Matthews, Blitzer call McCain "maverick," "straight talk{er}," for calling for Craig resignation

http://mediamatters.org/items/200708310002?f=h_latest

Summary: Continuing a pattern of uncritically calling Sen. John McCain a "maverick" and a "straight talker," CNN's Wolf Blitzer and MSNBC's Chris Matthews suggested that, because McCain has called on Sen. Larry Craig to resign, he is espousing "straight talk from the Straight Talk Express" and "is very much the maverick" -- despite other Republicans having called for Craig's resignation as well.

On the August 29 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, while discussing an earlier interview by CNN senior national correspondent John King with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), host Wolf Blitzer said to King: "There was some straight talk from the Straight Talk Express," the latter being the name of McCain's campaign bus. Blitzer added that, although McCain "dodged some of your questions ... he also was pretty candid when it came to a very sensitive subject -- the future of Senator Larry Craig {R-ID}." King agreed, replying: "He certainly was, Wolf. He was blunt on a number of the pressing controversies of the moment." On August 8, Craig pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges following his June 11 arrest during an investigation of "lewd conduct" in a restroom at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

During the Situation Room segment, on-screen text read: "Frank Talk with Sen. McCain: Presidential Candidate Turns 71."

Similarly, on the same day's edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews noted that McCain had called for Craig's resignation and said that McCain "goes his own way and is very much the maverick, as we know." But neither Blitzer, King, nor Matthews explained what made calling for Craig's resignation "straight talk" or why they considered it the "maverick" position-- given that, in the days since Craig's guilty plea was first reported, Republicans such as Sen. Norm Coleman (MN) and Rep. Pete Hoekstra (MI) have also called on Craig to resign, as Matthews noted. Additionally, the Republican Senate leadership has recommended that the Ethics Committee mount an investigation, releasing a statement saying, "In the meantime, Leadership is examining other aspects of the case to determine if additional action is required." Think Progress has identified five additional Republicans who have since reportedly called on Craig to resign.

but one thing nobody will ever call him is President mccain.

McCain is every bit as spineless as the the other republic panderers.

n/t

It's like an autopilot reaction to his name... completely without context.. They may not even know they're saying it...

....:puke:

Those idiots need to take a clue and get the picture that this was about DAMAGE CONTROL and had -0- to do with anything else.

that tv brought to the nation by corporations keeps the public in a very narrow circle of news. The hosts only talk about safe stuff. It is much easier to see the wall around what is news and discussion.

When I had the tv running in front of me or in the background of activity, I didn't see the wall as concretely.

They choose the subjects and the choose the delivery - contempt or comedy - and they back it up with experts from PNAC or they smear and joke.

Vapid and vile. Vile and vapid.

pressuring Craig to resign? He's not bucking the party. Stupid meme that won't die.