In Presidential Race, A Focus On Sideshows

CBSNews.com Reports: In Relatively Slow News Period, Supporters' Gaffes Dominate Coverage

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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Welcome to the season of the political sideshow.

Over the past month, questions about substantive policy differences, the latest primary contest, or even the presidential candidates themselves have somewhat faded from view. In their place, news consumers have been offered a consistent stream of stories about the controversial statements of the candidates' high-profile supporters.

They include surrogates like Samantha Power, who stepped down from the campaign of Barack Obama after calling Hillary Clinton a "monster." Geraldine Ferraro, who caused a firestorm by saying, "if Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position." And talk show host Bill Cunningham, who stressed Obama's middle name, Hussein, at a John McCain campaign rally.

There were the religious figures: Obama pastor Jeremiah Wright, whose controversial comments, among them "God damn America," sparked a firestorm. Louis Farrakhan, who has called Jews “bagel-eating vermin," and whose endorsement of Obama led the Illinois Senator to "reject and denounce" his comments. McCain backer John Hagee, whose controversial comments on Catholicism McCain later distanced himself from. And McCain "spiritual guide" Rod Parsley, who has agitated against Islam and called it a "false religion."

And there were this week's headline-grabbers: Clinton backer James Carville, who characterized Bill Richardson as "Judas" for backing Obama. Obama senior adviser Gordon Fischer, who invoked “Monica’s blue dress” in a blog post. And Obama advisor Merrill A. McPeak, whose linking of comments by former President Bill Clinton and McCarthyism prompted an outraged fundraising appeal from the Clinton campaign.

There can be legitimate value in these types of stories - a surrogate's statements can potentially offer a window into a candidate's own thinking. And the Wright controversy, which initially appeared likely to play out as did the Power and Ferraro stories, ultimately prompted Obama's much-discussed address on race.

But critics have begun to question the degree to which the campaigns - and the press corps - have made such statements central to the campaign narrative.

"It's part of the curse of the long campaign," said Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. "It speaks to the degree to which the really important things can fall by the wayside."

Patterson says that reporters, who feel they have already covered the substantive differences between the candidates, seize on controversial comments by supporters for a fresh angle.

"They're not totally distractions - some of them are worth covering," he said. "Have at it on [Samatha] Power. Let's have an argument here about calling someone a monster. The problem is when issues like this become the story - the lens through which you look at the campaign."

Michael Feldman, a Democratic strategist and former Al Gore advisor, argues that the "political industrial complex" that has grown up around the campaign needs to be fed, even during slow news periods. And stories about gaffe-prone supporters can do the trick - which is why the campaigns push such stories in their near-daily conference calls and memos to reporters.

"You have a gap, a rather lengthy gap, in between major contests, but this infrastructure has been developed and needs to be fed," said Feldman. "It needs to still operate, there's a never-ending search for material, and campaigns have adjusted to fill the void."

Indeed, political reporters once had a seemingly limitless number of possible angles - a large number of intriguing candidates, an unprecedented extended primary season, an historic Democratic slate that prompted questions about Americans' relationship with race and gender. Then John McCain secured the Republican nomination, the primary season slowed down, and issues that reporters were once eager to explore seemed, to them at least, increasingly stale.

It's not unlike "the two weeks between the end of the playoffs and the Super Bowl," according to Democratic strategist Chris Lehane - a time when reporters have to keep cranking out stories even though they don't feel they have much to write about. Campaigns see such periods as opportunities to exert greater influence over coverage than they once could.

But this constant pressing for advantage - the near-constant outrage over what one supporter or another had to say - can hurt campaigns, Patterson argues, because it keeps negative stories about the candidates in the headlines.

"At the moment, it's these surrogates that are driving a lot of this coverage, and I think to the detriment of the Democratic candidates, and likely to hurt the Democrats' prospects in the fall," he said.

In the end, Feldman argues, the campaigns are simply trying to manage a "virtually unmanageable process."

"Is this stuff a distraction? Sometimes," he said. "Is it news we can use? Sometimes. All of it taken together can help people make up their minds. But if what you're asking is, 'is all of it in proportion?' No. It's not. But that's the very nature of a modern presidential campaign."

[mudrose-2009]

It could be nothing but a side show with these two clowns. Wright will never go away and RamaLamaObama only complicated it with his "typical white person" explanation. Clintoon will always be the liar she is sans the vast right wing conspiracy. Why even Chavez has chimmed in saying that relations with Venezuela will be worse with McCain in office. There ya go. McCain''s definitely in. If Chaez see Clintoon and RamaLamaObama as someone to do business with, this country is very much in trouble.

[blkpresident]

If only Geraldine Ferraro knew how to keep her mouth shut, but guess being a woman that''s nearly impossible. America is down to our lasty three candidates: a lil'' woman, an OLD man or Obama. Seems like an easy choice to make.

[rushlimpdrug]

as if you base your rants on anything...grow up rush
Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:06 AM

Everything I write is based on solid proof, backed by facts and actual evidence.

[nolalou]

I don''t see this as very different from other recent presidential elections. They all seem to be more about catch phrases, distractions, and personality than any substantive debate on important issues. It only seems more drawn out this year, due to the continuing fight for the Democratic nomination.

[crtoo]

I agree - sometimes stories can be negative and may hurt the candidate, however, IF it is published without bias as just a fact, then it is helpful in forming our own opinions about a candidate.

However, rushing to publish and compete with negative reporting does NO ONE any good.

I believe the Media has a duty to the public to bring up all and everything about the candidates that is FACTUAL. Let the coin fall where it may.

REgarding the candidates serrogates - it does not reflect so much on the candidate as does the reaction from the Candidate. Clinton has been very quick to reject any serrogates that voice controversial comments. Obama remains quiet.

This tells me that Obama agrees with his serrogates and futhermore wants the controvery raised by that serrogate to stay out there in the news.

[aldon61]

After Clinton''s recent revelation that she "misspoke", I don''t know why anyone would consider her presidential material. Bush has lied over 900 times in his 7+ years; Clinton will break that record during her first year. We don''t need another liar in the whitehouse. McCain is "business as normal". There is only one candidate that makes any sense at this point and that is senator Obama.

[mjvw2]

"Its indicative of the republican way of doing things. Its the republicans that are losing everything. And they''''re the ones that are creating the controversies."

Please tell me how republicans created the Bosnia lie or the America hating preacher. I try to think fairly however this is nuts.

[gslinger3]

If you attend the racist, so called Revered Jeremiah Wrights church for 20 years, and you count him as one of your closest advisors, I do not think it to be a focus on a sideshow at all. The focus is right dead on target! This is going to ruin his hopes for being president!

Thank GOD!!!!!

[crtoo]

There is only one candidate that makes any sense at this point and that is senator Obama. Posted by aldon61 at 10:08 AM : Mar 26, 2008

I dont know how you can draw this conclusion when no one has questioned Obama about his statements and history. He has not brought his records forward and Lies saying there are no records.

First he was ignorant about the Rev. then he know.

Still claims ignorance about Rezko, but no one has touched that subject yet.

Has this young man on You Tube challenging Obama on his drug activies and sexual conduct while a State Senator. Which he is ignoring.

Says he sponsored all these Bills but does not tell which ones actually passed.

if we do not get the facts on a candidate, no one can make an educated decision about who would make the better candidate.

History has shown us that pie in the sky ideals took decades to become a reality. Obama is a little young to have known half of what he talks about. He has great dreams and I hope he continues with them. But so far his dreams about America in public are different from those dreams in Private.

As they say better the devil you KNOW than the devil you DONT KNOW.

[danmiller20]

Sideshows are often the very best part of a circus. Some are more revealing than others.

The sideshows involving Senator Clinton''s hare raising (that is not a typo) experience in Bosnia, and her pathological compulsions to lie not once but repeatedly about that and other things, show much more about her character and qualifications to be the President than any discussion of "issues" ever would. How a candidate claims that he will address issues once elected are typically of little significance. A candidate as willing as Senator Clinton to lie about FACTS, particularly about facts which are easily ascertainable, has no business in any public office. Her claimed views on the issues have no more credibility than her "misstatements"of fact, and pale into abject insignificance.

Senator Obama''s reaction(s) to the Wright fiasco are equally revealing. I will concede that I liked him before, and that I am still willing to withhold judgment. More "sideshows" may well change that, one way or another.

Character is the most important factor in a president, and while any jerk can spout off on issues, what he says doesn''t speak much to his character. Nor does it even presage what he will be able to do, or even try to do, once elected.

Dan Miller

[texanforlogi]

Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite are turning over in their graves. I''m starting to be embarrassed by my journalism degree.

[rushlimpdrug]

Is there an echo up there? Can you hear yourself talk through your behind, speaking of spinkters?
Posted by mudrose at 10:25 AM


Yes!
That is definetly an echo coming from your colon/large intestine.
The echo is cause you don''t have anything there.
Turn around and try to make your way out.
Actually, stay where you are.
The tapeworms will keep you company as the sh*t flows past you.

[sabree4]

THE BICKERING NEEDS TO STOP, HILLIARY I THINK YOU ARE NICE BUT YOU ARE STILL TELLING FIBS, I WISH YOU AND OBAMA COULD GET TOGETHER AND STOP THE HURT BECAUSE YOU ARE BOTH GOOD PEOPLE. I FELL OBAMAH WILL STILL MAKE A BETTER PRESIDENT. HE HAS THE ITELLIGENCE TO RUN AMERICA IF GIVEN A CHANCE. WE CAN''T JUDGE HIM ON HIS SKIN COLOR, JUDGE HIM ON HIS ABILITIES. GOD BLESS OBAMAH. I WILL STILL SAY, IF IT''S ORDAINDED BY THE ALMIGHTY. NOONE CAN STOP OBAMAH. GOD BLESS YOU OBAMAH. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.

[libra127]

This wasn%u2019t the first time she used that speech to pull in votes,

Posted by bane863 at 06:42 PM : Mar 25, 2008

I find it hard to believe that anyone would base their vote on a story about Hillary being under sniper fire. It has no relevancy to whether she would be a good president.

A lie told in order to "bring in votes" ? I think not. A lie to make the story more colorful and dramatic ? Perhaps. A confusion of warned-of danger with actual danger ? Perhaps. This story has been blown way out of proportion.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by rushlimpdrug

Yes!
That is definetly an echo coming from your colon/large intestine.
The echo is cause you don''''t have anything there.
Turn around and try to make your way out.
Actually, stay where you are.
The tapeworms will keep you company as the sh*t flows past you.

Posted by rushlimpdrug

[oleander8]

"It speaks to the degree to which the really important things can fall by the wayside."

AMEN!!!

[oleander8]

"Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite are turning over in their graves."

The still live-and-kicking Walter would probably differ with that statement.

[texanforlogi]

Thanks, oleander8! That was my bad! Walter is alive! They named the journalism school at UT after him and I just assumed that only happened in memorial. I was flat out wrong about that. (see folks--it doesn''t hurt a bit to admit you are wrong. it''s a shame too many folks never get there.)

[downsteamjim]

I''''m starting to be embarrassed by my journalism degree.
Posted by texanforlogi

How could anything embarrass a person with a journalism degree?

[whatithink-2009]

"it''''s a shame too many folks never get there.)
Posted by texanforlogi"

I think the inability to change your mind or admit you were wrong started when anyone who did such a thing was accused of being a flip flopper. It''s better to be eternally wrong and steadfast about it, than to admit a mistake and rectify it. At least that is what we are told.

[whatithink-2009]

solar991,

It''s also a problem that they hound on the unimportant while telling us to get over the fact that we got into a war based on a lie.

Clinton lied again, NOBODY DIED!

[gunownerdan]

Senator Clinton, Senator McCain, Senator Obama...
These dangerous politicians should be rotting in jail not running for president.

[crtoo]

Embellishment!!!!!
Lies!!!!!!!
Half truths!!!!!!!!

I am still waiting to hear how many of Sen. Obama%u2019s 200+ bills were:
1) actually his with his name on them
2) actually passed into law

According to this story, he just jumped on the bandwagon and made a speech about some of the Bills, then claimed to be the sponsor or co-sponsor.

SO WHAT IS THE TRUTH %u2013 THE WHOLE TRUTH???????????

[crtoo]

Its an unwarranted criticism. Like all republican criticisms. Personal? Religious? And unwarranted.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by solar991 at 11:01 AM : Mar 26, 2008

thank you for this post.

iT IS A FACT the republicans will use any smutty lie to destroy a candidate. I forgot this for a while, because there are so many OBAMAITES out there doing the same thing.

ALL candidates embelish their records.
ALL candidates use what ever means to better their chances in an election.
ALL candidates twist things to look better in a campaign.

BUT NOT ALL CANDIDATES THROW SMUT, MUCK, MUD to confuse the issues like the REPUBLICANS.

THE ROAD to the election is about to get mired in smut, muck, mud, goo. So the rest of us DEMOCRATS, don''t forget that it is the REPUBS, that out do the democrats time and again in this game. and when that fails, they stack the elections in their favor.

This year we need double the votes to win against the Republicans and their fixed elections.

[whatithink-2009]

gunownerdan,

None of three is more libel to go to prison than the one who not only ran for president but duped enough people to vote for him.

[armydog2]

mudrose
senility is very apparent in mccain. if he wins who will really be running the country? lieberman, NO THANKS

[whatithink-2009]

trapbreak,

Of the three running, McCain is missing the most cards in the deck in terms of intelligence. If people are that vindictive, they deserve what they get. Period.

[whatithink-2009]

trapbreak,

Oops. Just noticed you are quoting the Faux News Network. It puts it all in perspective considering how unfair and unbalanced that network is.

[whatithink-2009]

trapbreak,

I see you''ve been brainwashed effectively. Too bad you weren''t here eight years ago telling us not to vote for someone who already bankrupted two companies.

[whatithink-2009]

Heck, two bad you weren''t here 4 years ago reminding us that some who espouse patriotism and love of God are also using our military to enrich the pockets of private organizations while the average American citizen and military solider has to work harder and longer for less and less.

[whatithink-2009]

"TO TRY TO PUT McCAIN IN THE BUSH CAMP WON%u2019T FLY.
Posted by trapbreak"

You need to tell that to McCain. He''s the one promising 100 years in Iraq, not me.

[whatithink-2009]

Learn the truth:

Read THE SHOCK DOCTRINE by Naomi Klein

We are all pawns in a very strategic chess game. Wake up.

[whatithink-2009]

solar991,

Some people assume you must love everything your country does to love your country. Some people think expecting more out of your nation makes you unpatriotic. Some people are confused.

[shingles1]

To clarify, since CBS wont, John Hagee has referred to the Catholic Church as "the great ***", a "false cult system", and "the apostate church".

McCain may have "distanced himself from" Hagee, in a mealy mouthed way, but unlike Obama - who at least rejected Farrakhan''s endorsement - McCain has not "rejected and denounced" Hagee''s endorsement in any meaningful way.

[whatithink-2009]

Hillarygrl34,

That was absolutely NO REASON to invade Iraq. If you know anything about law, you''d know of this thing called presidence. When we invaded a soveriegn nation because we didn''t like the leader, we''ve created an environment unsafe for all sovereign nations.

[prinzowhales]

CBSNBCABCCNNFOX focus on anything but an examination and probbing questioning and checking of the candidates platforms and backgrounds....In this way they keep the electorate focused on emotive issues and ''pastry shop politics''...''Oh, I like the lemon filled one...!''

The media studiously ignores the backgrounds and policy positions of the advisors. The Kissinger-esque Brzezinskis and their pollicy positions among Obama''s handlers are studiously ignored...as is the blatant differences between the perception his campaign seeks to project and the death-house policies of those handlers.

Obama is currently trying to avoid getting tarred with the ''liberal'' label...In reality, he is the "Neo-Liberal" side of Bush''s "Neo-Con" coin...they speak the same language...just out of different sides of their mouths...Both are the abject slaves of the Oligarchy.

[whatithink-2009]

liberal
Function: noun
Date: 1820
: one who is open-minded or not strict in the observance of orthodox, traditional, or established forms or ways
: a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties


If this is what it means to be liberal, I ACCEPT!

[mudijo]

I have not really decided who I am going to vote for. None of the candidates really look good to me. It would be nice if one of them said they would take the job for free and use the salary that they would have been paid to feed the hungry or pay on the deficit. At least that would help me decide.

[tawpdawg1]

***Does anyone actually believe that Obama''s religion is clouding his judgement? When you LISTEN to him its very clear That is NOT the case. It just make me literally sick that this non-issue could potentially cost us our shot at allowing this BRILLIANT human being the chance to lead us out of the complete MESS the last doof (who, by the way, wears his religion on his sleeve, if THAT tells you anything) has gotten us into. Gawd Dammmmm naw naw naw I think I have a problem with religion. Just IMAGINE if there were........................................................................... none...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................you see? Its easy if you try. OBAMA IN ''08 - YES WE CAN!

[whatithink-2009]

Prinzowhales,

Actually, NEO-LIBERAL is more like a conservative. Thatcher and Reagan were neo-liberals. Read the story of the Chicago School. This theory was created by Milton Friedman.

[tawpdawg1]

***If all those parishioners are buyin'''' Wrights snake oil up there then they probably drink it and then wander around town chanting "Gawd DAmmmmm America, naw naw naw Gawd Dammmmmmmmmm America" with their eyes spinning ''round ''n ''round like they''''re zombies...mesmerized by Rev Wright. Like them Obamabots I been hearin'''' about on here. I''ll tell ya what''s a Gawd Dammmmmmm shame naw naw naw is everyone wants to hold it against the greatest presidential candidate to come along since Bobby Kennedy. Since the Kennedy''s were Catholic and the mass was in Latin nobody could tell if the priest was sayin Gawd Dammmmmmm America naw naw naw (probably not) so they just took him out of their picture with a bullet. We''re gonna give ourselves the SHAFT over some religious sermons the whole point of which is to make MONEY. He just tells them what he hopes most of them want to hear and so does YOUR preacher. The message may not be the same for 8,500 blacks in Chicago as it is in The Hamptons but the bottom line is the bottom line both places. Gawd Dammmmmmmm shame it is yes yes yes.

[tawpdawg1]

***Just face it about Rev Wright and every other religion in America. The leader of your church tells you what he thinks his people want to hear and if he is spot on most of the time then the congregation puts lots of MONEY in when they pass the hat and make a BIG donation now and then to lock up a good spot in heaven (or maybe donate some labor or pour em some concrete or the like. Its a write off, ya know.) and the church leader gets a big smile and counts up all the dough back in the back room outta sight and skims some and reports some and then the BIG church bosses collect from all the local guys and count it all up back in the back room outta sight and skim some and report some and then they hire some lobbyists to lobby lawmakers for tax-exempt status for their "church" (now the lawmaker gets a spot in heaven guaranteed by their man) and really the whole thing revolves around MONEY and GREED just like eveything else here. Thats why Rev Wright said naw naw naw Gawd Dammmmmmmmmmm America because he thought thats what most of his flock might want to hear given all the oppression out there and all, and they might put some extra money in the kitty this week cause he got em so fired up and maybe he gotta hot tip on a pony at Belmont that he might just drop an extra 20-spot on the nose and then YOUR guy says whatever it is that he says on Sunday that gets YOUR congregation all excited and in the giving mood. And round and round the money-wheel goes.

[whatithink-2009]

We are destine to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. It is clear.

[shingles1]

Hey Hillarygrl34, regarding "Obama''s ties to terrorism", how ''bout these apples:

1) Mark D. Siljander, a former Republican congressman from Michigan was indicted in federal court for ties to an Islamic charity that sent money to suspected terrorists. (Islamic American Relief Agency, which the Treasury Department designated as a terrorist organization in 2004.)

2) John McCain enjoys strong support from the Albanian American Civic League that backs the Kosovo Liberation Army despite allegations the KLA is a Muslim terrorist group with ties to criminal drug networks and al-Qaida.

3) Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, a contributor to Republican congressional committees was charged with attempting to secretly send $152,000 to Pakistan and Afghanistan to purchase equipment for terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.

Therefore, according to your logic, the Republican Party is in league with the terrorists.

[whatithink-2009]

Before this election, please read

1. The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein

and watch (via youtube)

2. Zeitgeist - The Movie: Federal Reserve (Part 1 of 5)

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?
v=_dmPchuXIXQ

[tawpdawg1]

Obama and Hillary tied - - McCain now with a 10 point lead over Obama and 7 points over Hillary

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows a tie in the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination.

Posted by trapbreak at 11:49 AM : Mar 26, 2008

***Man those Rasmussen people keep callin'''' me about every other day for another poll. I wonder what they would think if they knew I was tellin'''' ''''em the opposite of who I''''m really for ! HA HA HA

[whatithink-2009]

The middle class has been under pressure since the 1980s thanks to policies that the middle class has actually supported. While politicians were making you think the enemy is some welfare mom with a Cadillac, some people have been slowly taking publc funds and using them for private benefits.

Wake up.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by shingles1 at 11:51 AM

But, but, but, but, but......that don''t count!!!!

[tawpdawg1]

Hey Trapbreak...during my daily research I just came across a HOT new poll just out..........

***Obama way ahead.

Latest Dela Katessin poll has Obama beating McCain head-to-head in the general by 64% to 33% and that margin is increasing over the same poll last month while McCain would beat Clinton 55% to 42% with 3% too stupid to decide which poll to believe.

[whatithink-2009]

"or select them because of the fashionably of their race or the prejudice of their gender.
Posted by olandug "

And if you don''t think there are many people out there planning to vote for McCain because he''s white AND male, I''ve got some beachfront property to sell you in Arizona.