Today's Washington Post Web site carries the Associated Press story "Who's Watching News Scorecards on Obama?" Written by David Bauder, the piece begins by reporting:
As President Barack Obama passed his 100th day in office last week, two studies judged that the news media has given him more coverage, and more positive coverage, than his two predecessors at the same point in their terms.
Paragraphs later comes one explanation of the fawning mainstream media coverage:
The newscasts reflect reality, said Rick Kaplan, executive producer of the "CBS Evening News." He said he believed that the president has done extraordinarily well. "Everybody, including Republicans, would have to say that his first 100 days have been great," he said.
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No doubt Kaplan would be astounded to learn that not everyone agrees that Obama's first 100 days have been so terrific. Today's Rasmussen Reports daily tracking poll, for example, finds that 43 percent of voters disapprove of Obama's performance. Moreover, 32 percent of the nation's voters strongly disapprove.
Kaplan went on in the article to explain:
"You cover what's out there," Kaplan said. "Everybody gets upset. If you cover somebody too hard, his supporters think you're being unfair. If you cover somebody too soft, his opponents think you're too soft. Across his four years, or eight years, whatever it is, there will be plenty for people on all sides to not like or love. It will balance itself out inevitably."
I find it interesting that Kaplan speaks of covering "somebody too hard" or "too soft." Factually reporting news would seem to leave little room for such subjectivity. Of course, factually reporting news doesn't appeal to much of the mainstream media. They have a dog in this fight and don't care if their audiences know it.
The incredibly favorable coverage of Obama has again demonstrated the blatant bias that permeates much of the press. Yet, somehow, magically, we're expected to accept that eventually "it will balance itself out."
Sure. I believe that.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
"Everybody......would have
May 3, 2009 - 16:48 ET by GregE"Everybody......would have to say that his first 100 days have been great."
Does everybody want European Socialism? No. Therefore, no, not everybody "would have to" say the first 100 days have been great. If most people had sense to think a little and pay attention, most would say the first 100 days have been disastrous against that which America actually stands for and is. I think for myself, Mr. Kaplan, but thanks for assuming.
Perhaps he thinks "everybody" is just like everyone he associates with, and therein lies a huge MSM issue.
Everybody
May 3, 2009 - 16:52 ET by Mike BatesPerhaps he meant to say everybody who sports $540 sneakers, sends their kids to extremely expensive private schools, and eats arugula.
everybody
May 4, 2009 - 08:16 ET by jondelwichebeing the 2 million people who lost their jobs in Obama's first 3 months? 2 million! That is beyond breathtaking.
Citizens looking down the barrel of a 1.8 trillion deficit?
who wants the government selling cars orunning banks?
These idiotic journalists live in an alternate reality.
everybody
May 4, 2009 - 08:16 ET by jondelwichebeing the 2 million people who lost their jobs in Obama's first 3 months? 2 million! That is beyond breathtaking.
Citizens looking down the barrel of a 1.8 trillion deficit?
who wants the government selling cars orunning banks?
These idiotic journalists live in an alternate reality.
B.O.'s first 100 days have been great
May 4, 2009 - 10:08 ET by grumpyoldbIn their little world this is true. But then again, they are saying this while talking to the sugar plum fairy (no-doubt from San Francisco) while sitting next to the chocolate river, underneath a gumdrop tree...
Everybody, including
May 3, 2009 - 16:50 ET by Chris NormanEverybody, including Republicans, would have to say that his first 100 days have been great," he said.
A new "journalistic" low: now, they're trying to put pro-Obama words in our mouths. What's next, "Everybody, including Republicans, would just have to support nationalized health care."?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
A new journalistic low, Chris
May 3, 2009 - 16:54 ET by Mike BatesThose are mighty tough to come by, what with so much competition.
But the boys and girls in the MSM will happily do our thinking for us. Just like Barry wants to.
Michael, If that
May 3, 2009 - 17:15 ET by Chris NormanMichael,
If that agreement about Obama's success isn't forthcoming from the Republicans, then Kaplan just reports his supposed assumption that it's there anyway. What a way to get around the truth. Using this method, they can report anything they want.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Everybody, including
May 3, 2009 - 17:20 ET by botgEverybody, including Republicans, would have to say that his first 100 days have been great," he said.
next:
Everybody, including Republicans, would have to say that we need more progressives on the SCOTUS" he said.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
"You cover what's out
May 3, 2009 - 16:55 ET by motherbelt"You cover what's out there," Kaplan said.
And apparently, "what's out there" is that Obama has been positively amazing, jaw-droppingly awesome, McDreamy, McSteamy, and Churchill rolled into one....IOW, the best President....ever!
The only thing missing from Kaplan's "Everybody, including Republicans, would have to say that his first 100 days have been great," (emphasis mine)
is the liberal argument-stopper "That's a fact" at the end.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Or maybe, mb
May 3, 2009 - 16:56 ET by Mike Batesthey would have to say that or plan on spending some time in a re-education camp until their head is screwed on straight.
They have officially gone
May 3, 2009 - 16:52 ET by usinkoreaThey have officially gone insane - or been replaced by pod people...
pod people
May 3, 2009 - 16:58 ET by Mike BatesThey have officially gone insane - or been replaced by pod people...
Coincidentally, last night I was watching the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Obama's pod people seem more regimented than the movie characters.
Unfortunately, a large
May 3, 2009 - 17:07 ET by RR GOPUnfortunately, a large percentage of 'Republicans' probably would agree...and Roman Catholics, and Jews, and the unemployed, and the military.
It's as if they think + enough about The One all things will get better.
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!?).
This has to be an alternate
May 3, 2009 - 17:15 ET by R D HelmThis has to be an alternate universe.
It just has to be.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Riiiiiiing! Dave, this is
May 3, 2009 - 17:48 ET by Chris NormanRiiiiiiing! Dave, this is your wake up call - time to get up. CBS News is reporting how popular President Fred Thompson is after his first 100 days in office. In other news, Senator Barak Obama has announced that he won't run again for his Illinois seat, ex- President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary who have not been heard from much in over eight years have been indicted on corruption charges, and MSNBC has announced that they have decided not to hire sportcaster Keith Olbermann as a news anchor because he's just "too unstable"....
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Chris,
May 3, 2009 - 20:01 ET by R D HelmLOL-Yeah, THAT's the universe I need to be in.
Now, if I can just figure out how to get there from here...
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Not everybody...
May 3, 2009 - 17:21 ET by c5thenBut certainly Lenin and Stalin and Marx and Pohl Pott and Mao, etc. They would undoubtedly think that Obama has done extraordinarily well.
Let's see...
Doubled the debt, continued the unconstitutional distribution of taxpayer money to certain private banks to bail them out of their own mistakes while allowing others to be bought or to fail, started his own unconstitutional program to distribute taxpayer money to three major US auto manufacturers to save them from decades of their own bad decisions which is doomed to fail, bowed to a foreign head of state, gave our enemies the playbook of our interrogation techniques,...
And these are only the highlights.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
Michael - On the other hand.. the liberals aren't so pleased ..
May 3, 2009 - 17:22 ET by Gary HallMichael - On the other hand.. one can't even claim that the liberals aren't so pleased .. with the boy president's first 100 days:
I'd say - let em at him. But then again, that's the one thing that our national will not allow - for the attacks from the left to become available for the general public. They always protect their Democrats from their own debate - the guise of unity must rule.
Besides, this far left - the left that forced Obama to release the memos, wants something that 99 out of 100 Americans do not want - something a good bit left of socialism.
(;~/ gary
What would Williams S. Paley do?
May 3, 2009 - 17:37 ET by jdripperFirst thing Paley would do is fire Kaplan.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
Kaplan, no. You
May 3, 2009 - 17:59 ET by RogerCfromSDKaplan, no. You pretentious, presumptuous toady. Obama's first 100 days have SUCKED.
Otherwise, there wouldn't need to be a media blitz to paint Obama so favorably.
"Absolute Worst President Ever" http://patrioticamer...
A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.
if he's so darn awesome
May 3, 2009 - 18:22 ET by katainkentwhy do they have to keep pummeling us with his awesomeness everyday to convince us.
Hold on ‘cause the world will turn if you're ready or not ~ KT Tunstall
kata... Let alone him
May 3, 2009 - 18:28 ET by bigtimerkata...
Let alone him inserting himself everyday...more than once a day to-boot....
Always the Breaking News! Breaking News!
It is getting old fast...tiresome and boring, people are turning off to him...in the case of the msm, they are going to need a 12 Step Program to catch up with the real world...even those in the blue states are ahead of the pathetic msm regarding Walks on Water.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
speaking of breaking news
May 3, 2009 - 18:34 ET by katainkentI am sure everyone who looks at drudge already saw this cutting edge investigative reporting.
Which way will he go next!? OMGZ!@!1
Hold on ‘cause the world will turn if you're ready or not ~ KT Tunstall
Oh no...more barf-bag time
May 3, 2009 - 18:42 ET by bigtimerOh no...more barf-bag time with this report.
Please you brain-dead twits in the msm ...get a life.
Btw kata...what was that second link all about...I'm not savvy when it comes to where/what that was suppose to go and why it automatically went to where it does?
Hope I didn't make it more confusing than what I was asking.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
oops
May 3, 2009 - 18:44 ET by katainkentthe presence of the @ made it into a link. Not my intention. lol
Hold on ‘cause the world will turn if you're ready or not ~ KT Tunstall
kata... Thanks for the
May 3, 2009 - 19:24 ET by bigtimerkata...
Thanks for the reply...I'm chuckling here...if one doesn't ask, then you may never know the answer.
Much appreciated.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
cutting edge investigative reporting. kata
May 3, 2009 - 19:41 ET by Mike BatesWhat's next, shots of them dancing on a beach?
At least they didn't say
May 3, 2009 - 20:17 ET by motherbeltAt least they didn't say the Obamas went for a walk and nobody shot at them!
Seriously, that's the first thing I thought of when I saw the headline on Drudge!
Michael, I'm surprised YOU didn't pick up on that! LOL
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
sorry, mb
May 3, 2009 - 21:50 ET by Mike BatesI'm still dazed at getting black fisted by the Black News Junkie.
Mike... The msm are going
May 3, 2009 - 18:35 ET by bigtimerMike...
The msm are going to ignore this poll you have here as long as possible...which I have been finding amusing the last week especially, Rasmussen has had some very interesting polls...yet it is ignored.
We are going to have to wait for that "Pop Goes the Weasel" moment when it comes to the majority of the msm to actually report the truth beside their own polls, let alone the very ones they scavage to use like they do...
... they won't be able to do this forever.
Then again....
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Pop Goes the Weasel, BT
May 3, 2009 - 19:40 ET by Mike Bates... they won't be able to do this forever.
They can give it the ol' college try. For "the professor."
He meant to say everyone in
May 3, 2009 - 18:37 ET by d1carterHe meant to say everyone in his little insulated world...
Dynamic Duo
May 3, 2009 - 18:47 ET by slickwillie2001The Bamster will be measured by his appointments, all Presidents are. I saw the dynamic duo of Sebelius and Napolitano today on Chris Wallace's show; what a hapless pair of bumblers. Those two are like green lights to any terrorists out there. It's open season on America folks.
Great Stalins Ghost, Even
May 3, 2009 - 18:48 ET by nadadhimmiGreat Stalins Ghost, Even Unkle Joe would have to agree that the one has "progressed" much faster and further than even Comrade Molotov could have "hoped" for "change". Yes comrades, our glorious, socialist 8 yr plan is ahead of schedule, and the rubes don't even recognize it.
Liars Lie
May 3, 2009 - 19:14 ET by MaytagThe guys I work with that voted for bambi are starting to come to work and take shots at him. Like how can you tell obama is lying ? His lips are moving. They talk about his thin skin and how peevish he is. I just smile and smile and they get so pissed off.
a start, Maytag
May 3, 2009 - 19:43 ET by Mike BatesThe guys I work with that voted for bambi are starting to come to work and take shots at him.
I'd still be plenty steamed at 'em for their stupidity. They helped get us into this mess.
Sure, Kaplan, I'll admit
May 3, 2009 - 19:45 ET by fitzfongSure, Kaplan, I'll admit they've been great...for our enemies.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
I'm sure Republicans would say first 100 days were great
May 3, 2009 - 19:51 ET by jefflebowskiThat's why we have to remember the 3 R's:
Rid Republicans of RINOs! Fear the Tea Party!!
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.c...
delusion or deceit?
May 3, 2009 - 19:53 ET by kono"Everybody, including Republicans, would have to say that his first 100 days have been great."
Kaplan never bothered asking me, that much is clear.
I bet he'll claim there's a scientific consensus on 'global warming', too...
everyone?
May 3, 2009 - 20:09 ET by newuglyamericanThe New Ugly American
I'm not "everyone" this puppet media magot states. I just listened to Gibson's 100 gifts and fortunately, my faith is in my God, because if it was in Obamination...I better stop, I've said enough already, I'm on THIER list...
You'd think....
May 3, 2009 - 21:44 ET by cest moi...the Viagra would have worn off by now.
Viagra wearing off?
May 3, 2009 - 21:47 ET by Mike BatesNah, they've switched to the competition so they can take a daily dose.
Yes indeed Mr. Kaplan...why
May 3, 2009 - 22:21 ET by SvenYes indeed Mr. Kaplan...why just a few weeks back, at our Tea Party in Salt Lake City, about 1,000 of us were saying how successful Obama's first 100 days were! Why we were just giddy!
Sir, this is the reason your organization and the other DNC mouth pieces are doing soooo poorly in the ratings currently. I'm sure if you keep repeating this tripe long enough, you'll start to believe it!
Tea anyone?
President?
May 3, 2009 - 22:29 ET by DingbatWhy is it always, now, "President Obama" and yet, for the past 8 years it has been "Bush"? <Gag>
Comment by CBS News Exec Kaplan
May 4, 2009 - 00:19 ET by ExToledoanI doubt the thousands of newly unemployed American workers who voted for Obama are celebrating his stimulus package today. Even my liberal brother is thinking of voting Republican from here on in. Change isn't always what it's cracked up to be, especially when there's none left in your pocketbook due to higher taxes, lower wages, job fairs with thousands upon thousands of applicants for few jobs, and a future influx of millions from Mexico when amnesty is announced.
I guess it is difficult
May 4, 2009 - 07:02 ET by theduck6to be objective when your lips are firmly planted on the Messiah's gluteals.
I can only assume that
May 4, 2009 - 09:25 ET by pitter43I can only assume that they're referring to " republicans " like Specter when they're telling that lie or I missed all the republicans that are kneeling at obama's feet with them and just saw the many that are criticizing obama.
You don't speak for me,
May 4, 2009 - 11:37 ET by wiwfYou don't speak for me, MSM.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
The MSM: see no evil, hear no evil
May 5, 2009 - 09:17 ET by Mary Louise TurnerWhen it comes to Ears, the MSM is all "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". I was sick to my stomach on Inauguration (Coronation) Day; now, I can barely listen to the nutworks anymore. Puh-leeze!