Free Ride: John McCain and the Media

Visit www.mccainsfreeride.com for more information!

We live in a "gotcha" media culture that revels in exposing the foibles and hypocrisies of our politicians. But one politician manages to escape this treatment, getting the benefit of the doubt and a positive spin for nearly everything he does: John McCain. Even during his temporary decline in popularity in 2007, the media continued to bolster him by lamenting his fate rather than criticizing the flip-flops and politicking that undermined his media-driven image as a "straight talker."

In Free Ride: John McCain and the Media, David Brock and Paul Waldman show how the media have enabled McCain's rise from the Keating Five savings-and-loan scandal to the underdog hero of the 2000 primaries to his roller-coaster run for the 2008 nomination. They illuminate how the press falls for McCain's "straight talk" and how the Arizona senator gets away with inconsistencies and misrepresentations for which the media skewer other politicians.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• mainstream
• media
• matters
• mccain
• politics
• political
• maverick
• straight
• talk

[anonyMoses]

I cannot think of a more timely book.

I was beginning to think that my impression that McCain has already started his honeymoon with the Media...was all in my head. Brock and Waldman are a brilliant combination, and I cannot wait to read this book.

[ammoman23]

Actually, McCain sold military info to his captures for better medical treatment. He even admits it in his own autobiography, he just said he didn't plan to keep his word. This is part of why McCain's approval ratings among Vietnam veterans is horrible.

[lorrainegate]

That is truly a joke, McCain`s free ride from the media...

Don`t you mean NObama, if you didn`t, you should have!

What a F*(king Joke You People Are!!

[RushGirl2007]

Actually, they refused him medical care [and shattered his shoulder] until they learned his father was high up in the ranks. Then he was given the lowest of the low and would have died had not the other POWs cared for him. Ah, the lovely propaganda techniques.

[ALIPAC1]

Search Youtube and check out a video named "ALIPAC Responds To Media Matters Liars"

Media Matters has got to be stupid to put out something so full of holes! Taking their lies and propaganda apart is so easy. They are overconfident because they believe the left leaning media will run their lies without question.

[ALIPAC1]

The reason I have so much to say about Media Matters because they lie so much and are easily discredited. Media Matters's recent advocacy for the destruction of Free Speech in America, combined with  their flagrant alignment with pro AMNESTY groups has put them in the dog house with the vast majority of Americans aware of these FACTS.

[jamminjer25]

The right-wing misinformers are in fact terrified of Media Matters. That's why they cant shut up about them. If MM was as inconsequential as O'Reilly, Savage, Beck et al say, they'd simply ignore them. But they cant, because all Media Matters does is document the misinformers' own words. There's nothing the misinformers can disprove. Thus, they have to constantly smear MM. It's the only thing they can think of to do.

[jamminjer25]

You dont have to "trust" Media Matters. What they report has nothing to do with 'faith'. They're not in the business of opinions; they simply take what right-wing misinformers say, show it to the world (usually with the accompanying video and/or audio of what the right-wing misinformer said) and then demonstrate why/how it's incorrect by presenting the facts disproving it. It's called journalism. It's not infotainment.

[ALIPAC1]

Like anyone should trust anything Media Matters or Waldmen have to say. McCain is no saint, but these people are liars.

[Daniaboot]

What type of bombs did Mr. McCain drop in Viet Nam? Regular exploding bombs, Agent Orange or Napalm (burning fire)? How many innocent people going about thier daily lives did he kill? I lived through the war and no one there was defending America. People were there because they were forced to go or couln't wait to go. And he didn't go to the jungles, no he flew above the hell below. And when he was shot down who saved his life? The same people he was trying to kill a few moments earlier!

[greyinjeans]

Way to go 'Media Matters' with the book "McCains Free Ride." McCain now has an

ad running in only one state, but that's okay because the 'John McCain friendly media' is replaying the ad over and over. I even saw it on C-span's Washington Journal. He is getting what amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars of free air time. Our US media does not serve all the citizens equally well.

So this book is greatly needed and appreciated. I'm going to call my library and request it.