That’s me screaming at the TV last night.So I’m watching Super Tuesday coverage being the political news junkie I am, and damn if every show framed results for either Obama or Hillary based on how they did among whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics. Yet most mentions of how the GOP did were based on, um, votes. Imagine that. Votes and not race. And here I thought once we got past the “Is Obama black enough?” and “Can a woman lead us?” arguements, people would be done with this issue.
Nope.
Local coverage, C-Span, the major networks like CNN, MSNBC and that absolute disgrace for a news show Fox were right there stoking the fire. And what’s up with Fox’s new crew of I swear almost identical babes, each strutting toward the camera like some Ford commercial “You gotta put Obama on your list!” Thanks, but I really don’t need my political coverage looking like I’m watching TMZ.
A few of the oft-repeated quotes last night:
“Obama doing surprisingly well among whites.” [ Should I be shocked? Awed? ]
“Hillary winning 7 out of 10 Asians.” [ Like what, she won them in a cereal box? ]
You can say just change the channel or don’t watch Fox in the first place. I wish I could. Problem is, it’s not only them. Watch any channel and you’ll see. This is naive I know, but I’m hoping we can move past this and just count votes. (Maybe during the next Town Hall Debate someone from YouTube Nation can ask the media why they keep fanning the flames.) Probably wouldn’t even matter.
Fox would still find a way to break down blue states into darker and lighter.
Tags: Fox News
3 comments:
On one hand, you are so right. Enough.
On the other, this election really is about race -- the removal of gender and race, which means everyone is talking about gender and race. In the brand positioning ladder in my head, which has little attention for BORING politics, the fact that a woman and a black man are top contenders grabs attention. I'm not sure I can name 3 of the other candidates.
The real irony is that Obama is half white. So, why is he called black? It's time for America to get over race and get on with it. The real questions. Like why all of us want to get tan.
You're right that it's more than just Fox News. There was a particularly weird exchange between David Gergen and Lou Dobbs, who seemed shocked that southern white males could vote for people who aren't white or male. That was on CNN -- a channel based in Atlanta, the city that 6 years ago elected an African-American woman as mayor.
I've pretty much concluded that media coverage is like this because the campaigns are like this. This is how most candidates examine the polls and adjust their messages. Maybe people who work on campaigns have convinced themselves this is simple market research but it's creepy and embarrassing to hear newspeople talk about it on TV. Also, I don't think ALL candidates want to remove race and gender.
And all the women on Fox? Cylons.
Ben, yep, agree it is about race. (And gender.) It’s obvious, but why take the next step and go there by mentioning it so much now, you know? And not casually either, like Irene says, they do it as if it’s a simple weather update.
I would love for Fox to go further though and just once go “...and Romney is doing surprisingly well among white NRA members and one-armed lesbians...”
Irene: Cylons. Brilliant. Was trying to think of the right descriptor.
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