Saturday, March 08, 2008

What I'd do with the MSM press, and why they'd hate me

So McCain allowed himself to be forced to repudiate the anti-Catholic remarks of John Hagee, who had endorsed him. (This is McCain's usual way of "thanking" anyone who tries to help him, if that person is disliked by the MSM.)

About Hagee I have no opinion worth voicing in public. About Roman Catholicism I do, and often have, and will again in the future.

But this is really about neither.

Were I a Presidential candidate, I think I simply wouldn't allow myself to be manipulated into doing one thing or another about a Hagee. When the MSM asked their stupid "gotcha" questions, I'd just reject the questions and replace them with germane, relevant, worthwhile questions.

First, I'd say something like, "I'm not really running as theologian-in-chief."

Then when they'd pester me — as they surely would — I'd say
So what are you asking? Do I advocate jailing men who peacefully speak out against a religious viewpoint? I do not. Do I advocate jailing Roman Catholics who peacefully respond to their critics? I do not. Do I oppose extending full protection of Constitutional rights to either? I do not. Do I support the First Amendment? I do. Will I accept the votes of law-abiding, peaceful Americans who exercise their Constitutional rights in ways I do and do not approve? I will.
And I simply would not allow the MSM to control the conversation.

And the MSM would hate me.

But I'd be able to look in the mirror every morning and say, "Look! It's still me!"

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I can see the headlines now:

"Phillips Combative as he Dodges Questions"

"Candidate Espouses Extreme Views of Constitution and Religion"

Film at 11:00...

DJP said...

LOL, I don't doubt you're right.

Here's a thought. At press conferences, give the front 100 seats to 100 people chosen at random from the area, seat the press behind them, let the people in the front ask the questions, and let the press report on the exchange.

CR said...

What does MSM stand for? The Only MSM I know is Microsoft Messenger and I'm guessing that's not what you mean.

Rileysowner said...

I would say those sort of responses would be great to see from a politician. I guess John Hagee brings a lot of votes with an endorsement, but I personally wouldn't want his endorsement. Once I heard him says the Jesus was not the Jewish Christ, as if there are different Christs for the Jews and the Gentiles, I realized he was not just a brother in Christ who is wrong in some areas (even though some were very important areas) I saw him now as someone who ignores scripture such as Peter's clear statement in Acts 2:36 when he stated, preaching to a Jewish audience, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." More so, in saying Jesus was not the Christ I wonder how that fits with 1 John 2:22, "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son."

DJP said...

Carlo: MSM - "Mainstream media" (aka "lamestream media").

Rileysowner: that all may be true of Hagee. Again, let me just say, that this post is not in any way about him.

Ben Stevenson said...

Carlo,
Acronym Finder is a useful website to bookmark.

CR said...

Thank you Ben.

Dan, you kill me, lamestream press. I love to plagarize other peoples humorous terms, hope you don't mind I steal them.

Rileysowner said...

I guess my point, and probably one of the reasons it is highly unlikely I would ever run for public office, is that I couldn't sleep well at night getting an endorsement from John Hagee or most other "Christians" of the TV preacher type no matter how well I dealt with the MSM.

Carl said...

There are many things I could say about corporate mainstream media, but it's not polite to say such things in mixed company. :-)

Gilbert said...

Here's why I won't run for office. If Dan disagrees with me on any of my platforms and blogs about it here, it's over. Toast! I mean, look at the ruts on B. Hussein Obama!(tm)'s lawn with the satellite and microwave news trucks moving in as Dan rips Barack's false beliefs to shreds. Frankly, I'd rather scrape the back of my thighs with a cheese grater and do karaoke at the Emergent Belly Dance and Worship Center than to deal with political fallout with Danorama!(tm).

Sorry, folks. Sarcasm mode is red-lining as I look at the upcoming election, and events in California with the communism---er, education issue, Massachusetts "gay rights" going nuts...God is in control, repeat, Gilbert...grrrr!

(/vent)

Stefan Ewing said...

I just got a few mental pictures that really need to be purged from my mind now....

Tim said...

Acronym Finder is a useful website to bookmark.

Yikes, some of the other definitions of MSM are pretty nasty...

Kay said...

Well, I'd vote for you, Dan. But for that not-being-American thing...