The media reaction: Ho-hum, just a Kerry sweep

[montana500]

The media reaction: Ho-hum, just a Kerry sweep

If Bush had won all three debates, would the pundits have been so reserved?

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/13/media/index_np.html

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By Eric Boehlert

Oct. 13, 2004 |

It's hard to imagine that if an array of instant poll results spread over three debates and two weeks showed that John Kerry had failed to win a single survey, let alone a single debate, that Wednesday night's media spin would have been as hum-drum as it was, when polls once again revealed Kerry had bested president Bush for the third time in as many tries. And Kerry did so with relative ease. According to the CNN/Gallup survey, 52 percent of voters thought Kerry won the third and final debate, compared to 39 percent who gave it to president Bush. CBS's turn-around poll also gave it to Kerry, 39-25. ABC's instant poll was much closer -- 42-41 for Kerry -- but its pool of respondents was weighted more heavily towards Republicans.

For Kerry, it's a rather startling and completely unforeseen achievement, considering Bush entered the final stretch season with an unblemished career debate record and had been given high marks by the press for his debate message discipline and ability to connect with voters. Yet he went oh-for-three.

Despite the consistent polling results, most of the assembled television pundits last night considered the debate to be a draw and suggested it would, in the end, have little impact on Election Day. Again, it's hard to imagine that the media response would have been so reserved if it were Bush completing a debate sweep. Either the pundits are right to discount the importance of the debates and that the last two presidential face-offs really were draws, or voters have been sending a clear message over the last two weeks, one that's been falling on deaf ears inside the media's Beltway. We'll know the answer to that question in 17 days.

[WI_DEM]

1. before all the whoring began on Mary Cheney

[rkc3]

2. Mary Cheney is a lesbian not a whore.

Even in Jerry Falwell's mind there's a subtle difference.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Ummmm,

I'm pretty sure the poster meant that the media is whoring for the Bush team by whipping up false outrage over Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney.

[Bandit]

4. I don't think the poster was calling Mary a whore just the Media

The Media is acting like whores over the Mary Cheney mention. Evidnetly most people in America do not understand English.

[rkc3]

5. I got the inference.

I was trying to poke some fun Jerry's way.

And I'm surprised no one has pointed out Kerry said "we're all God's children" and in that he included homosexuals as well. The right has done a good job keeping their mouths shut and not spewing that God would not have made anyone a homosexual.

Which is what I expected to hear in the post-debate puke fest.

[realFedUp]

6. Hey, God made whores too....

How else would some pundits make money....

[rkc3]

10. So much talk about whores and lesbians - can't wait...

to have a few beers tonight.

[realFedUp]

12. while watching a few pundits....

[lancdem]

8. I think the whole point of the GOP attacking Kerry on Mary Cheney

was to blunt any momentum Kerry would get from winning the third debate.

[orpupilofnature57]

7. After these elections we need to find a way to hold the media

accountable for the contradictions in journalism and information in general.The editors across the nation have implemented fascism more than Mussolini.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Will Public Believe A Hostile Media Or Their Own Eyes?

The perception that the media had presented the public of John Kerry was in direct contrast to what they saw with their own eyes. The media continues to roll along as if Kerry didn't hand Bush's ass to him. Typical, but f*ck 'em.

[Supersedeas]

11. Direct unfiltered confrontation bt Candidates & Public do not matter

they as an industry are a filter and they want you to ignore the debates...what they have to say is SO much more important.

[peekaloo]

13. Even the BBC is harumphing.......last night they ran a segment

on "undecided" voters and their reactions to the final debate. A show of hands revealed the majority thought Kerry had won BUT a second show of hands revealed the majority were voting for Bu$h because "he believes what he believes". :wtf:

Oh, did I mention that the hoo-er conducting the "survey" was Frank Luntz? Media mind fuck/numbing in full steam ahead mode.