Comments on: John McCain, Hillary Clinton: Media Trust and -itchiness

By: Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:47:37 +0000

Pandra, that’s a great segue, “next question.” That would be a great reply.

Dr. Omed, If you mean senile as in senex, knowing
your knowledge and love of words… yes, maybe.
If you mean senility as in the medical
pathology sense, he’s too young. Only 71 or 72. A
mere whippernapper, int’e?

dr.e

By: Dr. Omed

Dr. Omed — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:49:14 +0000

Perhaps McCain is just going senile, Clarissa.

By: Pandra

Pandra — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:54:42 +0000

Dr. Estés, thank you for the welcome and for responding to my comment. I don’t know if I would have handled such a question any better than McCain, but after all, I’m not a politician. I was surprised that he was taken off guard like that-I would think a person in his position would be more prepared to deal with inappropriate remarks in public. On the other hand, it is hard to think what an appropriate response would have been-after all, the person who asked the question was a nice looking older lady. That she would use such a vulgar expression was shocking in itself, but if McCain had admonished her, it might have looked like he was picking on somebody’s grandmother. I’m a high school teacher and sometimes the kids will ask things that are VERY inappropriate-I just say, “Next question.” Do you think a high school teacher’s approach might have worked better?

By: Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:53:54 +0000

Dear Pete Abel, Spirasol and George Sorwell, I think you’re on point; balance. Balance seems only a vapor in media sometimes. I appreciate that we all keep rowing. I think, in these times, an outrigger is the most efficient and most seaworthy… the most enduring. Just my .02, comparing Sen. McCain’s response in this particular situation with that of various other candidates on the road or in hearings… who have faced sudden unusual comments or contretemps (I’m thinking at the moment of a particular Representative on the Katrina Hearing panel who shamefully demeaned a black woman survivor’s sincere comments), in this situ the Senator made the effort to pull up against a strong downward squall. I think we’ve all seen quite a few ‘leaders’ who don’t try. At all. Disgracefully, they join in with the least.

Dear Pandra, welcome. Your point; well taken. For now, I’d bow to others who have broader overviews of Senator McCain’s gifts and foibles re office. Covering this brief piece of film to see what actually seemed to have occurred on the clip, is part of a larger inquiry I’m interested in: how news is shaped with perhaps intent to evoke passions or polarize groups or teach us useful things individually and collectively, etc. Lastly, don’t know for certain, but had you or I been in Senator McCain’s position, I hope we’d be able to sort and think quickly… and say something useful too… perhaps more… or different.

dr.e

By: Pandra

Pandra — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:25:03 +0000

My dear Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, what do you think we are going to believe? Your erudite analysis, or our own eyes? McCain acted like a goofy teenager on the playground, not a seasoned politician. I expect more statesmanlike conduct from a man who wants to be the leader of my country.

By: University Update - John McCain - John McCain, Hillary Clinton: Media Trust and -itchiness

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 05:49:22 +0000

[...] Clark John McCain, Hillary Clinton: Media Trust and -itchiness » This Summary is from an article posted at The Moderate Voice » Domestic and international news [...]

By: Pete Abel

Pete Abel — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:47:36 +0000

Great post, Dr. E. Very fair. Very balanced.

By: spirasol

spirasol — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:16:34 +0000

I like the wave you weave your point of view, going from the public and name-calling to the personal, more inward. We have all been name-callers and we have been the one called out. And we have had our ears whispered to about another, and sometimes we took a stand. And we have have had to learn when to let up and when to bear down.
And yes we bear the marks on our Scapecoats, and we are SOM, SGS, AND SS.

By: University Update - John McCain - John McCain, Hillary Clinton: Media Trust and -itchiness

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:50:49 +0000

[...] Clark John McCain, Hillary Clinton: Media Trust and -itchiness » This Summary is from an article posted at The Moderate Voice Â» Domestic and international news [...]

By: George Sorwell

George Sorwell — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:10:20 +0000

I agree that McCain deserves no blame for the question, and that he handled himself reasonably well.