# Has the media "turned" on Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 14, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323 "2013-05-14T16:36:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/41 "2013-05-15T14:29:55Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You keep saying this, ignoring the fact that the media pretty much did squat during the Bush administration too. Not true. The media treats Obama differently than it does Republican Presidents. [They don’t use “gotcha” questions against him.](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2013/01/31/media_bias_in_the_age_of_obama_300968.html)[They uncritically present his spin as news.](http://blog.heritage.org/2013/02/25/media-aid-obama-on-sequestration-wapo-huffpo-promote-talking-points/) They talk about how “perfect” he is and say that his critics are “dumb”. They jump in to help him when he loses a debate. [They blame Republican Presidents for economic problems twice as much as they blame Democrats, even when those problems are much worse](http://www.mrc.org/special-reports/upside-down-economics). It is not a question of the press not doing their job. It is a question of the press not doing their job when a Democrat is in the White House. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/42 "2013-05-15T14:34:43Z")
Second term president dogged by mundane scandals? History does indeed repeat. From what I can tell the media is covering this stuff because there isn’t much else to cover right now. Those women held captive in Cleveland, I guess. OJ Simpson is in the news again. The immigration bill is bouncing around Senate committees but there won’t be much exciting there until the House GOP rips in to it. Not much to comment on about our slow, steady economic recovery, booming stock market, and nose-diving deficit. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/43 "2013-05-15T14:47:23Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > the Rethugs Please stick to making arguments and leave the wordplay to Dr. Seuss. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/44 "2013-05-15T15:04:33Z")
I imagine when none of this scandals stick to Obama either it will be because he won back the media, probably by standing outside the medias window in the rain with a boombox playing a special song that holds deep meaning to their relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/45 "2013-05-15T15:08:15Z")
> [@](#): > > It is not a question of the press not doing their job. It is a question of the press not doing their job when a Democrat is in the White House. No the fact is the media reports things that will sell papers, gain viewers, earn clicks, and attract listeners. If the mass public isn’t buying, watching, clicking and listening, the mainstream media outlets lose money. It’s capitalism at it’s fucking worst. However, on a slow news day, and with easy-to-digest stories, even Democrats get hit sometimes. Funny how conservatives cream all over the NYT and NBC News when those outlets say things they _like_. And really, the biggest story right now isn’t Benghazi, it isn’t the IRS thing, and it isn’t the AP thing. It’s the fact that all three of these things are being talked about right now, this week. _That’s_ the story. “OMG! The White House is having a really bad week!” “OMG! Even the liberal media is turning on the president!” Newsflash #1: All presidencies have administrative headaches. This is nothing new. Newsflash #2: The mainstream ‘liberal’ media isn’t really ‘liberal.’ The fact that they sometimes say things that don’t fit into the conservative world view doesn’t make them ‘liberal.’ Newsflash #3: The mainstream media is just trying to make money. They could care less who’s in the White House. In the past they’ve “targeted” Bill Clinton, Walter Mondale, John Kerry, Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and now-- OMG!-- Barack Obama, with harsh news coverage. The only thing this is indicative of is Barack Obama makes money for the media corporations. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/46 "2013-05-15T15:18:16Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Not true. The media treats Obama differently than it does Republican Presidents. > > [They don’t use “gotcha” questions against him.](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2013/01/31/media_bias_in_the_age_of_obama_300968.html)[They uncritically present his spin as news.](http://blog.heritage.org/2013/02/25/media-aid-obama-on-sequestration-wapo-huffpo-promote-talking-points/) News Flash - right-wing websites claim rest of media is not criticizing Obama as much as they’d like them to. Color me shocked. > [@](#): > > They talk about how “perfect” he is and say that his critics are “dumb”. They jump in to help him when he loses a debate. “They” do? > [@](#): > > [They blame Republican Presidents for economic problems twice as much as they blame Democrats, even when those problems are much worse](http://www.mrc.org/special-reports/upside-down-economics). Perhaps because they’re actually more to blame for those problems? Naaaah. Economic crash, credit downgrade, sequester - we all know the Republicans had nothing to do with any of those things. > [@](#): > > It is not a question of the press not doing their job. It is a question of the press not doing their job when a Democrat is in the White House. Confirmation bias much? Show me them taking Bush to task in any serious way. Hell, the media happily beat the drum for his little pet war, which hardly suggests they were in the pocket of the left. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/47 "2013-05-15T15:36:37Z")
I can’t believe Fox News, the New York Post, and conservative talk radio have turned against Obama. I never thought I’d see the day. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/48 "2013-05-15T16:09:38Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > News Flash - right-wing websites claim rest of media is not criticizing Obama as much as they’d like them to. Color me shocked. RealClearPolitics isn’t a right wing website, and the claim is not that the rest of the media isn’t criticizing Obama. What the 60 Minutes reporter said was that he does not do “gotcha” questions with Obama. Which is rather different from their usual patterns. > [@](#): > > “They” do? Yes, they do. All the things I mentioned did actually happen. > [@](#): > > Confirmation bias much? No, hardly at all. Even lefties see the bias. [Cite](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/why-does-the-media-go-easy-on-barack-obama/272807/). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/49 "2013-05-15T16:12:49Z")
Ah, yes, _The Atlantic_. Totally lefty. Really, just _Mother Jones_ with a tonier clientele. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/50 "2013-05-15T16:13:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Please stick to making arguments and leave the wordplay to Dr. Seuss. Oh all right. Hard to break old habits. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/51 "2013-05-15T16:14:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Even lefties see the bias. [Cite](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/why-does-the-media-go-easy-on-barack-obama/272807/). One writer doesn’t prove that point- particularly when the author isn’t a lefty. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/52 "2013-05-15T16:24:12Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > RealClearPolitics isn’t a right wing website, and the claim is not that the rest of the media isn’t criticizing Obama. What the 60 Minutes reporter said was that he does not do “gotcha” questions with Obama. Which is rather different from their usual patterns. > Yes, they do. All the things I mentioned did actually happen. > No, hardly at all. Even lefties see the bias. [Cite](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/why-does-the-media-go-easy-on-barack-obama/272807/). > > Regards, > Shodan RCP is mostly republished articles from other sites, very little of their stuff is original. It’s my opinion that they regularly feature much more right wing viewpoints than lefties. Sort of like a right wing Reader’s Digest of politics. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/53 "2013-05-15T16:24:31Z")
I’d like a bit of clarification - does this new (_sic_) media focus on the administration’s scandals (_sic_) mean that the leftward bias of the mainstream media is decreasing? Or just that these scandals are SO HUGH AND SERIES and that even the blinkered media can’t help but cover them? ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/54 "2013-05-15T16:27:28Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And, as I recall, the IRS lady apologized. That should do it, I think. [Heard at the Republican National Headquarters]: "Shit, the IRS lady apoligized? Well goddamit, what are we gonna do with these freshly printed articles of impeachment? We spent alot of time figuring out Word 2010 to do this. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/55 "2013-05-15T16:28:40Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I’d like a bit of clarification - does this new (_sic_) media focus on the administration’s scandals (_sic_) mean that the leftward bias of the mainstream media is decreasing? Or just that these scandals are SO HUGH AND SERIES and that even the blinkered media can’t help but cover them? I think it’s that the AP thing pissed them off. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/56 "2013-05-15T16:33:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I think it’s that the AP thing pissed them off. The other stories broke before the AP thing did. Benghazi has been in the news on and off for months, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/57 "2013-05-15T17:23:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wait, **Diceman** , are you telling me that easy access to guns leads to gun-related crimes? I thought it worked the other way around! Selling guns to criminals leads to more gun crime. I don’t know that anyone has ever questioned that. > [@adaher](#): > > BRIAN WILLIAMS: “As a lot of American adults not so fondly remember, the last time the government was found looking into the phone calls of reporters and using the IRS for political purposes, it was the Nixon era, and while times have changed and circumstances are different that subject came up at the Obama White House today as the administration now scrambles on several fronts.” (NBC Nightly News, May 14, 2013) > > ["NBC Nightly News" Likens Obama Scandals To Nixon Era | Video | RealClearPolitics](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/05/14/nbc_nightly_news_likes_obama_scandals_to_nixon_in_opening_segment.html) > > If NBC is indicative of “the media” then yeah, they are starting to turn on him. Jon Stewart too. The problem is that there is no evidence of a link between the white house and the use of the IRS for political purposes. Find taht smoking gun and you’ve got yourself a case for criticizing Obama. I don’t know enough about the AP wiretaps to have an opinion but once again you will need a link between the white house and the wiretaps for it to mean anything. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > IRS: We’re supposed to believe that Karl Rove runs a social welfare organization which is entitled to tax-exempt status. We’re supposed to believe that Astroturf organizations whelped by the Koch Brothers are social welfare organizations entitled to tax-exempt status and that it’s wrong to question them about it. Its wrong to only question the conservative organizations about it. > [@Shodan](#): > > Not true. The media treats Obama differently than it does Republican Presidents. Cops treat criminals differently than law abdiing citizens. You have to prove that the difference in tratment is unwarrranted. AFAICT, most of the outrage against Obama is either manufactured or overblown while Bush invaded Iraq based on lies, Reagan had Iran Contra, and Nixon was Nixon. Clinton got a blow job from an intern. I don’t recall any crippling scandals from Carter of George HW Bush. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > No the fact is the media reports things that will sell papers, gain viewers, earn clicks, and attract listeners. If the mass public isn’t buying, watching, clicking and listening, the mainstream media outlets lose money. It’s capitalism at it’s fucking worst. However, on a slow news day, and with easy-to-digest stories, even Democrats get hit sometimes. Funny how conservatives cream all over the NYT and NBC News when those outlets say things they _like_. +1. The reason Republicans get criticized more is because they have more to criticize. Exposing hypocrisy sells more newspapers than pointing out mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/58 "2013-05-15T17:35:14Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > AFAICT, most of the outrage against Obama is either manufactured or overblown… He has actively protected torturers by prosecuting the whistleblower while refusing to prosecute the torturers - not even the one who destroyed evidence and then wrote a book gloating about it. His administration is the enemy of the Sixth Amendment, fighting for indefinite detention without trial and actively refusing a US citizen on US soil his right to counsel. He literally had an American child murdered by the CIA, and wants to retain the power to kill whoever he wants, wherever he wants, without oversight. He is, in short, an evil man. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/59 "2013-05-15T17:48:18Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Selling guns to criminals leads to more gun crime. Hmm, if only there was some way to prevent sales of guns to criminals. Perhaps some sort of ‘check’ or way to ‘track’ these kinds of sales. Hmm … > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Its wrong to only question the conservative organizations about it. Then its good that this didn’t happen. Liberal groups were scrutinized too. In fact the only group in this process that actually faced any consequences was a liberal group. cite: [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-15/irs-sent-same-letter-to-democrats-that-fed-tea-party-row.html?alcmpid=politics](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-15/irs-sent-same-letter-to-democrats-that-fed-tea-party-row.html?alcmpid=politics) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323/60 "2013-05-15T17:49:59Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > He has actively protected torturers by prosecuting the whistleblower while refusing to prosecute the torturers - not even the one who destroyed evidence and then wrote a book gloating about it. His administration is the enemy of the Sixth Amendment, fighting for indefinite detention without trial and actively refusing a US citizen on US soil his right to counsel. He literally had an American child murdered by the CIA, and wants to retain the power to kill whoever he wants, wherever he wants, without oversight. Not what **Damuri Ajashi** was talking about, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-media-turned-on-obama/658323.md?page=4)