MSNBC’s David Shuster and Tamron Hall labeled the circulation of a photo of President Obama allegedly glancing at a teenager’s posterior a “right wing smear,” and singled out Fox News and Drudge as culprits. They brought on a Media Matters spokesman, who accused these sites of being motivated by a “racist stereotype of an oversexed black man being a predator.” They let this accusation go unanswered (audio clip from the promos and the segment available here).
Shuster and Hall promoted the segment on the Obama picture from the start of the 4 pm Eastern hour of MSNBC’s live coverage. A graphic on-screen at the top of the hour pondered, “Right Wing Smear?,” as Shuster read the first teaser: “Plus, smearing President Obama- some on the Right went crazy over this photo they claimed shows President Obama with a wandering eye. But check the tape- the actual video shows a far different story- why the Right was so wrong with this one.”
The MSNBC anchor echoed his “why the Right was so wrong” phrase during the second promo at 19 minutes into the hour: “Up next, what the Right did wrong with that President Obama photo that was splashed all across some conservative websites. Why didn’t they bother to check the tape before making false accusations?” Right before the commercial break which preceded the segment, Hall broke back in with the final promo: “And when pictures do not say a thousand words- heck, when pictures right out deceive- why this misleading photograph was very popular on conservative blogs and conservative papers.”
When the segment finally began at the bottom of the hour, Hall highlighted how the picture “was posted on a right-wing website, and launched a thousand words about President Obama. Beginning late Thursday afternoon, this picture appeared on the Drudge Report, and we just checked just five minutes ago, and it’s still at the top of the website. It appears to show President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy sneaking an admiring look at a young lady from Brazil- some reports said she was 16.” They played what purported to be the video from the moment the photo was taken, but upon examination, it was a snippet from immediately after that specific point in time (ABC’s Good Morning America played the entire sequence; see the video clip here for MSNBC’s version).
Shuster then introduced Carl Frisch, “a senior fellow at Media Matters for America” (as you can see, the MSNBC anchor omitted the left-wing affiliation of the organization), and asked, “Carl, this has been bouncing around all over the conservative blogosphere, conservative networks. What are they doing here?”
Frisch immediately launched into his accusations:
FRISCH: It started yesterday afternoon on FreeRepublic.com, which is an extremely conservative message board, and basically, they posted this Reuters photo, asking their readers to caption it, and what followed was a string of racial expletives, and just kind of gutter swamp verbiage that I don’t think anybody would want to hear on television. About 30 minutes later, Drudge put it up with, you know, a blaring headline that said ‘Mr. President,’ and then, you know, a little bit later, and it ended up on the FoxNation.com, which is the Fox News Network’s right-wing website, basically making the same point, and then onto ABC’s The Note- which shows you what we’re looking at here is really an echo chamber where things start in extremely conservative circles, and through repetition, they end up in the mainstream press.
Despite this attack on Free Republic, Drudge, and Fox, Shuster clarified (somewhat backhandedly) that “Greta van Susteren, to her credit last on that network, said that...that the photo was a lie- what it purports to represent was a lie, and yet...that sort of debunking of it, that was the only place where it was made over there.” He then asked the Media Matters fellow, “Greta van Susteren, to her credit last on that network, said that the still- that the photo was a lie- what it purports to represent was a lie, and yet, that accusation- that sort of debunking of it, that was the only place where it was made over there.”
After submitting his own compliment of van Sustern, Frisch singled out Matt Drudge by name: “You know, the frightening thing here is that this is not the first time this has happened. We all know that this happens with the Drudge Report. He’s kind of like the fedora-wearing boy who cries wolf, and you’d think that by now members of the media would know not to come calling every time he- he puts something across his website.” He also acknowledged Good Morning America’s “fact check” of the photo, but claimed that “segments like these [van Susteren and GMA]...are the exception to the rule, rather than the standard.”
The Media Matters mouthpiece saved his most explosive ammo against conservatives towards the end of the segment. When Hall brought up how “a couple of African-American blogs...and one of them even said, President Obama looking at a 17-year-old thang,” Frisch appeared to brush that anecdote aside and fired a full broadside:
FRISCH: You know, one of the things that was said on Free Republic was comparing President Obama to Michael Jackson, calling him a pedophile. That’s the length to which this kind of stuff will be twisted....We’re seeing a misconstruction of a photo. To many people online, this has racial overtones. You know, this is like the antiquated racist stereotype of an oversexed black man being a predator, and that’s the way some conservative circles are talking about it online, and that’s unfortunate. And the problem here is that it’s not even true. This didn’t even happen. You know, if- if he hadn’t have been watching a step and tumbled down the steps, we’d probably be talking about him falling.
The only response either Shuster or Hall said in response to the fellow’s inflammatory accusation against conservatives was Hall replying, “Yeah.” Shuster thanked Frisch, and concluded the segment with his own lament/condemnation of the conservative websites: “Tamron- you know, I do think that some of these conservative sites- they know exactly what they’re doing. They know that they’re- they’re throwing a fuel on the fire, and it’s- it’s outrageous.” Hall replied, “Right, and which puts the onus on these sites that are supposed to be telling the truth, or even if you want to say the liberal ones out there, if that’s the side of the conversation we’re going is right or left- they should call them out on it, too....I’m not advocating fighting, but for once, battle it out with the truth.”
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
OMG! Pass the
July 10, 2009 - 19:19 ET by bigtimerOMG!
Pass the duct-tape!
What won't the enemies within think of next...it's never-ending.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
We’re seeing a misconstruction of a photo
July 10, 2009 - 19:38 ET by BlondeReally?
Did we see a "misconstruction" of the bow, too? You know, because the king was so short and Obama gave him a two handed shake? What? There was no two handed shake?
Shucky darn....me and my lyin' eyes.
I hope he fails, too.
I know people get tired of my bringing it back to this...
July 10, 2009 - 20:18 ET by Mike Bratton...but when you worship an individual as such apologists worship Obama, he can do no wrong--even if there's videotaped evidence of it.
Eh, we expect Sarkozy's middle name to be Randy, but the Lightworker? As it is written in the first chapter of the Gospel of Barry:
"And his eye shall stray neither to the right, nor to the left; neither shall his neck snappeth his head around. He will knoweth not whither he is, in a garden, or on a crowded avenue; yea, verily, the ram shall only have eyes for his ewe."
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
the apologists....
July 10, 2009 - 20:21 ET by Blondeworship THE Apologist. He did it again, today.
And damn your lyin' eyes, anyway.
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde - It's Contagious
July 10, 2009 - 20:25 ET by DoktorFrankenMy eyes are lyin', too. I watched the "whole" video and did not see anything but Hussein ogling a babe's butt and someone, who he did not know was coming from behind, moved into his line of sight on his right.
But, I'll get my eyes checked just in case.
On a side note, Tamron Hall was on the local Fox channel in Chicago and was very good on the morning show (it stayed apolitical - mostly). It's too bad she's gone over to the Dark Side. Fully.
Last I checked, this right
July 10, 2009 - 19:41 ET by ThatDudeLast I checked, this right wing site just posted the photo and video for comments. The photo does seem to be misleading. If Obama noticed the girl, that's fine, as he wasn't gawking like Sarcozy. As with most men, I can't begrudge another man noticing a lovely female. Had oggling occurred, then the story would be different.
Outrageous!
July 10, 2009 - 23:25 ET by AndanteWhen will conservatives learn that only the left has an exclusive right to insult a president but that right only applys if the president is a Republican?
We're so sorry.
(bwaahahahahahaha ;-)
-------------------------------------
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
Um, maybe
July 10, 2009 - 19:50 ET by UpNorthwe just find it offensive to see our president act like a teen-ager, or a previous democrat president? Watching the video, I'm still at a loss as to what Shyster is saying. But, that is not surprising.
That Dude, it looked like, at least to me, that both of them were ogling, or gawking, but that's just my take on it.
clear as can be
July 10, 2009 - 21:49 ET by konoI watched the dang video on Yahoo! that claimed to clear-up the smear, and I'm more convinced than before that he was gawkin'. It's just that Obie's been married long enough to know how to steal a quick (whoa!) gawk without looking totally obvious about it. (After seeing the guns on Michelle, who can blame him? I imagine he looked too long one or two times in the past and learned not to mess with those bare arms...)
Watch the video again and again -- you'll see him look down at the step, his eyes glance up to her ass (without turning his head), and then his eyes stare intently back down at the step (as if thinking, "ooooh, I don't dare look again!")
How sweet to have the whole dang press trying to cover your ass for trying to steal a glance at someone else's. What made me laugh is that Sarkozy appears to be watching Obama, not the girl (and snickering at the scene).
What made me laugh is that
July 10, 2009 - 21:52 ET by bigtimerWhat made me laugh is that Sarkozy appears to be watching Obama, not the girl (and snickering at the scene).
That is how I took it too kono, and I agree with you here...after-all, that is exactly what O did with Sarkozy's wife if people remember.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Re Sarko
July 10, 2009 - 22:40 ET by slickwillie2001Sarkozy heard all the camera clicks and he said to the Bamster -"ay ay mon ami, I see another $6,000 purse in your future, eh?"
Really honey
July 10, 2009 - 19:50 ET by nadadhimmiI was just looking out for you Sweetie, really I was. Are you going to beliece me or your lying-ass eyes?
RDS (Responsibility Derangement Syndrome)
July 10, 2009 - 19:51 ET by needleThis and this suggest the long overdue naming of a long recognized mental problem exhibited in Liberals. I am referring to Responsibility Derangement Syndrome (RDS). Actually this is more precisely a failure of character, but such terminology is too opaque for liberals, sort of like “natural law,” “salvation by faith,” “immaculate conception,” etc.
- Relying upon the MSM for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
'Bam may be an anathema to freedom and liberty...
July 10, 2009 - 19:56 ET by wnaegele...but at least this proves he's not as weird as Michael Jackson.
The MSM is coming up with
July 10, 2009 - 20:10 ET by Free StinkerThe MSM is coming up with the cover story so NOW has an excuse for giving Obama a pass on his gawking.
Horse Hockey
July 10, 2009 - 20:13 ET by slickwillie2001This is crap. At this moment Drudge has articles on 'the picture' from an Italian newspaper, a German, a Brazilian, and an Irish newspaper as well as American papers. With a few clicks I'm sure I could find a dozen other countries. Drudge didn't start this, and Drudge very, very rarely writes anything. He simply posts headlines from around the world. Why is he always such a convenient target for the liberals?
This is just a taste of what 2012 will be like; any criticism of the Bamster will be called racist, even making jokes or poking fun at him will be called racist. It will demonstrate the desperation of the left to hold onto their messiah.
The Butt Stops Here
July 10, 2009 - 20:25 ET by Edward Croppercheck out my photo shop of the Ogler In Chief
Personally, I thought it
July 10, 2009 - 20:27 ET by BKeyserPersonally, I thought it made the Prez come off as human- at least he wasn't checking out that Russian dude in the too-tight, too-80's blue suit.
And this Schuster guy- he's really quite angry huh? I've never seen him, but he shows up alot here- and I'd say right up there with Keith "My Heads About to Explode" Olby and Chrissy "I Found My Thrill on Obama Hill" Matthews on the anger meter. Dave, smoke a blunt with that Rachel dude and chill out, man.
I must be looking at the
July 10, 2009 - 20:33 ET by SnappyI must be looking at the wrong video or picture... I never see him looking at the hand or girl he is helping down the steps... seems pretty obvious he is sneaking a peak. But like I said, I must not be watching the state approved video edited for my own good.
Hell, in this day and age, we should probably be glad Obama...
July 10, 2009 - 20:36 ET by R D Helm...likes to look at girl's behinds, period.
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain
Not to worry. Only about
July 10, 2009 - 20:37 ET by ricklailNot to worry. Only about 700,000 people watch MSNBC at this time.
Semper suprene nitens
North Carolina now has the worst government money can buy.
ut oh. we broke the first commandment again
July 10, 2009 - 20:41 ET by katainkentone does not laugh at the One!
10 hrs of community service for all of you!
Only in bizarro world would the state controlled media be doing the same thing for Bush. You know it would just be a chuckle and a collection of some bad double entendres and then ooooon to commercial without a second thought. It would be headline jokes on Leno and Letterman... and those other comedy shows I am too old to really know the names of ;) Websites would be started to enshrine the photos. T-shirts printed. Bumper stickers minted.
All without a care as to what was truth and what was not.
The butt oggling takes a far back seat to the scramble to defend the One. Its a circus unto itself.
___________________________________________
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past - George Orwell - 1984
Oh yeah, kat
July 10, 2009 - 20:50 ET by BlondeRemember when poor Bush Sr. urped at a Japanese State Dinner?
A wee touch of indigestion, nothing more, dammit!!!! The media didn't cover for him, did they now?
The "covering" is absurd. Totally absurd. So the man copped a gander (not even a feel like Clinton)....but they go into the denying spin mode. We are truly, truly living in bizarro world.
I hope he fails, too.
The butt oggling takes a
July 10, 2009 - 20:51 ET by bigtimerThe butt oggling takes a far back seat to the scramble to defend the One. Its a circus unto itself.
...ain't that the truth....and msnbc so far takes the cake.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
racism, straight up!
July 10, 2009 - 20:56 ET by Nearly NobodyNo it is all just right wing spin.
I mean who likes gorgeous women with large firm breasts? It is just racism, straight up!
Besides don't you think his wife looks like Jackie Kennedy Onassis?
Conservative Blogs Central
More Like
July 11, 2009 - 05:43 ET by kilrod[" Besides don't you think his wife looks like Jackie Kennedy Onassis? "]
She looks more like jack-o to me.!!~~!!
(GRINS) kilrod
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier
MSNBC’s David Shuster and
July 10, 2009 - 21:02 ET by TN MomMSNBC’s David Shuster and Tamron Hall dredging up Hillary's "Vast, Right-Wing Conspiricy". It was vastly over-used then and now!
What the REAL issue is
July 10, 2009 - 21:07 ET by pvoceI saw the video, and it really could have gone either way, unlike Sarkozy, who we can see EXACTLY what HE is watching.
That being said, I believe the real issue is that the MSM is trying to discredit NM, and are in a sense drawing the battle lines. Of course, when you're dying out, you'll do anythig to stay relevant
Misinterpreting a photo not as bad as MSM fauxtography
July 10, 2009 - 21:10 ET by nkviking75A photo taken at just the wrong moment can convey the wrong impression of an event. It's still not as bad as the multiple offenses of liberal news organizations like AP and Reuters that intentionally photoshop "news" photos to convey their agenda, or the networks that blindly accept footage from Palestinian stringers who produce anti-Israel propaganda disguised as journalism.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
nkv... Right you
July 10, 2009 - 21:21 ET by bigtimernkv...
Right you are...Green Helmet comes to mind right off the bat.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
MSNBC’s David Shuster and
July 10, 2009 - 21:23 ET by TN MomMSNBC’s David Shuster and Tamron Hall labeled the circulation of a photo of President Obama allegedly glancing at a teenager’s posterior a “right wing smear,” and singled out Fox News and Drudge as culprits.
Not a peep from Shuster or Hall on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell using pics/video of SNL's Tina Fey to smear Gov Palin.
I managed to see the video
July 10, 2009 - 23:13 ET by IamTinmanI managed to see the video twice on FOX along with an explanation which clearly shows that Barack was helping a woman down a step.
Frankly I don't understand how the chattering class and the party which claims Bill Clinton, Gary Stubbs, Barney Frank, and the collective Kennedys would even blink at this.
As far as Sarkozy, well, he's french. Enough said.
Set Up
July 10, 2009 - 23:33 ET by BarkerI bet Obama would have checked any body out after Sarkozy gave him that slight nod/head-fake.
Good one Nick!
*points finger to camera*
July 10, 2009 - 23:37 ET by TN Mom*points finger to camera* "I DID NOT check out the booty" "Now, I've got to get back to work...saving my own butt. My poll numbers are falling."
Beautiful, TN Mom
July 11, 2009 - 00:06 ET by BarkerThat's comedy gold right there. Thanks for the rich laugh.
SOBama was doing exactly what the still photo says he was doing!
July 11, 2009 - 00:17 ET by DelsaIf you notice in the video, the woman in the black and white outfit, grabbed SOBama's arm above the wrist and then he held her hand.
Until that moment he was a hound dog!
He is what he is.
A low class, getto organizer with a teleprompter!
Everyone at Newsbusters is going straight to hell.
July 11, 2009 - 00:21 ET by JWF1. Let's say he was not looking.
A picture is a frozen moment in time. And the President is one of the most photographed people on the planet. If the man was in the process of facing the camera and turning to face away. At some moment in time, his head will be turned to the perfect angle. And there is a good chance someone will catch that on film. The staff at Newsbusters in very good at picking out pictures that were taken at the perfect moment that makes someone look bad. It is part of the alure. The left practically made an industry out of the pictures that caught President Bush in mid blink with his mouth open while talking. Slap a ChimpyMcHitler under it and you have gobs of hits from the wackisphere loons.
2. Let's say he did look.
The man is married not dead. If he did look, it was a quick one. The man can't really be faulted for that. Which brings us to point 3.
3. So jokes about Obama are still off limits.
All of the right wing blogosphere I checked were making jokes of the married not dead variety. Still can't make jokes now? We are still stuck with the Bush jokes. Did time itself stop now?
4. Frisch is an idiot.
The racist stereotype joke was that President Obama the black man likes teh booty, not that President Obama the black man is oversexed.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
The video proves nothing.
July 11, 2009 - 01:58 ET by snaggletoothieThe video proves nothing. At best, for Obama, it is inconclusive. One of the few pleasures people as poor as me have is making fun of their betters. And Obama thinks he is so much better than me that this is just good family fun. Shuster and his friends need to remove the sticks.
Some seem to think blogs are only meant for spreading lies about Sarah Palin.
bias
July 11, 2009 - 03:15 ET by GeronLDoes anyone think the media would have spent 1/100th the energy defending a Republican President from a smear?? Of course not, they would be the ones doing the smearing.
What the......
July 11, 2009 - 04:21 ET by bobwhiteIf he isn't scoping the booty, then my eyes are slurring my vision.
Nah, by all press accounts,
July 11, 2009 - 12:58 ET by fitzfongNah, by all press accounts, the community organizer isn't into booty. He digs bare arms (funny, he wants to deny us the right to bear arms, but I digress)...so he was ogling her relative sleevelessness.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
stop with the shell game
July 11, 2009 - 07:14 ET by abeautifulpersonwhile some on the right pontificate how outrageous it is to criticize certain lame, faux news agencies as they make hay, (and got caught with their knuckles dragging), there are message groups compiling comments of the worst, racist kind. the kind of comments which are unacceptable to any american who believes in their own set of laws.
i wouldn't suggest it is not 'the right' who are making these comments, only a segment of extreme, racists. (it sure isn't the left.)
but the remaining folks on the right, need to consider that excusing the irresponsible behaviour of certain right-leaning wanks, and excusing the incredible commentary by the some dark corners of the racist blogosphere, IS condoning it.
Methinks someones moniker is a misnomer.
July 11, 2009 - 07:37 ET by JWFabeautifulperson is most probably butt friggin ugly and cries at night as no one scopes her booty.
huh?
July 12, 2009 - 02:34 ET by konoDo you realize you strung together almost a dozen hand-waving jabs, but never actually specified a person, message group, comment, irresponsible behavio[u]r, wank, blog, etc...?
So come down off your high horse, ABP -- you've strayed too far into Abstraction Land (where there are no actual things, only vague references).
abp
July 12, 2009 - 03:04 ET by well99Why is the left like you always brings up racism.Are projecting your own views?I know your probably a Dem(Party of the KKK) so you think everyone else is a racist like you.You need to hook up with Byrd and Sotomayor and set up your Klan and quite bothering people with your dribel.
I thought NB banned your moronic ass
July 12, 2009 - 03:12 ET by R D HelmGo away, you brainless idiot.
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain
we have arrived
July 11, 2009 - 07:24 ET by CatherwoodSo, according to these left-wing dweebs, none of us can have any fun anymore? In their zeal to protect the Chosen One, the media step in as defenders when, in fact, the entire event means absolutely nothing. Talking about having no sense of humor.
We are viewing the "cleaned up video" here on this thread
July 11, 2009 - 07:32 ET by upcountrywaterNow here is an alleged UN CUT clip ...Start playing it @ 40 seconds,Audio is un cut, warning stop the clip before the end or you get a nattering naybob.
He got in a second or so of viewing pleasure.
The happy gal that reached for 0bamas arm obscured his view.
Humm ,who is that smiling happy gal standing next to 0bama?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Reagan VS Liberalism
That was
July 11, 2009 - 07:43 ET by GForcea complete @ss check by a complete @ss wipe!
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"-Aristotle
MSLSD "for once" advocates "truth"
July 11, 2009 - 08:53 ET by acumenHall replied, "....I’m not advocating fighting, but for once, battle it out with the truth."
Shuster - Stay tuned. We'll be right back with our reguarly scheduled misrepresentation of reality.
Obama shacked up
July 11, 2009 - 10:01 ET by sevenwith a white chick before he met Michelle Big momma Obama.
It tells us his appetite is for the other white meet.
Re White Girlfriend
July 11, 2009 - 12:53 ET by slickwillie2001Yes, while he was at Columbia he had a white girlfriend. There's something in one of his books about why they broke up, something about realizing that they came from different worlds. I think it was more likely a political calculation, since black women really hate black guys that date white women.
But re that old girlfriend, if he was a Republican we would know who she was, there would have been pictures of her all over the old media, and she would have been a guest on Larry King (barely) Live. Since he's a democratic, no interest.
Shyster and Hall
July 11, 2009 - 10:02 ET by east tennessee johnShyter and Hall the tweedledum and tweedledumber on afternoon cable on the 30th ranked cable station, so their "journalistic impact" is mercifully limited, have the nerve, or their writers do since I'm hard pressed to believe they could have thought all of this up themseleves with their collective "brain power", to assault "right wing" oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo web sites and actual news outlets ranked 5th in total cable viewship, who regularly kick their collective ass by a ratio of at least 3:1 of such msdnc like behavior. Don't they ever watch their boy KOthe JO. I know Shyster probably doesn't because he's preparing to share tea with KOthe JO after the show, but what's Hall's excuse?
Is there any doubt that if
July 11, 2009 - 10:15 ET by Tom PaineIs there any doubt that if Bush or Cheney were caught in this pose there would have been calls for their resignation and the apology-to-women tour
For the first time in my
July 11, 2009 - 11:15 ET by InfidelphiaFor the first time in my adult life I was proud of this president (for not being too overtly obvious about checkin her out.)
Speaking of "conservative" sites...
July 11, 2009 - 12:01 ET by StarAZWhat's up with Laura Ingraham letting Sally Quinn (Mrs Ben Bradlee) come on and lecture Sarah Palin on how she SHOULD have just said she needed more time to take care of Trig. How about if Palin says whatever she wants--she seems to do OK that way...Quinn was never elected and married a paycheck.
Labor Day Barbecue at the Whitehouse
July 11, 2009 - 15:17 ET by Irene FlickThese people are just trying to cement their invitations to the next Press/President Bar-B-Q at the Whitehouse. I would like to see the list of those who attended for the Fourth of July get together.
How about a Freedom of Information inquiry into that?
It started yesterday
July 11, 2009 - 15:29 ET by RR GOPIt started yesterday afternoon on FreeRepublic.com, which is an extremely conservative message board, and basically, they posted this Reuters photo
Oh, so Reuters is now part of the vast Right Wing Conspiracy? I should have thought the opposite.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).