Stimulus Two Years Later, Networks Ignore Obama's Failed Job Promise
Just a few years ago, double-digit unemployment seemed like a crazy idea. But when the economy began to stumble, it was fear of high unemployment and a promise to prevent it that the Obama administration used to usher in the $787 billion stimulus package. As The New York Times reported on Oct. 22, 2009, "The Obama administration's forecast at the start of the year, which predicted that unemployment would not climb much above 8 percent."
A big promise to be sure and a claim that proved false as unemployment climbed higher and higher reaching 10.2 percent at its peak. Yet, ABC, CBS, and NBC referenced this promise just nine times in two years in stimulus stories mentioning unemployment.
Unemployment still exceeds the Obama-guaranteed 8 percent unemployment rate two years after the bill's passage. In the same time period, network news barely reported that the stimulus failed to halt the sharp rise in unemployment. ABC 'World News,' CBS 'Evening News' and NBC 'Nightly News' all paid plenty of attention to the stimulus and its accomplishments, but more than 98 percent of those evening broadcast stories skipped over the administration's failed prediction.
The Media Research Center's Business & Media Institute (BMI) analyzed network evening news reports that mentioned "stimulus" and "unemployment" from Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009, to Dec. 21, 2010. BMI found that the networks almost completely ignored Obama's 8 percent unemployment promise and the failure of the stimulus to prevent rising unemployment.
Where Were Stories about the 8 Percent Promise? Just nine stories out of 589 (less than 2 percent) referred to the unemployment prediction in two years of network news coverage.
Networks Instead Promoted More Stimulus: When the effects of the stimulus plan were discussed, network news shows promoted even more stimulus. ABC's Bianna Golodryga asked Warren Buffet if he thought unemployment would hit 11 percent to which he said yes. Then, instead of noting that the stimulus failed, she asked if a second stimulus was needed. To this Buffet replied it may be necessary because the first bill "was sort of like taking half a tablet of Viagra."
Bush Forced to Defend 5 Percent Unemployment: Under the administration of President George W. Bush, negative economic stories were pushed when unemployment was below 5 percent - less than half the number reached after the stimulus passed. CBS' Dan Rather on Oct. 8, 2004, asked "Tonight, where are the jobs?" yet few stimulus stories have even mentioned Obama's unemployment prediction.
ABC Was The Worst With Only One Story: ABC "World News" only mentioned the 8 percent prediction one time in nearly two years of coverage, making it the worst of the three networks. Instead ABC credited the stimulus with lower unemployment as reporter Betsy Stark claimed Dec. 4, 2009, when unemployment dropped to 10 percent: "Economists credit the government's massive stimulus spending with getting the job market to this point."
CBS Was the Best With a Mere Four Stories: "Evening News" did a better job of reminding viewers of Obama's promise than ABC and NBC did, but still only mentioned it four times over two years. But unlike others Katie Couric actually brought it up in an interview with Obama on July 21, 2009 and asked him to respond. That was one of the few examples of what the networks should have done more often.
For the complete report, please go to: http://www.mrc.org/bmi/biasbythenumbers/2011/Stimulus_Two_Years_Later_Ne...
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Comments
The "stimulus" was nothing
Submitted by Ashrak on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:19am.
The "stimulus" was nothing more that a pork wish list that Democrats passed lock stock and barrel. It wasn't ever going to solve any economy troubles. Slush funds were created and new money was laundered. This is why networks are ignoring it now. They all knew this all along, and they continue to get rich election after election with campaign cash.
Media has a stake in the campaign cash being laundered. After all, the media industry ends up with a large amount of it.
Networks avoid the rise in gasoline also
Submitted by dostrow on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:26am.
Remember when gasoline prices were going up under Bush it would be in the headline every day for 2-4 days at a clip
They would beat Bush over the head with this
i havent heard a word about gas since obama took office and it just crossed the $3 a gallon threshold here in jersey (we cant pump our own gas here)
dostrow,
Submitted by Ashrak on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:16pm.
Gas was 3.29 a gallon for regular here just a few days ago. Right about 3.10 or so yesterday.
My wife and I were just talking about that
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:28pm.
My wife and I were just talking about that. Yes, I've seen a few stories about higher prices, but the blame is always placed on the Oil Companies and their "excessive" profits, Egypt (how much oil do we actually get from Egypt, anyways?), unrest in the Middle East, increasing demand, anything BUT Obama. His name is never mentioned.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
but he "saved" Billions of jobs
Submitted by SouthJersey1953 on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:33am.
If he didn't have the stimulus we would be at 150% unemployment right now....
They can't even bring
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:50am.
They can't even bring themselves to use the term "jobless recovery" which was another favorite during the Bush years.
Better to just ignore it altogether and talk about Obama's "promise" as in his potential.
Obama "recovery summer", worse than Bush recession:
Submitted by wedapeople on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 12:02pm.
Last year when Obummer and BiteMe were traveling around the country proclaiming "recovery summer"....
No one knew they were talking about this summer.
Obummer double dip's on his "recovery summer" pledge. Or is it a flip flop ?
Can APObama say "misery index" ?
Half a Viagra
Submitted by Sigman on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 12:27pm.
One half works good for me.
Promises, promises throughout
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:12pm.
Promises, promises throughout the Obama presidency have always been in reality, merely lies, lies and more lies with a good dose of deception thrown in.
I remember only two short years ago, Barack was touted by this same MSM as the new age, post partisan, wonderkind of the world.
Whenever someone dared to question the break neck pace at which he rammed his agenda through the Congress, they were immediately rebuffed by administration and left wing pundits alike for not believing in the unworldly powers of the new messiah.
Really he just had to seize the moment ( dems held all three houses ) and destroy America from within before We the People realized just who and what this mystery man of the world was actually attempting to do to us, and our sovereign nation.
Now the opposite holds true, the president only addressing one subject at a time, in the public eye anyway, is the lie of the day.
Today he has for all intents and purposes gone underground. His true calling in life as the consummate community organizer conducts most of his business through his preferred, covert ( hidden away from scrutiny by the American people ) back room channels, czar / corrupt union / radical anti - America group infested underbelly of Washington politics.
This new, slow and steady, pretend statesman phase in president Obama's reign, coincidentally I'm sure, began almost immediately after his November shellacking by the overwhelming majority of the American electorate.
There is no end in sight, length they will go to in their lying and fabricating of stories, most cut from whole cloth, as a result of the unholy / demonic alliance forged between the MSM and Barack Obama.
The only way to break the rid the world of this evil is to, through the ballot box, perform an exorcism at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
There must be some sort of demonic possesion at work here, for why else would so many of these individuals eagerly forsake the lives of there own children and grandchildren for one man, especially one of such dubious / questionable character?
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
There's no such thing as shovel-ready projects
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:59pm.
So says obama: Interview with the NYT, mid-October 2010.
So, where did the $862B "Stimulas" money go? Does anyone have an exact audit accounting of the money? Can we see it? Is the MSM going to do an in-depth analysis of that spending?
And -- does it include the $59B for high-speed rail, or is that just another, separate slug of money coming from our pockets?
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
Jobs lost
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 5:58pm.
Fox News was doing a thing on it and they said that ever since the "stimulus" was signed, 2.5 million jobs were lost.
Considering everything else, I can definitely believe that. I bet those people feel really good about things right now!
-Jon
Jobs lost or ignored?
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 6:08pm.
This chart is from Dick Morris and while I wouldn't pass it off as being unbiased it does tell the story of Obama's economic success and the horrible situation he took over.
Several items like what follows the cost in 2008, current, percent change - source.
Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL $3.56 $6.33 78.1% 2The JournOList media can
Submitted by Van Halen on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 1:59pm.
The JournOList media can ignore the reality of Obama's failed policies all the want but the fact is that virtually everyone in America now knows someone either out of work or about to be out of work. Gas prices are rising, food prices are rising, clothing prices are rising. There is no end in sight. Only the hardest core Obama supporters will stand with him now.