this week in the Nation

John Halle john.halle at yale.edu
Wed Dec 22 13:07:52 PST 1999


Those of you logging onto its web site will find the Nation reverting to its familiar Democratic attack dog role as elections role around: the two lead pieces are devoted to bashing the two leading Republican candidates.

Given that most of the editorial board is in bed with (literally and figuratively) Democrat hacks of various stripes, the stragegy is both predictable and cynical: Nation readers are too well informed to be enthusiastic for the plate of gruel slopped out by the DLC. The only way their support can be insured (other than waving around the carrot of potential sub-cabinet level appointments) is by instilling fear of an incipient right-wing take over should the repugs get in. And, true to form, one piece refers to the prospect of a McCain presidency as "scary."

You'll remember the same sort of thing last time: column inches which might have been used (for example) to counteract the media blackout on the Nader campaign were devoted week after week to Dole's ties to big tobacco and neo-Nazis, his dubious character, shameful Senatorial record, etc.

Perhaps the board can be convinced that a more subtle form of opinion management will be required this time. Or, dare I say it, some level of journalistic integrity?

John



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