The Rules

Dave Roberts watched Al Gore on Meet The Press:

Then he pestered Gore to condemn Hillary Clinton -- who's no longer in the race -- for proposing a gas tax holiday, without so much as mentioning that John McCain -- who's still in the race -- is still supporting one.

Dave, like others alleging a double-standard here, is failing to appreciate that John McCain is well-known as a principled maverick who puts the national interest ahead of momentary political advantage so it's vital for the press to avoid doing anything that would damage that image. It's like that final scene of The Dark Knight.

Comments

Matt, surely a resistance fighter in the long twilight struggle against all things Hillary Clinton, such as yourself, understands the ejaculatory need to Get Your Clinton-Hate On. Especially on Sunday Mornings.

Posted by dry_fish | July 21, 2008 11:30 AM

Not sure I agree with this example of McCain coddling. A past Democratic VP criticizing a prominent Democrat on such issues is news. A past Democratic VP criticizing the current Republican presidential candidate is not. And this sounds like a soft ball question which lets Gore criticize McCain if he wants. Does Gore not know that McCain supports such a tax?

If Gore failed to make clear that McCain is being foolish in supporting such a thing, that sounds like more his problem that Brokaw's. Brokaw set up the issue for him, Brokaw isn't required to make the point for him.

Posted by Lon | July 21, 2008 11:31 AM

Goddamnit, some of us haven't seen it yet. I realize it had a monster opening weekend but can't you keep it in your pants for another week or two?

Posted by dbt | July 21, 2008 11:39 AM

Dude....

stop talking about Dark Knight! I know you aren't doing it intentionally, but you've really given away a lot about the movie in just a couple of blog posts. Yes, a lot of people have seen it already, but a lot of us haven't! If you ever find yourself writing something like "This is a situation very similar to the final scene of..." just stop!

Posted by chris | July 21, 2008 11:40 AM

ahh...looks like dbt beat me to it...at least im not alone...

Posted by chris | July 21, 2008 11:44 AM

Chris, in your defense, it takes two minutes for a comment to post here (and another 3 minutes for the webserver to return a 500 error).

Posted by dbt | July 21, 2008 12:00 PM

dbt, you are a gentleperson. But still, you managed to convey in just two sentences what took me four...

Posted by chris | July 21, 2008 12:09 PM

Must we include spoilers in our political commentaries, too? I know I'm the last person in Connecticut not to see the movie, but geez...

Posted by John | July 21, 2008 12:50 PM

Jeez, lighten up people. He didn't spoil anything. The Joker dies from an accidental overdose. There!

Posted by socctty | July 21, 2008 1:10 PM

Some of us haven't seen "The Dark Knight" yet! ! !

Posted by Notorious P.A.T. | July 21, 2008 1:53 PM

Are you claiming McCain is Two-face?

Posted by Mark | July 21, 2008 1:59 PM

Dave Roberts will always be a hero here for stealing second base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS! Always!

Posted by Robert | July 21, 2008 2:34 PM

MR. BROKAW: Did Hillary Clinton reset this debate when she said there should be a summer holiday on the federal gas tax?

VICE PRES. GORE: Well, I, I, I don't want to get into a primary battle that I successfully avoided getting into while it was going on.

MR. BROKAW: That's not a primary battle. She's speaking to an issue...

VICE PRES. GORE: I didn't...

MR. BROKAW: ...that you feel very strongly on.

VICE PRES. GORE: I, I disagreed with those who wanted a so-called gas tax holiday. And I think taking it from that to sort of the whole...

MR. BROKAW: Was it irresponsible on her part, do you think, at this time?

VICE PRES. GORE: I'm not going to label, I'm not going to label friends of mine irresponsible. I think that particular proposal wasn't one I agreed with, was in response to what people are feeling with gasoline prices. And we've got to respond to the gasoline price increase.

But here's the point, Tom. The people of this country are ready for bolder, more dramatic answers. The real way to bring gasoline prices down is not by going back to, to try more of the same things that have not worked in the past, but, but to say, "Wait a minute, now's time--now is the time for really dramatic shift over to renewable energy."

That didn't remind me of the final scene of The Dark Knight.

Posted by Another Chris | July 21, 2008 3:12 PM

I'm with Another Chris.

Maybe I need to see the movie a third time?
(answer: yes)

Posted by David | July 21, 2008 10:58 PM