I try to avoid TV news coverage, because I find it intolerably vapid. I do, however, read political blogs, and these blogs always touch on what the people on TV are saying (but I don’t have to actually listen to it being said). So I tend to have a sense of the conversation, but not actually watch it.
That said, the coverage of the Democratic Convention has, like most of the election coverage over the past 18 months, been terrible. They are obsessing over the disgruntled Clinton supporters, even though I have read multiple accounts from people actually there that those supporters are few and far between, and that reporters desperate for a story have interviewed Republicans just trying to make trouble and bought their story! They are obsessing over the columns on Obama’s stage for tonight. Who cares what the backdrop is? They just have too much time and nothing to talk about.
But that’s a lie – they have plenty to talk about. They could evaluate the speeches given at the convention – not for tone, or thematic coherence, but for factual claims. Why not go through a big speech and explore the factual policy claims made in the speeches? Did John McCain vote with Bush 90% of the time, or 95%? Why do the Dems keep saying he’s against equal pay for women? (Because he voted against the Lily Ledbetter Act, which would allow people to sue to stop pay discrimination.) There are actual answers to these questions, and I think people would be interested to know what they are – at least as interested as they are in fake Greek columns! But it would require actual research and reporting, not just more empty punditry.
I’m also annoyed because I just found out that Kerry’s wonderful speech last night was not televised – even on the cable networks! I saw it on PBS, and I’m sure it was also on CSPAN – but not on CNN. This is a damn shame, because it was the best speech I have ever seen him give, by far, and I think the best speech of the convention so far. Michael Cohen has a good summary of what made it so great. Among other things, Kerry took on the Republican attack machine and called them on their deception, with all the wisdom and the anger of someone who knew, intimately, the consequences of those lies. He also pointed out in very clear terms, without pulling his punches, that McCain is not a maverick anymore, and gave specific examples of his right-wing policies (and his flip-flopping!)
I would recommend watching it – but more importantly, send it around to anyone you know who is on the fence! (I may be preaching to the wrong crowd here, I know.) I’m hoping, since it didn’t make it onto most TV stations, that it will become an internet sensation:
