Jim Bob Cooter

Relax, this post is not about the Detriot Lions Offensive Coordinator or his magician like play calling that has seemingly raised Matthew Stafford and company from the grave their season appeared to be resting in. Though you have to admit, the dude's got one of the most...shall we say interesting names in any business that one can't help but want to throw around at the same rate that Tony Romo's been throwing interceptions. But I digress from all this football and get down to brass political tacks.

Jim Webb is a name few have heard, and likely even fewer have taken time to get to know. The former Virginia Senator declared his candidacy for the 2016 Presidency earlier this year during the summer. Webb's political credentials certainly warrant attention, as he previously served in the Reagan Administration as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Secretary of the Navy, and most recently as Senator of Virginia. Webb served the Commonwealth from 2007-2013 as a member of the Democratic Party, during which he additionally served on the Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Foreign Relations, and was an advocate for reforms in the Criminal Justice System.

So why then, would a politician as seasoned as Webb be buried in the press under other candidates whose track record of success let alone experience is modest at best? (*cough cough, Donald, Ben, Rubio, well you get the point)
Chances are, since the beginning of all the 2016 Presidential discussions, you've heard plenty through the media about celebrities staking their claim for the White House, and the top 2 candidates on either side of the political spectrum. What you haven't heard a lot about are those candidates pulling in less than double digits in percentages of the current vote. Does this mean these candidates are any less important or deserve any less coverage from the press? Absolutely not. Alas, this does not come as a surprise to many, if any at all, as it has become common practice for the media to talk about the hot topics and popular characters, rather than subject matter and individuals that may generate less of a wow factor. In addition to Webb not jumping off the popularity page in the same way Donald Trump jumps at the chance to insult a disabled member of the press or make large scale racial generalizations, Webb's track record of identifying more with ideologies and policies rather than party lines and labels could be the cause of his apparent unpopularity with the media and voters.

Webb describes himself as a bi-partisan law maker and this falls in line with one of the primary reasons he opted to not run for re-election for his seat in the Senate, citing he was frustrated with the partisan gridlock that plagued the Senate and often prevented the legislative body from major accomplishments. The American people's need to identify with a particular party and label of conservative, liberal, etc. can be cited as an underlying reason for Webb's discontent with the political system and general unwillingness of politicians to work together for the betterment of the whole.

Having initially declared his candidacy as a member of the Democratic Party, he quickly fell behind the likes of former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders. Webb eventually recanted his candidacy as a member of the Democratic Party, however, it is likely that he will continue his campaign as an Independent candidate. In the mean time, we have some pretty hilarious gems to fall back on, courtesy of the official Jim Webb Twitter page.


First up, we have a promotion from Gilt, that was promoted by GQ. Apparently, whoever was behind the keyboard running the Webb Twitter page got a little too excited about this promotion.

The tweet was shortly removed thereafter but not before GQ landed this golden response.

Perhaps the best of the best are displayed in these promotions made by #WebbNation in support of the former Senator.

While these tweets won't win him the desk chair in the Oval Office, they do offer some political humor during this time fueled by smear tactics and finger pointing advertisements. For those of you who stuck it out to the end of this rather lengthy and final post, thank you. Thank you for your time during the course of this semester in joining me on my first blogging journey. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did, and at the end of the day were able to find some humor in my take on the suit and tie straight laced world of politics and intersection with the media.


Sources and Polls: 

The Official Jim Webb Twitter Page is an Unintentional Comedy Goldmine

Jim Webb'16: Leadership You Can Trust

The Politics and Elections Portal

2016 Presidential Polls

"Marco?...Rubio!"

Republican Presidential Nominee Marco Rubio plans to hit the airwaves Sunday, November 29th, with a new ad. This ad, which serves as Rubio's first on television, focuses on the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and the issue of national security. While the Rubio campaign would not comment on the price tag for this new ad, it is scheduled to run nationwide on cable networks.

Rubio's minimalist ad features himself, framed in front of a black backdrop, speaking directly to the camera and in a frank tone the American people on the issue of national security. The context throughout the ad focuses on an "us vs. them" comparison, which can be felt in Rubio's closing statement of,

 “I’m Marco Rubio. I approve this message because there can be no arrangement or negotiation. Either they win or we do.”

In addition to this ad, Rubio's campaign also plans to release another ad in which they highlight GOP Candidate Jeb Bush's high praise for Rubio. This tactic serves as an effort to undermine the Bush campaign's attempts to discredit Rubio though "phony attacks"and ads aimed at attacking the Florida Senator. Some of Bush's most notable lines used in Rubio's ad are,

 “He’s probably the most articulate conservative on the scene today [...] and has the fortitude to be a good president.”

Rubio's choice to frame the issue of national security and highlight praise given to him by his own competition, will seek to promote his platform portraying himself as the strongest choice in the upcoming election. Rubio currently sits third in the Republican Nomination Polls, though Senator Ted Cruz is not far behind. While fellow GOP candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson deal with publicity issues in the media, Rubio will look to strategically surge in the polls with the same craftiness and timing of a stud race horse in the Kentucky Derby.

Sources and Polls: 

Marco Rubio's Campaign Unveils First Television Ad

Maro Rubio Unleashes a Devastating New Ad Against Jeb Bush

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination

Donald Trump going down in a blaze of Donald Trump

Although he currently holds the lead in the Republican Presidential Nomination, Donald Trump's blunders with the media continue. At a rally held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Tuesday, November 24th, Trump visually and verbally mocked Serge Kovaleski, a reporter for the New York Times that suffers from arthrogyposis, a condition that limits the flexibility of his arms. Using extremely distasteful body gestures and insinuating that the reporter did not remember what he wrote in an article following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Trump attempted to discredit what Kovaleski had written some 14 years ago.

Trump's regretful comments came in an attempt to defend his claim that he saw groups of people in New Jersey celebrating the aftermath of 9/11. In Kovaleski's original article, he stated

"...law enforcement authorities detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river."

This claim along with other similar assertions have since been discredited by government and law enforcement officials who were in New Jersey during and after the time of the attacks. Trump rebuked Kovaleski for his recent recollection of the original article, while simultaneously jerking his arms in front of his body mocking Kovaleski's physical condition, stating

“Now, the poor guy — you've got to see this guy, ‘Ah, I don't know what I said! I don't remember!'"

Trump's gesture toward Kovaleski carries personal weight as well, as Kovaleski covered Trump while working for the New York Daily News between 1987 and 1993; a period of great financial instability for Trump as he struggled through several financial setbacks. While Trump maintains his stance that he was not aware of any physical ailment suffered by Kovaleski and did not mock his physical appearance, Kovaleski said he was sure Trump remembered him and his condition, during a phone interview Wednesday.

This is not Trump's first mockery of a member of the media. During an interview with NBC this past July, Trump unleashed his verbally demeaning Cracken on columnist Charles Krauthammer who is paralyzed from the waist down. After Krauthammer called Trump a "rodeo clown," Trumps countered with this gem,

“I get called by a guy that can’t buy a pair of pants, I get called names?”

Several friends and colleagues, as well as the Times itself took to the social media board in showing their support for the Kovaleski. ESPN's Don Van Natta, Jr., fellow New York Times reporter Dan Barry, and The New York Times issued these statements, respectively.

 "@sergenyt is one of the best reporters— and best people— I know. This is despicable."

"The measure of men. Know this: Serge Kovaleski, aka @sergenyt, is a journalistic rock star and one great colleague."

“We think it's outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters.”

Trump continues to lead all Republican Nominees, however, if he continues to bite the hand that feeds with his mockery of the media, he could soon be reading articles about those celebrating his fall from glory and expulsion from the Presidential Race.

Sources and Polls:

Trump blasted by New York Times after mocking reporter with disability

Northern New Jersey Draws Probers' Eyes

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination

Snap, Crackle, & Pop

As the political advertising pie continues to cook, various companies are fighting for a slice of their own. The popular social media company Snapchat is staking their claim for rights to a cut of the funds. The company boasts a millennial user base in the millions, two-thirds of which are likely to vote, according to data supplied to POLITICO from Snapchat. Rob Saliterman, the head of political sales for Snapchat supported the company's position stating,

    “Younger people are not only on Snapchat but young people who are on Snapchat are interested in the election, are engaged in politics and have a high likelihood to vote.”

Of the 100 million daily Snapchat users, an estimated 63 percent are between the ages 16-34. Saliterman, who formerly worked at Google, has delivered pitches to various 2016 Presidential campaigns about Snapchat's services and the upside to utilizing the social media app. Data from a recent survey suggests that one-third of all millennials in America who plan to vote are Snapchat users.

Several candidates have begun recording and posting behind-the-scenes clips of what life on the campaign trail is like. Of those invited to the most recent debate, only Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, and Rick Santorum remain without their own Snapchat accounts. Surging Democrat Bernie Sanders is now a member of the Snapchat community, albeit still new to the workings and setup of the program. The Senator took to Twitter voicing his lighthearted comments about the app,

    "What is this Snapshot thing and why do I only get ten seconds."

Aside from aspirations of having candidates post candid videos of campaign life and posting free content, Snapchat hopes for candidates to pay for ads. Thus far, only 3 candidates have done so: Rand Paul, John Kasich, and Scott Walker. In efforts to help generate more ad dollars, Snapchat has begun promoting "live stories" in states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. Saliterman, from Google, is not the only person jumping on board the Snapchat bandwagon, as Peter Hamby left his job at CNN to help launch Snapchat's in-house news operation.

Barack Obama's 2012 campaign manager, Jim Messina, endorsed the value and political potential of utilizing Snapchat.

    “I now think the most important technology for millennial voters is Snapchat [...] And it didn’t exist three years ago [...] Now it is dominant with those people.”

Messina makes quality points, and according to a survey of millennials conducted by Global Strategy Group and Public Opinion Strategies, 63 percent of those who use Snapchat are currently following the presidential race and nearly 40 percent viewed either the first Republican debate or first Democratic debate earlier this fall. The same poll tallied results showing that 73 percent of millennials use their phone as an additional screen while watching television. For example, nearly one-third of those who said they tuned in for the GOP debate in September were simultaneously using Snapchat.

While social media sites and apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are becoming more of a primary source for millennials to receive their news, Snapchat still has some catching up to do. Some campaign strategists suggest that purchasing ads on Snapchat is no more about making a splash in the media as getting people to actually view the ads. With nearly every campaign using Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube as a medium for advertising, Snapchat is certainly fighting an uphill battle in their quest for a place at the political advertising table.

In efforts to help boost their stock among political campaigns, Snapchat is offering campaigns an opportunity to insert 10-second political ads into videos users watch on the app. Additionally, Snapchat giving users an opportunity to use a new "filter," which layers a political message on top of videos and other messages the users post.

Snapchat remains a high ceiling, low floor option in the field of political advertising players for campaigns to choose from. With the 2016 race intensifying and candidates searching for the upper hand over their competition, only time will tell if Snapchat is the game changer that many have searched for.

Sources and Polls:

Snapchat Makes Play for Political Ad Revenue

2016 Democratic Presidential Nomination

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination

The Previous Play Is Under Review

With the recent passing of Veterans Day I came across a story I found particularly unsettling. In a joint oversight report prepared by Senator John McCain and Senator Jeff Flake, it has been found that the Pentagon has been using funds generated by the U.S. tax payers in order to fund acts of paid patriotism. Exactly how much money you ask? How about $6.8 million in expenditures towards sports marketing contracts since the 2012 fiscal year. Far from pocket change for the American people and a country who continues to see its debt ceiling rise like smoke in Mary Poppins chimney.

The four primary American sports leagues associated with the controversy are the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS). McCain and Flake's report reveals evidence that 72 contracts constructed between the Department of Defense and various teams within the aforementioned leagues contained a form of paid patriotism. Some specific examples of these acts include:

• $49,000 to the Milwaukee Brewers for the Wisconsin Army National Guard to sponsor each Sunday performance of “God Bless America” during home game with announcement and logo recognition on the video board.
• $1,509 for the LA Galaxy to provide pregame recognition of five high ranking officers of the Air Force and 100 general admission tickets to that game.
• DOD paid the Vikings for the “opportunity” to sponsor its military appreciation night.
• DOD paid the Atlanta Falcons to recognize its birthday, to recognize wounded warriors and for National Guard member to sing the national anthem.
• DOD paid the Jets $20,000 to honor “Hometown Heroes.”

Senator McCain and Flake both offered their respective thoughts on the issue stating,

“Professional sports teams do a lot of good for our military, but paid patriotism on the taxpayers’ dime cheapens true displays of patriotism.”- Senator Jeff Flake

 “Americans across the country should be deeply disappointed that many of the ceremonies honoring troops at professional sporting events are not actually being conducted out of a sense of patriotism, but for profit in the form of millions in taxpayer dollars going from the Department of Defense to wealthy pro sports franchises [...] Fans should have confidence that their hometown heroes are being honored because of their honorable military service, not as a marketing ploy.”- Senator John McCain

Upon stirring the pot and letting the fat money cat out of its bag, an amendment was introduced to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The goal of this amendment proposal was to bring an end to taxpayer funded acts of patriotism. The amendment was pushed through and the Department of Defense has since banned paid patriotism, with the National Football League (NFL) calling on its respective organizations to refuse payment for patriotic demonstrations. Despite the U.S. Senate's oversight and DOD's ban on paid patriotism, McCain and Flake both acknowledge we still have a long way to go before reaching the light at the end of the tunnel.

As an avid sports fan, I found the subject matter of this situation absolutely appalling and embarrassing for both our government and for U.S. sports organizations. While neither McCain nor Flake are in the current running for presidential nomination, hats off to them for taking the initiative to uncover the truth and proactively incite legislative change. Stepping up and blowing the whistle, Senators McCain and Flake have officially called game, set, and match on this monumental collusion scheme.

Sources:

Pentagon Paid Sports Teams Millions For Acts of Patriotism

Senators Flake and McCain Expose Paid Patriotism at Pro Sporting Events

Tackling Paid Patriotism

Ehh, What's Up Doc?

In yet another revealing of Dr. Ben Carson’s questionable pedigree, his campaign team has stepped up, adding clarity to whether or not the GOP candidate received a legitimate scholarship offer to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Safe to say, the results are in doc, and they aren’t looking to favorable for you or your campaign.
According to Carson and the accounts he provides in his memoirs, published and titled “Gifted Hands,” during his senior year of high school he met with General William Westmoreland and was eventually offered a full ride to attend West Point. His response to the humbling offer is documented in his book stating,  


"I didn't refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn't where I saw myself going […]  As overjoyed as I felt to be offered such a scholarship, I wasn't really tempted.”

A respectable and understandable answer for a young man who at the time, had his pick of the lot in regard to secondary institutions. Unfortunately, this seemingly harmless answer and mention of being awarded a scholarship of exceptional merit proved to be a complete sham. According to Carson’s campaign team, the GOP candidate can’t recall the specifics of the discussion he and Gen. Westmoreland had during their meeting, but it supposedly centered around Carson’s performance and track record as an ROTC City Executive Officer, rather than future plans for his attendance at West Point.

West Point official Theresa Brinkerhoff put another nail in this fact-or-myth coffin when she debunked the possibility of Carson having received admittance to the institution, let alone such a bountiful scholarship offer stating,

"If he chose to pursue (the application process) then we would have records indicating such.” 


In yet another effort to remove the proverbial foot from Carson’s mouth, his campaign manager, Barry Bennett released this statement,

"Carson said was he was offered a nomination for a scholarship. You know that's the first step and you got to be nominated in order to even be considered for military academy so that's the first step […] But when they told him that they would nominate him, he said he wasn't interested, he never applied. He never was accepted. He never turned down the offer.”

The icing on the cake for this incriminating session of Ben Carson going down in a blaze of Ben Carson, came when he recounted his West Point story during an interview with Charlie Rose on PBS.

"I was offered a full scholarship to West Point, got to meet General Westmoreland, go to Congressional Medal of Honor dinners, but decided really my pathway would be medicine.”

Again, the action in question is not whether or not Carson met with General Westmoreland or engaged in any related activities, but if Carson even applied to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, let alone was offered a scholarship.

While some may share the stance that there’s no such thing as bad publicity, I’d like to think that point would be considered heavily debatable, especially when considering the Doctor’s current situation. Having come under recent fire for alleged fabrication of stories during his youth and outlandishly stating that the Great Pyramids were constructed to house grain rather than a monument and resting place for Egyptian Pharaohs, this additional story questioning Carson’s character and ethical pedigree does not bode well in recovering his reputation. 
As for Carson’s thoughts on the matter, he offered CNN his two cents on the issue Friday stating,

"It's a bunch of lies. That's what it is […] A bunch of lies, attempting to say that I'm lying about my history. I think it's pathetic.”

Despite the controversial surrounding Carson, he continues to pick up steam in the polls as he currently trends with GOP front runner Donald Trump. While his status in the polls currently appear healthy, he looks to be well on his way to receiving a terminal diagnosis for his campaign and nomination efforts. 

Sources and Polls:

Ben Carson's campaign admits he never applied to West Point

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination

Will the Real Ben Carson Please Stand Up

Echoing the famous lyrics of Marshall Mathers, "I am whatever you say I am, if I wasn't then why would I say I am, in the paper, the news everyday I am, radio won't even play my jam." Well Mr. Carson, your media chariot has arrived.

Carson's campaign announced Wednesday, November 4th, they will be rolling out a new ad to be aired in markets with predominantly African-American populations. The ad titled "Freedom," will soon be heard in Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Birmingham, Jackson, Memphis, Little Rock, and Houston. The ad features young artist Aspiring Mogul, and uses samples and overdubs of Ben Carson speaking, urging listeners to vote. While Carson's voice clips feature lines such as,

"I'm very hopeful that I'm not the only one who's willing to pick up the baton of freedom, because freedom is not free and we must fight for it every day...Every one of us must fight for it because we're fighting for our children and the next generation," 

Mogul's lyrics attempt to motivate listeners to cast their vote for Carson. Such attempts are made with lines like,

"Vote and support Ben Carson for our next president and be awesome...If we want to get America back on track, we got to vote for Ben Carson matter of fact."

Along with not being in the running for a Grammy anytime soon, Carson faces the more immediate challenge of juggling his own contradictory sentiments regarding hip-hop and the African-American community. His new ad is meant to target areas with high concentrations of African-American populations, yet he went on record in April suggesting that hip-hop "plays a role in destroying the African-American community." Carson further elaborated on the effects he believes hip-hop has on the community stating,

"We need to reestablish faith in our communities and the values and principles that got us through slavery, that got us through Jim Crow, and segregation, and all kinds of horrible things that were heaped upon us [...] Why were we able to get through those? Because of our faith, because of our family, because of our values, and as we allow the hip-hop community to destroy those things for us, and as we grasp onto what's politically correct and not what is correct, we continue to deteriorate."

In a campaign trail littered with backpedaling and elaborate explanations of contradictory statements, this is anything but uncharted territory for the former Neurosurgeon. While Carson gives credit and trust to his advisers, he noted he would've likely taken a different approach to the ad and overall strategy. With his numbers in the polls trending neck and neck with GOP front runner Donald Trump, it will be interesting to see how Carson's unconventional campaign strategy and mockery serve him in the long haul.


Sources and Polls:

Ben Carson Blasts Hip-Hop

Ben Carson Campaign Rolls Out Rap Ad

Ben Carson- "Freedom" Ad (Sound Cloud)

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination

Weekend at Bernie's

After taking a considerable amount of heat from the black populous, Senator Bernie Sanders will have the grandest stage of all to re-introduce himself and his platform during tonight’s Democratic debate. With all the events and topics of concern that have recently emerged in our nation, some would suggest that there has been a resurgence in certain prejudices and biased decisions as they relate to specific groups of people. Tonight, Bernie Sanders looks to make his mark in the Democratic nomination race by addressing these issues head on.

Two months ago in Seattle, Washington, Senator Sanders was to attend two events in which he would speak at. The first of those which was a rally on Social Security, never saw the light of day. Shortly after Sanders took the stage, a number of protesters from Seattle’s Black Lives Matter chapter welcomed themselves over the barricades and joined the Senator on stage. After seizing the microphone the co-founders of the chapter, Marissa Johnson and Mara Willaford offered us their thoughts on issues of late as they pertain to the black community. What undoubtedly spoke louder than Johnson’s initial words were the unrelenting boos from the crowd. Johnson remained cool like the other side of the pillow, and made her point to the Senator, stating,

"I was going to tell Bernie how racist this city is, filled with its progressives, but you already did it for me, thank you…Now that you've covered yourself in your white supremacist liberalism, I will formally welcome Bernie Sanders to Seattle.”

This isolated incident in Sanders’ campaign trail highlights the pressures that not only he, but all candidates face when it comes to addressing the issues of racial equality and how many feel the racial see-saw has fallen out of balance. Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, gave us a preview of what the Senator looks to discuss during the debate stating,

"I think we're going to talk about issues of importance to the black community…"I think we're going to talk about criminal justice reform. I think we're going to talk about dealing with systemic racism. I think we're going to talk about many of the economic issues that are important to African-American voters.”

Sanders has maintained a strong position for the advancement of the working class, and how paramount it is that efforts continue to be made that promote the growth of the middle class both economically and socially. The Senator continues to walk the walk rather than simply talking the talk, as he recently met with Black Lives Matter activists to discuss the issue of police brutality in minority communities, as well as march with NAACP leaders at the Journey for Justice Rally held in Washington D.C.

Perhaps tonight’s debate will help serve as the extra boost Sanders needs to get over the hump and take a piece of Hillary’s poll numbers pie. Whether or not he booms or busts remains to be seen, however one thing is for sure, if Sanders continues to pick up steam the way he has leading up to this point, we could be looking at a much tighter race for the Democratic nomination than the numbers suggest.



Sources and Polls:

Campaign manager: Sanders using debate to connect with black voters

Black Lives Matter protesters shut down Sanders event in Seattle

Bernie Sanders joins NAACP Journey for Justice March

2016 Democratic Presidential Nomination (polls)

"Joe, run."

Tis’ the eve of the first Democratic debate and the media front is anything but quiet. Hillary Clinton maintains her lead in the polls (45%) over Bernie Sanders (25%) and Vice President Joe Biden (17%), but both Sanders and Biden have continued to gain ground on the former Secretary of State. In efforts to continue progress in the polls, the group called Draft Biden plans to release a new ad that features the Vice President and focuses on the struggles and grit of working class citizens in America.

This release comes one week after the same group (Draft Biden), pulled an ad due to it “treading on sacred ground.” The previous ad highlighted the adversity and painful losses Vice President Biden has overcome during his tenure as a politician, such as the loss of his first wife and eldest son. As many gave their opinions on the ad and its message, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest voiced his support for the ad and Vice President Biden stating,

"You don't serve in the United States Senate for multiple decades and rise to the position of vice president of the United States without having a powerful story to tell…And certainly Vice President Biden's personal story is as powerful as any story in American politics. And he also has a uniquely powerful way of telling that story and using it to inspire other people.”

In a one minute and forty five second clip focusing on the working class and their struggle to make ends meet, Biden gives his personal testimony that relates to the images shown. A signature line that sticks with the viewer at the end of the ad is heard when Biden states,

"You never quit on America. And you deserve a president who will never quit on you,"

The release of this new ad could give Biden and his supporters a much needed push as the nomination race intensifies. Clinton has struggled to expand her lead with Sanders and Biden slowly but surely making headway in the polls. While the Vice President won’t be an active participant in tonight’s debate, his presence will continue to be felt with the release of this ad.



Sources and Polls:

On Eve of Democratic debate, Draft Biden releases ad

Draft Biden pulling ad on vice president's personal story

Democratic Presidential Nomination Standings

Draft Biden New Ad

He Said, She Said.

In a new campaign ad set to roll today (Tuesday, October 6th, 2015) on national TV networks, Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton is taking advantage of a regretful comment House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) let loose last week on Fox News. The subject of the comments McCarthy made dealt with the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya where four Americans lost their lives, including Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. More specifically, his comments were aimed at revealing the true purpose of organizing the Benghazi Special Committee.

"Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi special committee, a select committee, [and] what are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping. Why? Because she's untrustable. But no one would have known any of that had happened."

McCarthy's comments couldn't have come at a more critical time on a multitude of levels, especially considering he has his eyes on becoming the next Speaker of the House, a position that has been left void as a result of John Boehner's resignation. His main opposition for the position, fellow Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R- Utah), stated

"I think it's a total mischaracterization of the good work that's been done on the Benghazi committee."

The Benghazi Committee is paid for by taxpayer money and has been repeatedly defended by Republicans declaring that the purpose of the committee is to seek the truth about the 2012 terrorist attack. Republicans also maintain the position that the committee is nonpartisan, and their chief concern is to seek the truth, nothing more.

While McCarthy tried to backpedal with a follow up statement stating, "it was never my intention to ever imply this committee was political, because we all know it is not," Clinton had her own two cents to offer.

"Well, I have to say that now that they have admitted it's a political, partisan committee for the sole purpose of going after me -- not trying to make our diplomats who serve in dangerous areas safer -- that's up to the Congress." 

With Clinton set to testify before the Benghazi Committee on October 22nd, it appears McCarthy has given her more help than harm. While Clinton continues to hold a strong percent of the votes for the Democratic nomination (currently sitting at 41%), her reputation and campaign continues to take shots from those all around her. Bernie Sanders and Vice President Joe Biden remain in the 2/3 positions in the polls respectively, though they may continue to see an increase in their numbers as Hillary can't seem to avoid hitting media coverage potholes. Plenty remains to be resolved in the Benghazi case as well as the Democratic nomination, but if there's one point Hillary and her team want to drive home as a result of this new ad, it's that "The Republicans finally admit it."



Sources and Polls:

Kevin McCarthy And His Benghazi Gaffe Star In Hillary Clinton's New Ad

Hillary Clinton's New Ad - "Admit"

Pentagon says ISIS linked suspect in Benghazi attack killed in airstrike

Democratic Nomination Polls as of 10-6-15

Ya fired!....no but really, I quit.

For the Donald, all's well that ends well. That is as long as he's the one doing the firing, or in this case quitting. After Fox cancelled Trump's Thursday scheduled appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, the leading Republican candidate took to Twitter to inform "Trump Nation" how things went down. 

Not too long after 12 p.m. Wednesday, Trump issued this message 

"@FoxNews has been treating me very unfairly & I have therefore decided that I won’t be doing any more Fox shows for the foreseeable future." 

Two days before his on-air cancellation and subsequent boycott of the network, Trump took a direct shot at The O'Reilly Factor via twitter, 

"@oreillyfactor, why don’t you have some knowledgeable talking heads on your show for a change instead of the same old Trump haters. Boring!" 

Don't worry, this continuing soap opera of Trump and his tumultuous relationship with the media gets juicier. After Trump's boycott tweet on Wednesday, Fox promptly responded with their own take on the events, 

"At 11:45am today, we canceled Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance on The O’Reilly Factor on Thursday, which resulted in Mr. Trump’s subsequent tweet about his ‘boycott’ of FOX News. The press predictably jumped to cover his tweet, creating yet another distraction from any real issues that Mr. Trump might be questioned about. When coverage doesn’t go his way, he engages in personal attacks on our anchors and hosts, which has grown stale and tiresome. He doesn’t seem to grasp that candidates telling journalists what to ask is not how the media works in this country." 

Fox, which attracts a substantial amount of Republican viewers, has had strained relations with Trump for quite some time. His most recent bump in the road with the network came as a result of his attacks on Fox anchor Megyn  Kelly, who served as moderator during the first Republican debate. I'm no ju-ju guru, but one would think that issuing statements like those probably aren't going to be good for your PR. Alas, the Donald remained nothing short of himself, adding yet another chapter to his growing book of "you-can't-fire-me-I-quit." 
     
A similar situation transpired with Macy's after Trump's degrading comments toward Hispanic immigrants. Macy's declared their plans to end business relations with Trump, only for him to counter that he was severing the ties due to his disdain towards his products being manufactured in China, and saying they (Macy's) were experiencing a lot of pressure from other outside sources. 

Trump continues to carry a majority of the support in the polls, as he currently trends at 24% (nearly 8% above Dr. Ben Carson who sits in 2nd). Though there is the saying of "any publicity is good publicity," I suspect most would disagree with that statement when the stakes at hand consist of being in the running to be named the next Commander In Chief. For now Trump remains at the head of the merry-go-round that is the Republican nomination, but for how long? Those behind him have gained significant ground since his initial upward spike in the polls. Much like a prize race horse owner, money can only take you so far, after that it's all about performance and the ability get the job done. While we're a good ways from the home stretch, Trump isn't doing himself any favors in regards to getting the media on his side. 


Articles and Polls:

Trump Vs. Fox News Who Fired Who First

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination Poll - RealClearPolitics

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As fall approaches and campaign season picks up, Hillary Clinton's numbers in the polls may start to plummet faster than the temperature. Clinton has been dealing with a seemingly small problem since March, regarding the use of her personal email on a private server. Much like a viciously feeding disease, although it has started small, the issue has all but exploded in a huge blemish towards her campaign efforts, that could play a decisive role in her ability to obtain the Democratic nomination. 

Earlier this year, Hillary Clinton's email records were brought into contention, specifically concerning her use of a privately operated server rather than a government server in association with the use of personal email addresses. The situation became sticky for Clinton when questions were raised as to the content being exchanged through her emails, as she was serving as part of President Obama's Cabinet at the time in the role of Secretary of State. The convenience of using one server, rather than separating "work and play," is a wrong Clinton has publicly tried to right, having gone on record saying "Yes, I should have used tow email addresses, one for personal matters and one for my work at the State Department. Not doing so was a mistake. I'm sorry about it, and I take full responsibility."  

While repetitive apologies have been issued by herself and those on her behalf, her numbers in the polls don't appear to be seeing any negative implications...yet. Early on in the race for the Democratic nomination, she held 60%+ of the votes over her opponents. That gap has significantly decreased, as she now holds an estimated 44% of the vote over Bernie Sanders' 22% and Vice President Joe Biden's 20%. More concerning than her drop in numbers is the increasing percent of Americans who wouldn't even think of associating Clinton and the word "trustworthy" in the same sentence. 

While those such as former U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tomkins say that what Clinton did was "probably not" illegal, the water continues to get murkier as time goes on. Tomkins stands by her position supporting Clinton's innocence in the matter, writing in USA Today this statement, "Clinton is not being investigated for knowingly sending or receiving classified materials improperly." The topic of classified materials has become a growing concern due to the fact that while none of the material exchanged in the emails was classified at the time of transmission, 125 have been deemed retroactively classified. 

Perhaps the biggest thorn in Clinton's side is that this issue will simply not go away. As former Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod stated "Her answers have evolved over time and prolonged this story...She's trying to bring this thing to an end so she can be heard on other subjects, but she needs a consistent answer." As her two chief opponents Bernie Sanders and Vice President Biden continue their uphill battles for nomination victory, Clinton may be on the fast track to realizing that what may seem convenient at the time, can be a nightmare to relive later. 


Articles and Polls:

Hillary Clinton on Emails: "I'm Sorry"

Hillary Clinton's Email Controversy, Explained.

2016 Democratic Presidential Nomination Poll - RealClearPolitics

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.

With his popularity sliding in recent polls to the likes of The Donald and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Jeb Bush is mounting for an all out advertising war that he looks to carry him through the winter months. Much like a bear stocks up on food and fat in order to make it through their long winter hibernation, good 'ole Jeb has more than sufficiently stocked his advertising/media pantry as the height of campaign season approaches. 

Right to Rise USA is an independent Super PAC (political action committee) that Bush launched back in January. Through relentless fundraising efforts and the fortuitous ability to tap into a multiple decade deep donor list by way of his family, the committee brought in a record setting $103 million over the course of six months. Now that he and his Super PAC are locked and loaded, they are about to drop an eight-figure sum on ad buys in the early primary states. Part of this figure includes a whopping $500,000.00 worth of ads that will be aired on Boston and New Hampshire cable stations that will begin running today and continue through the end of the month. 

In addition to this ice breaker of a campaign ad purchase, Right to Rise USA has also spent in excess of $200,000.00 on ads in the social media realm. Bush is well aware the times have certainly changed from when his brother and father were in contention for the White House, and so are the means in which people consume and digest their news and information. Within that $200,000.00 spent on ads targeting social media, the large majority were allocated to online ads. Most notably were those ads distributed by way of Vine, a video-sharing based social media program. Many of these ads in particular have found their way to Facebook and undoubtedly reached high numbers of viewers (voters). 

So what's wrong with this picture you say? Sounds like a politician who's playing to win and just happens to have some deep pockets. Well, throw the man a flag and push him back 10 yards, because he's most certainly holding. Holding a very cheeky card that numerous other candidates were unable to possess due to their positions held within the federal government. 

Bush's Republican counterparts, who are officeholders within the federal government, were not able to do what he did in starting up his own PAC, by way of federal law. In the early months of his group's fundraising, he was able to make campaign-esque appearances all while claiming he was still mulling the decision over whether or not to declare as an official candidate. 

Once he declared his candidacy for office, he cut his ties (officially) with the organization as required by law. This time of campaigning before it become facebook official allowed him to perhaps gain some ground that other candidates were deprived of, due to a lack of resources, primarily the ocean of money Bush had at his disposal. After cutting the cord, he didn't leave this money bag baby in the hands of just anyone. He made sure to leave the reigns to someone who would no doubt have his back and continue drumming to the same beat he was before declaring his candidacy. The man who now holds the torch is Mike Murphy, who advised Bush's gubernatorial elections and helped contribute to his early preparation efforts for the campaign. 

With his position resembling that of a classic Rocky film, he's got Mick in his corner ready to pump all the funds necessary into this multiple round bout, as he goes up against the likes of wealthier than wealthy businessman Trump and various others across the Republican board. While some criticize him for working the system and scheming to "...the rules of the game, the way it's laid out," at the end of the day isn't he just making the most of an opportunity that was afforded to him and he happened to take advantage of? Will the seemingly bottomless penny bank of the Super PAC Right to Rise USA help catapult Bush from mid-poll dweller to top of the pack? 

Personally, I don't think so. However,  something we do know for sure is, he won't be lagging in the advertisements and social media presence department. As for spreading his message of "plans to change the culture in Washington," it appears Jeb is putting his money where his mouth is, literally.  

Articles and Polls:

Jeb Bush Campaign Drops 500,000 in First TV Buy

Jeb Bush's Super PAC Prepares to Launch Its First TV Ad Campaign

On Wednesday's We Wear Pink

As Lindsey Lohan (pre-crash and burn) and the rest of the Mean Girls would have it, we break up the monotany of the middle of the week with a little splash of color. Unlike the clique segmented high school cafeteria Lohan so eloquently breaks down for us near the beginning of what was likely the last relevant thing she'll be a part of in American pop culture, American politics is not as easily deciphered. 

Sure, you can group politicians within their respective parties of affiliation,  however, who's to say that there isn't a fair share of gray (dare I say 50 shades of it?) left on the table when examining what politicians say to the mass media and how it is recorded or interpreted. More over, the media help serve as the bugle of communication between politicians and the public. Through this delicate relationship of honesty and trust, the media is effectively able to paint a portrait, for better or worse, of politicians and presidential candidates to the masses.
  
As a presidential candidate, the media can be your best friend or worst enemy. Sometimes both. One minute they’re giving you high praise, the next, they’re throwing you under the bus. In a world of say what you mean and mean what you say, it is becoming increasingly difficult for politicians to truly know who has their back and who’s gunning for it. As crunch time approaches for debates, primaries, and a ramp up in the campaigning season, politicians with aspirations of serving as the next commander in chief are certainly minding their P’s and Q’s. One wrong move, statement, or press conference, can tarnish and destroy one’s reputation just as easily as it can help aid it. 

Through examining stories published on presidential candidates representing various parties, I will look at their use and involvement with mass media, how it correlates to their current poll numbers, and how it may boost or setback their campaign for the White House.