This is the result of roughly ten years’ worth of looking on – sometimes horrified; sometimes amused; sometimes bewildered – at our current Media environment. Note that capital, by the way: I’m pretty much describing the Media as a singular and monolithic institution, mostly because on a practical level that’s pretty much how it acts towards conservatives/Republicans. Also, I’m really not interested if individual Media-units feel bad about the more unsavory aspects of the paradigm that they’re supporting, either; guilt, like gratitude, is worth its weight in gold.
So let’s go. One final note: if you need a quick summary of this list… well, just remember the first truth and you’ll be fine.
Ten Media Truths for Conservative/Republican Legislators
- The Media hates you, and wants you to die in a fire.
- The Media will only reliably compliment you when you do things to help liberals and Democrats.
- The Media loves it when you attack other conservatives/Republicans.
- You will never, ever, ever be able to reliably buy off the Media by being a ‘good’ (i.e., self-hating) conservative/Republican.
- Every flaw that you have – real or perceived – will be magnified by the Media. You will get no slack at all.
- Every flaw that your opponent has – real or perceived – will be downplayed by the Media.
- If you get an endorsement from a major Media source, it’s probably because your opponent was caught in a horrific scandal. So don’t count on getting that endorsement the next time.
- The Media has no shame, no sense of guilt, and no institutional memory of its own faults, flaws, and prejudices. Do not appeal to its better nature: the Media could care less about your opinion of it.
- Do not whine about any of this: the truth is, this unrelenting hostility from the Media will (if properly handled) simply make you an unstoppable political machine.
- Most importantly: THE MEDIA DID NOT ELECT YOU. The voters did. Keep that in mind when you’re working out your legislative priorities.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
Moe Lane
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Jeff Emanuel
#5 in action
Joshua Persons (Diary) Tuesday, September 27th at 12:14PM EDT (link)The Chicago Tribune has an article today about a comment Rick Perry made 20 years ago insulting East Carolina barbecue, and how it could cost him the state of North Carolina …
@jpers36 on Twitter
NARF
Kowalski: Originally from the LA Times (nt)
Joshua Persons (Diary) Tuesday, September 27th at 12:14PM EDT (link)(nt)
@jpers36 on Twitter
NARF
sad but true
sayoung80913 (Diary) Tuesday, September 27th at 12:23PM EDT (link)incidentally, it’s also over on Hot Air, a story about -THE BARBEQUE BACKLASH…………. apparently Perry said in 1992 that some BBQ he had at a place in NC tasted like roadkill…….OHHHHHHH NOOOEEEEEESSSSS! Of course, having lived in Texas,Missouri,Colorado, South Carolina AND North Carolina(yes we are military gypsies)- I can say Texas is the best place for BBQ beef hands down, SC is good for Low Country boil as is Ga but Texas has the beef covered. Now the media wants you to know this is a SERIOUS story-they actually wrote in the LA Times that BBQ is the 3rd rail of politics in the south. insult your intelligence much? Lead the sheeple to a view point????? I think i also read an article a few weeks ago about since the Texas A&M Aggies were changing divisions and all that would shave a few points off of Perry’s favorables…ridunkulous to be sure, but seriously, talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Regarding #9
rogershru2 (Diary) Tuesday, September 27th at 12:58PM EDT (link)“Do not whine about any of this: the truth is, this unrelenting hostility from the Media will (if properly handled) simply make you an unstoppable political machine.”
Remember that the left is completely free to whine about any negative media coverage. Whether it be a vast right wing conspiracy spoken of by the First Lady or a cable news network being derided and obstructed by the Commander-in-Chief.
“We used to have the best infrastructure in the world here in America. We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad …” – President Obama
Astounding.
baserunr (Diary) Tuesday, September 27th at 12:59PM EDT (link)One comment 20 years ago should prove fatal to a campaign, but 20 years of attendance at a church where you didn’t “hear anything” is completely irrelevant.
Where were all these “fact checkers” in 2008? Must be the only growth industry for the next 12 months.
“The day you think you know it all is the day your trouble starts.”
Maybe we should nail this list to the door of
runner12 (Diary) Tuesday, September 27th at 8:53PM EDT (link)John Boehner’s office in Washington a la Luther and his 95 theses to the door of Wittenburg.
Hey, it started the Reformation. Maybe this could start a serious change among Republicans.
Moe, congratulations!
diehardcon Wednesday, September 28th at 5:20AM EDT (link)This is a truly a masterpiece of guidance for all Republicans, whether or not they consider themselves conservative. It is most important for NEW legislators. They will learn that the Media is never their friend, so why not get clear on it right up front.
Only minor change I recommend: #10 REALLY IS the most important thing to keep in the forefront, so it should be #1 or #2, your choice. As you smartly recognize in your final note, often people remember only the first bullet they see, so make it the most important one! Otherwise, Bravo and thanks!