Media darling whines when reporters' eyes wander
By Steve Benen Monday Jul 21, 2008 8:30pmWell, I’ve finally seen everything. John McCain, who enjoys more media affection than any political figure in recent memory, has taken to complaining that reporters are overly fond of Barack Obama.
Honestly, hearing the McCain campaign whine about someone getting fawning media coverage is a bit like hearing Barry Bonds accuse someone getting an unfair advantage by abusing steroids.
For crying out loud, a detailed book was recently published chronicling the astoundingly biased coverage McCain has enjoyed for years.
Look, I don’t doubt that there are some media personalities who are inclined to support Obama. There clearly are. But to suggest that Obama has benefited more from media bias than McCain is insane. News outlets hammered Obama relentlessly on the meaningless Rezko story. And “NAFTA-gate.” And the alleged “plagiarism.”
When videos surfaced of Jeremiah Wright’s sermons, every network put them into constant rotation, practically every day, for months. When videos surfaced of radical televangelists associated with McCain, the media took a pass.
When Obama opted out of the public-financing system, the media went ballistic. When McCain violated campaign-finance law, the media took a pass.
When Obama said he would continue to “refine” his policy on Iraq, the media spent nearly three weeks screaming, “Flip-flopper!” When McCain completely reinvented himself, and flip-flopped on everything under the sun, the media praised McCain as a “maverick.”
When Obama attended a conference of the nation’s newspaper editors, AP Chairman Dean Singleton quizzed Obama about whether he would send more troops to Afghanistan, where “Obama bin Laden is still at large.” When McCain attended the same conference, AP reporters brought him his favorite donuts and a cup of coffee — made just the way he likes it.
The media has deemed McCain’s scandalous personal life off limits. And questions about McCain’s national security incompetence. And questions about the “100 years” remark. And the Keating Five scandal. Dems can’t even use the word “confused” without reporters accusing them of attacking McCain’s age.
Once in a while, reporters have even admitted that McCain gets less scrutiny than everyone else.
And McCain wants to complain that the media favors Obama? The chutzpah of the McCain campaign is truly limitless.
My friend Jon has a terrific item on all of this, including some great examples to disprove McCain's whining from the Media Matters archive.
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*wail*
you don't love me any more!
*snuffle*
how incredibly stupid and deceitful
That's a pretty good Obama ad.
Someone left the "sprinkles" off GrandPa's donuts and he's pissed.
awwwwwwwwww ....
.
.
.
.
.. and yeah .. it's a GREAT Obama ad !!!
You know we have sort of become a Nation of Whiners.
In other news: Hurricane Dolly is bearing down on the south Texas coast. Better check with McCain's pastor Hagee to see if there was a homer-sexul pur-ade in Brownsville.
I only hear cries of "media bias" from blatantly inferior candidates.
If one candidate seems competent, and the other is a total yutz, should the media do everything in their power to cover up this obvious fact?
LOOK AT ME DAMN IT!!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all the conservative media lap dogs in that clip!
It would be real easy to counter this by just airing any 5 consecutive minutes of faux of any day of the week at any time and we can hear continuing bashing of Obama and water carrying for McGrampa.
McCain is reduced to this? WHINING? The strong Vietnam Vet? The Maverick saying that Barack wants to lose a war to become President? The McCain who hired a guy who calls us minions whiners? Doesn't sound Presidentail does it?
They use all the conservative commentators sarcastic remarks about Obama being a media darling in a McCain ad about Obama being a media darling!
I mean this one has Rove's finger prints all over it!
it's funny how when the media covers McNugget it's not fair if they ask him tough questions, if the media covers Obama then it's not fair that they are not covering McBullshit.
And if someone in McTurtle's compaign says something negative against Obama it's taken as instant fact by the MSM. If someone says something, no matter how factual about McRolaid the MSM picks it apart as if this idiot was sacred.
I keep waiting to see a news model say "Obama woke up in the morning after going to sleep the night before, does this make him a Flip-Flopper?
"Hey News Lady! I got you flip-flopper right here!"
Well, the last think I have to say on this is after 8 years of GOP death, destruction, division, fear and hate....I'm ready for some love! Bring it on!
that might also be a veiled threat to the media.
hard to tell.
I watched ABC news earlier today. TV channel malfunction.
charlie gibson made a point of sounding like Obama was not cooperating with the press and was lacking credibility with them.
Maybe they watched the video or maybe gibson is a fucKKKing liar or maybe both.
Progressive Australian @ 3:
lol exactly. this was poor decision from the mccain campaign. it makes the viewer think everyone likes obama and maybe i should too.
The depths of McBush's sense of entitlement, vanity and self-righteousness becomes clearer with every passing moment. $#**&#!! Here is the bottom-of-his-class destroyer of five aircraft( his own) two timing ... ... this Keating 5 nitwit TOOL friggin' oughta be GLAD that he doesn't get more media coverage. If Barack Obama had pulled one tenth of the bratty, self-serving, hotdog stunts that McShame has pulled....aww -shite...
Hell hath no fury like an attention whore scorned.
Where's Andera Mitchell when you need her?
I remember Hillary asking for the media to attack Obama and it mysteriously happened in a hurry. I expect it to start tomorrow as if on cue.
McCain gets a free pass from the media.
You read it here first.
Geeze Louise! There are only 2 people in this race which means at any given time each one of them is going to get at least 50% of tv news coverage. Considering this campaign is the ONLY thing tv news reports on anymore, that means McSame and Obama get more press than they deserve. Does anyone remember that people are dying in 2 wars started by America? Give me a freakin' break.
dennis @ 21:
The media's his base. And you heard that here first.
McCain is just angling for free media. Notice that the ad above is almost 3:00 minutes long. He doesn't intend to air that. He's just hoping the press will cover it and play it over and over for free. It's a tactic that is evident in many of McCain's recent moves.
J. Strickler @ 22:
call CNN. they are down from 5 minutes a week to 2.
Mark @ News Corpse @ 24:
free ads; just like you said. ans a reminder to his 'base' that he needs their help to cover his lies, corruption and ineptitude.
they're trying to turn this into public infactuation and that"rock star" persona. that's why it's important for obama to take this serious as he is........this is also why he reduced the media coverage (spin). the haters on the Right can't stand a popular democratic candidate. that's what this is about.....if he's popular our taxes will go up....kind of attitude. there becoming concerned. the fear mongoring is going be at a all time level after the olympics. taking this to a world like trip shows he understands the importance of the world and respects
them....unlike bush. if you notice the opposition
tries to be negative about going to europe/mideast.
well....the world is flat this is a globalpoliticaleconomy.
obama understands the importance of good international relationships
It's not a good idea to call McInsane the "media's darling". You don't want that to become a self fulfilling prophecy because it might help him get elected. Kerry lost because too many Dems were too nice, even if snarky (wingnuts don't get snark) to the opposition. Not a winning strategy!
You know, "Crunch" and "C*nt" are not two words that I think could be easily interchanged:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cxuSXgKv7A
i wonder if that's how mccain whines when he needs more allowance from his beer-heiress trollop...
McCain sure didn't complain all these years when the attention was on him.
People woke up and saw he is not all that special
Get ready for the Corporate Media to engage in much public self criticism pretending to have given Obama too much favorable press coverage and announce that henceforth, they will be sure to be more "balanced." In the same manner that Ron Founier is running the AP:
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200807220006?f=h_top
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 13:
"Hey News Lady! I got you[r] flip-flopper right here!"
Recently, I was thinking about the FCC dismissal of the CBS fine (Janets wardrobe malfunction). I was also thinking about the very wrong reporting by major News Organizations along with the Lack Of Correction, Lack Of Accountability, and most importantly LACK OF CENSURE!!
To purposefully tell lies about two Wars and the Presidential Candidates to television Viewers Across The Country (aka the American People) MUST have a some legal ramifications or recourse, right?
... especially if Janet(apostrophe if it worked)s boob was deemed (Lord give me another apostrophe)Justice(youknowwhat) worthy.
blog observer @ 28:
Huh? McCain is the Corporate Media's darling, has been for years. What are you smoking?
Yep all those hard-nosed objective journalists have fallen for Obama. It's a good thing McCain's got his own network or he wouldn't get any positive spin at all. What could his campaign have been thinking. All that this ad tells me is that lots more people like Obama then McCain. The only people who would subscribe to the intended message are the same people that still think George is doing a good job. I'm assuming they think that if they preach to their choir enough it's going to get bigger.
Maybe if McCain would quit repeating that onion belt story the librul media might would cut him some slack! http://youtube.com/watch?v=wW5Eqycf4d4
(sorry to keep posting this but it cracks me up!)
Since when do re-runs deserve more coverage than premiers?
I thought McCain was going to pick a VP this week. Oh right, he used Novak to grab a few headlines. Desperation, no?
moniker @ 37:
That's an excellent comment.
who's whining now...your just not that interesting mccain
you read off your note card you have to search for in a panic.......just do another term in the senate and kickback
in sedona afterwards
http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=87591&videoChannel=1
Take a look at the crowd CNN is running with to heap garbage on Obama by asking the bogus question if his Presidency would be bad for black Americans:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/22/cnn-white-supremacist/
Gotta love that
LiberalCorporate Media!Kevin P. @ 29:
Now what would you expect from such a silly bunt.
"Geeze Louise! There are only 2 people in this race which means at any given time each one of them is going to get at least 50% of tv news coverage."
no it doesn't
These liars should be very careful when
crossing the street in the future....and look
three ways before crossing........
left........right.......and especially up
karma does have it's way of catching up!
That doesn't seem like a very effective ad for McCain.
P.D. @ 38:
definitely.......desperate....the media will make us interested in that also....they've already sliced and diced
that topic to mush....just figure it's romney puts in play
michigan,utah,colorado and nevada
Honestly, at this point, Obama doesn't even need to do anything-let McSame roll along, shooting himself in the foot with every utterance out of his mouth.
How, when we were compiling the McList of McCain pseudonyms did we ever miss McReRun? Props to Moniker.
Peter G @ 49:
i know i saw that ...keep up the good work
Well, I'm depressed, yet again. I thought after Kerry lost in 2004 was bad, what's going to happen if McCain wins? I shudder at the thought! We will all be doomed. Hey, how much for property in Canada? I really think this American gal will go to the North!
I watched this video thinking it was assembled by Obama supporters, and was thus stupefied at the end to discover it was actually 'paid for McCain'! ? huh ? This is just a wonderful piece that shows how worldly, interesting, compelling and Presidential Obama really is.
Phew, if this is what the McCain machine is being paid to put out - I think Obama should be putting the finishing touches on his inaugural speech!
Peter G @ 48:
Perhaps it went into McCindycation to be filed at some unspecified 'later date'.
P.D. @ 50:
don't pack your bags yet........although i will say i did like
vancouver
P.D. @ 50:
Why be depressed? That ad is an act of desperation.
Proud2bHumble @ 52:
I see our archivist is here. I was going to e-mail you that one.
P.D. @ 50:
Forget about it. The Canadians are locking the door from the other side. They don't want us and who can blame them. We "elected" a Chimp twice. We fucked up twice and they don't want fuck up spilling over into their country.
Peter G@54, true, but after 7 years of this shit, I don't think I can take anymore!
This ad just makes McCain seem like a pathetic primadonna . Not a good tack to take, IMHO.
JimboSlice @ 5:
We kinda have. We buy 15pmg SUV's then whine when the 2 oil men in the White House and their big oil buddies f**k us in the a** with high gas prices. So much for personal responsibility! The dirty hippy libruls with the Toyota Priuses are getting last laughs.
Phil Gramm was right - the Republicans are a "nation" of whiners! (just forget to add the qualifier, as is their ant)
Ruthless People @ 56:
Au contraire mes amis. We took in a lot of draft dodgers and I see no reason why we couldn't take in some Dumb dodgers but really I think it won't be necessary. With every gaffe the wheels on the McCain bus get a little looser.
relax people this race is over. we haven't even had the conventions yet and these idiots are already desperate. the msm in my opinion is irrelavant and they are also desperate. mccain is drowing in the ocean and on nov. 4 the country will throw him an anchor.
I watched this whole damn video, all the time thinking: "This is a great tribute to Obama". Then I saw that it was from the McBush camp. Are these fools totally nuts? I don't think you have to answer that.
P.D. @ 50:
You'd have been happier with this cretin in the White House advising Kerry?
John Edwards Busted
I'll never understand why liberals love being preached to by their leaders and excuse their hypocrisy like it's no big deal. Then keep asking for more.
Can I get a chorus: The wheels on the bus go left and right, left and right, left and right. The wheels on the bus go left and right into the ditch.. C,mon sing along.
this video/ad is for haters. people that are not for the populace....they can't stand it. they're crying/whining to rally the red troopers we must not rest on our laurels.
this is part of the "rock star strategy"....don't take him serious he's not experienced.....it seem farfetched
wait when obama returns after germany the "rock star"
infactuation bullshxt.......
dennis @ 64:
Dennis you're quoting the National Enquirer? Then again it is the journal of the right wing intelligentsia.
dennis @ 64:
Damn. Edwards can do a lot better than that. Hell, I'll put on a dress and wig and best that myself!
dennis, i thought you would have enlisted by now. i guess cowardice is a hard thing to shake.
No, this isn't a sports forum, but since Steve brought up his name, I must comment.
Steve, I'm sorry, was Barry Bonds ever convicted of using anything against MLB rules?
No. He wasn't.
Why not use Clemens or Giambi as examples?
Ruthless People @ 68:
you are ruthless.......well you already knew that
Dem's responding video should be clips of the media talking heads penning 'Dear John' letters to McCain thanking him for some great memories but the new guy is just so young, virile and exciting! K?Thx!By.
John McCain= LOSER
dennis @ 64
The National Enquirer. BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!
You believe that shit?
Jo @ 73:
He watches Fox News doesn't he?
Ruthless People @ 6:
Only whisper the name Brownsville, Hannity will get all excited again.
Peter G @ 74:
When he's not dodging the military recruiters.
I notice that video is missing all the Fox coverage that rips into Obama and his wife.
Dennis@64, why don't you just go away? If Kerry would have won, I believe we would be in a better place. Not the clusterf**k we find ourselves in now. Sigh!
It doesn't look like McCane is spending his advertising dollars wisely.
P.D. @ 78:
I hope Dennis never goes away. Whenever we're puzzled by some right-wing inanity and we're wondering who could possibly believe such nonsense Dennis drops around to clarify things.
Peter G@80, Very true!
Just more evidence that McShameless is a Republican whore.
How's that for a triple redundancy?
Um? Are they for the fairness doctrine now? They should be blaming Reagan for stripping the fairness doctrine.
I think the point of that video is being missed... it is perfectly made to rile up the base to attack the media for bias, true or not. On that level, it succeeds exactly like clips showing the Media's love for McCain from Media Matters do.
The main exception being that the press is going to listen to McCain... they will never forget their first love!
I think the funniest thing to happen this week was McCain landing in New Hampshire to be greeted by
a groupone reporter.It may seem like the media is "adoring" Obama by this constant focus on his trip but in reality they are all waiting with bated breath for a faux pas by Obama and that is it.
McCain should be careful what he wishes for. More media attention will eventually have to focus on all his gaffes because there isn't anything else.
I am so glad someone besides me has noticed McCian crying about the media following Obama. The first thing I thought about when I heard John McCain whining about media coverage of Obama was Hillary whining about the same thing.
So why the **** did CBS "News" edit McCain's botched answer about the SURGE?
The same media that worked so hard to sell us Bush and the Iraq war is now in overdrive to sell us Obama. I don't need to know any more about Barack than that to know that he's an empty suit. He's the corporate selection.
Obamabots are the political equivalent of Jonas Brothers groupies.
I love it, though, don't you?
The fact that with President in Waiting/Messiah Obama and his boss/foreign policy advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski -- Tilateral Commission co-founder, creator of Al Queda and as big a war criminal in many ways as Kissenger -- have now, with their talk of escalation of troop levels into Afghanistan, the long 16 month goodbye in Iraq (which will get extended), and a possible incursion into Pakistan -- have transformed the Democratic Party into the War Party. Hilarious!!! A year ago Obama was talking about Palestinians, now its whatever Israel needs, whatever! (Dig?)
Not that McCain is any better, but he'll die before the election or get really sick, so the republicans can try to pull a rabbit from the hat. The outcome of the election will be the same, though: the American people will be tricked into participating in an election designed to implement the downfall of the US, leaving the average American holding the bag while the politicians and corporate fraudsters flee to places like Dubai.
The sad thing is that many people will blindly support a messaniac figure like Obama, very suggestively and emotionally portrayed by the mainstream media, without using any reflective thought to examine the situation. Perhaps the current version of humanity no longer can think critically, television programming has done its work and they shape thier worldview by the messages massaged into their heads. Like global warming, which receives considerable press here but which is supported by extremely poor and unsupported science, reality becomes more an exercize in social engineering where black can be white and white can be black -- an Orwellian paradise -- where despite all the blood that has been spilled, the wealth stolen and destroyed and every last value America ever stood for ripped to shreds by both parties, in spite of all the suffering we have gone through collectively and as individuals, the democratic party can pull a bait and switch like this to facist warmonger in a part of the world we have no business in, and the media and sites like this will keep making it seem like our dreams all cane true.
But some are waking up to this dream, actually nightmare. Even many Democrats are taking a second look at Obama now, especially after he voted for the illegal and totally unconstitutional FISA provisions. (Didn't he say he was going to fillibuster?) Democrats must have soft back from being stabbed there all the time. They are just like puppies who keep coming back for more. Did 2006 teach you nothing?
Fortunately many are waking up, and learning that much of what is presented to them by the mainstream media, their government, by cultural means and through education is a bald faced lie. The question is will enough wake up soon enough that the situation can be reversed.
I encourage you to look at Obama and the world generally with a more critical eye. There's simplicity on the nearside of complexity -- basically what you get on TV -- and simplicity on the far side of complexity -- wisdom, comprehension of what is valuable, true comprehension. To get to the far side of complexity one needs a lexible mind which can be had by exploring andexamiing ideas, especially one might feel uncomfortable about. Often that's where the gold lies. The near future economic situation will likely force flexible thinking on you anyway, so might as well get some practise.
And BTW, Obama isn't here to save you, he's here to play you and yet many of you are responding as desired, mimicing the media fawning and sexual arousal. Think, He wouldn't be a "presumed nominee" -- unless he was bought and sold like the rest of them.
[So David, I assume you didn't mean to strike your entire comment. Are you keeping the Deiter name? Sitemonitor]
Thanks for the correction, it looks much better your way. Much appreciated.
You can change my name back to David, was feeling like a change tonight (you know, flexible thinking and all that) but keep David.
Thanks again to said site monitor.
db
[It's much easier to read... :-) Sitemonitor]
PS Notice how neither candidate is talking about Iran? Is that possibly because both these guys know that trigger will be pulled long before the next President gets into office. One thing to examine though is Brzezinski's relationship with people like Rice and Gates who basically run Washington now through I believe its the executive committee. For example, Cheney was apoplectic about the deal with North Korea, but he couldn't stop it. Bush and Cheney are very lame ducks indeed, but Brzezinski, according to people like Webster Tarpley, is currently influencing foreign policy through Rice and Gates and of course will be very influential in an Obama administration.
The game is rigged, it is all of the political and business elites against average people around the world using whatever means the need. But one thing to remember, there are many, many more of us. This game can only keep going if we keep playing. And it is just a game with a few rules to keep the structure. If we all stop playing, all stopped being so forgiving of the corruption, lies and destruction these guys cause, this whole system would collapse like a house of cards.
McCain has been spoiled by press coverage in years past, when it was common to see him assailed by the media -- when he was a spoiler and made sense to inquiring minds. Now that he actually has an opportunity to win the election, it isn't hard to understand why he might feel chagrined by coverage of the new rockstar on the block!
This is the polite part of what I posted on the YouTube Page for that video:
Isn't this rather like the spoiled child who complains that mommy won't watch him construct block buildings anymore because she's talking to an architect about building a new house?
maybe just maybe this attraction to Obama is more about the message and the hope he inspires. something American's have craved for the past 7 years. what we are seeing is actually the effects of ruling by fear. when all you have to offer is more fear as in the case of bush co. and McCane, the image and message of hope is amplified. add to the mix intelligence and class to replace arrogance and ignorance and you have a very potent combination. certainly the repubes see it, feel it and know that it will lead to a sound defeat for them and their designs on a permanent majority. and so, instead of changing the message from their side, they attack the messenger. they can't help themselves, it is the M.O.. they never complained about the free pass they received from the press these past two bush terms.
Where's that Iraq-Afghanistan border?
Like America needs another idiot for president who was at the bottom of their class in school.
The media has the audacity to run cover for Mc Screwloose as unpaid campaign advisers and he has the audacity to complain that the cards are not 100% stacked in his favor. Sheesh. Talk about a campaign based on fraud, manipulation, and deception--it's the Neocon way. If you can't win win by legitimate means, cheat.
The audacity of a dope.
Yeah - I guess whining is a good word for it.
*
And today Dr.Tagg answers a letter from a lovelorn reader. Read more. http://www.tagg-lines.com/2008/07/dr-taggs-advice-to-lovelorn.html
If I ever see Tucker Carlson in public I'm going to punch him in the wiener.
bilhelm-X @ 100:
I'm gonna aim for his mouth.
bilhelm-X @ 100:
I think we should send Steven Seagal - aka Cockpuncher - to do it.
wait a second. i'm confused. that was an McCain ad? that ad is glorifies obama. that ad makes obama look like a god.
I think it's pretty clear that many of these media types favored Obama, at times unfairly and reflecting personal bias, over H Clinton, but once she was out of the way, they turned their loving eyes back to McCain. More like if you cheer for Wake Forest to beat Duke, that doesn't mean Wake Forest is where your heart lies, and when Wake plays against UNC, you'll be for UNC.
Yes, this is EXACTLY what you want to do if you're on the McCain campaign: put together a video montage about how much people in the press adore the opposing candidate!
liberalNmoderation @ 101:
Hey, you might hit both with one swipe.
Jelousy is such an ugly emotion.... And a little pathetic in a guy as old as dirt...JD
"Do you feel that shiver running up your leg yet?"
Am I the only one that found that a little creepy? I've had shivers running up my spine, but I usually don't get shivers up my leg unless you run a hand along it. And the thought of either candidate running a hand up my leg is really creepy.
Unless he meant a shiver running down my leg? That might happen if I accidentally peed my pants, something a fossil like McCain would probably have more recent experience with.
[Deleted. Moronic waste of bandwidth-Sitemonitor]
Robert Smith @ 109:
There is a bias in the media. It's the same bias that continues to call McCain a maverick when in fact he's confused on most issues and says whatever he thinks the crowd in front of him wants to hear at that moment.
Aww, sorry, Bush beat him to it. Incidentally, in case you weren't aware of it, Bush is a Republican, not a Democrat.
That talking point was sooooooo last month. "Surrender monkeys" are the current talking point. Honestly, when we're paying closer attention to the smears than you are? You're going to have to get in the game before you try to take on the politically-informed in their own territory.
I'm sorry, zero accomplishments? Did you research that before you made such an outrageous claim? Please check here before you run your mouth off again (be sure to click the links listed in the post before yelling about "liberal bias", ok?).
Iraq's Pakistan border? The surge began the Anbar awakening? Oh, and Iran is training Al'Qaeda and sending them into Iraq? Would that be the foreign policy experience you were looking for? Incidentally, al-Maliki seems to agree with Obama's timetables. Odd, that.
How about a plan for alternative fuel sources instead, getting us off the oil? Let me guess, you think that ridiculous "gas tax" plan of McCain's is going to help us, right? Or drilling in ANWAR? I hear the gas companies loooooved that plan....
Please see comments on "ZERO foreign policy experience"
You lost me on the associations with terrorists, but you may want to check out the names Rev. Hagee and Rev. Parsley. Hint: they're not associated with Obama. And yes, Obama has a connection to a convict. Even did business with one, which he admits was a mistake. I bet you know a convict. I know I do. Guess what? McCain knows a few too. Even did business with some of them, which he admits was a mistake. Look up Ali Jawad and the Keating Five. So don't pretend that your nominee is pure as the driven snow.
Ironically, it's you, Robert, that needs to wake up. Do a little research. At least you've started, by coming to Crooks and Liars. It helps expose you to differing opinions. Oh, and look up the definition of "socialist" while you're out there looking around. The Fox News definition of the term is not correct.
(sorry for repeating a deleted post, sitemonitor. Can't seem to stop feeding the trolls today)
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