Corrupt Polling and the Media

It's amazing how a debate that no one saw can have such an impact on regional and national polls. Perhaps this is what they mean when they say that the Obama Camp and the Edwards Camp are going to get aggressive. Debates that every one watches in which one candidate blasts another candidate out of the water usually have marginal repercussions in the polls. You're telling me there was a thirty percent shift in the polls after the last debate which no one saw. Give me a break!

The media thinks that they should choose our presidents (lopsided coverage), decide on our foreign policy (not covering the anti war activities before Iraq) and determine our cultural heritage by giving us nonstop coverage of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton getting out of cars without underpants. My friend Cameron says that if you're not winning the war, then expand it, hence Pakistan. Its getting to the point where I'ld rather sit at the Oloffson bar and listen to rumors than go out and get a paper, (which I can't do here anyway).

By the way Tropical Storm Noel had a devastating impact on parts of the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). If some one could send some helicopters to sugar cane fields in the DR and see if every one is ok it would be appreciated.

Peace...

Richard Morse
Port-au-Prince Haiti

Comments

[midtown]

Who believes these polls? Mark Penn is Clinton's 'volunteer strategic advisor', and his day job is polling for the alphabets and newspapers.

We're going to believe them?

Your post if dead-on.

[1will]

Wait until the actual 2008 election. That's when you'll see the usual media bias. Hillary or Obama will get the red carpet treatment and whichever Republican candidate that wins will get the usual anti Conservative bias.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Well, that's where the Internets comes in. When
the Big Boys Media Corp. can't tell a straight
story anymore, then it's up to the People to
publish the God's Honest Truth etc. There's been
a lot of things in the news over the last
several years that generally tend to suggest
we're not getting the aforementioned Truth from
the media, be it only 'day late, dollar short'
coverage or blatant misrepresentation, either
one leaves a lot to be desired, and a yawning
gap which will eventually get filled by people
telling What Really Happened. Maybe, though,
that's kind of what has to happen in order
to get people to sit up, take notice, and
start asking questions and getting involved.
Maybe in a way it's good that they've missed
the mark so widely, kind of showcases that
you can't believe everything you see in print,
gets some of that critical thinking started...

[ljsfolly]

For so long the media has been bought sold and now it has a big boss and a corporate name. Now there is a less chance of being told the truth by the media than ever and that is so strange. With all of the media outlets and programs you would think some truth might just pass through and be told. But it often seems the same story is told again and again on different channels different sources that turn out to be not quite the truth but not lies but the same story. Even with the old message game none of what comes back is the same as first spoken. The voting has been corupted and we all know this from the first time bush got the white house. Florida and Ohio are more famous now for having been used for gain when the voters voted and the outcome was not what they choose but what someone adjusted to come out as the outcome. Our country has nothing to be proud of when the voter are no more being given the "right" to vote than those countries that hold mock elections so the dictator can continue in office as president. Don't we know bush would do the same but for term limits. When they can prove a vote is tallied as a vote and the counting is accountable by a paper vote that can be re counted then maybe we can know our ovte counted. But with computers and the hackers who do their job for a candidate we have even more for concern.

[RealBlackGirl]

Amen Brother, Amen.

[HeevenSteven]

Good Post Richard! Look at the bright side; if the news media wasn't so awful, HuffPo never would have taken off the way it did, and we wouldn't be posting and commenting here, and small world stuff like this wouldn't be happening: I just read your bio; and I remember your band, Groceries.

I saw you back around '81(ish) -maybe '82 (??)- at John and Peter's in New Hope, PA. I'm guessing it was yours; how many bands could there be with that name. Hello to you and I'm glad you're alive and kickin'.

[David19]

Bill Maher has been speaking out for quite some time now about the media going downhill since becoming for-profit. News programs are not "news" anymore. They are, as the previous commentor stated, entertainment. And sadly, the American public finds itself perhaps less informed than at any time in recent memory. But to me, it's dangerous right now, because we're coming into one of the most important elections in history.

Please take a moment to sign our online petition for CNN to start treating candidates fairly during their debates.


http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Equal-Time-for-Candidates.

Spread the petition around if you could.

Getting back to the subject at hand - the media is the tool we use to get to know the candidates and their positions. But instead, they talk endlessly about Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live. They ask Dennis Kucinich about UFOs. It seems the only man anyone ever talks to about complex issues is Joe Biden, because they know he's the one guy who's going to give them a straight and realistic answer.

Their coverage of this election, and the debates in particular, has been disgusting.

[Mrrar]

Well.

The Clinton Administration clearly demonstrates that they are the most corporate-friendly of all the candidates. So it would actually be in their interests to support the Clintons over Obama or Edwards.

I understand what you're saying. It's a frustration I personally have about the media's coverage of Obama, and democrats in general. It fits within a certain dialogue. To suggest, however, it's entirely because they want candidate X is a bit short-sighted. Realistically, what they're interested in is a story, is entertainment. It's not entertaining if Hillary is unchallenged, so there is a challenge fabricated (or exaggerated), and that's what we're seeing now.

Since that incident, Hillary's campaign has stumbled a few more times in small ways (Woman vs Man, Bill stepping out to defend her with 'swift boat' comment, the apparent entire lack of attacks since the debate itself [she's gone on the defensive])...

So it's not entirely fabricated. The polls haven't flopped 30%, either. Be patient.