From left: Rachel Sklar, Matt Taibbi, Hendrik Hertzberg

Hendrik Hertzberg, a writer for The New Yorker, and Matt Taibbi, a writer for The Rolling Stone, came together yesterday to discuss covering the presidential candidates for this year’s election.  The event was held at the Abbe Bogen Faculty Lounge on Wednesday night, and was moderated by Huffington Post writer Rachel Sklar.  

Ms. Sklar introduced both writers by saying that “to read them reminds me of why we have to fight to not let online media make print obsolete.”  Then, expectedly, she veered both writers to the topic of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and what her entrance into the race means.

Mr. Taibbi, who is unabashedly disgusted by Ms. Palin and her candidacy, said that with most elections, the media is able to use a caricature of the candidate to portray a policy or an issue.  With Ms. Palin, Mr. Taibbi said that there are no policies and that she is an actual cartoon, a joke that keeps on writing its own punchline. 

Another prevailing topic during the discussion was the issue of race, and the role it plays in this election.  Mr. Hertzberg, who I found to be very thoughtful and knowledgeable, said that unlike what pundits and columnists are inferring with Sen. McCain’s most recent comment (”That one.”), he does not think that Sen. McCain is, personally, racist.  The majority of the racial mud-slinging is performed by his campaign. However, though Sen. McCain does not do it personally, it still makes him just as culpable.  

“[Sen. McCain] hasn’t exactly sold his soul,” said Mr. Hertzberg.  “He sort of outsourced it.”

One of the more interesting moments was when both writers talked about how popular culture and politics have both affected each other.  Mr. Taibbi suggested that with our culture’s more positive portrayal of black people nowadays (at least compared to the past) it has made it more acceptable for Sen. Obama to potentially become president.  He recounted how he was once covering  a McCain rally and he saw a guy who was clearly a supporter of Sen. McCain.  What was funny, for Mr. Taibbi, is that the man was wearing a t-shirt that said, “I’m Rick James, Bitch!” 

Mr. Hertzberg agreed.  

“It is the world portrayed in popular culture which is the real reason why the right [conservatives] hates Hollywood,” he said.  It is not, as they say, because of the sex, or the violence (to which Mr. Taibbi chimed in, “Oh, the right loves sex! and violence!”). The problem, for conservatives, is that liberalism is more and more prevalent in pop culture, and that is a reflection of what people are starting to identify with.

“If [Sen. Obama] wins,” Mr. Hertzberg said, “we are due for an explosion of happiness.”

Photo by Dene Chen