Fred Thompson - Abusing Mass Media by Delaying Announcement?

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Mass media coverage of the 2008 presidential primary campaigns has been shameful at best, with an increasing trend at editorializing all matters, as opposed to merely reporting on them. The result is the marginalization of candidates who the media fails to declare as front-runners (Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, etc). What's even more shameful, however, is how one "candidate" has been delaying the official start of his campaign to take advantage of that same media group.

Running in the national polls with better than 20 percent support, sitting in 2nd place, it doesn't make sense for Fred Thompson to run a silent campaign, but on the sidelines he sits. Why doesn't he capitalize on the momentum that presently exists by thrusting himself fully into the spotlight, I wondered. And then it struck me.

Declaring his candidacy wouldn't so much thrust him into the spotlight as it would limit his exposure. You see, as it stands now, Thompson benefits from his sideline position in many ways with the media. First off, he's not officially a candidate, so his views and record aren't examined as closely as other candidates. More importantly, however, he gets added face time in the evening viewing hours with reruns of his Lawand Order episodes appearing.

Until he declares himself a candidate, his episodes will continue to appear on television, helping him to increase his name recognition and celebrity status. It's a shame that Thompson is comfortable gaming the system and side-stepping scrutiny, while others, like Paul and Huckabee are marginalized for trying to make a genuine difference.

...but I guess these days you don't ever have to declare for the media to become your lapdog - you just have to be interesting and draw ratings. Who cares about substance and fact?

Tagged: 2008 elections, bill richardson, fred thompson, joe biden, mike huckabee, presidential election, ron paul

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