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The Spectacle Blog
Over at National Review, Jim Geraghty takes note of my comments on Michele Bachmann’s interview with George Stephanopoulos yesterday.
Geraghty writes, “But Goldstein’s argument suggests that the fight against media double standards is over.” He then links to a clip of John Belushi (as future U.S. Senator “Bluto” Blutarsky) rallying the members of Delta Tau Chi. Cute.
However, I am not arguing that conservatives shouldn’t point liberal media double standards. Rather, I am arguing that Bachmann shouldn’t be the one doing it because it probably won’t do her (or for that matter any Republican) much good against Obama. If Bachmann does complain too assidiously she runs a significant risk of being perceived as a whiner who cannot handle criticism. I say this with the full knowledge that the current occupant of the Oval Office is a whiner who cannot handle criticism. But, of course, the liberal media isn’t telling. And we know that Obama plays for keeps. So what to do?
Bachmann’s best bet is leave complaints about liberal media double standards and general maltreatment to a carefully chosen cadre of surrogates who will cut her critics with surgical precision “from rectum to belly button.” Let them do the dirty work thereby giving Bachmann the space to remain above the fray free to present an alternative course to Obama.
Now Bachmann may very well be put into the position where she has to defend herself either against an outright falsehood or if she is once again faced with an interviewer who chooses to refer to her as a flake or by some other unflattering pejorative. If Bachmann should be put on the spot in such a manner her best chance to turn the tables is with a smile rather than a sneer.
View all comments (28) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/06/29/a-reply-to-jim-geraghty
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Clint| 6.29.11 @ 12:47PM
Otter, " Bluto's right. Psychotic... but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part! "
Teflon93| 6.29.11 @ 1:02PM
You don't seem to understand that the response has to be immediate to have impact. The moment a GOP candidate tells a lefty debate moderator "The premise of your question simply isn't true..." they win the debate.
Likewise, Michelle Bachmann saying, "Do you intend to ask Joe Biden if he's a moron?" would have completely disarmed the press and given her a huge boost.
David W| 6.29.11 @ 2:19PM
I agree. Any delay will cause the truth to lose momentum - especially if the blog response is not seen by those who saw the interview (how many MSNBC/CNN viewers read conservative blogs). The chance, if left to the conservative media, would be lost.
A response, carefully worded, could work wonders. It would let the viewers know that the moderator is full of it and may cause the "die hard" liberal to rethink their position (it's happened before).
Dai Alanye | 6.30.11 @ 8:24AM
Goldstein is saying, in effect, that nobody likes a whiner. He's absolutely correct. The response suggested by Teflon93, however, isn't whining but a counter-attack which, if stated with a big greasy smile, will probably be quite effective.
Bachmann needs to grow a thicker skin, and not let herself be thrown by interviewers asking if she's a flake. Palin, for instance, would have handled this sort of thing much better, while John Bolton's response would probably have made the interviewer cry. (Cuz he's so mean, yanno.)
George S| 6.29.11 @ 1:12PM
Being called a flake is not criticism nor utterance of a falsehood, it is abject disrespect. Responding with a "smile" would indeed make one out to be a flake. But tear into the interviewer and wait until he personally apologizes is the best way of handling it. That's why she didn't hire you as an adviser.
randyinrocklin| 6.29.11 @ 1:19PM
First thing that Bachmann needs to do is FIRE Ed Rollins! If she ever thinks of winning.
Jeff| 6.29.11 @ 2:33PM
How do you know the smile will work better than the sneer ?
You don't ... and since very few sneers have been aimed at the MSM maybe its time to give it a try ... McCain smiled at them alot, didn't work out so well ...
grow up, get a real job beside writing, get some real experience and then maybe, just maybe you can write about the world with something other than juvenile platitudes about catching more flys with honey ...
Occam's Tool| 6.29.11 @ 5:41PM
Best is to gently smile, shrug, and say, "there you go again."
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 6:00PM
You clowns at AmSpec all belonged to the Omega house with Niedermeyer and company. How dare you claim the mantel of the Delta house.
Teflon93| 6.29.11 @ 6:22PM
Spoken by a man who's never peed off Tyrrell's porch.
But then, neither has Goldstein.
Clint| 6.29.11 @ 6:45PM
Otter : Micky, look at my thumb.
[Micky looks at Otter's thumb. Otter punches Micky in the face]
Otter : Gee, you're dumb.
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 7:18PM
Clint,
You really don't get it, do you. You are the Omega pledge bending over and asking for one more.
You can't pull off this three card Monte. You're a f@$king Omega dick to the core and you always have been.
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 8:40PM
Tyrrell's porch is about the last place I would ever want to be.
Teflon93| 6.29.11 @ 10:29PM
No, the last place you would ever want to be is between Chucky Schumer and a microphone.
Occam's Tool| 6.30.11 @ 6:08PM
Ummm, I was Phi Chi at UTMB. We had some interesting parties, including the obligatory senior graduation skinny dip (all UTMB invited) party wearing bowties in our pubes (for a formal occasion).
Mike, there are extant photos of me with the bowtie in my pubic hairs, It is, of course, minimized by my other, um, attributes, but one can definitely see it.
What the hell you talkin' about, boy?
Occam's Tool| 6.30.11 @ 6:10PM
Now, as for Clint, he's not Neidermeyer. Neidermeyer had a gravitas and dignity totally missing with Clint.
Clint| 6.29.11 @ 7:43PM
Otter: Ladies and gentlemen, I'll be brief. The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our female party guests - we did.
[winks at Micky's Old Lady]
Otter: But you can't hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn't we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn't this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you, Micky - isn't this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do whatever you want to us, but we're not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America. Gentlemen!
[Leads the Deltas out of the hearing, all humming the Star-Spangled Banner]
Mike | 6.29.11 @ 8:22PM
Nice try, Clint. But Otter was railing against the conservative (fascist) Wormer administration, aided and abetted by the Omega house.
Embrace your Niedermeyer, Clint. You know he is really your role model.
Clint| 6.29.11 @ 8:31PM
Micky: "I gave my love a cherry that had no stone..."
Micky: "I gave my love a story that had no end..."
micky: "I gave..."
(Clint takes his guitar and smashes it against the wall & stuffs it in Micky's Face)
Clint: "Sorry!"
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 8:49PM
Clint,
I understand that you wish you had been a Delta, but you are forever an Omega. Sorry you can't change your history. Appropriating elements of Delta life doesn't make you a Delta. Never will. You will only being living a lie if you try.
Clint| 6.29.11 @ 9:35PM
Clint: Mrs. Micky, I'm so glad you could come.
Micky's Old Lady: Cut the crap. Give me a drink.
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 9:44PM
Clint,
You are so Niedermeyer.
Clint| 6.29.11 @ 10:00PM
Clint: [Imitating Bluto] Blowjob! Blowjob!
Micky's Ball & Chain: I don't think it's fair!
Micky: I'll tell you what's fair and what's not!
Bluto: [Coughing into his hand] EAT ME!
Clint: [Imitating Bluto] Eat me! Eat me!
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 10:21PM
Goodnight, Niedermeyer.
Stay out of any place resembling 'Nam.
Clint| 6.29.11 @ 10:31PM
Micky's Ball & Chain: Micky, honey? Is it supposed to be this soft?
Mike| 6.29.11 @ 11:03PM
Clint,
I'm sure you have asked yourself that question many times. No need to share your answer. We really don't care.
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