Appearing on the June 3 "America's Newsroom" program, Graham discussed Newsweek economics columnist Robert Samuelson's gripe that the media's "Obama infatuation is a great unreported story of our time."
Samuelson "is a reasonable guy" who "has got to know that we've had years of pro-Obama bias, and certainly in the pages of his own magazine, where there are syrupy pictures of Barack and/or Michelle almost weekly," Media Research Center (MRC) Director of Media Analysis Tim Graham told "America's Newsroom" host Bill Hemmer. [audio available here]
Graham added:
I don't think one column is going to change the fact that we have an overwhelming media bias in favor of Obama.
What Samuelson says here is important in that he's suggesting we've a lot of big programs here with a lot of big price tags and it would be nice if we had a news media that tried to hold the policymakers accountable and ask them tough questions about how much this is going to cost. That, I don't think, is what Newsweek and people like Jon Meacham the editor of Newsweek see their role as being.
I think you go back to what Chris Matthews said before the president was inaugurated. They see their job as helping Obama succeed. I don't think that's the same thing as helping the readers understand the world.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
→ I saw that
June 3, 2009 - 10:59 ET by Cool ArrowI caught the Tim Graham segment this morning. Good stuff there, Tim.
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
I was in the kitchen having
June 3, 2009 - 11:44 ET by Chris NormanI was in the kitchen having breakfast and only saw Big Tim's last answer. I would've watched all of it if I'd known he was going to be on, but they didn't tease his segment like they did the stripper law suit. :)
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
→ Chris
June 3, 2009 - 11:47 ET by Cool ArrowI commented yesterday, "now that Megyn Kelly's pregnan, we have to watch her get more beautiful every day"
And there she goes today with the low-slung look.
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
Thanks for watching
June 3, 2009 - 12:28 ET by Tim GrahamClearly, "Big Tim" needs a diet, and a haircut.
→ Tim
June 3, 2009 - 12:34 ET by Cool ArrowIt's just those TV pounds.
Don't sweat it, I couldn't make the cover of Wahington Weekly if I jogged along a beach either.
I'm getting my own reality show on Animal Planet, though.
Me and my sidekick, Rosie O'Donnell will star in "Whale Wars"
"The only reason Clarence Thomas is on the court is because he's black". - Joe Biden
Tim,
June 3, 2009 - 12:40 ET by Chris NormanYikes! No-no-no - I was referring only to your stature among us. You're the head honcho, the Big Cheese, the Big Kahuna as it were.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Hang On, Gloopy
June 3, 2009 - 12:57 ET by Tim GrahamNope, nope, it ain't "TV pounds," sadly. Just got the bad news at the Doctor's office. Chris, I said the same thing to my dad when I sent it to him.
Hey, I literally have no
June 3, 2009 - 13:15 ET by Chris NormanHey, I literally have no room to tease anyone about their weight. My center of gravity has been steadily lowering the last several years. The good news is I'm safely anchored in high winds.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Robert Samuelson
June 3, 2009 - 11:11 ET by NorthCoasterRobert, keep digging and writing if they will let you continue to print the story. Better late to the scene, than to miss it entirely.
Defending one of my favorites
June 3, 2009 - 12:28 ET by KC MulvilleI rush to defend Samuelson. He's one of my must-reads. And clearly, he's been on the Obama Skepticism bandwagon for a long time. Samuelson is no Kool-Aid drinker ... definitely a coffee guy, as in "wake up and smell" it. He's argued for a long time, back to the Clinton days I think, that politicians are consistently postponing essential reforms, especially with entitlements. Samuelson has been on a run lately, pointing out the embarrassingly obvious fact that Obama's numbers have no chance of adding up. But he's made the same arguments for a long time, including during Obama's campaign.
(I know you weren't attacking Samuleson, NorthCoaster, but he's one of my favorites.)
KC
June 3, 2009 - 23:23 ET by NorthCoasterThanks for pointing out his history. I'll have to take a further look into what he writes about and the direction of his stories.
Tim... I caught this segment
June 3, 2009 - 12:57 ET by bigtimerTim...
I caught this segment this morning...Thumbs UP all the way!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart