How ABC News Debunked the Obama "Honeymoon" Myth

ABC News reporters and commentators on all platforms seemed to make a concerted effort last week to downplay, if not completely ignore, the good news the network's own polling data revealed about Obama (i.e., a 65% job approval rating). It seemed that ABC had simply produced a poll with the wrong results at a time when the press corps was buzzing about Obama's supposed weak poll numbers. And since conformity is king inside the Beltway press, ABC staffers really had no choice but to play dumb about the survey.

Taken as a singular event, ABC's odd effort wasn't that big of a deal and might not even warrant close scrutiny. But ABC's stunt represented part of a larger trend within the Beltway press corps in which the so-called liberal media go out of their way to concoct story lines about looming troubles for Obama. Not satisfied to simply report the facts (the president remains very popular), the press is way too eager to dress up the story line. It's way too eager to inject GOP-friendly talking points about how Obama's not really that popular.

The press trend, of course, runs completely counter to the myth about an Obama media honeymoon. Because I'm pretty sure if Obama were enjoying a media honeymoon, ABC News would have touted its recent poll results, not gone out of its way to present the findings as bad news for Obama.

Comments

[barra]

It's blatantly obvious that the honeymoon is still alive and well, however, as the effects of the hopey-changey koolaid begin to subside...the sobering realization that the groom is but an empty tux....is starting to sink in.....hangovers can be quite painful!!!

[JazzSax UT]

Can't all these "News" networks just report the "News." I know it's never been done that way, but maybe they could start a new trend.

[rsprags]

This is the second report of ABC News purposely trying to affect President Obama's rating! Who do you report this to or complain about this type of media behavior to?
We need to campaign against this type behavior right now; these guys really h a t e President Obama!
I still don't believe the MSNBC/Wall Street Journal poll which was totally different from Gallup and CBS Poll!

[MaryanneAZ]

I am not surprised that the corporate media is tainting its coverage of this President. My guess is that if he were White, then the coverage might be more favorable. It seems this President has to not only be good, he has to be the best at everything. There is a much higher standard for this mixed-race/Black appearance President than there was for former White Presidents. It is so wrong to view the glass half empty in President Obama's case, when the glass was half full for Bush43.

[ppace60657]

When President Obama ignores warnings of an attack before a massive attack, lies to start a war, and lets an entire US city be destroyed by a storm, and the media barely investigates, then you can say the media fawns over him.

[BobLablah]

Seriously? You don't think the press coverage of Obama has been fawning, compared to the treatment received by all other politicians?

[allonfla]

Are you serious? Not even a month into office and the media was ready to convict Rahm Emanuel of Pay to Play politics with Blago. They were very quick to suggest that Obama was involved. That is not a fawning media. Don't be fooled by questions about the dog, the second the media gets a hint of a scandal in the White House, they would have no problems jumping all over him. The news is in the business of making news and reporters are always out to be the first one to break the story. These guys would delight in taking down Obama.

[BobLablah]

Just like they delighted in taking down Edwards? Oh wait. They covered up for Edwards and left it to the Enquirer, even though they knew all about his exploits.