Media Matters: The Edwards "Wealth Standard" Not Being Applied To McCain
By Logan Murphy Friday Jun 27, 2008 9:00pm
During John Edwards' campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, media regularly treated his personal wealth as a key to assessing his policy proposals -- a standard that is not being applied to John McCain.
It often seemed as though the news media was incapable of running a story about Edwards' anti-poverty proposals without noting his own wealth. The Washington Post, for example, ran a 203-word blurb about Edwards' eight-state poverty tour, opening it with a 28-word reminder of the candidate's fortune: "John Edwards is battling back the 'three H's' that have dogged his campaign -- expensive haircuts, a lavish new house and a stint working for a hedge fund."
By the standards the media applied to Edwards, the fact that McCain supports tax policies that would save him and his wife nearly $400,000 a year -- and require massive cuts to public services to pay for those tax breaks -- should surely be news. Unlike the media's focus on Edwards' wealth, which did nothing to help voters understand the substance of his proposals, McCain's potential savings under his tax plan actually would help illustrate how much the wealthy would benefit from the plan. Read on...
MM's Foser hits the nail on the head. During the primary season John Edwards was constantly hammered by the corporate media on his wealth, while McCain's Media barely mentioned his record and numerous gaffes and has largely ignored his lavish lifestyle. It's unthinkable, but the liberal media continues to tout McCain as a Maverick while portraying Barack Obama as an elitist. Contact MSNBC, CNN, Fox, CBS, ABC, The Washington Post, The New York Times and any other media outlet you can think of, and challenge them to hold John McCain to the same standards they have applied to other candidates. As always, remember to be polite.
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The fact that Edwards was so wealthy made his commitment to battling poverty and ensuring health care for everyone all the more impressive.
But no one has to point that out to C&L readers, right?
Edwards wanted to help the poor and middle classes, classes he didn't personally belong to. McCain is a continuation of Bush, which is, economically, supply upper class tax relief to a class he belongs to, and pay for it through Social Security "reform", which is, to not pay Social Security back the money that the Federal Government raided from the trust fund. The rich control the media and hence the spin.
The media has a double standard towards McCain? Well, Duh!
Anyone with slightly liberal views is attacked ATTACKED by the ProfitMedia(TM) Kucinich was vilified - when he wasn't blacked out completely. Obama is being painted with the LIBERAL paintbrush even though he is demonstrably centrist , if not conservative.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/28/mccains-failed-to-pay-tax_n_109...
mcDefault on home related taxes.....watch.. it won't be a big deal.. just an oversight..........if obama did this skewered....they have all that money homes/planes.....
all government benefits....wow there is two worlds
The MSM will bury this like they bury everything Republican. Christ, you really know where big media is coming from. Tax breaks from their Repug friends! Georgie and Co. are barely mentioned! Pass the Prozac!
Everybody that runs for President is rich. I hate watching rich people argue about who cares about the poor more.
The Bud express.
P.D. @ 6:
The mainstream media is owned by the Great Globalist Conspiracy. They use it to manipulate the mindless masses into voting for either a democrat or a republican. This creates the illusion of democracy and provides the sheep with the hope that if they only hang in there things will get better.
It's different.
From what I hear, he married into it.
jitter @ 10:
Yes, he came into Money. That was his nickname for her.
Don't you know that it is against Liberal policies to be rich? Look at FDR. He was labeled as a traitor to his class.
The truth is that Corporate America/Corporate Media is scared to death of John Edwards and that's why they went all out to squelch him out of the race early. Hillary didn't get shafted, he's the one that really did. He's the one that would have completely cleaned house on the lobbyists and special interests and brought the actual genuine change that this country so desperately needs.
Wow I like Pie@9. I really need Prozac! NOW!
I just realized that what I previously posted didn't make any sense. But, then again, neither do any of the attacks against Edwards.(how's that for a save?)
My Friends, it would be Class Warfare to point out that McCommonMan is less fiscally challenged than some of you. Just remember friends, for all you do, this Bud's for you!
Ok this is the deal with the media, the race isn't even close, but it must seem so, a valid margin must be maintained. the last 2 races,,, lets face it,, the winner was in the minority with respect to popular vote, shock they were stolen.. this election will be a radical vote swing to the other-side. mccain isn't a decent enough candidate to sell himself so the media must augment. he'll lose but he will carried over the finish line by a media addicted to coddling the Right.
Being filthy rich while fooling everyone into thinking you're poor is ever so....maverick.
{Deleted, Off Topic. SiteMonitor}
The whore media vilified Edwards from day one, because he wasn't a corporate cocksucker. Even when he was a trial lawyer he stood up for the underdog. They hate that. They would have liked him much better if he had been some shark working for a chemical or oil company.
James Hensley's Budweiser Beer Puppet Xpress
The media is silent because McCain is not running around talking about how some people have to much money while he lives the good life. Edwards did not even believe that "work bonds" nonsense, he was just trying to get elected.. Besides we can not punish McCain for his his and his wife's hard work........
So instead of 'Thanks, honey.' McCain says, 'Thanks, Money.'
P.D. @ 14:
I doubt Prozack would help me at this point.
A mass demonstration where 300 million people smashed all the tv's they owned might cheer me up quite a bit.
do we really have any expectations of these guys, REALLY? Othe than the worst, I have no ecpectation whatsoever.
red,white & blue @ 22:
The man owns eight houses, refuses to pay taxes on one and you are telling me i have no right to be pissed off that a man who wants to be President does not pay taxes and gets a free pass.
Thank you for explaining to me that if i have no money it is all my fault and the rich deserve all they have taken from us.
But, No thanks.
yes amazing that media we have. 'liberal' media?!? sheesh how stupid is that phrase and so incorrect.
McCains Defaulted On Home Taxes For Last Four Years, Newsweek Reports
stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust
The Huffington Post | June 28, 2008 07:16 PM
breakspear @ 27:
If you don't believe the media is liberal just turn on a tv or radio or read a newspaper and they will tell you so!
red,white & blue @ 22:
More like wifey's daddy's bootlegging bucks and McCorrupt's convenient steerage of the Commerce Committee...
Here, edumacate yersef, lol
Mrs. McCain, San Diego County Would Like a Word
By Suzanne Smalley, Andrew Murr, Mark Hosenball and Nathan Dinsdale | NEWSWEEK
this is a very important point being made.
our nation is framed by the power structure and media, is very cult like.
willful blindness
selfishness is glorified as a virtue and is pawned off as a starting point for reason
the fact it the mcains are part of the entitlement mafia republican culture.
i mean how much work do you have to do when you are a licensed alcohol distributor
and other forms of intoxication are heavily policed...mafia style.
give me one of those licenses......i'd be a millionaire overnight!!!!!!!!!!
and wouldn't have to do any work...that's power over the populace.
the power is in their hands.....
free market my ass. they only make that argument so they can FRAME that argument from the get go.
it's a bait and switch and all the stupid limbaugh zombies keep it in check.
working within the government his entire life....greatest healthcare plan,retirement,great pay....his wife is wealthy
he uses the private plane and doesn't reimburse use at fair price,eight homes.........wants all the social government benefits not good enough for us and then can't pay the appropriate taxes/fines....i really don't want to hear about elitist crap..and country club caricature of obama
carefulwiththatAXEeugene @ 32:
The most profitable business in America is a liquor store. You don't even have to make it.
the media is only 'liberal' as a threat or warning from the right.
even olberman is a weird one somedays.
they are millionaires and their interests are not with non-millionaires.
xoites defends Constitution @ 34:
free money if you have a license!!!
george carlin from 1975 on SNL
w/ john belushi
now
mcCrash......out of touch after pow it's been pretty good
within the government his entire life
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/mon.....tviewedbox
carefulwiththatAXEeugene @ 36:
just pay someone off. no problem.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Democratic Party Victory Over SCLM and DIEBOLD! @ 37:
oh cool that's the power of the internet!!
IOK to be rich IYAR
Edwards for AG . IMHO that would the only choice BO could make .
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Democratic Party Victory Over SCLM and DIEBOLD! @ 38:
can i get a loan, im pretty sure i don't have enough money.
maybe i can get a photo with bush's {Deleted} at the latest skull and bones meeting.
and extort... nah they would just kill me.... but maybe they would like my chutzpah and see something of me in themselves and
just give me the license.... nah then i'd just have to suck the bush dick too...i don't like that club.
{ CarefullwithThat AXE eugene, you might cut off one of your appendages . A bit over the top. SiteMonitor}
Fritz @ 13:
you left out Kucinich
karl @ 38:
oops......sorry everybody
{Deleted, Off Topic. Take it to the LNMC or an open thread. SiteMonitor}
sorry ... i am reminded that america prefers the violent rather than the sexual imagery.
i do after all watch TV.... well i should clarify.. violence against brown people in foreign lands good but violence against our enlightened forefathers decedents politicians bad.
i should like to keep my appendage. but my axe is sharp and i have ADD.
At least they don't have to worry about his haircut.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Democratic Party Victory Over SCLM and DIEBOLD! @ 44:
You are absolutely correct and I actually did mean to mention Kucinich before I hit the submit button. He definitely got screwed. Imagine how much Washington house-cleaning would have gotten accomplished with wither of them! Definately a corporate CEO's worse nightmare.
Face it kids, this country is toast. Black, burned toast.
When the candidates that really mean change are routed in the primaries and the corporate approved toadies grab the ring it is over.
Watch Obama move to the right, kissing aipac ass, saying ok to death penalties, abandoning any progressive stances on any fucking thing....
It is over.
The republic is fucking dead. Dead. Dead.
This double standard for John McCain has been going on for YEARS. Not only do they fail to apply the John Edwards Standard, they aren't even applying the John Kerry standard to John McCain.
In a 2003 CNN article, Kerry's net worth was reported as $163 million--obviously, this included largely his marriage wealth. John McCain, on the other hand, had his wealth reported as just over $1.2 million, which is an insane number given what we know of his wife's wealth (Money magazine estimated it at $40 million).
I understand why the reporters excuse their laziness in 2003. He wasn't running for President, they only have so much time in the day, fair enough.
What's the excuse now?
Seriously, Money magazine estimates the guy is worth $40 million. John McCain should be treated like any other candidate, and his wealth should be the same issue as it was for Edwards. Call me crazy, but I fail to see how Edwards' one big house is more obscene than John McCain's 8 houses (at least one of which was featured in Architectural Digest!).
Why should it be Republicans are supposed to be rich.
As an early Edwards supporter....I find this post mystifying.
This is like saying that the "race standard" that the media applied to Al Sharpton should be applied to Obama.
Are you kidding? Urge the media to be assholes...again? You really think they need prodding?
Sheesh.
David N @ 42:
BO is a perfect shorthand....He stinks to high heaven.
MaudeLebowski @ 20:
...But then he would've been a Republican.
Johnny2Bad @ 54:
BO is only slightly better than McShitforbrains , what with this farce of a congress or better our whole system , the only place we can lead the world is into extinction .
Keep your powder dry .
Talking to several of my conservative friends, what I've come to realize is their common belief is that liberals, as a rule in their minds, hate wealth of any kind. So, because of this belief, any liberal who is rich must be a major hypocrite and not "a regular guy". They never say the hypocrite thing in the media, but just have a conversation with a conservative about the inheritance tax or things like that and you'll begin to see what their true beliefs are towards liberals.
Liberial Media? Bull sh!t! Try hitmen.
Only liberial in them is--pro guy and Enviro,the rest is Kosher garbage.
Attacking John McCain on his wealth won't impress the Republicans. They have the idea that God gives wealth to people who are worthy of it.
I guess McSame didn't know that he has a wealth of lies pouring out of his pandoras box that his media shield couldn't keep from leaking.
He tries to portray his image as a humble little mouse but his shadowy wife keeps flashing the lights with cheese. Not that there is anything wrong with having alot of doe to buy cheese with. What is wrong with the picture is that he try to portray himself like a mouse but he is playing more like a rat.
It's hypocrisy.
I remember 2004 when conservative hate radio and the media were framing John Kerry into some kind of manwhore. For marrying Theresa Heniz because she has money.
I Like Pie @ 9:
like boiling a frog
Haze @ 60:
b-b-b-but mcC*nt is different! he married for love(of money) and his wife married for love(of free medication). It's working out so well, with the free plane trips and all.
John McCain doesn't pay his taxes, so I have to.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/143775/
xoites defends Constitution @ 26:
Refuses to pay taxes on them? where in the world did you get that, I'm sure he just wrote a letter to the IRS "I'm not paying this year, thanks" Also, the rich did not take anything from you, they worked hard and made there money work for them, its nobody's fault but your own my friend...
Yes, Bill O'Reilly stinks.
Edwards has a net worth of around $15M.
The McCain's receive more than that in interest income a year.
red,white & blue @ 22:
The syntax is a little tangled here. In your last sentence, to whom does "for his and his wife's hard work" refer? Edwards, who earned his fortune working as a lawyer, or McCain, who worked for the government and married into money?
1: Edwards made the money himself
2:McKept gets his bucks from his wife, who's not the best money manager. They reportedly owe $100,000 on their credit cards, and even their trust can't keep track of their property taxes. D'you 'spose we'll hear more about this? Hmmmmmmmmmm?
When a rich man wants to help poor people, it's news. When a rich man wants to help himself, it's expected.
So Media Matters says that under MacCains tax plan, as proposed, the McCains would save about 350K to 400K in taxes.
That's 10 times my salary (at a public institution), and I'm doing better than most....
He and She have 10 houses... I rent.
Okay, so the other day I'm standing by a busstop and the man jumps out of the SUV and starts claiming he and his buddy have been driving all night from Oklahoma to Minnesota and need money for gas. I think "I've heard this before, and look, the license plates are Minnesota. Let's just balance the rest of this. He's got a car; I've got none. He's got money for gas to get from OK to MN--at today's prices; I've got nuttin for for gas, just enough for a bus pass. Who needs "the money", this soliciter or me?
McCain and Cindy, just a higher tax bracket of panhandlers. And they're GOOOOOD at it.
The reason for the double standard about wealth is that wealthy left-leaning populists, those that advocate aiding the poor, are always branded as hypocrites. It's a tradition, a knee-jerk response from the media. As in "If you want to help the poor why do you get $400 haircuts?". That kind of thing. McCain will never be asked that question because he has no solutions to poverty (and also because he does not need $400 haircuts).
I just wish the press would do more about that blonde bimbo wife, with her gazillions of dollars inherited from a beer magnate. I could swear there was a blog bit or news item -- somewhere -- about Johnnie Boy getting into a late night campaign spat that had her saying something about him looking a bit disheveled and McBush retorting with something like, "At least I don't look like a slut." McBush has no respect for women. He's a flyboy and a masher, as witness his romantic entanglement with a female lobbyist, exposed a few months back. Unfortunately, the press seems to treat him with kid gloves.
McCain doesn't need $400 hair cuts but he has the expensive surgeries on his cancerous jaw--paid for by the taxpayers under the congressional health benefit, most likely.
Wow, I'll get right on those letters to the media complaining about this double standard. I'm sure this will fix the problem. Do you people realize how pathetic this sounds? For once I wish people would stop whining about the media and actually do something.
How many of you still subscribe to cable and satellite? How many of you watch Fox, ABC,etc.? Stop it! You are funding these organizations.
The same "wealth smear" came up during the Lemont vs Lieberman Senate race in Connecticut. The media smeared Lemont because of his wealth, not noting that Lieberman and probably most of the Senators are all millionaires.
Yeah! I don't see McCain spending $300 on a scalp cut!
Imagine if Michelle Obama had forged perscriptions to feed her drug habit? Or if Obama had called his wife a c*nt?
It's simple. Cindy McCain is giving the Media free beer for life. That's why John McCain can make mistakes and have gaffes with having to worry about the Media. Free beer for life!
His campaign lost a excellent opportunity to enhance Edwards' character and the character of many in the Non-rethuglican parties: In spite of the fact that he is wealthy, he is fighting for changes that will have a negative effect on him personally -- things like higher taxes for the wealthy (which include him) and lessening the control of the government by the corporations, which would help to lower their rapacious actions and profits and, again, hurt his bottom line. This is a personal sacrifice in order to help the less fortunate. I'm not aware to too many (any?) Democrats that are not wealthy, so every one who does vote to increase taxes or reign in corporate domination in order to help others is demonstrating true strength of character in putting the greater good above their own personal interests. When have members of the Republic party ever done so? Trickle down has been shown to be no more useful to us peasants then that which happens when one zips up too soon when using a urinal. This isn't intended to be a sexist remark, but the only equivalents I can think of for women are too rude for public consumption (no pun intended).
And if people want to bitch about the wealthy with respect to the helping the poor, how many children would one golden goblet from the Vatican feed? Surely the life of a starving child should mean more to the church than gold. Hell, even one of their stunningly fashionably robe and hat ensembles would feed a kid for a year.
And to those who then say such treasures are for the greater glory of god, I ask: "what kind of god values mammon above life?" And is that kind of god worth worshiping? He is reputed to have created the entire universe, including every atom of gold. Why should he then value a believer's offering of love as represented by hes (his + her) time and effort in fashioning a work of art for hes lord in gold rather than wood or mud or dried dung?
Isn't there a saying that goes something like this: "People in grass huts shouldn't stow thones?"
E Pleb Neesta
GODISNOWHERE
Blessed are the cheese makers.
Maybe it's because while the media needed to question Edwards' commitment to helping the poor, no one actually expcects McCain to give a crap about them.
"As always, remember to be polite."
I am. I always tell them to PLEASE go fuck themselves. =)
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