Flashpoint : Cable Networks Are Bungling Convention Coverage

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Cable Networks Are Bungling Convention Coverage

By Brendan McLaughlin

If tonight's cable network coverage of the Democratic Convention is typical of what we can expect through Thursday, I'm going to C-Span for the duration. Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews were embarrassing in their almost weepy reverence for the proceedings. Personally, I was moved at Ted Kennedy's gritty performance in the wake of his life threatening brain surgery. I thought Michelle Obama's speech was artful and compelling. But if I were anchoring the coverage from Denver (and I dearly wish I were) I would strive to convey the emotion of the evening with at least a couple degrees of distance. After Michelle Obama's speech, Olbermann actually conceded that he could not comment without sounding sycophantic and turned it over to Matthews. Cowboy up, Keith. You're working.

Attachment: 16_61_barnes_fred_320.jpg (23783 bytes)

Flipping over to Fox takes you from fawning to farcical. I tuned in just in time to hear Fred Barnes concede through clenched teeth that it was a pretty good speech, but "it wasn't the Gettysburg Address". You got admire Fred's standards. Chris Wallace on the convention floor, as if controlled by some kind of brain-bot kept saying it was a "wasted evening" for the Democrats.

Care to bet that MSNBC and Fox will switch places in Minneapolis next week?

Olbermann on MSNBC: "Joe Lieberman gives me spastic colon. Chris, you take it."

Barnes on Fox: "Schwarzenegger is Lincoln with an Austrian accent."

Published Monday, August 25, 2008 10:22 PM by Brendan
Attachment(s): 16_61_barnes_fred_320.jpg

Comments

	Rick Williams said: I have been soooo saturated with political infomation, and just plain silliness (some one falling)... I just do NOT watch this wall to wall, floor to ceiling coverage. Thank God for the rest of the cable channels existence ! I pity the folks with only the local channels to watch the nonsense. Personally, I made up my mind several months ago as to who I was voting for. If anyone needs this type of media coverage to make up their mind... let Obama or McCain go to their house to 'seal their deal'. I wish it would all end after election day, but we all know that won't happen either ! BTW... re: poor/low turnouts yesterday... on the reverse side of my argument... I had no idea who was running, for what or what proposals were up for vote. Instead of voting blindly (which I feel is worse than not voting at all), I stayed home. NO, I will NOT be influenced by idiots jumping up and down at intersections with a meaningless name on their placards... Is it up to me to research all the candidates and data, or is it up to the candidates to inform their constituency ? We both fell on our face ! August 27, 2008 5:15 PM
	Stephen G. said: I have no problem with the overtly partisan Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann--pundits both. However, I am with Tom Brokaw on this one: Neither Olbermann nor Matthews have any business pretending to be NEWS anchors at the convention, on election night, or any other time, and MSNBC has all but destroyed its credibility as a news network. BTW, I saw Matthews/Olbermann interviewing Brokaw and Brian Williams on MSNBC last night after the Biden speech, and both looked sheepish. And rightly so. August 28, 2008 5:01 PM
	Robert said: There are at least a few of us who are interested in discovering more about the candidates and where they stand, while either choosing not to or simply cannot afford the high costs of subscribing to cable or satellite television. The coverage on all the broadcast networks left much to be desires, so I watched Jim Lehrer and his team on PBS. With the technology already offered as television switches over to it's new digital frequencies, can't the network affiliates offer those of us who want more coverage on one of the new sub-channels. If WFTS can offer Accu-Weather and WFLA can offer NBC Weather Plus 24/7, can't we get extended coverage of major events on, say 28-3 or at least preempt the weather channel coverage? August 29, 2008 7:25 PM