And when signing off, Kotecki promises to always to take it to the Obam-maximum.
2/28/08
Synopsis:
Michael Bloomberg decides not to run, and it is compared to the loss of the planet Alderan in Star Wars for east coast yuppies.
The second story is the use of Barak Obama’s middle name of Hussain by the Tennessee Republican Party in press release about Obama and Israel, This did not go over well with the Republican National Committee, who promised a public rebuke if it happened again, while the Tennessee party stood by its words and said they had a duty to inform the Republican base.
Super delegate and Georgia Congressman John Lewis has switched his allegiance from Hillary to Obama, saying he wanted to be on the side of the people. But seriously, who wants to be on the wrong side of history Kotecki asks. Lastly the teaser for next show is a story about Hillary’s plan to cut child poverty.
Notes:
While covering the election from several standpoints, Obama does lead this week, with his story about the use of his middle name and the super delegate switch, in fact the only direct mention of Hillary Clinton as separate from Obama is the last three seconds of the show with the teaser for next time.
2/26/08
Opens with a discussion of the hope versus experience debate going on between Obama and Hillary, and ask, are we focusing to much on personality and not on issues. The host them invites listeners to call in and tell their most important issue and how they feel on that issue. Health care is the first issue they discuss, and the difference between them, differentiating between the two plans is Clinton’s mandates, and Obama’s lack of them except for children. They mention most health care economist believe in Clinton’s, and then how the two candidates have attacked each other on these issues. They discuss Clinton’s flip-flops on Iraq. They go on to discuss issues of foreign and domestic policy and how the two candidates are growing closer together on a variety of issues.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of February 25th, 2008.
2/25/08
Ralph Nader is running again! Obama called Nader heroic, Hillary hoped his run would be nothing more then a passing fancy. Nader said only he had the backbone to make sure Republicans don’t win. As Kotecki pointed out, given his past success it’s a surprise Nader doesn’t run every time he can, oh wait, he does.
Obama calls Republicans who support him “Obamakins,” Kotecki has a field day making fun of the label possibilities with Obama-martial law and Obama-rama.
Lastly Chuck Hagel has not yet endorsed John McCain. There is speculation he might run on the bottom half of an Independent Bloomberg ticket. To which Kotecki then suggest Ralph Nader might need a running mate.
As a finishing note Kotecki pumps stories on Politico.com pointing out the obvious that racist and sexist attacks from Republicans might not be effective. And when signing off, Kotecki promises to always to take it to the Obam-maximum.
2/28/08
Synopsis:
Michael Bloomberg decides not to run, and it is compared to the loss of the planet Alderan in Star Wars for east coast yuppies.
The second story is the use of Barak Obama’s middle name of Hussain by the Tennessee Republican Party in press release about Obama and Israel, This did not go over well with the Republican National Committee, who promised a public rebuke if it happened again, while the Tennessee party stood by its words and said they had a duty to inform the Republican base.
Super delegate and Georgia Congressman John Lewis has switched his allegiance from Hillary to Obama, saying he wanted to be on the side of the people. But seriously, who wants to be on the wrong side of history Kotecki asks. Lastly the teaser for next show is a story about Hillary’s plan to cut child poverty.
Notes:
While covering the election from several standpoints, Obama does lead this week, with his story about the use of his middle name and the super delegate switch, in fact the only direct mention of Hillary Clinton as separate from Obama is the last three seconds of the show with the teaser for next time.
Lobbyist and Primaries abound
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation for the week of February 18th, 2008.
2/18/08
Castro’s stepping down leads, the story does include comments from the presidential candidates in general. Clinton’s position on Cuba has been similar to Bush’s because she wants to win Florida in the general election, while Obama has called for more open travel to Cuba by Cuban-American families and has indicated a willingness to talk with countries such as Cuba that the US has not been on good footing. As always, the conversation included a scholarly guest and calls from the general public
2/21/08
The McCain article from the New York Times tying lobbyist Vicky Eismen whom it is alleged he had an affair with leads. The host questions whether or not there is a firm tie to the lobbyist and the guest, an NPR editor for the, says there is not, and that there is no firm tie to any wrong doing. They discuss the timing, how it might have played earlier in the primary season, versus now when it is hurting him now as the presumptive nominee. They discuss the fairness of the piece, and the rallying effect it may have on those who have not favored McCain beforehand.
Identity politics is next on the agenda, discussing how people rally around those with whom they most identify, and vote for them based on that identity instead of issues. Listeners are invited to email and call in as always. Stanley Fish, an online columnist for the New York Times is the guest. They discuss Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton and the identities that both of them have and how this effects how voters are drawn to them.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of February 18, 2008.
2/19/08
The Wisconsin Primary leads, with splices of internet website jokes inter-spliced with reporting on how McCain is expected to widen his lead on Huckabee, and Hillary is expected to do better then expected. Obama has come under fire for his health care plan, and a promise to take general funds in an election. The “plagerism” claim is also talk about, as Obama apparently used that was from a Deval Patrick. Obama admits he should have given credit to Patrick for the line.
Next the Hawai’i caucus was talked about. There are only twenty delegates at state James Kotecki points out, while making fun of grass skirts and Spam. However, Chelsea Clinton has been campaigning there despite Obama’s strong lead. Kotecki did point out that if you thought he might be awake for the 1:30 AM results when they came in, you must be coco-nuts.
2/22/08
The NYT story on John McCain’s alleged affair with a young lobbyist leads, or at last a song version of it does, by singer/songwriter/host James Kotecki. John McCain denied the story, or as Kotecki put it “but you say she’s just a friend, oh oh, you say she’s just a friend.” The NYT was then attacked for running the story.
Another Obama/Hillary debate in Texas, that was also shown on Univsion, Kotecki noted that the exciting accent by co-host Jorge Ramos was the only thing new about the debate. Despite Hillary’s uphill challenge, it was a calm debate, but Hillary, said “not change you can believe, but change you can Xerox” which Kotecki commented, “not only did that joke suck (the oxygen out the room)” but that they may not have been in opposition.
Lastly, in 1995 Obama met with two people associated with leftist terrorist organizations, as a part of his run for the state senate, a much different approach then he’s been known for taking recently.
2/18/08
Castro’s stepping down leads, the story does include comments from the presidential candidates in general. Clinton’s position on Cuba has been similar to Bush’s because she wants to win Florida in the general election, while Obama has called for more open travel to Cuba by Cuban-American families and has indicated a willingness to talk with countries such as Cuba that the US has not been on good footing. As always, the conversation included a scholarly guest and calls from the general public
2/21/08
The McCain article from the New York Times tying lobbyist Vicky Eismen whom it is alleged he had an affair with leads. The host questions whether or not there is a firm tie to the lobbyist and the guest, an NPR editor for the, says there is not, and that there is no firm tie to any wrong doing. They discuss the timing, how it might have played earlier in the primary season, versus now when it is hurting him now as the presumptive nominee. They discuss the fairness of the piece, and the rallying effect it may have on those who have not favored McCain beforehand.
Identity politics is next on the agenda, discussing how people rally around those with whom they most identify, and vote for them based on that identity instead of issues. Listeners are invited to email and call in as always. Stanley Fish, an online columnist for the New York Times is the guest. They discuss Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton and the identities that both of them have and how this effects how voters are drawn to them.
Politico.com's Playbook TV with James Kotecki for the week of February 18, 2008.
2/19/08
The Wisconsin Primary leads, with splices of internet website jokes inter-spliced with reporting on how McCain is expected to widen his lead on Huckabee, and Hillary is expected to do better then expected. Obama has come under fire for his health care plan, and a promise to take general funds in an election. The “plagerism” claim is also talk about, as Obama apparently used that was from a Deval Patrick. Obama admits he should have given credit to Patrick for the line.
Next the Hawai’i caucus was talked about. There are only twenty delegates at state James Kotecki points out, while making fun of grass skirts and Spam. However, Chelsea Clinton has been campaigning there despite Obama’s strong lead. Kotecki did point out that if you thought he might be awake for the 1:30 AM results when they came in, you must be coco-nuts.
2/22/08
The NYT story on John McCain’s alleged affair with a young lobbyist leads, or at last a song version of it does, by singer/songwriter/host James Kotecki. John McCain denied the story, or as Kotecki put it “but you say she’s just a friend, oh oh, you say she’s just a friend.” The NYT was then attacked for running the story.
Another Obama/Hillary debate in Texas, that was also shown on Univsion, Kotecki noted that the exciting accent by co-host Jorge Ramos was the only thing new about the debate. Despite Hillary’s uphill challenge, it was a calm debate, but Hillary, said “not change you can believe, but change you can Xerox” which Kotecki commented, “not only did that joke suck (the oxygen out the room)” but that they may not have been in opposition.
Lastly, in 1995 Obama met with two people associated with leftist terrorist organizations, as a part of his run for the state senate, a much different approach then he’s been known for taking recently.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
For Clinton and Obama, next six weeks are critical
The Christian Science Monitor
"For Clinton and Obama, next six weeks are critical"
By Ariel Sabar
March 13th, 2008
The author Ariel Sabar, of the Christian Science Monitor, has done a really solid job of writing a really balanced article that outlines the next six weeks for the Democratic party and the two candidates. There is no primary until April 22nd when the delegate rich state Pennsylvania has their primary, and between now and then might be the most important time for the two candidates.
Ms. Sabar says that both candidates will try to "mold perceptions" that they are the most likely to succeed and have the upper hand. The candidates are also trying to frame the race in their favor, for example Obama's camp is pointing out that he has won the most delegates, as well as the most states, including states that will be a "battleground" with McCain. Where the Clinton campaign is claiming that she has won all the big states and is stated as most likely to win in Pennsylvania, which would give her a large boost in delegates. The next paragraph is rather deceptivly simple in the wealth of information that it conveys, and for that reason I have decided to quote it:
Perhaps more important, analysts say, are the nearly 800 elected officials and party leaders known as superdelegates who may well tip the race; the ordinary Americans whose poll responses journalists use to gauge shifts in political momentum; and the Democratic leaders who will decide whether and how to proceed with do-overs of the primaries in Michigan and Florida, which had been stripped of their delegates because they moved up their contests in violation of party rules.
It was interesting to read the second phrase in this paragraph that mentions the role of the journalists forecasting of the election and the power they have to sway the election. It was phrased quite unassumingly!
The article is very good at avoiding any bias towards either candidate, even in subtle language that will subliminally frame a candidate a certain way. But at the end of the article the real message Ms. Sabar seems to be trying to get across is a warning to the democrats against waiting too long to decide who will be the candidate.
"The potential for one side to feel that the other has stolen the nomination is really strong right now," says Dr. Aistrup of Kansas State. "The result of that in November is that it turns a pretty strong probability of a Democratic victory into a situation where John McCain is very likely to win."
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The Spitzer Fiasco
For those of you living under a rock, the news of the Eliot Spitzer sex scandal, and his subsequent resignation, have been the talk of the circuit this week. The New York Times broke the story on Monday (Affidavit: Client 9 and Room 871) which identified Gov. Spitzer as "Client 9" from a detailed 47-page FBI affidavit concerning an online prostitution ring.
In a Wednesday Los Angeles Times "Critic's Notebook" entry entitled "Spitzer scandal makes a perfect news storm," Mary McNamara describes the event as every reporter's dream story:
In in daily "Post Political Hour" response and commentary feature with politics reporters, The Washington Post has explored the potential impact of the story on the 2008 presidential campaign. Spitzer was a superdelegate in the Democratic party, and had endorsed Clinton (Blog Post) in May of 2007.
On Tuesday, March 11, reporter Michael Shear responded to a question regarding the story's effect on Clinton, beyond her loss of one superdelegate vote:
In a Wednesday Los Angeles Times "Critic's Notebook" entry entitled "Spitzer scandal makes a perfect news storm," Mary McNamara describes the event as every reporter's dream story:
"They may be a journalist's five favorite words: Governor linked to prostitution ring. Now that's a TV crawl promising a very good week for everyone (except, of course, for the governor's family)."McNamara goes on to describe how the drama and theater of the story, coupled with the high-profile politician, simplicity of the story, and even "the opportunity to talk about sex and still look professional" heightened its attractiveness to journalists, newspapers, and (especially) television news outlets. This description of the perfect news story resonates strongly with the ideas we've developed – due to its simplicity, drama, and titillation component, but also because it fits into a well-established journalistic frame of political corruption on a basic level.
In in daily "Post Political Hour" response and commentary feature with politics reporters, The Washington Post has explored the potential impact of the story on the 2008 presidential campaign. Spitzer was a superdelegate in the Democratic party, and had endorsed Clinton (Blog Post) in May of 2007.
On Tuesday, March 11, reporter Michael Shear responded to a question regarding the story's effect on Clinton, beyond her loss of one superdelegate vote:
"The broader question is interesting too: does the prospect of a new sex scandal remind people of the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair and make them want to run the other way?"On the other hand, Thursday, March 13's coverage, reporter Lois Romano downplays any significant connection:
"I don't think it will have any impact on the presidential race whatsoever. Everyone is so focused on the presidential, that people are trying to create tenuous links. Spitzer's behavior is outrageous- but its his own. No one can fault anyone else."It will be interesting to see whether the Spitzer scandal and resignation will enter into the campaign dialogue over the next week. It's hard to see Obama attempting to capitalize, since he's run as an ethics- and change-oriented politician promising a new kind of politics. However, the same could have been said about Eliot Spitzer.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
In Ohio primary, campaign hinges on NAFTA
"In Ohio primary, campaign hinges on NAFTA"
Amanda Paulson
February 26th, 2008
The article is written in Dayton, Ohio and begins with a reference to the troubles in 1993 when NAFTA was passed. Ohio has been greatly affected economically and many blame NAFTA for the loss of jobs. Since 2001 Ohio has lost 225,000 manufacturing jobs and as the Monitor states, “…NAFTA is an easy target.” The article discusses the techniques the candidates use to attract supporters while also trying to tack blame on their opponent.
The article is interesting because it quotes an economist from Cleveland State University saying, “It's nice to blame the bogeyman, rather than the failed business strategies of Ford, GM, or Chrysler," which implies that its not wholly the governments fault that there has been a huge loss of jobs.
The article continues to quote citizens who are struggling with loss of their jobs and aren’t getting hired. It also quotes a forklift operator who is suspicious of the Clinton name, “I heard on the radio that she’ll fight hard for unions. But you didn't do it. You didn't say anything to Bill back then. Now it's too late. The only thing we're good at exporting anymore is jobs.” This goes against a quote from a similar New York Times article that quotes people from Ohio in favor of Hillary because of her association with Bill.
This article ends with an expert saying that Obama has an edge because his name isn’t Clinton, but that really people will choose based on personality. Despite this talking about NAFTA is very important because “These are major issues, and the people are blaming their government for not only the loss of their job but also their inability to pay their mortgage and the loss of their homes...NAFTA matters.”
Overall the article was relatively unbiased, though it did imply a slight advantage to Obama over Clinton. The one interesting thing about the article was that it quoted six different people three were citizens and three were 'experts', which was very equal. But all the people quoted were men, I though that was a very interesting phenomenon.
The only thing about this article that disappointed me was that it was very into the horse race aspect of the campaign, and talked more about what people thought of the respective candidates than what the candidates positions were on NAFTA. The article also assumed previous knowledge about what NAFTA is and means.
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