Following on the heels of complaints from Time magazine's Mark Halperin that the press hugely favored Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election, ABC political correspondent Jake Tapper chimed in today to say that he agreed:
Regular readers of this blog will not be surprised to learn that I too wonder just how fair the media coverage of this campaign was.
Case in point: perhaps the most unfair and negative TV ad run during the entire campaign, by either side, was the Spanish-language TV ad Obama ran against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, that got very little media coverage.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓Why didn't it get more coverage? If McCain had run a comparable ad -- with unfair charges, trying to exploit racial tensions -- would it have been as under-covered?
In any case, Obama won for any number of reasons, not the least of which were the modern Gold Standard in presidential campaigns and a nation that wanted a dramatic change.
But I believe Halperin's larger point -- since he brought in the media's rather wanting coverage of the build-up to the war in Iraq as well -- is the fact that reporters have an obligation to be better.
Whether the media were in favor of the Iraq invasion is a point that I'd dispute (especially in light of our previous research on the matter). Tapper and Halperin are correct that the U.S. press was excited with the idea of being war correspondents but to conflate that with the extreme bias in favor of Barack Obama that was so bad that the public noticed it overwhelmingly is quite a bit of a stretch.
Still, kudos to both Tapper and Halperin for honestly admitting the press needs to back off its Obama fealty. They are in a small minority willing to speak this truth to the media establishment.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
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Question for you, Matthew...
November 24, 2008 - 10:38 ET byMatthew,
Simply...
Do you think the Media was the reason for Obama's victory? Yes or No?
Übercon
I'm not Matthew, but I
November 24, 2008 - 10:40 ET by NewsbusterbrownI'm not Matthew, but I would sat it was mostly ignorant people that sealed the deal for Obama than anything else.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
→ Too easy Buster
November 24, 2008 - 10:44 ET by Cool ArrowMcCain sealed the deal for Obama by joining him in the $700 billion bailout.
He could have been the statesman standing alone against plundering the pockets of ordinary Americans, proving again he doesn't always vote with his party, but he chose to be his same old milquetoast self.
McCain sealed the deal for
November 24, 2008 - 11:47 ET by NewsbusterbrownMcCain sealed the deal for Obama by joining him in the $700 billion bailout.
That would have been nice, Arrow, but McLame was still the best choice and then some.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
The question still stands...
November 24, 2008 - 10:45 ET byNewsBB,
Explain their ignorance as opposed to those who voted and supported Palin on the ticket of the GOP?
Übercon
step one (in heavily
November 24, 2008 - 11:15 ET by TruthMongerstep one (in heavily populated blue country): do not teach U.S civics or history
step two: lure kids into the media for "re-education" of the greatness of government socialism/communism, confuse them about right and wrong via moral ambiguity
step three: pick the easiest led, good-looking kids, dress em up nice, and promote them via the american-idol media
step four: puppet president installed and ready to aquire more power for the central gov (gov is the liberals capitalism)
-----------------------------------------
step one (in lightly populated Alaska/red country): teach U.S civics or history (at home by correcting public school omissions and propaganda)
step two: teach kids morals and the historic realities of big government socialism/communism vs. our small gov system/free-enterprise system which created the most prosperous and helpful nation on Earth, encourage PERSONAL SOCIALISM, discourage fobbing it off on the wasteful and impersonal government so you can go play tennis or video games
step three: pick the most-accomplished/studied/comitted/patriotic kids, dress em up nice, and promote them against the slanderous barrage of the gargantuan msm - use a web site, some lawn signs, windshield flyers, etc
step four: Morally sound U.S. President installed and ready to serve the moral people who police themselves, help each other out, and keep the government very small - instead of too big, too wasteful, and too powerful - as the founders intended, that which made us great
Dominate education now
Really...?
November 24, 2008 - 12:04 ET byTM,
So...
STEP ONE-
Home school the kids by parents who possibly have no educational background or a college degree?
Home school the kids with the new science textbook called the Bible?
Home school the kids and keep them away from the dirty, unwashed masses infiltrating our country from the south?
Home school the kids in believing the parents' bias is the only way to understanding the difference between Good & Evil?
STEP TWO-
Home school the kids in believing the Republicans and Conservatives-
...did not have any moral failings by their leaders in Gov't and their own Churches,
...did not increase the size of the Gov't during the Bush years,
...did not use socialist practices in rescuing their banks and stock markets,
...did not preemptively strike a sovereign nation through lies,
...did not create the economy they now live in...etc.?
Yeah, teach them a better line of lies and allow them to blame others.
Personal Socialism?!?
Ummm...Government shouldn't be impersonal...you want it to be intrusive? You lost me...
STEP THREE-
pick
the most-accomplished/studied/committed/patriotic kids, dress em up
nice, and promote them against the slanderous barrage of the gargantuan
msm - use a web site, some lawn signs, windshield flyers, etc
Couldn't agree more...Look how Obama ascended by way of what you just preached! Wowww!
STEP FOUR-
Morally sound U.S. President installed and ready to
serve the moral people who police themselves, help each other out, and
keep the government very small - instead of too big, too wasteful, and
too powerful - as the founders intended, that which made us great...
Once again...BRAVO...you described Obama again! Married to the same woman, raising two lovely kids, getting people energized and motivating them to be a part of our system of government again...Kudos, TruthMonger...are sure you're not a Progressive?
<rubbing your hair>
<patting you on the head>
Atta' boy!
Übercon
Guess you picked the
November 24, 2008 - 12:08 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTraining... wrong week to quit amphetamines....
Just so you know, I can totally go ALL day with this!
Yeah...
November 24, 2008 - 12:22 ET byFTCMIT,
My speed trumps your glue-sniffin' !!!
Übercon
The media helped,
November 24, 2008 - 12:15 ET by mrbucketThe media helped, significantly - but McCain was his own downfall.
Pick your reason, McCain Feingold, the 700 million dollar bailout, his own take on healthcare, open primaries, an unwillingness to butt heads with Obama, the total silence during the Obama/Hillary fight, the dependance on Sarah Palin to bring him over the top, etc...
Frankly, McCain isn't a Conservative. Bush isn't a Conservative. While we haven't been hit in 8 years - thanks to policies enacted by the Bush Administration... they completely dropped the ball in just about every other facet. Spending was out of control, government grew beyond its means, and right now the economy is going to absolute crap. The last thing anybody wanted to vote for was another Liberal/Moderate Republican.
Is McCain better than Obama? Absolutely. Hopefully the next person the right offers up for election is an actual Conservative with a proven record - or we'll be seeing blue for quite some time to come.
i do absolutely and
November 24, 2008 - 10:45 ET by TruthMongeri do absolutely
and furthermore after all these admissions it seems that no really gives a sh*t
2nd amendment option now or bye-bye u.s.a.
Dominate education now
I disagree...
November 24, 2008 - 10:57 ET byTM,
The Obama Campaign was able to connect with the population without the MSM. Their ground organization and the use of the internet proved to be a powerful force which left the MSM on the outside. Since ratings are vitally important, the MSM could only hope for a seat in the winning locker room after the game was over. This wasn't about whether McCain could actually win, it was about Obama possibly losing. Look how Fox News has done a 180 degree flip in order not to be shunned by the incoming Admin. No wonder Rupert's pissed off at Billo and the decrease of his stocks.
Übercon
Why is it when I read
November 24, 2008 - 11:14 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTrainingThis person's posts, I'm reminded of Airplane--
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
Case in point, "The Obama Campaign was able to connect with the population without the MSM".
he did this WITHOUT THE
November 24, 2008 - 11:22 ET by TruthMongerhe did this WITHOUT THE MSM?
you must be bloody jokin'
...OPRAH THE MEDIA QUEEN, THE 24/7 MSM-DNC "NEWS"/POLITICIZED TV SHOWS-FILMS-MUSIC-AWARDSHOWS...
ALL in full bore promtion of obama - they weren't just sitting around - have you been reading NB for the last year - the media INSTALLED OBAMA AS POTUS - it could not have been done without the MSM
we finally actually really have our PRESIDENT SELECT for all the moonbats out there
Dominate education now
"The Obama Campaign was
November 24, 2008 - 12:04 ET by Smartypants"The Obama Campaign was able to connect with the population without the MSM."
LOL. I wonder if Senator Clinton would agree with this statement...me thinks not.
No I don't
November 24, 2008 - 11:13 ET by Matthew SheffieldMcCain could have won it if he had run a more skilled campaign.
That said, I think the media are definitely a factor in public opinion shaping. Studies by MRC and others have shown a strong correlation between media coverage of issues and candidates and the American people's perceptions.
Obama got a few points from the media imo but he still would have won imo.
There is one thing I must
November 24, 2008 - 11:57 ET by BlackwaterThere is one thing I must say Obama does know how to do and do well and that is campaign. He uses positive catch phrases that stick in peoples minds which is perfect for all the doom and gloom being fed to us. Makes you wonder if he used advertisement gurus since it felt like watching an infomercial. Too bad they were dooped into buying a defective product.
A few points from the media?
November 24, 2008 - 12:16 ET byThanks, Matthew.
Perception is reality...?
"He still would have won, imo"...which begs the question...Why?
Übercon
McCain was a crappy candidate
November 24, 2008 - 13:51 ET by Matthew SheffieldI knew from the getgo that he would fail.
Not to be too negative :)
Why Obama Got Elected
November 24, 2008 - 11:20 ET by PopularTechHow Obama Got Elected (Video) (10min)
The reason Obama won is because of how little the average person really knows.
Censored Global Warming Videos
Exactamundo!
November 24, 2008 - 11:25 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTrainingThe 57 states question--people thought that was Palin!
I wonder where they got that perception that she was a doofus....?
ummmm can I guess?
November 24, 2008 - 12:03 ET by SouthJersey1953The MSM?
now ask me a hard one!!! (the media and late night comics are still working on the "Palin is dumb" lie)
Luke 23:34
PALIN/Jindal '12
That's Ubercon's gang, Pop.
November 24, 2008 - 11:53 ET by NewsbusterbrownThat's Ubercon's gang, Pop. :-)
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Videos...
November 24, 2008 - 12:19 ET byPopT,
Thanks for the video...it's great to see each side but just to be fair. Of course, we could enjoy watching idiots all day...
I'm glad you're back, I thought you might have gotten banned.
Übercon
That's interesting
November 24, 2008 - 12:29 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTrainingLet me tell you a little story here, Ubercon. I live in Ohio and worked as a poll observer. The only racism I witnessed were the Obama supporters and fellow poll workers in the inner city. Of course I represented the McCain camp, but for the record, they challenged for the Obama observer be removed. Why? Skin color of course. These folks were downright angry and hated whites. Do I think that's a testament to the beliefs of everyone in the inner cities? Of course not. But it was a big sentiment continually on display by the "tolerant" and "peace loving" Obamamaniacs, esp the younger ones.
They called me a Republican cracker and other terms I won't repeat here.
So please spare me your views on racism from perched way up on high.
If you like to discuss race so much, how do you defend Obama injecting it into any discussion he could while McCain unfortunately took the high road and didn't strike back?
Hmmm...
November 24, 2008 - 13:38 ET byFiner...,
Obama cannot hide the color of his skin.
The abuser, who gets their ass kicked by the victim, can now proclaim being a victim?!? The historical mistreatment of minorities is well documented in this country. Let's face facts...the current election bitch-slapped the GOP. The GOP is predominately white and it showed. Obama's supporters were the most diverse and represented the real America. This is not a "center-right" country, no matter how many times the GOP repeats it. The Electorate showed it to be a "center-left"country. The high road McCain took was against what his "base" wanted him to do and that's why he didn't strike out at Obama...it was a lose-lose situation and would have been seen as divisive tool to divide instead of mend this country.
Übercon
??????
November 24, 2008 - 13:55 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTrainingI don't recall saying anything about Obama's skincolor. Your point apparently was calling Ohioans racist. I countered that with my own experience within the black community on election day. I invite you to come down to me on Reading Road, Cincinnati Ohio. You can even wear your Obama shirt. They will still want to pummel you. That's a fact. I’m digressing. Your follow-up post? Some gobbly-gook post about us being center-left (which is laughable! If that's the case, then please explain how one of the most liberal states in our GREAT nation shot down gay marriage? Right. Because we're "center-left".) McCain lost the election because ANY person on the Republican ticket was set up to lose due to the economy. Period. Republicans made a promises in 2004 they didn't keep. But you continue with your little story about the racist Republicans in Ohio and elsewhere. Meanwhile I will remember the folks that wore "Sarah Palin is a C _ _ _ t-shirts and threw plastic babies that read "Bristol Palin's baby " at Obama rallies. What fine folks you all are!!
Are some of the more moderate MSMers feeling remourse?
November 24, 2008 - 10:38 ET by c5thenI wonder...Is it 'buyers remourse' that we are seeing form some of the moderate journalists who are finaly realizing what it is that the MSM has done? The MSM bears a large part of the responsibility for electing Obama because of the over-the-top and blatant bias with which it carried itself during the campaign.
Now, as Obama builds his cabinet out of, and surrounds himself with, old ex-Clinton aparatchicks, are they realizing that the "Change" moto was really just a slogan and that really they are going to get an administration from the 90's?
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
c5, isn't it just so
November 24, 2008 - 11:53 ET by motherbeltc5, isn't it just so special that another MSM type is now admitting they were biased?
I'm just so impressed; I'll never be skeptical about them again, seeing as how they've owned up to it now.
For the most part, Tapper
November 24, 2008 - 10:38 ET by NewsbusterbrownFor the most part, Tapper has surprisingly been one of the better Old Media reporters.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Jake's Fate
November 24, 2008 - 11:59 ET by capavHe'll probably end up on Olbermann's worst person in the world.
While 98.9% of the MSM
November 24, 2008 - 10:48 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTrainingFailed this political season, I have followed Tapper over at his ABC blog and found him to be probably the most fair (and balanced--though I would throw that in for good measure!).
He's the only one that I recall commenting in the MSM 57 states and Biden's insane amount of laughable blunders.
Halperin can piss off. I'm not jumping on his bandwagon as his bad behavior back on 2004 still leaves me peeved. If you recall didn't he say that both Bush and Kerry used "distortion" in their campaign, but that Kerry's distortions were not "central to his efforts to win".
I never understood how that quote made any sense.
Setting Up 2012
November 24, 2008 - 11:04 ET by CaringwhiteguyWe've had a number of media mea culpas these last few days. Their "confessions" are truly laughable. However, there is certainly method in their madness. They can now move ahead being lots more critical of the candidate from the OUT-OF-POWER party in 2012.
MSM 'S BIAS
November 24, 2008 - 11:36 ET by east tennessee johnit wasn't so much what they told us, it was what they didn't. Do you believe if they examined black liberation theology with the same effort PBS put forth with the Mormons our stealth Marxist would have been elected?
WHAT!!!
November 24, 2008 - 11:38 ET by charlietexasThe media was in the tank for Obama????? they were????? where have I been????
Hey....Jake......DUH
but thanks for waiting till after the election to tell us. now distancts yourself from Obama, just like all the other media. In case he does something stupid.
mommy
This is the classic: To ask
November 24, 2008 - 11:39 ET by dvdaughtryThis is the classic: To ask forgivness is easier than permission.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
Exactly Matt
November 24, 2008 - 11:42 ET by DelsaHere in sunny Florida, most people of spanish descent were all in favor of McCain.
Speaking a little spanish but not listening to spanish radio, I understand from those in my real estate office how that Ad played to the young.
The older folks voted for McCain...or should I say Palin and the younger ones voted for the "O"rgasim.
→ Tapper's taunting
November 24, 2008 - 11:45 ET by Cool ArrowAll he's trying to do is take due credit for the yeoman's work done by the MSM in affecting the election. There's no argument from the informed public that this is so.
But the mush heads actually believe they made an informed vote.
all too easy. yet what did we get for 600 million
November 24, 2008 - 18:18 ET by tonemeisterof course the msm helped obama win the election. he raised cash on the internet, thanks to a precedent set by howard dean.the msm simply presented a favorible story. tv and radio are still the most accesible information sources. and the easiest. hit the "on" button then the "button with the numbers". simple. you have to dig a little on the internet. obama realizes the power of the so called new technology.im, e-mail etc. can't take that away from him. now, it's time to learn from it.