From the Daily Press:
“It is a shame that politics has degenerated to the point where the consultants and the spokespersons end up being quoted in all the stories,” he [Larry Sabato] said. “You almost never hear from the candidates. It gives them plausible deniability if one of their aides says something that doesn’t go down well.”
Um, yeah. What he said. Worth a read.
It’s almost as bad as seeing Larry Sabato quoted in all the stories….
Posted by Insider | Sunday, August 27, 2006, 4:57 pmReporters and their editors could blow off the predictable comments of the hired hacks that speak for the candidates so much of the time. They could remove that convenient layer of deniability, but they don’t.
Instead, they work hand-in-glove with those same consultants to fabricate a newsy product that usually contains little more than a familiar series of accusations and denials from both sides. Throw in some poll numbers and the job is done — another 600-word piece on the campaign that has nothing to do with solving real problems.
Best of all, no one has to even have to leave their office to do such work.
Posted by F.T. Rea | Sunday, August 27, 2006, 7:47 pmNow, you wouldn’t be saying that reporters are lazy, would you?
Posted by vjp | Sunday, August 27, 2006, 8:04 pm