Josh Marshall: You're Kidding Me, Right? (re: Obama and scrutiny)

You're Kidding Me, Right?

I really hope the Obama camp is kidding when they say Barack is the most scrutinized candidate in the race. If they're not, they're living in a fantasy world that makes me question whether they're up to the rigors of a national campaign.

Let me be clear: there's legitimate scrutiny of legislative records, policy positions, personal finances, history of decisions made in tough, pressure-filled situations (the only really legitimate meaning of character), etc. There's been some of that and should probably be more.

Then there's the collective assault that constitutes modern press 'scrutiny', especially for a Democrat who generally has to deal with the tag team of the national political press and the regrettably much more able and ruthless GOP oppo research cadre, which has an established feeding operation mainlined to most national political reporters.

It ain't fair; it ain't right; but it's the reality. And if he thinks he's already gotten that, well ... what's he been smoking?

--Josh Marshall

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/061452.php

Obama Spokesman: No Candidate Has Been More Scrutinized By Media Than Obama Has
By Greg Sargent - December 19, 2007, 10:00AM

Which of the candidates has been most aggressively scrutinized by the media? According to Barack Obama spokesman Bill Burton, who was quoted today on the topic by The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz, the answer is Barack Obama:

Obama spokesman Bill Burton says the accusation of softer treatment is untrue but "the Clinton campaign whines about it so much, it becomes part of the chatter. No candidate in this race has undergone more investigations and examinations than Barack Obama has," he says, citing lengthy pieces in the Chicago Tribune and New York Times.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/obama_spokesman_no_one_in_campaign_has_been_more_scrutinized_by_media_than_obama_has.php