Lately, John McCain has complained the media isn't giving him enough love.
His campaign recently released two videos showing all the loving the media gives to Barack Obama.
It is true that Obama's overseas trip this week received tremendous coverage, while McCain's recent trip to Mexico got scant notice.
But McCain is blowing off an invitation to address as many as 5,000 journalists attending the UNITY: Journalists of Color convention held in Chicago this week.
The convention organized by the four major minority journalism associations representing blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and Native Americans with a mission to promote diversity in the media, has invited both of the major candidates running for president.
Both candidates were invited to speak Thursday night but Obama was in Berlin. Obama will instead speak to convention goers on Sunday morning, and it will be broadcast on CNN. McCain hasn't accepted the invitation.
When the UNITY conference was last held in 2004 in Washington, D.C., both John Kerry and President Bush spoke to the group of journalists.
There will be thousands of journalists at UNITY, most who don't normally get to cover a presidential candidate, and many of them would write about McCain's visit for their local news organizations.
It's time for McCain to stop whining about the media ignoring him, and pay attention to this large group of journalists willing to hear what he has to say.
This blog brought to you by the Sun-Times editorial board (click on names to read bios):
This is to shelter his temper and senior moments.
I agree McCain has not gotten his fair share of media coverage. Little or nothing has been said about his voting record on veteran health care or his nine out of ten chance of suffering from PTSD. Please feel free to copy the following request and email it those 5,000 reporters who seem not to have anything to report, ask them to report on the full McCain:
Please help us take the media to task for not giving full coverage to the subject of John McCain.
The media gives us full coverage of McCain's war hero history, writes numerous stories about how he was tortured for many years, produces hundreds of articles every time a vet speaks out for him and talks about the torture, yet no one in the mainstream press ever asks the question "could the man running for the highest office in the United States of America, a job with incredible stress, possibly suffer from PTSD"?
At present you can Google the words 'mccain ptsd' and approximately one half million hits will appear on the web, many of these are articles by veteran groups. Go to Google news section and try it and you may pull one or two. As you can see, there is still no real mainstream media coverage on this issue. Seems they will do article after article on the actual torture but not the final probable result.
“Among U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War, as many
as nine out of 10 survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release, psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues report in the January AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY.”
McCain has a nine out of ten chance of having PTSD, displays many of
the symptoms, yet no one in the mainstream press will question this.
'Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response.'
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN17282413
http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/PTSDsymptoms.htm
Before the Iraq war many of us begged the media to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam and to report on previous administrations dealings with Iraq. We were told it was ancient history. The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war.
Today, we are asking the media if John McCain is emotionally fit to
serve as the President of the United States. Will they consider this ancient history as well? Surely the voters deserve to know prior to the fall election.
Thank you.
I agree that McCain has not gotten his fair share of coverage. 5,000 reporters with nothing to report, or is it simply they prefer not to report on the full McCain? Feel free to forward the following "news tip" to them to them. Please help us take the media to task for not giving full coverage to the subject of John McCain.
The media gives us full coverage of McCain's war hero history, writes numerous stories about how he was tortured for many years, produces hundreds of articles every time a vet speaks out for him and talks about the torture, yet no one in the mainstream press ever asks the question "could the man running for the highest office in the United States of America, a job with incredible stress, possibly suffer from PTSD"? At present you can Google the words 'mccain ptsd' and approximately one half million hits will appear on the web, many of these are articles by veteran groups. Go to Google news section and try it and you may be able pull one or two non-mainstream articles. As you can see, there is still no real mainstream media coverage on this issue. Seems they will do article after article on the actual torture but not the final probable result.
“Among U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War, as many
as nine out of 10 survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release, psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues report in the January AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY.”
McCain has a nine out of ten chance of having PTSD, displays many of
the symptoms, yet no one in the mainstream press will question this.
'Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response.'
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN17282413
http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/PTSDsymptoms.htm
Before the Iraq war many of us begged the media to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam and to report on previous administrations dealings with Iraq. We were told it was ancient history. The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war.
Today, we are asking the media if John McCain is emotionally fit to
serve as the President of the United States. Will they consider this ancient history as well? Surely the voters deserve to know prior to the fall election.
Thank you.
McCain clearly knows what’s best for the country, as is made clear here. He knows, also, that life isn’t best lived seriously. Why so serious, he asks? Get your War On! – check out the animated promo at the comedy news site 236.com http://www.236.com/video/2008/get_your_war_on_promo_7897.php
McCain didn't ignore it.
McCain had a long standing committment to a Lance Armonstrong cancer event on thursday evening when they asked him to attend.
NABJ consistently has asked the best questions of candidates. Apparently he cannot withstand the pressure of real vetting for our highest office.
I predict he'll be a regular on the 'new and improved CBS'. Look what Katie Couric did for McSame the other night:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/07/did_cbs_and_katie_couric_consp.html#hp
So was he not able to schedule a different day, as did Obama?
Swin I think you may have a point on McCains future espically being the president. There is something going on when he flips flops on some of his decisions and seriously believes he didn't make the comments he did!
McCain had a previous commitment that he was not willing to cancel, as did Obama. Why is McCain being singled out for chastisement? The reason is the EXTREMELY slanted views of the liberal media and the DNC controlling it.
McCain unwillingness to accept this invitation further highlights his contradictory stance on certain comments and issues.
For me, his unwillingness to seize the opportunity to speak to 5,000 minority journalists...speaks for itself.
I consider this man a mockery of the Republican party. I'm extremely surprised this is the best presumptive nominee the party could present. He is much too old to be President, out of touch with the economy and every social issue, and also not sensitive to the plight of minorities...hench his snub to the aforementioned.
I can't wait until November. OBAMA 2008!!
McCain unwillingness to accept this invitation further highlights his contradictory stance on certain comments and issues.
For me, his unwillingness to seize the opportunity to speak to 5,000 minority journalists...speaks for itself.
I consider this man a mockery of the Republican party. I'm extremely surprised this is the best presumptive nominee the party could present. He is much too old to be President, out of touch with the economy and every social issue, and also not sensitive to the plight of minorities...hench his snub to the aforementioned.
I can't wait until November. OBAMA 2008!!
least he did not ignore wounded troops.
SLAM!
count it
Not sure if anyone would want to attend this event. With the constant news of Chicago being a murder haven. Seriously, why should McCain attend an event where 92% of the people are going to openly support Obama simply because he is black. HILLARY did NOT get any real support from the black community, so you know McCain is going to get even less, because he is a Republican. A waste of his time.
As if McCain is going to get a fair shake from that crowd!!!!!!!!
It's easy to criticize a candidate for not attending an event but to say that he is ignoring the group is less clear. Campaigns are long grueling exercises often requiring scheduling adjustments. It may be that McCain had other obligations on the day or days the event was happening. He has certainly not shied away from addressing groups of color appearing at the NAACP, La Raza, LULAC and other organizations. Further, a comparison of the two candidates positions and history clearly show McCain has a real empathy for minorities while Obama has a way to go in that area especially with hispanics.
John McCain is a bore...snore....oops..I am awake..snore....snooze....I am going back to sleep.
The pro-bama press is donating $$ to Obama at the rate of 100 to 1. (IBD editorials) Why would McCain go out of his way to cater to those "professional" news reporters who are putting their money where their mouths are to see Obama win?
Thank God for the blogosphere where we can get some factual news and check voting records to see who voted for what bill...little things like that.
Mccain and his campaign does nothing but whin whin whin.
I don'e see Obama complaining about Fox news constant negative take on his every move, the long media circus called Rev. Wright, and the barrage of conservative radio thats forced on the American public.
McCAin knows that his platform is one of WAR and this branch of the media will report it for what it is.
Why should McCain associate with "UNITY: Journalists of Color". McCain should not waste his time with a group so focused on "color", which is a euphamism for racist black people.
Forget McCain. The real story is why hasn't the journalist of color said anything about the Gov. of Illinois wanting to bring the National Guards to the streets of Chicago.
All they have to do is call me or send me an e-mail so that they can get some real news and then report it back to people of color and the world.
Google me, so that you will know who I be, I know the power of Unity, this is why I respect Unity.
Wallace"Gator"Bradley
Urban Translator
312-371-6914
McCain chose to ignore the oxy-moronic group "UNITY" 08, while the group "UNITY" chooses to keep the white jourmalists out of their so-called "unity" conference.
What a joke, both in name and feeling slighted. I have a funny feeling that the many of the white population will remember this so-called "UNITY" group and will exhibit their own "UNITY" conference come November when they will vote for and elect John McCain president of the USA. and who could blame them?
There is no growing when you keep a certain segment out because of the color of their skin. The minorities represented at this faux conference should know that through experience and have learned nothing from history and probably just carry a chip on their shoulder.
Good luck to all that.
McCain at least had the intestinal fortitude to say no thanks to that subliminal form of racial animosity.
Thanks and have a great day.
Stewie,
HE'S NOT BLACK! He is half black, half white, raised by white grandparents... Why do so many try and play the race card? I do believe that McCain is making a HUGE mistake not attending this event. Believe PTSD is going to be an issue at sometime if he gets into office.
Vote for change, improvements to our society, US self sufficiency, not for the one that slings the bull the best.
some one stated, could it be reverse coverage,too little,being inside and still outside... the senator really should speak at the convention or meeting, and debate if necessay,issues and new ideas.
I find it pathetic how the right wing nutjobs constantly whine about the so called "liberal media". Take the commenter Lea for example. She seems to have conveniently overlooked the fact that, like Obama, McCain could have chosen to reschedule. It's so typical. Anytime the media reports a fact not convenient for a conservative the imaginary "liberal media" conspiracy theory is brought up. Whenever a fact is brought forward by the media that makes a liberal look bad the same whining conservative brats conveniently look the other way instead if adding it to their fictitous tally of alleged slights.
In truth, the media is neither conservative nor liberal. Do you really think a "liberal media" would so willingly bend over backwards to this conservative criticism so regularly? Sure, some outlets are slanted left. Others are slanted right. Many of the ones cited as left wing by the Dittohead herd animals are relatively centrist.
Let's not forget what news organization broke the Lewinsky story. It was a certain paper called the New York Times... yeah, that was a real liberal story to break- LOL.
Get real, conservative conspiracy theory freaks. You wag your fingers and preach personal responsibility yet you refuse to take any responsibility when your politicians of choice are deceitful or ignorant. When will you get rid of this straw man argument and have a true conversation of integrity?
I find it pathetic how the right wing nutjobs constantly whine about the so called "liberal media". Take the commenter Lea for example. She seems to have conveniently overlooked the fact that, like Obama, McCain could have chosen to reschedule. It's so typical. Anytime the media reports a fact not convenient for a conservative the imaginary "liberal media" conspiracy theory is brought up. Whenever a fact is brought forward by the media that makes a liberal look bad the same whining conservative brats conveniently look the other way instead if adding it to their fictitous tally of alleged slights.
In truth, the media is neither conservative nor liberal. Do you really think a "liberal media" would so willingly bend over backwards to this conservative criticism so regularly? Sure, some outlets are slanted left. Others are slanted right. Many of the ones cited as left wing by the Dittohead herd animals are relatively centrist.
Let's not forget what news organization broke the Lewinsky story. It was a certain paper called the New York Times... yeah, that was a real liberal story to break- LOL.
Get real, conservative conspiracy theory freaks. You wag your fingers and preach personal responsibility yet you refuse to take any responsibility when your politicians of choice are deceitful or ignorant. When will you get rid of this straw man argument and have a true conversation of integrity?
Chelle said.."I consider this man a mockery of the Republican party. I'm extremely surprised this is the best presumptive nominee the party could present."
Talk about mockery... Obama is one of the biggest joke there is as a senator. He can not even author his own legislation. He hangs on others coat tails. I have no doubt in my mind the election will be pretty much McCain as America is beginning to realize this guy has absolutely nothing to qualify him as President. The last person that ran for President with such a shallow pool of credentials was Jimmy Carter, and America saw what he did. If by some miracle..or better put blunder, Obama did make it to be President. Jimmy Carter might get his recognized Title as "WORST" US President recinded to "2nd WORST" with Obama take that distinction.
HE DIDN'T BLOW THEM OFF, HE WAS SMART NOT TO ATTEND, HE HAD NOTHING
TO SAY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING, ALL HE DOES IS COMMENT ON
WHATEVER OBAMA DOES!
I THINK HE SECRETLY WORKS FOR FOX NEWS!
THE JOURNALISTS WOULD HAVE SEEN RIGHT THROUGH HIM, AND THAT'S
PRECISELY WHY HE LIKES THOSE LITTLE TOWNHALL EVENTS, HIS PEOPLE AT
THE EVENTS, VERY LITTLE PRESS COVERAGE, MCCAIN IS A SMALL TIME GUY!
THEREFORE VOTE FOR OBAMA, HE ISN'T DUCKING AND DODGING LIKE MCCAIN,
WHO IS VERY BORING, AND VERY NEGATIVE AND HE IS THE THIRD-TERM OF
GEORGE BUSH!
YOU ARE RIGHT HE DID HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS TO ATTEND TO, THE MOMENT
HE SAW THAT OBAMA WAS GOING TO BE AT THIS EVENT, THAT WAS THE DAY
HE DECIDED I WILL MAKE SURE I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO DO THAT DAY!
IT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW, WHEN ONE PERSON JUST SPOKE TO OVER 1
MILLION PEOPLE IN BERLIN, AND HE CAN BARELY KEEP 50 AWAKE IN AMERICA!
Obama has had great press, but only because he does it better. Have you seen the piece about his speaking fluent Arabic? Emphasizes his international experience that has so far been hidden under a bushel.
Joe Raines & Swin state: "there is something going on when he (McCain) flip flops on some of his decisions, and believes he didn't make the comments"???
What then "is going on" with Mr.Obama and his hundreds of flip-flops, contradictions, denials and absolute lies.... His exaggerated resume, his lack of candor re his early life, and his denial of his Kenyan/Arab background refusing to accept his "Hussein" name?? He has committed more flips and on both sides of an issue in his over two-year campaign than McCain has in his entire political career!
Are the "booze, broads and coke" catching up with Obama? Or is it he knows the media protects, cover-ups and corrects his lies?
The extreme racial bias of the UNITY attendees precludes any possible benefit to McCain's election campaign. The latest estimate I have seen is 90+ % of black voters vote in block for a black candidate. Why would Daniel walk into the lions den and speak of a vegetarian diet? Obama did not answer questions that were SOFT, and was treated as a reigning emperor.
Obama didn't cancel the trip to see the wounded vets--The White House canceled Obama's trip to see the vets. The official reason was the Pentagon raised concerns about political activity on a military base.
Stewie Griffin on July 26, 2008 12:56 AM wrote:
Seriously, why should McCain attend an event where 92% of the people are going to openly support Obama simply because he is black. HILLARY did NOT get any real support from the black community, so you know McCain is going to get even less, because he is a Republican. A waste of his time.
WHERE DO YOUR "STATISTICS" COME FROM? WHAT A RACIST YOU ARE! WHY DO YOU ASSUME THAT MINORITIES WILL SUPPORT ANOTHER MINORITY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE A MINORITY. YOUR RACISM IS THE WORSE KIND. I SUPPOSE OBAMA SHOULD NOT VISIT ANY WHITE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE "THOSE PEOPLE" ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE HIM ANY REAL SUPPORT.
Last week Barack Obama went abroad and looked like he was running for president of Europe while McCain stayed home and continued to run for president of the United States. Frankly, I was insulted by Obama's trip over there. I definitely would NOT vote for someone who values the folks in Europe more than he values Americans. Obama proved that when he spoke to thousands of Europeans several times, but would not take the time to pay a single hospital visit to American soldiers.
John McCain may not be the greatest orator, but he has proven himself to be a great American patriot. McCain is a good and decent man of integrity...he values America and its people. He may not be a slick talker but at least we know who he is and what he can do. He has proven leadership skill. With Obama, even after all those speeches, we still don't know what he can actually do...he doesn't have any experience. The White House is not the place for on the job training.
Before the invasion of Iraq, the media's conscience was appealed to to do a thorough investigationon on the claims of the president and his advisers. They were begged to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam and to report on previous administrations dealings with Iraq. We were told it was ancient history. The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war. Is history repeating itself again? Let's hope not.
McCain is whinning for media attention and coverage, yet at every opportunity he gets to speak to them, he takes another route. Well, I'm not saying anything but begging you as we did some years back, take a good look at and give a full coverage to the subject of John McCain, particularly the PTSD issue. 'A word is enough for the wise'
Sometimes I wonder if the mainstream media really wants the best for this great country. It's one thing to profess it, it's another thing to actually want it. Just like Obama is continually being scrutinized by the media; his life, church,family, the good, the bad; I believe McCain ought to be spotted in the same light.
The circus that surrounds the Obama campaign is not only unfair, but it makes me wonder why he suddenly didn't want to go with the campaign funding agreement he originally said he would follow. It seems like Ted Turner and CNN and other Media Moguls are huge financial supporters of his. Why else would they constantly be so biased toward McCain? If Obama is going to win it should be because of his discussion of the issues and his past record (which is extremely limited), not because the press decided he was their man. This is exactly why we needed reform the camapaign finances. Before he decided to make his contributers anonymous, the press was giving all the candidates balanced coverage. The only coverage McCain got this week was the fact that he had a bandaid on his face! I am an Indepedent Voter that was undecided- the unfair biased coverage is making me a McCain supporter. At least I know who he is accepting money from. I also know that his lengthy record on tough issues is worthy of press coverage.
Frankly I´m insulted when a WHITE candidate as McCain doesen´t show support to MINORITY anything, considering the FACT,he has a BLACK child. O´h I´m sorry, a BLACK and WHITE child! I´m biracial and it´s a huge insult to African/Muti/Bi-racial Americans to hide your BLACK kid!McCain fans can keep making idiotic exscuses about him not getting a "fair" share of media coverage but truth be told ¨AMERICANS¨ are sick and tired of BUSH,his goons, and the whole lying business. Come on, whom wants a guy to represent our country just because he is WHITE! If a man lies about his associates, Bush being one, and his BLACK KID, Lord knows what else this guy has/have/ or will continue to lie about in the future. WHITE racists are so quick to say that OBAMA is only getting support based on him being BLACK, if in fact that is true, it proves that AMERICA both BLACK and WHITE are ready to unite not as a race but as AMERICANS. Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton were once candidates for president and they received little or no BLACK support. 92% of OBAMA´s votes were WHITE and some voters came from places that even today, BLACKS are not allowed! LOL
By jeff s on July 25, 2008 2:35 PM
least he did not ignore wounded troops.
SLAM!
count it
You do know that the Pentagon told Obama that he could not go see the troops while he was in Germany, right? Of course you do, you just choose to be willfully ignorant of the fact.
McCain can't complain about not getting media coverage if he isn't willing to put himself out there. Obama went before AIPAC when many thought they would be unfriendly to him.
paynterk Said:
The circus that surrounds the Obama campaign is not only unfair, but it makes me wonder why he suddenly didn't want to go with the campaign funding agreement he originally said he would follow. It seems like Ted Turner and CNN and other Media Moguls are huge financial supporters of his. Why else would they constantly be so biased toward McCain? If Obama is going to win it should be because of his discussion of the issues and his past record (which is extremely limited), not because the press decided he was their man. This is exactly why we needed reform the camapaign finances. Before he decided to make his contributers anonymous, the press was giving all the candidates balanced coverage. The only coverage McCain got this week was the fact that he had a bandaid on his face! I am an Indepedent Voter that was undecided- the unfair biased coverage is making me a McCain supporter. At least I know who he is accepting money from. I also know that his lengthy record on tough issues is worthy of press coverage
@paynterk
So, you made one point about Obama changing his stance and that was on public financing. Good one. Now, McCain has flipped on George Bush's tax cuts, immigration, the war itself, the stimulus package, off shore drilling and more. Just so you know!!
Sari Ruff on July 28, 2008 4:03 PM
"Stewie Griffin on July 26, 2008 12:56 AM wrote:
Seriously, why should McCain attend an event where 92% of the people are going to openly support Obama simply because he is black. HILLARY did NOT get any real support from the black community, so you know McCain is going to get even less, because he is a Republican. A waste of his time."
WHERE DO YOUR "STATISTICS" COME FROM? WHAT A RACIST YOU ARE! WHY DO YOU ASSUME THAT MINORITIES WILL SUPPORT ANOTHER MINORITY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE A MINORITY. YOUR RACISM IS THE WORSE KIND. I SUPPOSE OBAMA SHOULD NOT VISIT ANY WHITE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE "THOSE PEOPLE" ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE HIM ANY REAL SUPPORT.
lol Sari - you just proved his point. Stupid white people love to vote for Obama to prove how progressive and cool they are. Black people won't for white people when there's a black candidate available. Who's racist now?
McCain is scared. That's why he didn't attend. He's running to be President of only the people who like him and are like him. Geez...even George Bush attended in 2004!
According to published reports, the journalists at this event "cheered" Obama when he got up to speak. And when he was leaving, one of the journalists reportedly gushed to another, "Obama touched me!!"
I very much doubt this group would have acted in like manner for Senator McCain. They are already in Obama's corner.
Sorry, but this is not how real journalists are supposed to act.
I think McCain made the right decision to avoid the event.
Why go where people are just waiting to ridicule you? And just try starting a White Journalists organization.
You guys just don't get it, do you? The media is so anti-McCain so that anything you say wil be willfuly ignored by the pro McCain backers.
he didn't miss a thing. obama didn't say anything new and the so-called objective journalists cheered and gave him a standing ovation. it was embarassing.
When the black press (or the white press, it really doesnt matter) actually gives a Republican a chance then he should attend. Would you go where you are not wanted? The outrageous hatred that Bush has received from black groups and the overall white-liberal media is business as usual and THAT is the storyline, not that McCain is not attending. Even a Martian one day on this earth could see who favors who. The "fair and objective" media? Where? I have never seen it.
McCain wouldn't waste his time attending such a conference because those are not his constituents and the people attending don't look like him. McCain has made it obvious of his hidden nature by not looking at Barack in the eyes or first extending his hand to shake. Seems minor but that's how real racists act. Take it from a born Southerner. Also, his choice of Palin only accentuates my statement for even more obvious reasons.