![]() THE FATSO FILES! On Hardball, Matthews raised a key point: Michael Moores too goddam fat! // link // print // previous // next //
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2007 THE PRESS CORPS JEALOUS GODS: This morning, Patrick Healy is busy spinning the latest Obama-Clinton dispute. (Where on earth does the Times find these people?) But then, weve marveled several times, just in the past week, at the way big journos present the big hopefuls. Modern journalists simply luvv familiar narratives about the candidates. And of course, they worship trivia. Examples? Heres how Shailagh Murray began her front-page profile of Bidens advisers in Saturdays Washington Post. How hard will they work to include their key narratives? Just try to follow the logic: MURRAY (7/21/07): One might think that a politician whose career was nearly ruined by plagiarism would avoid other people's words at all cost.Ah yes—the Biden plagiarism narrative! How hard was Murray willing to work to cram it into her front-page report? According to Murray, one might think that Biden would avoid quoting famous people out on the trail—since he failed to say he was quoting Kinnock back in 1987! And shes right! One might think that—if one has recently come here from Mars, or if one is a Washington journalist! No one else would ever think such an utterly ludicrous thought. But so what? Thanks to this absurd bit of logic, Murray crammed the pleasing narrative right into paragraph one. (In fairness, journos have it tough when they write about Biden. Only two narratives are available. In Murrays profile, Joe Biden talks too goddamn much was postponed—until paragraph 4.) In this manner, Murray bowed low to Narrative, her cohorts great god. But out in Los Angeles, Richard Fausset was prostrate before a second god, Trivia. Believe it or not, heres how he started a profile of Edwards, published that very same day: FAUSSET (7/21/07): John Edwards, the second-try presidential candidate with the third-place campaign, walked on to Mariah Crenshaw's lawn this week, surrounded by a mini-circus of reporters and cameras.One might think that phonetic ridicule of southern speech had gone out of fashion a long time ago. But if one thinks that, one still doesnt get the religion of Americas press corps. They worship a trio of jealous gods—gods named Narrative, Trivia, Spin. This morning, Healy pays tribute to Spin in the Times. We may limn his offering tomorrow. THE FATSO FILES: On reflection, we thought Chris Matthews hour with Michael Moore was worth a bit more attention. Moore did the full hour on Mondays Hardball—and Matthews was woefully under-prepared (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 7/24/07). For the most part, he let his young audience at the Hardball Plaza pose the questions to Moore; this produced a disjointed, uninformative hour about a remarkable film. But it isnt like Matthews did no preparation. Near the end of the scattershot hour, he mentioned one potent critique of the film. Readers, Mike Huckabee has said that Moore is too fat! With apologies, we offer the full exchange produced by Matthews deathless research. How pointless was this trivial side-trip? Before long, Matthews was sharing his (sex-obsessed) thoughts about apple fritters at Starbucks: MATTHEWS (7/23/07): You have earned yourself an enemy. This is Huckabee, the former governor—Mike Huckabee. Hes running for president.Only on MSNBC? Thank God for all such small favors! How did Matthews fashion his hour about Sicko? During the hour, we never learned about the British health system. But we did find out what Matthews thinks about those Starbucks fritters. But then, this is typical press corps work. Lets get clear on what happened. In the weeks since Sicko hit the screens, various people have offered reactions. In the New York Times, Paul Krugman noted an astonishing fact: The Brits run a better health system ours—at only about 40 percent of the cost! And oh yes—Huckabee said that Moore is just too goddamned fat! Given the choice of those two critiques, which one did Matthews decide to bring up? Of course! He turned his show in the direction of trivia—and failed to raise the remarkable issue quantified in Krugmans column. But then, well guess that Matthews spent all of ten seconds preparing himself for this program. Lets say it again: Moore should never discuss health care without reciting that key fact from Krugman: The Brits spend only forty percent as much as we do (per person), but have a better health system! That is a deeply remarkable fact. Moore shouldnt leave home without it. But Matthews is the professional journalist—the guy whos paid millions of dollars per year to keep us masterfully well-informed. As always, though, he frittered your time away when he spent the hour with Moore. But this will not change—will never change—as long as fatuous Nantucket swells are shaping your national discourse. Postscript: Last night, Matthews spent his last fifteen minutes slobbering all over the Obama/Hot for Hill/Rudy girls. You know, I did judge the Miss America contest this year, he boasted to the gals at one point. There was a religious element to these segments too. Were here with these gorgeous creatures of god, the gentleman couldnt help noting. DONT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT CITING IT: What the heck—well post it again! You should never discuss health care without reciting the fact we highlight below. (While were at it, heres the most recent ranking of health care systems by the WHO.) KRUGMAN (7/9/07): Now, every wealthy country except the United States already has some form of universal care. Citizens of these countries pay extra taxes as a result—but they make up for that through savings on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs. The overall cost of health care in countries with universal coverage is much lower than it is here.Matthews should have introduced that fact. Instead, he raised a different point: Huckabee says that youre too fat! Michael Moore, whats your response? |