Why McCain Is Getting Hosed in the Press

[SmootSmack]

The Project for Excellence in Journalism’s researchers found that John McCain, over the six weeks since the Republican convention, got four times as many negative stories as positive ones. The study found six out of 10 McCain stories were negative.

What’s more, Obama had more than twice as many positive stories (36 percent) as McCain — and just half the percentage of negative (29 percent).

You call that balanced?

OK, let’s just get this over with: Yes, in the closing weeks of this election, John McCain and Sarah Palin are getting hosed in the press, and at Politico.

And, yes, based on a combined 35 years in the news business we’d take an educated guess — nothing so scientific as a Pew study — that Obama will win the votes of probably 80 percent or more of journalists covering the 2008 election. Most political journalists we know are centrists — instinctually skeptical of ideological zealotry — but with at least a mild liberal tilt to their thinking, particularly on social issues.

So what?

Why McCain is getting hosed in the press - John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei - Politico.com

[dmek25]

probably has something to do with being treated like the ugly step child the last 8 years. the current administration has manipulated the press to the likes that had never been seen before. that, and the way the McCain camp has handled his V.P. pick

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

The Project for Excellence in Journalism’s researchers found that John McCain, over the six weeks since the Republican convention, got four times as many negative stories as positive ones. The study found six out of 10 McCain stories were negative.

What’s more, Obama had more than twice as many positive stories (36 percent) as McCain — and just half the percentage of negative (29 percent).

You call that balanced?

OK, let’s just get this over with: Yes, in the closing weeks of this election, John McCain and Sarah Palin are getting hosed in the press, and at Politico.

And, yes, based on a combined 35 years in the news business we’d take an educated guess — nothing so scientific as a Pew study — that Obama will win the votes of probably 80 percent or more of journalists covering the 2008 election. Most political journalists we know are centrists — instinctually skeptical of ideological zealotry — but with at least a mild liberal tilt to their thinking, particularly on social issues.

So what?

Why McCain is getting hosed in the press - John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei - Politico.com

Ok, see I'm not so crazy. It happens every election, and every election an article like this will surface showing the medias bias. It will get worse everyday until after the election or until after 7:00pm on Tuesday when it is no longer needed.

[firstdown]

I had trouble getting the link up and when I did the writer used their bias to explain their bias and the bias reporting. For example. They say McCain has moved more to the right and use this as a reason why he has negative articles. They ignore the fact that Obama has moved from the far left to the middle so they never question his past records? they also say Obama has the momentium on his side so he gets the more positive reporting. If McCain had the positive momentium they would be attacking him even more and would be pumping up Obama more.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by dmek25

probably has something to do with being treated like the ugly step child the last 8 years. the current administration has manipulated the press to the likes that had never been seen before. that, and the way the McCain camp has handled his V.P. pick

Bush wasn't elected he was appointed by the Supreme Court anyway, Kerry got "swift-boated", War in Iraq, tax breaks for Big Oil,

All the typical liberal buzz phrases don't account for the more and more overtly blatant liberal bias in the so-called "main stream" media.

[dmek25]

and besides, its just like sports. the winning teams always get more coverage. and McCain has been around for quite some time. who knows how many of the press he has pissed off

[saden1]

If it bleeds it leads? The McCain campaign has been hemorrhaging of late, no? Folks, don't blame vultures for encircling a decaying carcass, it's in their nature.

[dmek25]

has anyone that had voted for Bush ever admitted he is nothing but a screw up? or, at the very least, he has made some very poor judgement in regards to decision making? why is it always someone else's fault? look, i voted for Gore. once it was over, too me, it was over. all the bull crap that followed was a total waste of time. i voted for Cater, who was about as lame as they came. but the republicans just keep saying all this turmoil in the United States is everyone's fault but the commander in chief. why not get off your high horses, and join the working man, so you can see the troubles thru his eyes

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by dmek25

has anyone that had voted for Bush ever admitted he is nothing but a screw up? or, at the very least, he has made some very poor judgement in regards to decision making? why is it always someone else's fault? look, i voted for Gore. once it was over, too me, it was over. all the bull crap that followed was a total waste of time. i voted for Cater, who was about as lame as they came. but the republicans just keep saying all this turmoil in the United States is everyone's fault but the commander in chief. why not get off your high horses, and join the working man, so you can see the troubles thru his eyes

And this rant has what to do with the article?

[dmek25]

my bad. i just like people to take responsibility for their actions. and it seems like people are trying to find excuses for why McCain cant win

[MTK]

You reap what you sow. McRage is running a negative campaign (which he was supposedly against) and I think people are tired of it. Obama has taken the high road for the most part and is talking about the issues vs. stupid and petty personal attacks. Overall it just sounds like sour grapes and excuses from a doomed and sloppily run campaign. The Republicans have run a piss poor and unfocused campaign, why can't people just admit it?

[That Guy]

yeah, when then only thing someone remembers about your campaign is that you've spent most of you're time telling lies about obama the muslim, obama the one to pal around with terrorists, etc over your actual stances on issues... well, that's not good. and palin's gaffes in limited media interactions haven't been kind either.

I voted for mccain in 2000, and i wish that was the guy running today, instead of this pandering hodgepodge with a terrible VP pick.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

You reap what you sow. McRage is running a negative campaign (which he was supposedly against) and I think people are tired of it. Obama has taken the high road for the most part and is talking about the issues vs. stupid and petty personal attacks. Overall it just sounds like sour grapes and excuses from a doomed and sloppily run campaign. The Republicans have run a piss poor and unfocused campaign, why can't people just admit it?

Couldn't have been better said. Could also add that Grandpa Grouch has made an insane number of gaffes throughout while Obama has had literally one or two. Everyone talks about Barack's comment on guns and religion. Seriously, governors and house reps are saying worse about their own constituents because NEWS FLASH FOLKS: SOME AMERICANS ARE F'ING SICK AND TIRED OF THE BIGOTRY.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

You reap what you sow. McRage is running a negative campaign (which he was supposedly against) and I think people are tired of it. Obama has taken the high road for the most part and is talking about the issues vs. stupid and petty personal attacks. Overall it just sounds like sour grapes and excuses from a doomed and sloppily run campaign. The Republicans have run a piss poor and unfocused campaign, why can't people just admit it?

The things that tended to make McCain appealing when he was just a Senator are his downfall now, his candor, openness, etc. He really ultimately has no to blame but himself. He allowed himself to get sucked in by the far-right for the purpose of basically winning at all costs. He hasn't lost yet, but all signs point to it and it's largely due to running a poor campaign. As a whole Republicans ran poor campaigns this year.

Obama, meanwhile, is running an extremely tight ship. I suppose 12thMan can better vouch for this, but I was speaking to an old colleague of mine who is now covering the Obama campaign but who I used to work with covering the Skins a few years back and he said Obama is basically Marty Schottenheimer. It's just an extremely regimented and focused campaign, where (unlike the McCain campaign where seemingly any one from McCain down to the lowest volunteer speaks whenever they want) almost no one whispers a word without Obama clearing it first.

[hooskins]

It is obvious the media leans a bit to the left, but overly bias I say no. Clearly the media, along with 70 percent of America does not approve of the Bush administration, and the truth is McCain is supported by the same base that is die hard for Bush.

More importantly, is it wrong to be liberal if that may be the better direction for this nation? I don't know, but I think it's a valid question.