Sick of hearing from "Anonymous sources"
I just read a Newsweek article that tried to paint a picture of McCain as someone who can't control his temper and implying he would likely jeopardize our International reputation. This contention was supported solely by quotes from "anonymous sources". This is pure rumor mongering, bordering on character assasination.
Some of the quotes were supposedly from former campaign aides some were reported to be from Democrats. I find it doubtful that Republican Campaign aides would deliberately court a Clinton or Obama Presidency by sharing damaging information with Newsweek, and if the sources are indeed Democrats, they certainly have a strong motivation to lie. So I find neither supposed source particularly credible. But, on a more basic level, if these people are not willing to go on the record and stand behind their claims, Newsweek should not be spreading their tales.
Interestingly, I haven't noticed any articles alleging bad behavior about Clinton or Obama supported by quotes from anonymous sources.
Andrea
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NY Clown-Get used to it...
Andrea,
Get used to it and expect more of it. There are 8 months left and many many things will come out that are unsourced.
It's all part of the "Big Picture" that is really a "Small Picture" in the whole scheme of things. The truly outrageous claims will be challenged and debunked for the most part by Bloggers like us. The ignorant are a small percentage of the new media that would not change their minds if shown a live video debunking the premise of a slanderous attack on a particular candidate. That is expected and will not affect the election.
I believe that based on profit and loss statements alone that the MSM is changing their focus from bias to profit and are getting the message that they can not fool the masses as they have in the past. Their bottom line tells the story. CBS (of all networks) has run some fare and balanced reports on John McCain in the past week. Go figure.
Also, it is clear that the Clinton's no longer own the MSM and it is about time...
unsourced claims (continued)
The truly outrageous claims will probably not fly, but the Newsweek article (for example) simply made the suggestion that he loses his temper to an extent that could affect his judgement and strain US International relations. Now, this isn't going to sway a McCainiac or even somebody determined to make a thoughtful and well researched choice, BUT it does support the war monger image that the left promotes AND McCain DOES have a temper -so these exaggerations - to someone who is already biased against McCain might sound credible. A person would either have to have been paying attention or due a fair amount of research to thoroughly dismiss them. Somebody who is fair minded might do it- or consider the source (or the lack thereof) and not pay it too much credence - BUT somebody who is reactionary or who's just looking for an excuse to dismiss McCain's blatantly superior case for the Presidency - might find such unsubstatiated claims compelling. And displays of temper are somewhat subjective - which makes nebulous claims about to what extent McCain controlls his emotions trickier to refute them than something more clear cut.
It's poor journalism to say the least.
Unsourced Claims
Andrea,
Martin Luther King said,"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Does that about cover it? :)