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August 14, 2008
The Barbecue Media
I've received a few e-mails asking what "barbecue media" means. First, this:
It's a concise, snarky way of describing the love affair between the media and Senator McCain -- also, the media and the Republicans.
That video so perfectly summarizes the root of everything that's wrong and awful about the state of the Fourth Estate -- the flagrant unapologetic glad-handing between the Republican Party, corporations and the media. The dangerous turning-of-the-cheek when it comes to Republican crimes and lies and propaganda.
The utter lack of integrity displayed in that video is staggering. Imagine for a moment (and set aside the fact that Senator Obama doesn't own a 'vacation cabin') if a similar event had been videotaped and released on YouTube by the Obama campaign.
So... barbecue media. If you can think of a better way to quickly summarize this phenomenon, let me know.
Filed under: Barack Obama || John McCain || Media || Republicans
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Posted By Bob Cesca | August 14, 2008 11:22 AM
Comments
oh believe me, Bob my friend, "barbeque" has always worked beautifully 5x5. So does corporate media (your coin)
..and this isnt a "war" in Iraq. never was.
it's a goddamned occupation. In reference to Iraq, one should never EVER use the word "war". always use the word "occupation"
Posted by: Rich ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.bobcesca.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 14, 2008 1:43 PM
This effing thing had a producer?
That illustrates exactly what your are trying to get across with the term "barbecue media." They trot out to have bbq, beer and bring flowers to the missus and somehow don't see that as a conflict of interest.
"Come have some bbq," said the spider (the old, very old asshole of a spider) to the flies...
P.S. - All that money and as articulate as they could make her was "longtime family friend that's known our family for a very long time."
Posted by: Nanotyrannus at August 14, 2008 2:31 PM
GOPSOP
http://cousinavi.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/gopsop/
Posted by: cousinavi at August 14, 2008 4:28 PM
Mmmm. McRibs!
Can I be a journalist now?
Posted by: PackyJ at August 14, 2008 6:26 PM
Bob, if you need a video to explain the term, then it's not really hitting home with most people. The term doesn't work unless you periodically explain it or else the reader is already in on the joke. But there really is no joke --- it's just not very funny or insightful. If you had a video of the Sunday morning talking heads and prime time news anchors and NPR eminences waxing poetic about McCain's "famous" barbecue, then your would-be meme might grow some legs.
You could just as easily call the corporate media the "cocktail media" because it's even more true, historically, and the term would have as much punch (which is to say, very little).
A more appropriate term for what this video illustrates would be "barbecue politics," which is evidently central to the McCain strategy (along with promoting bigotry, violence, and ignorance).
I'm not trying to hate on you down here, because I think the core of what you write about is usually dead on, so I won't pester you on this topic any more. StuporMundi has spoken, but then I'm just a simple country editor....
Posted by: StuporMundi at August 14, 2008 8:05 PM
a FOREIGN-MODEL vehicle.
Nice support their McCainette!!!
Posted by: fastgator at August 21, 2008 6:56 PM
