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Why the media will lift Trump up and tear Clinton down
The media cannot countenance a lopsided race
No institution needs a competitive election more than the media, especially what remains of the "objective" campaign media. Imagine writing this headline:
---SNIP---
The campaign press requires, for its ongoing health and advertising revenue, a real race. It needs controversies. "Donald Trump is not fit to be president" may be the accurate answer to pretty much every relevant question about the race, but it's not an interesting answer. It's too final, too settled. No one wants to click on it.
What's more, the campaign media's self-image is built on not being partisan, which precludes adjudicating political disputes. How does that even work if one side is offering up a flawed centrist and the other is offering up a vulgar xenophobic demagogue?
It would be profoundly out of character for reporters to spend the six months between now and the election writing, again and again, that one side's candidate is a liar and a racist and an egomaniac. It would be uncomfortable, personally and professionally.
No institution needs a competitive election more than the media, especially what remains of the "objective" campaign media. Imagine writing this headline:
---SNIP---
The campaign press requires, for its ongoing health and advertising revenue, a real race. It needs controversies. "Donald Trump is not fit to be president" may be the accurate answer to pretty much every relevant question about the race, but it's not an interesting answer. It's too final, too settled. No one wants to click on it.
What's more, the campaign media's self-image is built on not being partisan, which precludes adjudicating political disputes. How does that even work if one side is offering up a flawed centrist and the other is offering up a vulgar xenophobic demagogue?
It would be profoundly out of character for reporters to spend the six months between now and the election writing, again and again, that one side's candidate is a liar and a racist and an egomaniac. It would be uncomfortable, personally and professionally.
Edit to add link
In short, the press wants a horse race, and will do everything it can to "balance" the public perceptions of both candidates.
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
"
Trump) recognizes that we have a bubble and he wants to make America great again," Schiff said, adding that of all the candidates he has the best understanding of how bad the problems are.
Trump) recognizes that we have a bubble and he wants to make America great again," Schiff said, adding that of all the candidates he has the best understanding of how bad the problems are. LINK
