Media Matters / Romney
What I have found interesting during the primary process is how the mainstream media (define that however you choose) can and does affect how many people vote. These are a few of my thoughts on media matters, with some quotes and parts of articles which are in italics, and how Mitt Romney can emerge as an even greater force in the Republican Party and as the principle conservative leader over the next few years.
Media Matters
“There are only two ways of telling the complete truth - anonymously and posthumously.” - Thomas Sowell said. 1 His statement on the totality of truth and its wide-ranging scale is just as germane today, when you consider the level of the media influence on the political process and Presidential candidates.
Thomas Sowell (WSJ - Photo)
Partial truths that were dispersed through the media, even in the burgeoning days of the United States, proved vexing for many candidates. Political attacks via the media shaped the opinion of the public and conversant class, back in the late 1700’s. Deleterious reporting of a particular candidate, and his views offered readers and those within earshot, both questionable and even reckless news. This had the effect of delivering, at times, a devastating broadside: shattering and summarily sinking some Presidential bids.
(Photo - Explorehistory)
Of course, the delivery of new news has changed rather dramatically since the town crier lost his forum. However, blatant inaccuracies about candidates still persist within the media noted for grinding out canards at a rapid pace. Finding wholly accurate information is still replete with degrees of accuracy these days. In spite of technological advances created to deliver the media in its various forms, no instrument has provided a truth detector, yet.
Even casual observers, this year, could easily identify the role the press has in electing certain nominees for the primary state wins and even influencing the choice of Presidential candidates. “The press not only plays a major role in what goes on, but is” in fact, “part of the process,” wrote Bernie DeGroat quoting Robert Teeter, who chaired President Bush’s 1992 campaign and is now president of a consulting and research firm. “The role of the press has changed dramatically. It has changed not only the nature and all the aspects of political campaigns and the way you organize and run a campaign, but it has changed the way we govern.” 1
Part of the problem is a result of the influx of information at a rapid rate where many who work in the media do not know how to properly evaluate data, have an agenda or are running against a deadline. Consequently, even more inaccurate information about a candidate, for example, is distributed and being absorbed as factual by many who do not have the time or ability to distinguish between spin and reality. What complicates this process even further is the herd mentality of competing new organizations and its reporters who repeat rather than report.
You may have witnessed this phenomenon by hearing various news organizations reporters using identical phrasing and words to relate a narrative.
Is the media really that influential that it literally shapes our views or thoughts? Or are we immune to such intrusions?
Romney and Conservative Matters
Over the next few years you may see various Presidential hopefuls, media types or intellectuals try and takes the reins of the conservative movement. Since the current cadre of House Republicans, for the most part, have shifted left and showed the Democrats what its like to spend big time, many in the party are nonplussed about the actions of the Republican Party.
William F. Buckley (photo wnyc.org)
William F. Buckley commented two years ago that the lack of conservative ideology on foreign relations has produced part of the problems with the neo conservative interventionism. As a result you have seen deals made to support the war whereby spending has been used to buy votes. While some economic growth has occurred the congressional spending have limited the economic gains.
Peggy Noonan (NYT Photo)
Peggy Noonan, of the Wall Street Journal has written a good article about some of these issues. Noonan writes, that “the base is tired. Republicans feel their own kind of unease at Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton. Talk about wanting to stand athwart history yelling stop. They’re not in a mood to give money. Remember the phrase “broken glass Republicans?” The number of Republicans so offended, so wounded, actually, as citizens, by the Clinton years, that (sic) they’d crawl across broken glass to elect George Bush? They existed in 2004, too. Now a lot of them wouldn’t crawl across a plush weave carpet to vote for a Republican. They’re looking around. Look at that new house they’re building” . . .
(http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html)
This bodes well for Mitt Romney. Romney’s gifted intellect, knowledge and talents are well suited to lead both the conservative movement and Republican Party for the future. Greater success for the party tends to occur when the two are in lock step with each other. Whether Mitt forms a small think tank or writes a tomb on conservative principles & values and what his economic, social and national vision for America will be, over the next few years, his influence can prove pivotal. The conservative leadership spot is wide open in the Republican Party right now and it will be filled one way or the other.
(newsweek - photo)
In spite of what does or doesn’t happen in this Presidential election cycle, Romney could make even greater gains by leading the conservative intellectual movement, which could aid his run for the Presidency. Perhaps, this is part of what he has in mind.
Universal truths are still as relevant today as they were when Richard Weaver wrote “Ideas have Consequences” and still need to be advanced and articulated for today’s new generations in all three areas. Beyond that you need politicians that will actually act according to a set of principles, not just for the shifting tides of political expediency.
Richard Weaver (acton.org) photo
Either way, advancing conservative ideas creates a conduit to pierce through the entrenched media framework. Self-evident truths are difficult to suppress even by news organizations. People are naturally drawn to them and connect with the values and wisdom that moral, economic and national principles can offer.
Stephen
1. Thomas Sowell (http://www.tsowell.com/)
2. . (The University Record, December 5, 1995 Media wields significant influence on choice of presidential candidates, journalists, pollsters say By Bernie DeGroat News and Information Services)
March 18th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I hope you will all be patient with me. I am new to this site. I think I found it just last week or so.
I like this article alot, but I cannot seem to find out when it first appeared. It has the feel of something that is a little older but I simply cannot tell for sure. STEPHEN?
Personally, I feel that Mitt’s abilities are just barely tapped into.. . Time will tell what all he really can offer, I think it is much more than present and conventional wisdom acknowledges or perhaps even knows about. I think he is largely an unknown commodity and America will be greatly and pleasantly surprised when some future events show his true abilities and worth… Intellectual may be an understatement… KKSM
March 18th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
New article - my thoughts on an old subject that is ongoing in the media . . . references for quotes (see 2) for example. There are many books, articles and talk radio material on the subject matter. Media Bias - Bernard Goldberg wrote a popular book on the subject and if you use Google there are 2,660,000 references.
I covered a similar topic, and used a couple of bits from an earlier post that was on this site (my writing) very briefly before I deleted it (Planet Romney had linked to the earlier posting I had written (How can you tell? It’s election Season!)- Maybe this is what, in parts, appears familiar? There have been a couple of blogs and one posting on this site that reffered to Mitt wanting to become an idea factory or to have more of an influence of the R Party.
My intent is to focus when and where possible on Mitt Romney or issues that directly affect him, hence my deleting the earlier post. (I hope that helps).
March 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
This is good! Very good! Get the intellects in this site involved. Keep it coming. We lurkers are waiting. - P
March 18th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Thanks Stephen for clearing it up for me. It DID help me. It is an excellent article and well written. I enjoy anything uplifting and particularly like following things about Mitt. Thank you again! KKSM
March 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
After listening to Obama today, it is critical that Mitt AT LEAST be VP at this time so that he has a foot in the door. My stomach turns when I think of Obama(and the “Black Experience”) or Hilary in the White House - no experience is a very scary thing.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Stephen you are an incredible assest to CoMMITTED - I like the article and how you put everything together. A wise man once said that:
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here
We should never forget what has happened this year; an exuberant man has emerged as our poster boy for conservative/republican ideals.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Oh, don’t be fooled, Hillary and Obama have plenty of experience, just none of it is in the right areas. They are NOT what is needed at this time.
I just posted on another comment to keep calling the McCain camp and the RNC. When I called at the end of last week for the umpteenth time, they said they were getting lots of calls and many of them are about Mitt. Don’t let up. Ask all your friends and family to call and email them….
March 19th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Stephen, awesome! I never realized until this election how much the media influences the elections. One thing that really stood out for me. Mitt was still in the race and leading Huckabee, I think it was Brian Williams, not sure, one of the national news, said; so I wonder when Romney will drop out?? I have noticed many other examples. Like the NYT that sat on that story of McCain until Romney was out of the race. The other day I just left my TV off. I listened to some radio, I got some information from the net. I called my son crying one day, wanting his opinion on what I can do to help. One thing he said that stood out for me was he said Mom, you can only do so much. You just try and change one person at a time. Share your beliefs, your thoughts. It made sense to me. My friend is a Psychologist and he said ” How do you light up a darkened room you walk into? He said, you turn on the light. You cannot fight darkness, you bring in more light.” So is that kind of what you are saying Stephen? Truth does always prevail. Another great man said, “Greatness is achieved by small and even mundane things over a long period of time.” Anyway, just sharing and learning here. Thank you, God Bless, Cat
March 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Cat,
Your son and your friend has a point.
I know we are not all LDS here but I would like to share a scripture, one of my favorite, from the Book of Mormon. It is in the Book of Alma 37:6 for curious non-members. It touches upon what you said about “Greatness is achieved by small and even mundane things over a long period of time.”
“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.”
May God bless this dear country of ours. I have great faith that despite what the media is doing they will be underminded on person at a time who learns the truth.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Wow, touched by the last two posts. Thank you so much! Quite a quote from quite a book….
You know, the only thing that every truly win is righteousness and yes, light… That is it. Darkness never wins. Ever. It may appear to, but over time, it is proven to not be so. It is amazing to me how many people think they are winning when they are so evil and duplicitous, but no, not really. I think perhaps they do not understand eternal type goals. It seems they think only in the here and now.
I hope and pray that Mitt can continue to let a light shine so that all can see it and eventually desire it. It amazed me that people did not know what to do with his “goodness”. Do you remember people saying he was just “too good” and “too perfect looking and acting”? How utterly pathetic that people do not know what to do with someone who is good!!!!! Mitt was good and they did NOT know how to take it and what to do with it because it is so uncommon!!!! He is a good man and one we need to bless America… That is right my prayer is *********** GOOD BLESS AMERICA************!
Pity the foolish that pray for the opposite.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Sarah, thank you. I will read that scripture again. I think it was Jeffery R. Holland who quoted about the small and mundane things, not sure, but I always liked it. I really believe we are in a battle with good vs evil. On all fronts. I look at Romney and think, they just don’t come any beter. Then I look at the left and think, ummm, I’ll just say they are wayyyyyyyyyyy out there. God bless, Cat
March 20th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Hey Cat, is this your quote??? It is Howard W. Hunter
The end result may not always be clearly visible, but it seems that it always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time.
Gospel Library > Magazines > Ensign > May 1982
Thanks for putting it back in my head, it is lovely and true.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Hey Cat, is this your quote??? It is Howard W. Hunter
The end result may not always be clearly visible, but it seems that it always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time.
Gospel Library > Magazines > Ensign > May 1982
Thanks for putting it back in my head, it is lovely and true.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:14 am
KKSM oh thank you, that has to be it. I just always remembered it was very profound for me, personally. I remember at the time I was washing dishes, and hating it, and I heard that quote and I thought ok this is obviously ordinary and mundane, but there must be a reason for it : ) Thanks again……..God bless, ~ Cat
March 28th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Thank you cat and KKSM and all. That quote!! I have heard it many times but it really sank in this time. It’s a beauty!!!! So uplifting!
I sure hope Mitt becomes our new Vice President. I would breathe a huge sigh of relief. I still feel sad that Mitt stepped down. Someone that is unenlightened said that Mitt stepped down for personal reasons. KKSM, he is one that needs to pray. KKSM I hope you don’t mind me saying this, Your one of my favorites!! Linda