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You are here: Home / What It Takes to Get “Political Cover” (hint: it doesn’t involve you, peasant)

What It Takes to Get “Political Cover” (hint: it doesn’t involve you, peasant)

by Steve M.|  June 22, 20116:00 pm| 33 Comments

This post is in: Our Failed Media Experiment

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Chuck Todd et al., at NBC’s First Read:

Obama’s political cover: The troop withdrawal that the president will announce concerns the 30,000 surge troops, not the total force in Afghanistan…. politically, Obama has more leeway than he’s ever had before. Just listen to what Mitt Romney said about Afghanistan in last week’s GOP debate. And listen to what Jon Huntsman said on “TODAY” this morning: “We can probably be a little more aggressive [on withdrawal] over the next year… What we need now is a healthy dose of nation-building at home.”

Yup — that’s what it takes for Obama to get the necessary “leeway” and “political cover” to withdraw troops from Afghanistan: two rich white Mormon Republicans, one of them a basement-dweller in his own party’s opinion polls, apparently giving Obama permission to withdraw.

It doesn’t matter what we, the American people, think. It doesn’t matter that a new Pew poll says 56% of the country wants the troops out of Afghanistan as soon as possible, as opposed to 34% who don’t; that a CBS poll a couple of weeks ago showed that 64% of respondents wanted a troop withdrawal; that a CNN poll a couple of weeks ago said 74% of respondents wanted all or some troops withdrawn; that an ABC/Washington Post poll said 73% of Americans want “a substantial number of U.S. combat forces” withdrawn; or that a May Gallup poll showed that 59% of the public thinks “the U.S. has accomplished its mission in Afghanistan and should bring its troops home,” as opposed to 39% who agreed that “the U.S. still has important work to do in Afghanistan and should maintain its troops there.”

That’s just the rabble talking, right? What do you think this is — a democracy? Now, two moneybags news-anchor clones from the Daddy Party — if they say we can go wobbly on Afghanistan, that means something.

(X-posted at NMMNB.)

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Reader Interactions

33Comments

  1. 1.

    gex

    June 22, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    In a way, it’s true. Unless high ranking (or low ranking as the case may be) Republicans are sort of okay with the idea of what a Democrat is going to do, the media is going to act as though the President has gone rogue. Even if what he is doing has majority support.

    Sad, but true. The rich white Mormons give Obama cover with the Village media types. That’s all.

  2. 2.

    jl

    June 22, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    The poster seems to assume that whatever tripe, bilge, and momentary bright and trite ideas Todd pumps out for his deadline are true.

    What other evidence is there that Obama would have done differently if Romney and Huntsman had said differently?

  3. 3.

    Joel

    June 22, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    The problem with the polls is that most of those opinions are wishy-washy. If Obama commits to withdrawal, the Republicans are going to go full-metal oppo and a lot of those opinions will change. The question is, how do we defeat this oppo before it starts?

  4. 4.

    BGinCHI

    June 22, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    Just watch, tomorrow or Friday someone from the GOP will come out against troop withdrawals (McCain or his ilk) and the media (like ChuckTodd!) will begin handwringing and talking about Obama’s exposure on this issue.

  5. 5.

    BGinCHI

    June 22, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Joel, by talking about how money spent in Afgh is money we don’t have to spend here on education and infrastructure.

    Opportunity costs, FFS.

    Did NO ONE in the media take Econ 101?

  6. 6.

    boudicca

    June 22, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    Chuck Todd is a tool.

  7. 7.

    srv

    June 22, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    Warmonger Obama can’t even make the Pentagon happy. What a master of failure, losing the hippies and the military-Industrial-Complex at the same time.

    Even Gore has gone all Hamsher now.

  8. 8.

    jl

    June 22, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    @4 BGinCHI

    No, you lose the BJ betting pool. Today. We need to learn to type faster.

    “I’m not sure that these kinds of differences might not have been there in a more latent form when you had a Republican president,” McConnell admitted. “But I do think there’s more of a tendency to pull together when the guy in the White House is on your side.”

    (snip)

    “I think some of these views were probably held by some of my members even in the previous administration but party loyalty tends to kind of mute them,” he said. “A lot of our members, not having a Republican in the White House, feel more free to kind of express their reservations which might have been somewhat muted during the previous administration.”

    McConnell: GOP Outspoken On Libya Because There’s A Democrat In The White House
    Brian Beutler | June 22, 2011

    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/mcconnell-gop-outspoken-on-libya-because-theres-a-democrat-in-the-white-house.php?ref=fpa

    Edit: Oops, I got carried away, you might still win. Your bet included when Todd would change gears. That hasn’t happened yet. But I won’t bother to read Todd in order to find out.

  9. 9.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    June 22, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    The opinions of the rabble on [insert issue of the day] would matter more than they do now if the rabble in question would actually show up on election day and fucking vote rather than sitting at home watching TV.

    Most of our elections have less than 50 percent turnout. Does it really shock you that the powers that be don’t give a shit about the opinions of people who can’t be bothered to vote twice (once in the primaries, once in November) every two years? And to make matters worse, the marginal folks who on any given election day may or may not show up, and hence who tend to swing the election in question, are precisely the folks who listen to what the Chuck Todds of the world have to say and call that “being informed”. As economists like to say, when demand is elastic prices are set on the margin. This is the voting equivalent.

    /end rant

  10. 10.

    chopper

    June 22, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    thank god romney and huntsman have weighed in, now the commander in chief has all the info.

  11. 11.

    Martin

    June 22, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    Chuck keeps trying for the pageview jackpot.

  12. 12.

    BGinCHI

    June 22, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    jl, I read McConnell’s amazing truthiness and it only establishes the certainty of my above claim.

    Cole will prolly try to pay me in Jack Russell Terrier.

  13. 13.

    Elizabelle

    June 22, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    Meanwhile that nice Evan Bayh is getting the Chamber of Commerce’s message out that Obama’s regulations will KILL MORE JOBS. KILL KILL KILL. NO JOB JOBS JOBS with Obama and his red tape job killing regulations in the White House.

    Because there’s a lot of uncertainty, you see. That’s what’s holding our economy back. What’s a business to do?

    Nice Evan Bayh is partnering with former GWB flying monkey Andrew Card on a “roadshow” to take this message to the American people. Starting with the lucky American people in Wisconsin, West Virginia, Georgia and Illinois.

    “Is this the right time to add an additional economic burden to struggling businesses and workers,” said Evan Bayh, a former Democratic senator from Indiana who is helping the chamber press home its message.

    http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/06/22/us/politics/politics-us-usa-business-regulations.html?hp

  14. 14.

    Citizen_X

    June 22, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    how do we defeat this oppo before it starts?

    Obama’s gotta get public commitments, signed in fucking blood, from both Republican and Democratic Senators and Reps. Not lots, not a majority, just a few. Because you’re right: the second the keening wail of “WHO LOST AFGHANISTAN?” starts up, the vaunted Anti-War (today) American People will turn 180 degrees faster than Glenn Greenwald can put in two links.

    I know this is an unpopular thing to say here. I think this war should end yesterday. But if I was Obama, I wouldn’t bring back a single Army cook, not a single crate of Humvee parts, until I got some blood-oath commitments across the political spectrum. “You motherfuckers want this thing to end someday?” I’d say, “Then you put your name on the damned line.”

  15. 15.

    BGinCHI

    June 22, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    Fuck Evan Fucking Bayh and his Asshole wife too.

    Fuckers.

    Dear God, please smite.

  16. 16.

    Derf

    June 22, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    yawn,

    So instead of saying, cool we are starting to get out of Afghanistan just like Obama promised, and maybe even a bit faster. No that was just too….errum positive for you so you twist your self into this ridiculous pretzel, quoting Chuck, douche bag, Todd as your source to come up with this fucked up angle of yours.

    Now I am just waiting for John Galt Cole’s whine about how 5 or 10 oir 30k isn’t fast enough and how John Galt Cole, west point graduate and brilliant military commander demands all troops out immediately and babbles on about something greenwald implanted into his pea brain today.

    This blog has really gone to shit lately. Don’t even get me started on ABL who see’s racism in every news story they read and in every comment (ie. “you people” gate)

  17. 17.

    Citizen_X

    June 22, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    This blog has really gone to shit lately.

    Yawn, yourself. Door, your ass, &tc, &tc.

  18. 18.

    Martin

    June 22, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    “But I do think there’s more of a tendency to pull together when the guy in the White House is on your side.”

    Shorter McConnell:

    America Republicans First!

  19. 19.

    Derf

    June 22, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    Citizen_X – June 22, 2011 | 6:31 pm · Link

    This blog has really gone to shit lately.
    Yawn, yourself. Door, your ass, &tc, &tc.

    I’m just getting started and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.

  20. 20.

    Pococurante

    June 22, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Interesting. Several SteveM posts that just draw trolls.

  21. 21.

    Trurl

    June 22, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    starting to get out of Afghanistan just like Obama promised

    Hahaha…

    How many of the number he announces tonight will be combat troops instead of support troops?

    How many contractors will replace them?

    Why will his term end with twice as many troops there as when it began?

    You pitiful clown.

  22. 22.

    Trurl

    June 22, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    Even Gore has gone all Hamsher now.

    He must be racist!!

  23. 23.

    Derf

    June 22, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Trurl
    blah blah…something the cat said…blah blah…yada yada…you are a poopy pants

    I see we have another brilliant military commander in our midst. Privy to all the same info as the Prez and already has drawn their conclusions before any anouncements are made. Getting their pre-emptive strikes in now.

    This site really is blessed with fart smellers…err smart fellers.

    Cue KThug and Cenk who never miss an opportunity to sense hypersensitivity of the addicted to whine left to an Obama whine festival and never fail to take advantage for their own gain

  24. 24.

    Trurl

    June 22, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    Ah yes… “The Leader has secret knowledge so we should trust in his judgment”. A Bush-era classic.

  25. 25.

    Martin

    June 22, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    How many of the number he announces tonight will be combat troops instead of support troops?
    __
    How many contractors will replace them?
    __
    Why will his term end with twice as many troops there as when it began?
    __
    You pitiful clown.

    Why will Obama always hate gays?

    If Obama signed single-payer healthcare, why would it still magically suck?

    When Obama dispenses unicorns to progressives, what government program is going to stop them from eating our tomato plants?

  26. 26.

    Lolis

    June 22, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Trurl,

    I didn’t agree with it during the campaign but Obama promised to focus on Afghanistan and make it his priority. This, to any thinking person, meant he would increase troops there. Love it or hate it, but Obama did not flip flop on Afghanistan. This is where he has always been. I personally wish we were withdrawing 50 K troops this year at least, but I can’t be poutraged at Obama for doing something he promised to do.

  27. 27.

    Trurl

    June 22, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    I don’t know why Obama opposes equality before the law for gays – also known as gay marriage.

    But he says his thoughts are “evolving”. (As they must have evolved away from the support for gay marriage he was selling in 1996.) National support for gay marriage is now in the low 50s. I suspect Obama will evolve back into support once that hits 65. Or if he uses it as an emergency boost for a re-election campaign foundering on having seen the national unemployment rise during his term.

    Whichever comes first.

  28. 28.

    Trurl

    June 22, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Obama did not flip flop on Afghanistan. This is where he has always been.

    So when you voted for him in 2008, you expected that his term would end with US forces in Afghanistan doubled.

    You sure about that?

    Did you also expect that he would kill thousands of Pakistani civilians with drone bombers?

    Did you also expect him to wage a separate drone bombing war in Yemen?

    Did you also expect him to launch a war of aggression against Libya in knowing violation of the War Powers Act?

    Please. At least I’m honest enough to admit that I got swindled.

  29. 29.

    TG Chicago

    June 22, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    Fun note: I listened to some All Things Considered today, and they brought Mara Liasson on to share her valuable wisdom on Afghanistan. She mentioned the Pew poll that says 56% of the country wants the troops out of Afghanistan as soon as possible, but she stressed that this DID NOT MEAN that Americans want troops out immediately! Oh, no. This means that they want them out as soon as the generals say it’s okay and the conditions on the ground are ripe. WTF?

    She says this even though the alternate option in the poll was to favor keeping troops there “until the situation has stabilized”. She had to twist the results of the poll to feed the beltway narrative of Forever War.

  30. 30.

    Trurl

    June 22, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    she stressed that this DID NOT MEAN that Americans want troops out immediately!

    You could hear her panicking at the thought of her masters’ displeasure.

    I wouldn’t piss on Mara Liasson if she was on fire.

  31. 31.

    Chris

    June 22, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    The problem with the polls is that most of those opinions are wishy-washy.

    Something like that.

    All Republicans have to do is hit back with a “do you want to lose the war on terror? Do you want our boys to have died for nothing? Do you think you know better than our brave men in the field?” campaign, and my guess is a good part of those voters would just roll over.

    Nobody wants to be seen as anti-troops, un-patriotic, pro-terrorist, soft-on-national-security, or any other of the smear words that translate to “opposed to the national security apparatus’ unfettered exercise of power.”

  32. 32.

    Karen

    June 22, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    @Trurl

    He must be racist!!

    No. Srv is just PUMA scum.

    And if Obama cured cancer tomorrow I’m sure both Trurl and Srv would want Obama primaried for not curing all diseases because Kucinich would cure them all!

  33. 33.

    scott

    June 23, 2011 at 9:57 am

    I agree that it’s pretty rich that it takes these guys arguing for pulling out for it to be taken seriously, but this was precisely Ackerman’s point yesterday – our media won’t pay attention to us but might pay attention to Serious Republicans pointing out that constant intervention and occupation doesn’t make sense and costs too much. I agree that sort of bias is unhealthy, but I suppose I’m grateful for small favors that at least the argument is being heard, from whatever the source.

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