After seven weeks of the news media deriding Sarah Palin, Brian Williams and Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday night seemed to delight in emphasizing how, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll which led the NBC Nightly News, Palin is hurting McCain as Obama surges ahead. And Williams touted Colin Powell's Sunday endorsement of Barack Obama as “the shot heard 'round the world.” After reciting how the survey of registered voters put Obama up by ten points, 52 to 42 percent, Williams asserted: “Perhaps more dangerous for the GOP ticket, most of those polled do not believe Sarah Palin is qualified to be President, by a margin of 55 percent to 40 percent.”
However, take a look at the PDF of the full poll, which did not pose the same question about Obama, and you learn that despite the media's pounding the public perception of her qualifications has been remarkably consistent across three NBC/WSJ surveys (see question 29d) with more considering her unqualified than qualified not anything new: 40 percent called her “qualified” in the September 19-22 poll, 41 percent replied qualified in the poll conducted October 4-5 and she returned to 40 percent in this new survey. Meanwhile, “not qualified” grew only slightly, from 49 to 50 to the current 55 percent which Williams treated as big news.
Reporter Andrea Mitchell highlighted how “for the first time her negatives now outweigh her positives by nine points, turning Palin into a bigger drag on McCain than George Bush.” Mitchell contended “the doubts about Palin make it harder Republicans to exploit Obama's biggest weakness in the poll” which is that “23 percent say he's too inexperienced,” yet:
McCain's attacks have occasionally been undercut by Palin. As in this interview with KUSA, answering a third grader's question about the role of the Vice President and getting it wrong.
Palin's answer to the young school kid, about how the Vice President is “in charge of the United States Senate. So if they want to, they can really get in there with the Senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family,” was denigrated repeatedly by Mitchell's MSNBC colleagues Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, but how “wrong” she was is a matter of interpretation. What does “in charge” mean? Did she mean taking Harry Reid's Majority Leader job, or just presiding over sessions whenever she wants? And why can't a Vice President work with Senators to craft legislation?
For her part, Mitchell declared: “That is not what the Constitution says. It specifically says the Vice President simply presides over the Senate and has a tie-breaking vote.”
The lead story on the Tuesday, October 21 Nightly News:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Good evening. We are releasing them tonight here for the first time. And our new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll numbers now show a widening gap for Barack Obama in this snapshot of the U.S. electorate if the election were held today. Our poll shows Obama has opened up a 10-point lead now over Senator John McCain, 52-42. Notably this shows Obama at over 50 percent for the first time in our polling.
Perhaps more dangerous for the GOP ticket, most of those polled do not believe Sarah Palin is qualified to be President, by a margin of 55 percent to 40 percent. We will have more of the new numbers from our poll in just a moment. But it is a notable snapshot. With 14 days to go now, two weeks until we elect a new President, it's where we begin tonight. The poll numbers, the Palin factor and politics today. Here with that, NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Sarah Palin in Nevada today attacking Barack Obama.
SARAH PALIN: I do want a President who is ready to lead on day one.
MITCHELL: Palin started as the sparkplug to reignite John McCain's campaign. Seven weeks later her initial popularity has faded. For the first time her negatives now outweigh her positives by nine points [47 to 38], turning Palin into a bigger drag on McCain than George Bush. Fully one-third of those questioned say Palin raises concerns about McCain's candidacy, compared to 23 percent who worry McCain would continue George Bush's policies. An attack line for Barack Obama today:
BARACK OBAMA: After eight years of Bush-McCain economics, the pie is shrinking.
MITCHELL: The doubts about Palin make it harder Republicans to exploit Obama's biggest weakness in the poll: 23 percent say he's too inexperienced. McCain hammered him on that over and over again today.
JOHN McCAIN: We don't want a President who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars.
MITCHELL: But McCain's attacks have occasionally been undercut by Palin. As in this interview with KUSA, answering a third grader's question about the role of the Vice President and getting it wrong.
PALIN IN INTERVIEW WITH DENVER TV STATION: They're in charge of the United States Senate. So if they want to, they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job.
MITCHELL: That is not what the Constitution says. It specifically says the Vice President simply presides over the Senate and has a tie-breaking vote....
....
BRIAN WILLIAMS: I mentioned we have more new poll numbers tonight and our NBC News political director Chuck Todd is here with those. And Chuck, as one columnist called it, “the political shot heard 'round the world” this weekend was Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama. It came halfway through our poll in the field, but we were still able to ask a sizable sample about it. And I know you have those results.
CHUCK TODD: Four in five voters said it wasn't going to make any difference [77 percent]. But of those who said it would make a difference, most of them said it made them more inclined to support Obama. 19 percent overall said it would make them more inclined, four percent said it was less inclined. On endorsements most people usually say it makes no difference, but it does solidify the soft voters....
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Pss, Andrea
October 21, 2008 - 21:42 ET by oilcanHere's a definition of "preside"
Main Entry: pre·side
Pronunciation: \pri-ˈzīd\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): pre·sid·ed; pre·sid·ing Etymology:
Latin praesidēre to guard, preside over, from prae- + sedēre to sit — more at sit
Date: 1608
1: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2 a: to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator b: to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman
3: to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer —usually used with at
— pre·sid·er noun
As I said so many times before...
October 21, 2008 - 21:44 ET by HeavyChevyI still don't think Obama has the numbers if so why would the MSM try so damn hard to convince us (or themselves) otherwise. I still believe it will be very close and Brian Williams along with all the other MSM cronies know that and are worried as hell.
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
MSM are elitists, that's why
October 22, 2008 - 00:09 ET by wdhorningWhat is really shocking is not only elistist, but that they have actually convinced themselves they are fair and balanced.
"To thy ownself be true"
Why?
When you figure this out MSM, you will have discovered the definition of elitist.
Not just elitists
October 22, 2008 - 05:30 ET by BobAnthonyBUT FASCIST ELITISTS! They lean so far to the left, some of what they say goes into Mussolini-type fascism, which is based in communism, which is based in liberalism, well you get the idea, unless of course you have not renounced your college teachings/indoctrination like I have.
Chuck Baldwin--the candidate under the corporate fascist media's
radar--BUT SHOULDN'T BE! This election should be a REFERENDUM ON THE
MEDIA FOR NOT HIRING PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN HONESTY LIKE MYSELF!
These poll are more or less
October 21, 2008 - 21:46 ET by motherbeltThese poll are more or less the equivalent of damage-report missions that the military runs after bombing raids, to assess how effective the strikes were.
They pound on someone for weeks, and then take a poll, to see it it's working.
Palin victim?
October 21, 2008 - 22:05 ET by man_from_outer_spaceSo you think Palin is just a complete victim here? Her difficulty (to put it mildly) with answering simple questions has nothing to do with the way she is largely perceived? Seriously?
Selective editing and
October 21, 2008 - 22:17 ET by Scuba DudeSelective editing and gotcha journlism creates that stereotype. From day 1 the media has been in an all out war with Gov. Palin doing anything and everything to make her look like a fool.
Read the full transcripts of Gov. Palins interviews and compare them to what was aired. Huge difference. The editing completely changes the context of her answers. Go one step further and check the questions put to her versus the ones put to Obama or Biden. The press either threw softball questions or answered the question for them.
Now imagine if you will Obama or Biden even being treated 1/10th the way Gov. Palin had been. Bambi would throw a tantrum and with his pouting mouth cry about being asked such tough questions and Joe, God luv ya, would make you wonder if you were talking to someone recovering from a lobotomy.
Selective Editing
October 22, 2008 - 01:19 ET by man_from_outer_spaceThere has got to be an objective site that can back you up on all that...right? Please provide a link so I can check it out for myself. From what I saw, the answer looked unedited. Maybe the MSM was using witchcraft. I heard they do that sometimes.
Did you read my post or is
October 22, 2008 - 07:07 ET by Scuba DudeDid you read my post or is the troll in you just objecting to anything someone says to you that you do not agree with?
Read the full transcripts of the interview and compare it to what was aired. Portions of her answers were edited out.
Truly a trained jack arse
October 22, 2008 - 18:25 ET by Jamson64Truly a trained jack arse you are "space man" You can find the transcripts on your own. I know idiots like you..... afraid to challenge what you want to believe. I have tired of fools like you.....the Dems love the dupes their public education has begotten.
Truly
October 22, 2008 - 18:22 ET by Jamson64Dude you really need a reality check.
......On endorsements most
October 21, 2008 - 21:50 ET by MidAmerica......On endorsements most people usually say it makes no difference, but it does solidify the soft voters....
As to the 'soft voters, if after all these months and months of politics and you still can't make up your mind...... I know where you are 'soft'.
Things we've learned today.
October 21, 2008 - 21:57 ET by Mike Bratton--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
Hi Mike
October 21, 2008 - 22:07 ET by TN Mom#2 Andrea Mitchell isn't familar with journalism ethics either!
TN Mom's New Poll:
1. Andrea Mitchell, Brian Williams of NBC are 100% in the tank for obama.
Mike,
October 21, 2008 - 22:26 ET by RESTLESS 14. Andrea Mitchell doesn't know the definition of preside.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Excuse me...
October 21, 2008 - 21:59 ET by MightyMouthDo these jackasses ask the same questions about Biden's qualifications? Especially after one of his daily gaffe attacks?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Of Course Not Mighty
October 22, 2008 - 18:26 ET by Jamson64They have nonthinking tools like "man from outer space" to carry their water.
Sarah Palin guilty......of being a Mother
October 21, 2008 - 22:02 ET by Lame CherryScum is what is found floating on the surface of stagnant pools. Rot is
what one finds festering in the corpse of death and in the Associated
Press inklings of Brett J. Blackledge, Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo one
finds the filth of political rape for the Obama campaign in
"investigating" Gov. Sarah Palin's travel which found her guilty of
being a Mom.
Blackledge,
Goldman and Apuzzo posted this smear, but I want to give a quote to
just show people how cesspool this press pool is.
Quote:
the
children have traveled dozens of times with Palin on a state plane. For
these flights, the total cost of operating the plane, at $971 an hour,
was about $55,000, according to state flight logs. The cost of
operating the state plane does not increase when the children join
their mother.
Unquote.
I
want readers to focus on this charge of the 3 Obamaneros. The children
were riding on a state plane which their Mom who is Governor is legally
correct in flying to state functions. Blackledge, Goldman and Apuzzo
though include it with BIG NUMBERS to try and make it sound like
something, but then have to relate that hauling around 3 little girls
under 100 pounds.......gee it doesn't cost anything.
AP had
better warn hostages, wounded United States Soldiers and storm evacuees
that if the only way out to safety is Gov. Palin's plane then the AP
cesspool is going to be bitching that that it might cost money to save
people.
For the sake of TRUTH, this is a Mother, elected by Alaskans
who know the Gov. is going to take her children along as children in
Alaska do not hibernate nor do Mothers abandon them.
Blackledge, Goldman and Apuzzo are pure disgusting.
Where
though were these three Obamaneros of political rape when it was
Chelsea Clinton with Hillary taking a world tour on taxpayer's expense
in the Clinton's final years or where is the investigation Blackledge,
Goldman and Apuzzo to your messiah for hauling his children around at
campaign expense?
In every case Gov. Palin was found to have
asked if her children could attend an event or in a banquet setting it
was assumed children would not be a problem to anyone but an AP
cesspool propagandist for Obama.
The term used by these 3 women
and children hating males is "Palin showed up". Three times they use
this derogitory term and the 4th time it is "governor" with a small "g".
Imagine
a Governor invited to attend events, but the AP sees fit by these there
Obamaneros to term it as she just showed up.......like Obama in Chicago
for reasons he has yet to explain.
Head's up to you 3
Obamaneros, the Palin children also took money for state education, the
Palin children took money for hot lunch program subsidies, the Palin
children also too vaccinations subsidized by the government, the Palin
children also..........brace yourself the Palin children live with
their Mother at the Governor's Mansion where they flush toilets using
water, use electricity to do their homework burning lights and not
candles and they also have the audacity to use modern heat and not
huddle under walrus blankets when it is 60 below zero.
I would
just love to look at the expense accounts of these 3 Obamaneros. Would
just love to review their "sick days". Would just love to see just
where they on their tax returns were fudging just what was a real
deduction..........sort of like the traffic cameras catching them
speeding in school or hospital zones.
You know the things these 3
Obamaneros are doing if the world just started reviewing their real
lives the lies they tell to get by.
What Blackledge, Goldman and
Apuzzo did just didn't happen. This was sanctioned from up on high in a
quid pro quo of writing a smear piece with nothing in it.
Way to
go cesspool as you discovered Gov. Sarah Palin is a Mother who loves
her children and doesn't like dumping her children off on aides like
your liberal cronies do.
Pssst Did you hear the one about
Patrick Fitzgerald investigating Obama's connections to high
crimes.......you know the ones about ACORN and the ones broken about
how the illegal money flowing into Obama is part of a massive money
laundering counterfiet fraud?
Goldman that is coming out of your piece of the desert north of Israel where you are from.
Amazing for these Obamaneros to be missing all of that and mistaking being a Mother is a crime to be investigated.
agtG
http://lamecherry.bl...
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Holy cow.
October 22, 2008 - 01:21 ET by man_from_outer_spaceThat was way off topic. Best attempt at changing the subject all day.
»→ Hindu Cow
October 22, 2008 - 01:31 ET by Cool ArrowYeah, it's been that way ever since absynthe was legalized.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Palin- A martyr for moms and working women
October 21, 2008 - 22:07 ET by semolina_filcherSorry my bet is still on the Palin-MCain ticket (name inversion intended). Despite what the leftists media say, she is still far more qualified than Jack-in-the-Box Joe Biden or Borat Obummer. Keep trumpeting your DNC talking points Andrea Mitchell. Come Nov. 5 you'll have something different than Obama winning in landslide to report on....
Nov 5
October 21, 2008 - 22:31 ET by cocodriePraying that it will become known as Sinko de Demos.
The bottom of the
October 21, 2008 - 22:08 ET by Scuba DudeThe bottom of the McCain/Palin ticket is so much more qualified to be President than the top of the Bambi/Biden ticket.
After seeing how the MSM has acted as nothing more than a hit and smear arm of the DNC and Obama campaign, I can no longer believe or trust anything they say.
This is something that should be shown to all the Independant and Undecided voters in our country. THIS is the type of reporting and vetting that the MSM has decided not to do because they have thrown away any kind of ethics they once had.
The day after election...
October 21, 2008 - 22:16 ET by Calypso Joneswon't it be a lovely thing for the media to be forced to recognize defeat after the energy and effort put into making oblahma the king?
admit defeat? NEVER
October 22, 2008 - 05:44 ET by ginagwen7they will scream that it was STOLEN from them by the VRWC and incite riots in the inner city and induce another 4 years of hatred towards anyone who even smells republican.
Palin?
October 21, 2008 - 22:16 ET by jondelwichePalin unqualfied?
I just saw from Drudge that Biden has had prior strokes?
And the Tribune ran a story where they quoted a neuro specialist
concerned about his lack of followup tests...?
As I posted earlier today, and that's before I learned of his prior
hemorrhagic strokes, how is this not huge news?
We laugh and laugh at Biden's gaffes (the FDR on TV about the
stock market crash was a doozy), but now I feel guilty.
Does this guy have some type of post stroke dementia?
I am not a neurologist (are any here?), but seriously, shouldn't this
fine Senator provide some recent scans and neuropsychometric
testing. Wouldn't that be a minimum, even if this guy wasn't
gaffing like a loony uncle?
And we get polls on Palin's qualifications.
Journalism is dead in this country.
End of story.
Here's a funny
October 22, 2008 - 01:54 ET by arkansaszippersHere's a funny gaffe:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=NLVSURlFoQs&eurl=http://www.google.com/reader/view/
polls no one can verify for 2 weeks -SNL ratings not mentioned
October 21, 2008 - 22:19 ET by JayTeeIsn't SNL on NBC .?... THESE GUYS don't even watch their own Coporate TV make a ratings Kill !
Sarah is a rock Star
Joe Plumber delivers Ohio to McCain
What have these NBC talking heads done besides LIE about BHO ?
Why is there always an
October 21, 2008 - 22:51 ET by just listeningWhy is there always an oversampling of Democrats in every poll. Could the new number of registered Dems be overrated because of Repubs who switched in the Dem Primaries just to vote for Hillary?(Rushes Operation Chaos) IF the polls are skewed by Repubs who are really not Dems, could this be why McCain is still campaigning in PA? It may be that their own inside polls show something different. Who knows? What would happen if this were true and McCain won by a wider margin than expected? Why he isn't expected to win at all! If you think that 2000 was brutal, hang on if this happens! There might be a race war laid at the feet of the MSM.
LOL, now wouldn't that be
October 21, 2008 - 22:58 ET by Scuba DudeLOL, now wouldn't that be funny, Operation Chaos switched from Hillary to Obama. Bambi is getting a false sense of security thinking he is up in the polls but come election day when those polled vote for the way they really were intending gives the McCain/Palin ticket a landslide victory!!!!
And Bambi is wondering how the heck he lost despite over half a billion in donations (wonder how many were legal?), ACORN trying to have voter fraud steal some states and the MSM doing everything short of smacking the heads of Sen. McCain or Gov. Palin with their microphones and cameras.
The vote on PBS has people
October 21, 2008 - 23:05 ET by jdhawkThe vote on PBS has people saying she is qualified 50% to 49%. Given the source, that is remarkable. Here is the link: http://www.pbs.org/n... .
Qualified..
October 21, 2008 - 23:47 ET by ScrapironSarah Palin is over 4,000 times more qualified than Hussein to be POTUS and she running for VP. That's a fact based on experience and besides that she hasn't been a criminal since birth.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Sarah Palin
October 21, 2008 - 23:08 ET by GeneralAlI really can't take much more of these MSM Bozos! Why does every word Palin says get parsed to the trillionth degree yet the Messiah's words are allowed to pass as though from God Himself? Of course I know that they see Obama as God but even the Lord says check out my words! Would one of these mainstream idiots please explain to me just what they determine to be the qualifications for the presidency? Would one of these idiots also explain to me why they are more concerned about a potential vice-president as opposed to a president? How will they act when their messiah taxes them almost into poverty? I hope they realize what it will be like paying seventy per cent of their gross wages in taxes. Lets see, seventy per cent of ten million dollars, seven million dolllars, great! Thats my only consolation! By the way you main stream Storm Troopers, the Messiah and his Gestapo led by Heirry Reid and ElDuche Nancy Pelosi will exempt themselves from most of these tax increases by special loopholes. Anyway, Sarah Palin could lead this country better than any Commiecrat and at least two thirds of the Republicans!
So where are the polls
October 21, 2008 - 23:25 ET by MidAmericaSo where are the polls that are digging into sexism in regards to people's perception of Palin being qualified. Obama often repeated his rap about how 'they' are going to say he doesn't 'look' like the other Presidents. Well Gov. Palin has more differences than obama with those other Presidents. So when all these talking heads say she isn't 'qualified' is it just a mask for prejudice against a female. After all, Hillary was a shoe-in and more qualified than obama but with nothing more than fancy marketing he beat out the woman.
Women hate Palin???
October 21, 2008 - 23:43 ET by ScrapironThe average Democrat female hates Sarah Palin because she is prettier than they are, smarter than they are, and has accomplished thousands of times more than they can ever hope to accomplish. In other words, democrat women know they're ugly, stupid and the only way they can get a man is become a whore.
Case in point, compare Michelle 'horse face' Obama to Palin and tell me who wins 100% of the time.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
»→ Well, scrapiron
October 21, 2008 - 23:52 ET by Cool ArrowMichelle wins if it's Barack Obama deciding whether to marry a white woman he was emotionally involved with, or stay true to his race.
But Obama isn't a racist.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Typical Lame Stream Media Polls
October 21, 2008 - 23:38 ET by ScrapironI suspect the Lame Stream Media is using their same tired old tactics. Poll 800 democrats and 400 republicans and say the democrats had higher numbers.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
I like it when they poll...
October 21, 2008 - 23:47 ET by MightyMouth"likely voters". What the hell is that? to me that is a non voter, too lazy to vote. So who wants to hear what the lazy think? Perhaps the lazy MSM who can't even look into BHO past, but can look into "Joe the plumbers" past?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
This election never had
October 22, 2008 - 01:16 ET by mostlymoderateThis election never had anything to do with who is most experienced to be President. If that were the case, Romney or Giulliani would be the next President. No, this election had to do with putting a minority in the White House. Yes, I said it. The proof is the fact that 90+ percent o blacks could care less about what Obama stands for because the fact that he is "half Kenyan" is all they need to vote him in.
This election is about race, pure and simple.
Who is more qualified?
October 22, 2008 - 05:14 ET by TheHistorianThese polls address Palin only, unfortunately. They don't address the fact that Obama has NO qualifications to be President, and HE is the Presidential candidate, not Palin (unfortunately). This is an overt attempt to try to qualify their pick by putting Palin down as less qualified. The problem is, she has been governor, he has run a Senate office. I'll take the Governor as my candidate anytime.
BTW, talking about polls, did you see the on-the-street interviews in Harlem? Talk about ignorance in the electorate. Not only didn't they know Obama's policies, they thought Palin was Obama's VP, not Hairplug Joe. But you'll never see the MSM reporting this, will you? http://www.youtube.c...
"What experience and history teach is
this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history,
or acted on principles deduced from it."
G. W. F. Hegel
Off the broken record.
October 22, 2008 - 08:22 ET by Crash80% of news outlets are not qualified to report the news.
Look at the poll
October 22, 2008 - 08:23 ET by oscar97IF you look at the first question they ask it will tell you the entire story. They ask do you have a cell phone only, landline and cell phone or just cell phone. They only interviewed people with cell phones only. So, you are generally going to get people who are less well off and thus more likely to be inclined to let the democrats buy their vote. HMMMMM
Sry
October 22, 2008 - 08:39 ET by LedeAgendadisagree with you on this one. ALOT of people are shedding the land lines and going cell phones only. I work for a national insurance company, by some estimates between 35-42% of all our clients are cell-phone only.
What is interesting here, however, I was under the impression that pollsters calling cell phones was illegal??
Cell Phone Only
October 22, 2008 - 08:57 ET by oscar97I do agree that more and more people are going Cell Phone only, what you dont consider is the 58% to 65% who does not have them or in combo with a land line. TO poll only 35 to 42 percent of the population is not going to give an accurate result. further, The average age and income will be lower because of that again further emphsising my point that these people will be more inclined to have their vote bought.
Palin, President?
October 22, 2008 - 08:32 ET by LedeAgendaI was unaware that Sarah Palin was the one at the top of the ticket!
A PBS Palin Poll Disagrees
October 22, 2008 - 09:43 ET by allanfThat's funny. 50% of the respondents to a poll sponsored by PBS say Palin is qualified.
You can look it up in your Chuck and Wagnalls.
Palin
October 22, 2008 - 18:19 ET by Jamson64This poll should lay to rest the notion that the media is even close to being unbiased. Palin's actual superiority over Obama when it comes to experience should be the story. Instead they tear her down and DON'T go after on O's complete lack of applicable experience. Too many Americans truly are too stupid. It sickens and scares me.