In response to “bittergate,” both the New York Times and the Stump fall victim to the media firestorm that emerged surrounding Barack Obama's comment. Both sources by and large contribute to the “sound and fury signifying nothing” that resulted from a comment that, if made in Pittsburgh rather than San Francisco, what have come off as empathetic rather than elitist. If we were to glean a lesson about the media from this episode, it would be that even highly reputable sources such as the New York Times and the New Republic will bite, and in the Times case perpetuate, a story that ought not have made the news at all. Perhaps the domination of cable news in setting the tone and replaying the tape forced the hand of the New York Times and The Stump, leaving readers hoping for discussions of the economy, health care, and foreign-policy were sorely disappointed.
Links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/us/politics/13campaign.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/us/politics/12campaign.html?scp=9&sq=obama+bitter&st=nyt
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/04/12/clinton-campaign-further-strengthens-the-democratic-party.aspx
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/04/12/the-bright-side-of-obama-s-gaffe.aspx
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/04/14/so-are-working-class-people-bitter-or-not.aspx
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