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Obama's honeymoon with media is history
The Washington Times ^ | January 26, 2010 | Jennifer Harper

Posted on 01/26/2010 11:02:20 AM PST by jazusamo

He has an official pre-presidential logo and a dramatic custom-built dais — with columns — even before he arrived at the White House. President Obama drew instant love from the press, who were captivated by the image before them.

Mr. Obama garnered more coverage — and more positive coverage — than former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan during their comparable times in office, according to a study released Monday by the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA).

Much of the Obama coverage was breathlessly positive, even melodramatic. But then something happened.

"The press stopped covering President Obama the historical figure, and started covering President Obama the politician. It took a few months, but many journalists started returning to their old critical ways, and the coverage went negative," said CMPA Director Robert Lichter, who conducted the research in conjunction with George Mason and Chapman universities.

"Barack Obama had his honeymoon, but now the party's over. He got all the spectacular stuff when he was just beginning. Still, there's a silver lining for Mr. Obama — his coverage would be envied by other recent presidents," Mr. Lichter added.

Indeed. The analysis was based on 3,859 news stories that appeared on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts, plus in the New York Times, Time and Newsweek from Jan. 20, 2009, through Dec. 31, plus a separate analysis of 1,728 stories on the Fox News Channel "Special Report."

During the entire first calendar year of his administration, Mr. Obama's mainstream media coverage was almost "perfectly balanced" — he rated 49 percent positive and 51 percent negative evaluations by sources and reporters.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; enemedia; liberalmedia; lyingmedia; mediabias; obama; obamedia
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To: AGreatPer

I agree, their reporting after his SOTU will tell us if it truly is changing.


21 posted on 01/26/2010 11:24:45 AM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: dumpthelibs

This goofball also forgets how the media slurped all over the Clintons.


22 posted on 01/26/2010 11:25:01 AM PST by Luke21 ("Why would I want to be the leader of a party of such a**holes?....” John McCain)
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To: jazusamo

What should be pointed out and shouted from the rooftops from now on is that the media bears primary blame for foisting this travesty on the country with their criminally biased and irresponsible coverage of the 2008 election and of Zero’s ascendancy to the Oval Office.
This should be driven home relentlessly.They should be made to pay for it by having their credibility thoroughly discredited for a generation.


23 posted on 01/26/2010 11:25:02 AM PST by Carl LaFong (Experts say experts should be ignored.)
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To: brownsfan
If the news is good for the Obama WH,

It's getting to be a long time since that has happened.

24 posted on 01/26/2010 11:26:45 AM PST by Maceman
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To: Carl LaFong

Nothing will change until people cancel cable and sat TV service. We will keep losing until then.


25 posted on 01/26/2010 11:29:19 AM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
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To: jazusamo

Well, Chrissy Tingle-leg is still hot for Obozo.


26 posted on 01/26/2010 11:31:50 AM PST by Happyinmygarden (Yes, actually, I have pretty much seen and heard it all before...)
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To: dumpthelibs

“Balance” always depends on where you place the fulcrum.


27 posted on 01/26/2010 11:36:53 AM PST by FrankR (There will be no jobs until it is profitable for employers to hire people....PERIOD.)
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To: Happyinmygarden

LOL! I doubt Chrissy’s love for him will ever die.


28 posted on 01/26/2010 11:37:36 AM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: Happyinmygarden

Actually, I was surfing channels and happened to land on Chris Matthews twice now...he seems to be turning it around. He’s still pro Obummer, but he’s now questioning his guests in a much more probing way, disagreeing even, and really took Howard Dean (that giggling fool) on a few days back. Also, I think Chris Matthews is looking lack luster and washed out...I’m hoping he’s had an epiphany(sp?) and it’s wiping him out. About time.


29 posted on 01/26/2010 11:39:46 AM PST by kiltie65
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To: jazusamo

I detect a tinge of “yeah, we were biased, but that’s all better now” here. Sorry, folks. Credibility is as difficult to get back as virginity.


30 posted on 01/26/2010 11:42:13 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: ClearCase_guy

Balanced?

All news vs. FOX I guess= balanced?


31 posted on 01/26/2010 11:48:03 AM PST by Freddd (CNN is not credible.)
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To: Freddd
It's funny isn't it?

You know, I consider Fox to be moderate and balanced -- there are plenty of things on Fox that upset me and make me yell at the TV. It hardly spoonfeeds me all the news that I really want to hear, in a manner which is guaranteed to make me feel good. Nope. There's leftwing propaganda on Fox too. Just not as much.

But for the Leftist fanatics, Fox is an extremist station that taints all of American journalism by giving insufficient obeisance to Obama.

32 posted on 01/26/2010 11:52:36 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (We have the 1st so that we can call on people to rebel. We have 2nd so that they can.)
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To: Billthedrill

Good point and I know for most all of us there are very few with credibility nor is that likely to change.


33 posted on 01/26/2010 11:53:12 AM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: ClearCase_guy

This guy was dropped on his head as a baby. 49/51?

I would say, 80/20 and not like, excluding talk radio, Washington Times and Fox.


34 posted on 01/26/2010 11:57:59 AM PST by wac3rd (Felipe Calderon supports the public option.)
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To: kiltie65
Chris Matthews ... seems to be turning it around

Matthews was very hard on Slick, for a year or so, when it looked like Slick might go down for obstruction of justice. Of course, he was very hard on George W, for a decade, in an attempt to keep his liberal media bona fides.

I do wonder now if Matthews was really that in love with BO, or if he just jumped on the bandwagon, knowing that the Clintons neither forgive, not forget, and that he couldn't get the Acting Deputy Undersecretary of the Interior for Public Restrooms in National Parks to come on his show in a Hillary administration.

35 posted on 01/26/2010 12:05:34 PM PST by Pilsner
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To: jazusamo
To the MSM, "negative" coverage about Obama are stories that claimed that Obama didn't go far enough.

-PJ

36 posted on 01/26/2010 12:13:58 PM PST by Political Junkie Too ("Comprehensive" reform bills only end up as incomprehensible messes.)
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To: jazusamo

If the honeymoon is over, I guess that makes his media spouses nymphomaniacs, cuz they’re still humping away.


37 posted on 01/26/2010 12:17:31 PM PST by Iowamerican
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To: jazusamo
Big Fat Lie! I believe it's over WHEN the media calls for his impeachment and/or imprisonment. Otherwise, they're still for him.
38 posted on 01/26/2010 12:21:09 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: jazusamo

HISTORY?? You’re KIDDING, right? Figure Katie and Olbermann are going to support the republican next time??!!


39 posted on 01/26/2010 12:31:42 PM PST by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: jazusamo

Just like the As-Seen-On-TV infomercials which make wild claims about a new product. “He will bring peace and prosperity and green to our planet. He will perform miracles and make our enemies love us.”

MSM acted as the producers of the OBamaRama infomercial and the Democratic party acted as the company selling ObamaRamas. At first people clamored to buy this new wonderful-can’t do without-Presidency but soon found out that it didn’t work like they promised and was way too expensive. Getting Conned leaves a bitter taste in people’s mouths. You can do most anything but don’t betray their trust.

Now people don’t want the MSM to make anymore infomercials and they won’t buy any products from the Democratic party for a long time,


40 posted on 01/26/2010 12:35:39 PM PST by ODDITHER (HAT)
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