Skeletons in the closet
The kafuffle over Herman Cain and women is another example of a blood rule of American politics: If you have a skeleton, someone will splatter it on the national windshield. If … that is … you become a serious contender. And if … mainstream media don’t want you to win.
Example: Gary Hart, presidential candidate. His romps with women were no secret within the media. One of the big network reporters was romping with him. Yet nothing ever leaked. Until he became a serious contender. Mainstream media types did not want him to win. So they strung his dirty linen across our tv screens. (Had Fox News and the Drudge Report existed then, he would not have made it as far as he did.)
Example: John Edwards’ secrets were no secrets. Yet mainstream media ignored them. Until he became a serious contender.
Example: A few years back the candidate for vice-president had slept with a judge for years. Innumerable people knew about it. Why was it never leaked? The candidate and running partner had little or no chance of gaining the White House. A member of Congress confided in me, “Since they were never going to win, the juicy scandal remained in the closet.”
Example: Countless people knew about Bill Clinton’s women when he ran for the White House. Media guys and campaign staffers shared stories and jokes about them. The Clintons formed a Bimbo Squad to silence women who threatened to squeal. And yet, little of substance ever found its way into print or into tv reports. Because mainstream media wanted Clinton to win.
After he won they were just as reluctant to dig into the Monica story. Because it would hurt the guy they loved. Only after renegade Matt Drudge broke the story did they, ever so reluctantly, pursue it.
Herman Cain has been on the campaign trail for a long time. Why did the scandal not come out months ago? Months ago, few gave him a snowball’s chance. Few expected he would see double digits in the polls. Few expected that many voters would take him seriously. Most felt his candidacy was a joke.
Lately, however, he gained traction. As you know, he muscled into the lead in various state polls. As his popularity grew, so did the target on his back. Mainstream media types do NOT want this man to be President. Democrats do not want him to be President. Moderate and establishment Republicans do not want him to be President. He is the worst nightmare for all of them. He is a maverick. As such, he owes nuthin’ to nobody. Thus, he poses a threat to the entire political class. The time came to take him out.
Will we ever know the truth? Maybe. Maybe not. As I write this we have only heard from “Anonymous”. When mainstream media do not want to report something they don’t give much credit to “Anonymous”. When they are eager to trash a politician they dislike, they hang on every word that may or may not come from “Anonymous”. For example: Let us say you adore Bill Clinton. Can you say with a straight face that reporters would have crafted scandal stories about him with only vague accusations from “Anonymous”?
They did not. They did not write stories even when they had specific accusations. From women who gave their names.
I do not feel sorry for Mr. Cain. He may have created a stew that will consume him. And he certainly had to know if he became a contender his enemies would come after him.
As for the media, I suppose I could accept either of two scenarios. Either they ignore all such stuff, figuring private should be private. Unless it would affect affairs of the country. Or they expose everything they discover. On every candidate. Even their favorites. Even when they are not contenders.
Ahh, but that would have an element of fairness, wouldn’t it? And fairness and politics go together like kittens and vipers.
From Tom ... as in Morgan.
For more columns and for Tom’s radio shows and new TV shows (and to write to Tom): tomasinmorgan.com.
Example: Gary Hart, presidential candidate. His romps with women were no secret within the media. One of the big network reporters was romping with him. Yet nothing ever leaked. Until he became a serious contender. Mainstream media types did not want him to win. So they strung his dirty linen across our tv screens. (Had Fox News and the Drudge Report existed then, he would not have made it as far as he did.)
Example: John Edwards’ secrets were no secrets. Yet mainstream media ignored them. Until he became a serious contender.
Example: A few years back the candidate for vice-president had slept with a judge for years. Innumerable people knew about it. Why was it never leaked? The candidate and running partner had little or no chance of gaining the White House. A member of Congress confided in me, “Since they were never going to win, the juicy scandal remained in the closet.”
Example: Countless people knew about Bill Clinton’s women when he ran for the White House. Media guys and campaign staffers shared stories and jokes about them. The Clintons formed a Bimbo Squad to silence women who threatened to squeal. And yet, little of substance ever found its way into print or into tv reports. Because mainstream media wanted Clinton to win.
After he won they were just as reluctant to dig into the Monica story. Because it would hurt the guy they loved. Only after renegade Matt Drudge broke the story did they, ever so reluctantly, pursue it.
Herman Cain has been on the campaign trail for a long time. Why did the scandal not come out months ago? Months ago, few gave him a snowball’s chance. Few expected he would see double digits in the polls. Few expected that many voters would take him seriously. Most felt his candidacy was a joke.
Lately, however, he gained traction. As you know, he muscled into the lead in various state polls. As his popularity grew, so did the target on his back. Mainstream media types do NOT want this man to be President. Democrats do not want him to be President. Moderate and establishment Republicans do not want him to be President. He is the worst nightmare for all of them. He is a maverick. As such, he owes nuthin’ to nobody. Thus, he poses a threat to the entire political class. The time came to take him out.
Will we ever know the truth? Maybe. Maybe not. As I write this we have only heard from “Anonymous”. When mainstream media do not want to report something they don’t give much credit to “Anonymous”. When they are eager to trash a politician they dislike, they hang on every word that may or may not come from “Anonymous”. For example: Let us say you adore Bill Clinton. Can you say with a straight face that reporters would have crafted scandal stories about him with only vague accusations from “Anonymous”?
They did not. They did not write stories even when they had specific accusations. From women who gave their names.
I do not feel sorry for Mr. Cain. He may have created a stew that will consume him. And he certainly had to know if he became a contender his enemies would come after him.
As for the media, I suppose I could accept either of two scenarios. Either they ignore all such stuff, figuring private should be private. Unless it would affect affairs of the country. Or they expose everything they discover. On every candidate. Even their favorites. Even when they are not contenders.
Ahh, but that would have an element of fairness, wouldn’t it? And fairness and politics go together like kittens and vipers.
From Tom ... as in Morgan.
For more columns and for Tom’s radio shows and new TV shows (and to write to Tom): tomasinmorgan.com.
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