John McCain's upcoming visit to Seattle, with an event co-hosted by the Discovery Institute, seems to have finalized the termination of the MSM's love affair with the "maverick" Senator from Arizona.
Locally, Joel Connelly has reached a point of total disdain. This following the severe annoyance he expressed last December with McCain, in stark contrast to the fawning local coverage of McCain's 2000 insurgency. It seems a conservative isn't acceptable to some in the media once they start talking to conservatives.
Of course, McCain's problem is actual conservatives - including this writer - remain incredibly leery of him for various reasons. The new tone in media coverage may oddly do nothing to change that trend.
Just a couple of the media stories as of late I've read capture the issue, spotlighting topics related to the Discovery Institute. First, a long profile of McCain in Vanity Fair:
Nor, presumably, was it straight talk last summer at an Aspen Institute discussion when McCain struggled to articulate his position on the teaching of intelligent design in public schools. At first, according to two people who were present, McCain said he believed that intelligent design, which proponents portray as a more intellectually respectable version of biblical creationism, should be taught in science classes. But then, in the face of intense skepticism from his listeners, he kept modifying his views - going into reverse evolution.
Also, a blistering critique from the Philadelphia Inquirer:
McCain in 2006 suggested that creationism was not a fit topic for the schoolroom: 'I respect those who think the world was created in seven days. Should it be taught as a science class? Probably not.' But he suggested the opposite in 2005 ('all points of view should be presented'), and next Friday he is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a confab sponsored by the Discovery Institute, a prominent creationism advocacy group.
Personally, I don't have much passion for the issue of intelligent design in the Presidential race, but Discovery's mere involvement in the event is certainly drawing attention (for those more interested in McCain on intelligent design, start here). It will be interesting to see how upcoming media coverage of McCain's Seattle visit is affected by the Discovery angle.
Meanwhile, I suspect the view of many conservatives in observing the shift in media coverage of McCain is: "it's about time."
Posted by Eric Earling at February 22, 2007 07:21 AM | Email ThisThe most pointed comment:
"As a man, John McCain almost universally has the respect of Republicans. His biography is unique and powerful. But my co-blogger Hugh Hewitt long ago coined the shorthand for Sen. McCain that defines him perfectly for most conservatives. In Hugh's formulation, John McCain is a great man, a bad Senator and an awful Republican."
But, if the MSM is going to pound on him, then maybe he is doing something right. McCain was in my top 3 in 2000 but isn't in my top 5 this time. Whatever; whoever the Rs pick for the fight, I will go along with.
Posted by: swatter on February 22, 2007 08:14 AMKeep it up, libs! With your continued insane rantings against relatively moderate (and highly electable) Republicans like Giuliani and McCain, you're making it easier for conservatives to hold their noses and support these guys. Good work!
Posted by: DJ on February 22, 2007 08:15 AMMcCain is pro-Illgal invasion. He is probably an honorary member of LaRaza and Mecha.
Posted by: pbj on February 22, 2007 09:42 AMOne bone to pick with you good buddy. Your link to Google news alleging that the "Mainstream Media" has already picked up on the Discovery/McCain connection is stretching it a bit.
Northwest Progressive and Huffington Post are neither mainstream nor media. And of the actual news outlets, flawed as they may be, the Discovery item is barely even tertiary to their main story.
You really should not slam the GOP base like that.
I bet david M will join us soon.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on February 22, 2007 11:47 AMI just heard University of Wisconsin's Dr. Sean B. Carroll (Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical) talk about evolution and how the Discovery Institute cheats students out of an education.
Carroll, author of the recent book "Making of the Fittest," explains that the US is paying a price for its lack of scientific literacy.
(Listen at: http://www.wsst.org/labtable.asp?newsID=280)