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God Bless The Poor Man Institute

Brian Cook

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For preachin' it like they feelin' it: My first reaction [to McCain's latest vile smear against Obama] was to shake my fist and demand that the media not let McCain get away with this filth. Call him out on this shit, and tie it into a broader narrative of a man so panting, so sweaty, so desperate to win the White House that he will switch any position, kiss any ring, fluff any nutter, say, literally, anything about his opponent. A man without a shred of integrity. But then I remembered that Bush and Rove have been getting away with this same routine for decades. Why would the media get a clue now? “Because,” you might respond, “the very infrastructure of our nation is falling apart, the middle class is shrinking, Americans are suffering without health insurance while their homes are being foreclosed, our standing in the world is diminishing daily, global warming is raging out of control threatening the longevity of the human race, income disparity is approaching Gilded Age levels, etc. The media surely recognize the stakes are too high this time to get caught up in the frivolous bullshit and tip-toe around lies for fear of angering some faction or other.” You are so naive. That shit doesn’t matter. What matters is that Sarah Palin is sassy. She wears glasses and has a funny hairdo. She’s just like you and me - not too smart, not too competent, not too nice - just right! It sells as well as bad TV: She shoots guns! He doesn’t play by the rules! Think Hart to Hart, but instead of two rich bon vivants solving crimes, the codger and the mean girl start pointless wars, transfer massive amounts of wealth from working Americans to the Paris Hilton set and continue to run government into the ground by appointing lobbyists and cronies to the most important offices. Read the whole thing.

Win a trip for two to Cascais, Portugal!

Don't miss your chance to win! Get your raffle tickets today for Saturday's raffle, with a chance to win a vacation for two to Cascais, Portugal!

One lucky raffle winner will receive a $3,000 gift card to cover the costs of two flights, as well as a stay in a 5-star boutique hotel, housed in a 17th century fortress with medieval architecture and décor. You can schedule the trip on your timeline!

All raffle ticket sales support ongoing In These Times reporting, just like the article you just finished reading. Get your raffle tickets now.

The winner will be selected on the night of September 30, at the In These Times 47th Anniversary Celebration. You do not need to be present at the drawing to win.

Brian Cook was an editor at In These Times from 2003 to 2009. He now works on the editorial staff of Playboy magazine.
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