Jessica plumbs new depths

Xoff writes that Rush Limbaugh set the standard for how low you can go. He was referring to Limbaugh's attack on Michael J. Fox after appearing in ads supporting Democrats -- including Jim Doyle -- who back embryonic stem cell research. Fox suffers from Parkinson's and his body jerks uncontrollably.Limbaugh said he was faking.

But just when you think you've seen bottom, you discover the abyss is deeper than you imagine. And who is looking up at you but Jessica McBride -- who also attacks Fox for what she calls "exploitative" ads.

Here's one nugget:

Fox is even wearing the same clothes. Same table in the background. Think they mass marketed this thing? Yep. Assembly line empathy.

Is McBride suggesting Fox is insincere? Would it have been better if he had changed his clothes or moved around the furniture? "Assembly line empathy" sounds sinister -- what exactly does it mean.

The whole thing deserves to be read, if only as an example of incoherence. Essentially she argues that it's unfair for Democrats to use people like Fox in ads (she describes the ads as having a "cringe" factor and being "exploitative," though it's not clear who she says is being exploited.). It's unfair because it allegedly silences debate. The Brawler would argue that spokesmen like Fox focus debate by reminding us of real-life implications.

But this piece jumped out at the Brawler:

The media never call the Democrats on it. If George Bush so much as runs a snippet of footage from 9/11, and they are all over him for that (not to mention if they air an ad about a law enforcement officer slain after a crime lab delay). Democrats are allowed to be as exploitative as they want.

In case you don't remember, the failed Bucher AG primary campaign ran an ad essentially accusing Peg Lautenschlager of being responsible for federal agent Jay Balchunas' death because of the crime log backup.

Yes, the media was all over Bucher for the ad. The reason?

The Balchunas family took exception to the campaign using his name.

So really, Jessica is attacking the family here.

Like the Brawler said: New depths.

Comments

[kr]

Jessica I am sure is no nitwit (hold the laughter) but it would do her well to stop writing. Certainly no help to the Green campaign.

Unless you are flying around America to most people it doesn't make any difference what kind of clothes Michael J. Fox is wearing.

As for Bush and 9/11, excuse me but her waves that bloody shirt around incessantly and to win any issue he is going after, especially egregious considering the botched job running up to the attack. The press doesn't jump on him enough.

[folkbum]

McBride also couldn't resist digs at Max Cleleand and Tammy Duckworth, either. I guess in her world, people missing parts--or sons or husbands or health--shouldn't be seen or heard from in public. What a piece of work she is.

[kt]

why is this troll employed by a journalism program at a public university? I wonder what her students think of her?

[WatchdogmilwaukeeJD]

I wonder if Jessica realizes that Fox picked up the tab for those ads in other states? (Kentucky, to name one). That would make Fox's ads self-expoitative. Is there such a thing?

And because you inquired kt, Jessica's students had (have?) a myspace blog in her honor. We ran a post about it back in June at Watchdogmilwaukee.com.
http://watchdogmilwaukee.com/blog/jim/2006/jessica-mcbride-gets-low-grades-from-students/

[Chris Jacobs]

That link was hilarious- sounds like an obnoxious class. She is such a windbag on the air. Unfortunately, since Brewer games have ended, she gets heard more than anyone can tolerate. I loved when a caller started out her show telling her what a ridiculous deal she was making about the Kerry comment. She made all kinds of liberal assumptions on him, completely unrelated, and he made her act so irrational and such a raving conservative blowhard, I laughed out loud and couldn't stop. The caller made her look like a complete fool, and you could tell she was losing her ground and had to end it and mutter "thank you for the call". What's funny is that she tries to come across as thinking that her thoughts are so "obviously logical" with her righty tighty "spin" of the issues, but most of the time she is outrageously flawwed.