Blitzer on hypothetical Gore presidential run: "He can consult with Naomi Wolf"
On the February 28 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, CNN contributor and conservative radio host Bill Bennett revived a smear from the 2000 presidential election perpetuated by such prominent media figures as New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd: that feminist author Naomi Wolf advised former Vice President Al Gore on his wardrobe. Bennett said of a hypothetical Gore presidential run in 2008, "Maybe he could get some colors coordinated, different blends." Host Wolf Blitzer replied: "He can consult with Naomi Wolf."
As Media Matters for America noted, in a February 28 column, Dowd suggested that Gore might blame Naomi Wolf for his loss in 2000, without noting her own role in repeating the smears about Wolf. As Bob Somerby noted extensively in his weblog The Daily Howler, one much-repeated smear was the discredited claim that Wolf advised Gore to wear "earth tones" and "coach[ed]" Gore on how to be an "alpha-male." Wolf denied that claim in a November 5, 1999, interview with The New York Times.
Also, as Media Matters noted, Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen wrote in his February 27 column that Gore was "caricatured by some of my colleagues as a serial exaggerator, a fibber, a pretender" during the 2000 election, also ignoring his own role in "caricatur[ing]" Gore. Cohen then suggested that these "caricature[s]" could have contributed to Gore's loss: "There were so many reasons not to vote for him -- none, in retrospect, much good."
From the 4 p.m. ET hour of the February 28 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BEGALA: Wouldn't it be something if, eight, nine months from now, Al Gore comes into the race then, and he's the fresh face? We're tired of seeing [Sen. Barack] Obama [D-IL]. And Al Gore, who has been doing this for 30 years, would be the fresh face in my party. It's not impossible.
BENNETT: Maybe he could get some colors coordinated, different blends. You remember that? But we have the same situation.
BLITZER: He can consult with Naomi Wolf.
But let me -- let me pick your brain on another issue, a very important issue: immigration.
If Gore runs he will win. He would be the strongest Democratic candidate with no Iraq baggage. He would beat any Republican easily.
I know I would vote for him. Again.
I agree Bruce, Gore would win hands down... but I doubt he'll run. But boy would it be interesting if he did!
Now am I missing something important here?
Dowd suggested that Gore might blame Naomi Wolf for his loss in 2000, without noting her own role in repeating the smears about Wolf.
As Bob Somerby noted extensively in his weblog The Daily Howler, one much-repeated smear was the discredited claim that Wolf advised Gore to wear "earth tones" and "coach[ed]" Gore on how to be an "alpha-male." Wolf denied that claim in a November 5, 1999, interview with The New York Times.
Gore lost because of this so called "smear"?
It's a poke, hardly a zinger, barely a "smear"
It's about his clothing and acting macho.
Ok it turned out to be false but...
More importantly I find it hard to believe this changed anyone's mind about voting for Gore.
Jeter, as you know by now, nothing is too trivial to be called a smear around here (or an attack).
While I don't believe that Naomi Wolf cost Gore the election, what I think MMFA is doing here is exposing the MSM as it lurches from one unseemly talking point to another. The same thing happened with slow bleed, cut and run, etc. Not only will the MSM parrot Republican talking points, it will also amplify them as commentators fall over each other like dominoes repeating what was said before.
Jeter,
I agree largely. I don't think that one false story killed the Gore campaign, but the steady stream of media distortions and misinformation definitely made supporters less enthusiastic and emboldened Bush supporters into believing it was okay to openly ridicule Gore. I think that effect is what decided the election more than anything.
"If Gore runs he will win....."
Again....;)
Damn liberal media.
Mildly OT: can you imagine what a real liberal media would look like? Wolf Blitzer making offhand comments about Bush's drinking problem, Cheney eating babies, Rumsfeld's pathological rage... oh well, there's always the Daily Show.
Wolf, you can consult your toilet tonight...
there may be something in there you're looking for?