Bernie Goldberg: Trust in Media Low Due to Love Affair With Obama
As NewsBusters reported last Friday, America's trust in the media has fallen to new lows.
Appearing on Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor" Tuesday, political commentator Bernie Goldberg said it was because of the media's love affair with Barack Obama (video follows with transcript and commentary):
BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Weekdays with Bernie" segment tonight, a couple of new media polls to tell you all about.
According to Gallup, 55 percent of Americans do not -- do not trust -- the American media. Forty-four percent say they do. One percent apparently don't know what the media is.
Also 47 percent believe the media is biased to the left. Thirteen percent say it's biased to the right. These must be communist people. And 36 percent opine the media is not biased at all.
Another survey, this one by the Pew Research Center. Sixty-six percent of Americans say that TV news is their primary source of information. And preferences break down this way. FOX News Channel leads all TV news outlets with 19 percent of Americans saying they get their news mostly from us. Local news second. Sixteen percent dialed into that. CNN 15 percent. NBC News 10. ABC News 8. CBS 7. At the bottom, MSNBC, 6 percent. All Fidel Castro supporters.
Joining us now from North Carolina to analyze, purveyor of BernardGoldberg.com, Mr. Goldberg.
First of all, what happened to CBS News, your old employer? That used to be the gold standard.
BERNIE GOLDBERG, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: The key words are "used to be." [...]
GOLDBERG: Look, CBS News, don't forget, since Walter Cronkite, went through Dan Rather and then Schieffer for a while, and then Katie Couric. I mean, it -- the challenge is to bring CBS News back to where it was.
But on the overall findings of the polls, which don't speak well, as you said, for the American media, the American people have lost faith in a lot of institutions over the years. Notably political institutions like Congress and the media.
I think the reason that the trust level is so low today for the media is because of its relationship with Barack Obama. During the campaign, they fell in love with him. They moved from old-fashioned media bias into something new. Media activism.
O'REILLY: Yes.
GOLDBERG: Just as there's judicial activism, where judges pretty much do whatever they want, the media decided it's OK to take sides without apology, without embarrassment, without any kind of...
O'REILLY: You make a good point. You think that that impacted, and people even -- who favored Barack Obama saw it. And then they're really not interested in giving me legitimate information. They want to promote things, and here you go.
GOLDBERG: Yes, mostly, obviously, mostly it's Republicans. Seventy- five percent, according to Gallup, think the media is too liberal. But get this: 70 -- let me see the exact number. Seventy-seven -- seventy-seven percent of Democrats think the media is just right or too conservative. That tells you all you...
O'REILLY: Well, because they get -- they get favorable treatment. So of course...
GOLDBERG: Exactly. That proves that there is a liberal problem.
But here's the thing. Fifty -- five oh -- percent of independents, 50 percent of independents think the media is too liberal. And that does away with the argument, from the people who run news organizations, that this is only a bunch of crazy right-wingers.
Could I just give you one example that's just too good to pass up?
O'REILLY: Yes.
GOLDBERG: This was on page 1 of the Washington Post, Bill, on Christmas morning right after Barack Obama was elected president, page 1 of the "Washington Post." There's a story about his exercise regimen. I'm going to read you just one sentence.
"The sun glinted off chiseled pectorals sculpted during four weightlifting sessions each week and a body toned by regular treadmill runs and basketball games." This sounds like the crap you read -- you read in romance novels.
O'REILLY: No, that was -- that's the FOX News bio of me.
GOLDBERG: This is on page 1 of the Washington Post.
O'REILLY: I know.
GOLDBERG: What I'm saying is there's a price the media pays for this kind of thing...
O'REILLY: And they have paid it.
GOLDBERG: ... with their most valuable commodity, their credibility.
O'REILLY: That's right.
With regard to the Christmas Day front page Post article, Goldberg neglected something even more indicative of media bias that day.
As NewsBusters reported at the time, not only was that puff piece on the front page of the Post, the revelation about the Obama transition team's report on contacts with former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was placed on page A3.
Shameful.
Those interested can read more about the Gallup poll referenced by O'Reilly here and the Pew Research Center study here.
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Comments
No, don't do that!
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:23am.
"...the challenge is to bring CBS News back to where it was."
This is where I part ways with Mr. Goldberg. There was plenty of liberal bias in the "good old days" under Uncle Walter. In fact, it was much more effective for liberals then because it was more subtle and insidious - not like today when it it's about as subtle as a thousand marching bands and apparent to almost everybody with a brain.
Liberal bias
Submitted by NotFondOfLibs on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:29am.
The so called mainstream media lost its credibility in 2008 when it failed to vett Barack Obama, yet news organizations sent personnel to Alaska to investigate Sarah Palin and find anyone who gave her free flowers. When it comes to CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, GMA, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times, etc, forget it. I have no use or respect for these organizations as they are nothing but water carriers for the Obama regime. Brian Williams, David Gregory, and Andrea Mitchell are prime examples of Obama water carriers who ought to get out of journalism (?) and do something else because they have no credibility and are not objective journalists.
A journalist
Submitted by HockeyKid on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:42am.
A journalist tells what happened, period. The moment any kind of evaluative language appears, the person is no longer a journalist.
Anyone who goes to J-school with the desire to "change the world" or "make the world a better place" doesn't want to be a journalist but rather a community organizer, an agitator, an advocate. If that's what you want to be, then be that. But you're not a journalist.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
perfect sumation
Submitted by kata on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 11:21am.
I would only add "fiction writer" to the list :)
Even the liberal press may be getting it!
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:43am.
The Democrat governor of NC, yesterday called for suspending the Congressional elections for two years so that Congress could get it right without all the pressure of reelection! I'm not kidding!
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/28/1523002/perdue-hold-off-a-bit-on-...
The biggest surprise in all of this was the Raleigh News & Observer, a really liberal rag, reporting it. Of course, it didn't hit the front page where it belonged, or even the front section, but the fact that they even reported it almost floored me.
Like all good liberal rats, perhaps they are beginning to put their toes in the water to determine if they really, really want to jump this sinking ship. Their business is going to hell, and whether they will even survive this administration is a question, so maybe selfish ambition (such a capitalist feeling) is taking over?
Back to the boob who is governor of NC. They reported that she made the comment with a "straight face." Unfortunately for her, with all the botched plastic surgery she has had, a "straight face" is all she can manage, at least until some more of her stitches pop loose.
Can a Democrat calling for the suspension of ALL elections be far behind so that Barack Hussein Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm, can have time to get things straightened out, the poor Baby?
The spin is that...
Submitted by USMC8411 on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 4:08pm.
She was "joking" yet the crowd didn't laugh or clap.
The democrats can see the results of obama's "leadership from behind" and they know that they are ALL in jeopardy! He killed his Jewish vote, and even the blacks who declared that they won't have to worry about their mortgage or putting gas in their car are upset that the home was foreclosed on and the car was repo'ed! So no... no more worries there!
Wait a second... The shirtless Hawaii picture of the one...I... am....getting.... light-headed....fingers tingling...leg thrilling.... Ooops I passed out!
Where are all of the planted professional fainters now?
I had to go back and read
Submitted by marpel on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:45am.
I had to go back and read that "love letter" column from December 2008 that Bernie quoted last night and in his book, "A Slobbering Love Affair". I can't tell you how idiotic that columnist sounded. Almost like he was witnessing The Rapture! But, you need to look back further when Media Bias started to really surface with the campaign of Bill Clinton. Just think back on those days and tell me that they were hiding their bias then.
Remember Chris Matthews: "LIKE LAZARUS RISING FROM THE GRAVE!!!" (he was describing Bill Clinton's first public appearance after his bypass)....That one still gets me to this day...it was pathetic!!!
"Deep within my heart lies a memory. A song of ol' San Antone..."
The student follows in the
Submitted by okie-pastor on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:45am.
The student follows in the ways of his teacher. Journalism is taught through liberal institutions. If most journalists graduated from conservative institutions, we would have a larger effect on the political landscape, as they do.
I personally wish the main stream media would be honest and admit they are liberal. I despise their effort to suggest they are not liberal, and their reporting is fair. The sad news is many people believe it. But the good news is that is changing.
I stopped watching MSM years ago, not because of Rush Limbaugh or Fox News but because I got sick and tired of the blatant degrading of the conservative viewpoint from CNN. Then I realized I was not the only one ala newsbusters!
Your opening sentence.....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 11:03am.
sums it up quite nicely, Pastor. And that is why we need to dismantle the federal Dept. of Education.
GAK!!!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 11:05am.
Please, I was about to eat my lunch till I ran across...more like afoul of that damned picture of Soetoro!
As for this "love affair," we saw that coming in 2007 and it's beyond sycophantic, so no surprise that the media trust is low if it even still exists.
-Jon
Certainly......
Submitted by 98ZJUSMC on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 11:08am.
it went to ridiculous extremes, but this has been going on for decades. Agree with the Clinton comment. I actually used to watch the morning news shows before Clinton. I realized their liberal bent. It just calibrated my BS meter better. By the time the '92 campaign was half over, I was done with TV news.
The so-called media has yet
Submitted by jessieH on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 12:58pm.
The so-called media has yet to ask Obama a question.
Lack of Creditability
Submitted by OldmanRick on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 1:02pm.
The LSM lost its credibility when Cronkite slammed the US military after the TET offensive in 68. It hasn't regained any since. In fact it has become more left leaning.
That was when the MSM...
Submitted by USMC8411 on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 4:33pm.
Departed from reporting facts in favor of journalism of their liberal agenda! Cronkite brought a president to his knees and forced the end of a war that he (Cronkite) previously supported!
That gave rise to the current MSM telling you what to think about the stories they present while avoiding stories that do not fit the agenda. Solyndra. Credibility and facts do not matter. The agenda matters. As Dan Rather said, "False but Accurate." Only a warped liberal mind would say such a thing.
Enter the new media. The MSM despises monopolies, unless they, or the government, are the monopoly! The new media is slowly, but surely, eroding their influence. And that is what they are realizing and fearing.
And as Rome burns,,
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 1:58pm.
The old MSM remains SILENT! They did this under Carter, which made the young me realize something was wrong, cause all I heard under 8 years of Nixon/Ford was how bad the president/government, country, etc was, when things were pretty good. Then Peanut man gets in and bedlam follows, and NOT A WORD! Once the Iranian Hostage crisis hit, same thing. THATS when I saw the light, became a Republican, and never looked back!
Same thing going on today, only we are much more informed and have other outlets to get out the good word. BUT,,the old Big 3 still does the same, helped by the old newspapers and rags,,gee, any wonder why theyre all going down the drain?
I first saw how biased the
Submitted by ForeverOnTheRight on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 2:30pm.
I first saw how biased the media was during 2000 election. It was obvious that CNN favored Gore over Bush in their coverage of the Florida mess. NB has served to make me more aware of the media bias. The bias and political split in this country has only gotten worse since and I think I would be right in blaming the media for exacerbating the split.
Thanks Noel for getting the color of O's shorts correct?
Submitted by Gary Hall on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 3:52pm.
Thanks Noel for getting the color of O's shorts correct?
Remember?
(;~> gary
Great point Gary...
Submitted by USMC8411 on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 4:36pm.
Let me expand...
"When you're in the magazine business you're trying to get across a concept or an idea," she said. "Changing…the color of his shorts didn't change the overall image portrayed. It was President Obama in a bathing suit walking."
A journalist WILL chang the facts, even the color of a pair of SHORTS!
A reporter would never consider such a fraud.
So the unanswered question is.... Why the change if it is no big deal?
NY Times Calls Obama Bicycle Pics "Rugged Masulinity Gone Wild!"
Submitted by GlenStanish on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 4:01pm.
Bernie gets it right. The Obama fawning has made the media look like screaming teenagers at a Justin Bieber sighting. According to the Daily Rash, the NY Times gushed over photos of Obama riding his bike, saying he was "rugged masculinity gone wild." http://www.thedailyrash.com/ny-times-calls-obama-bicycle-photos-rugged-m...
Yeah, he looks more and more like
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 4:23pm.
Urkel every day. Actually he makes Steve Urkel look like the more masculine of the Urkel brothers.
The Urkel twins
Submitted by cocodrie on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 9:18pm.
Steve is Julius benedict
Obabble is Vincent Benedict
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Their love for him
Submitted by countmein5050 on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 9:13pm.
caused a complete atrophy of their objectivity! They are so biased now they honestly can't see what everyone is complaining about. But they've done us a service by creating an atmosphere that forces people to look for the truth outside what they pass on as 'news' 24/7. They've forced us to accept that not everything we hear tumble out of their mouths should be digested without question. They've cut their own throats but opened the eyes of a grateful nation willing to see the light.
More than just love for Obumbo!
Submitted by aposematic on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:33am.
Distrust of the Media is much more than any love affair with Obumbo. It is more about the lies the Media are proud to propagate in their love affair with Marxism. For almost six decades the Media has propagandized in favor of every despot that came along forcing Marxism upon an unwitting and naive peoples. Obumbo just fits the decades old love affair the Media has with the Marxist Ideology. As much as the Media seems to love Obumbo, they showed the same intensity in the hate for Bush II and most all Republicans in general. The Media is all about Marxist Ideology and Obumbo is just their latest Marxist to fit for now.