Enough With The Predetermined Narratives

by: Scott Shields

Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 07:15:14 PM EDT

If you'd been watching this year's Democratic National Convention on C-Span or PBS, you'd likely be pretty pleased with the way things are going. A positive story is being told about Barack Obama, his family, his personal history, and his accomplishments. An image of John McCain has emerged as an out-of-touch W. clone who is intent on bringing us more of the same. The Democratic Party is the party of the people; the party of peace, prosperity, and progress.

But if you've been following the convention as most people have, via cable news and the Beltway punditocracy, a different image emerges. The Democratic Party is still dominated by the Clintons. The Clintons don't get enough respect from the Democratic Party. The speakers aren't providing any cohesive branding of John McCain, instead focusing too much on Barack Obama's positives. No one is effectively making an effective positive case for Barack Obama. Barack Obama is foolish for focusing so much on regular people by setting his speech at Mile High Stadium. Barack Obama giving his speech at Mile High Stadium is a sign that he's an elite celebrity, out of touch with regular people.

Confused yet? You're not alone. The media is hell bent on selling crisis, division, and a floundering campaign. Who cares if the reality doesn't match up?

Scott Shields :: Enough With The Predetermined Narratives

Sadly, this same issue is at play in the coverage of New Jersey's role at the convention as well. As I alluded to earlier, the local media has developed a strange fixation on Senator Menendez's role in Denver. It started innocently enough, with questions about whether or not the Senator would be afforded a highly-coveted speaking role at the convention. Valid question. I certainly would have given him one. As a prominent Hispanic Democrat whose base of support extends far beyond that of most New Jersey politicians, it makes sense. As one of the leading progressive lights in the Senate, who has not backed down on the key issues of our day, it makes sense. As a prominent Clinton supporter, able to now convincingly make the case for electing Barack Obama, it makes sense. As an impassioned speaker with the ability to articulate a progressive vision and effortlessly tear down right-wing strawmen, it makes a whole lot of sense.

The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of really great folks in the Democratic Party, and not enough speaking slots to go around. No big deal. Not the end of the world. But some in our local media have been pushing a narrative of a virtual war between Obama and Menendez.

The reality however, as reported by Roll Call, is that Senator Menendez has taken a leading role in Denver, even if not in front of the cable news nets' cameras. Here are just a few of the organizations and media outlets to which Senator Menendez has spoken out on behalf Barack Obama while in Denver: the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, MySpace / Voto Latino, Univision, Telemundo, CNN en Espanol, WNBC-TV, WABC-TV, and the National Democratic Institute.

Senator Menendez himself sums up the problem nicely.

"It's just media hype," he said. "You guys can't have a good story without conflict."

If only that were limited to just New Jersey.

Tags: DNC, Denver, Bob Menendez, Barack Obama, media, (All Tags)

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Enough With The Predetermined Narratives | 2 comments

I don't know (4.00 / 1)

the MSNBC staff seemed positively giddy during this week. Even Wolf Blitzer at CNN seemed positively within inches of actually cracking a smile. It was nearly impossible for even the worst cynics this week, not to be moved by 80,000 folks, who actually looked like America, like us, who were moved enough to show up in person to watch politicians speak.

Don't you worry. We were all united this week.

But we can't blame the bad press about NJ or the low NJ profile this week on others. It's our family fight and we have to resolve it.

I find it half amusing, half infuriating that Joe Ferriero is acting like he hit a grand slam, when he did everything in his power to KEEP Obama from winning the nomination. Barack won DESPITE the best efforts of the NJ delegation. I don't blame the DNC for treating NJ the way they did. It was hardly a Democratic primary here. Barack stands for everything Joe Ferriero hates - grass roots organizing, small donations, and everything Corzine lets his favorite bud get away with.

So, behavior has consequences.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

by: carolh @ Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 15:04:30 PM UTC