In an apparent fit of masochism, I was punishing myself this morning by perusing Politico's typically awful coverage of the Democratic National Convention when I stumbled across a bit of reportage so egregious in its editorializing that I stopped short and reread the offending passage over and over, thinking to myself, "Did Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman really write this crap?"
The "hard news" (cough) story that ran under the sensationalistic (and misleading) headline, "Bill Clinton's big speech: Mystery to Team Obama," included the following line:
Its (Clinton's speech) success is critical for Obama, a deeply polarizing candidate who badly needs his more conservative predecessor’s clout as a validator among independent voters turned off by massive government spending.
Yes, reread that sentence, just as I did several times this morning...
Its (Clinton's speech) success is critical for Obama, a deeply polarizing candidate who badly needs his more conservative predecessor’s clout as a validator among independent voters turned off by massive government spending.
Are you fucking kidding me, Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman?
Obama is now a "deeply polarizing candidate?" Really?
And Obama "badly needs his more conservative predecessor's clout as a validator?" Sez who? If Clinton didn't speak at the convention, how much would that absence impact Obama's chances for victory? Context, Glenn and Maggie?
And are "independent voters" really "turned off by massive government spending?" Again, from which orifice are you pulling this, Glenn and Maggie?
I guess I should be used to the half-assed "reporting" of Politico by now. Their brand of "inside-the-Beltway" bullshit masquerading as "news reporting" has been well documented for years.
But, really, Glenn and Maggie, how godawful can you get? Too bad there aren't basic competency tests for supposed hard news reporters. You two hacks couldn't pass such a test even if John Harris and Jim VandeHei passed you the answers first.
Not that they would know the first thing about being credible journalists.