Local news coverage favors economic recovery bill.
Local news coverage favors economic recovery bill.
As Think Progress has reported, Republican lawmakers appeared on the five cable news networks to discuss the economic recovery package nearly twice as often as their Democratic counterparts during the past two weeks, causing some to suggest that President Obama was losing the stimulus message war. However, Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) office has compiled statistics showing that progressives may be winning the battle on local news:
Democrats looked at 29 districts that Democrats took over in either 2006 or 2009, districts that tend to be swing or conservative districts. Democrats determined that 92 percent of the local stories portrayed the stimulus in a positive light, touting the benefits the spending would bring to struggling local economies.
Of newspaper stories, 91 percent were positive; TV, 96 percent; and radio, 85 percent. The analysis excludes editorials and columns and stuck exclusively to reported stories.
Today’s Progress Report has more on the public debate over the recovery package here.
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In before the trolls start screaming about media bias.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:21 pmProving the irrelevance of the GOP all over again…
February 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pmUnfortunately, SKdeA, as long as they dominate the networks, they are hardly irrelevant, though it is good news if the local media is not singing the same tune.
We need to keep on them, at BOTH levels, let the national media know that they increasing become irrelevant when they “catapult the propaganda” and that local media and advertisers will be held accountable it they join the “echo chamber” from the national media.
We will make a difference when we hit them in their pocketbooks.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:35 pmCould be because out of work protesters are more likely to show up at their local news offices than to travel to NYC or DC with tar and feathers.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:36 pmPeople read newspapers anymore almost exclusively for local news, weather and other infotainment. Folks would surely notice if they didn’t produce stories about the circumstances that their readers see everyday around them,
“News” is local; everything else is ideology.
Mostly they collect their national ‘news’ from national media, including am radio and cable tv.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:42 pmSo why are republican leaders so against it????
that is the question we should be asking- who will benefit if this is not passed as is, without all the…..::gasp::
business tax cuts, that the republicans want!
There you go. They are not serving Our interests but those of the incredibly rich corporations who donate to their campaigns, that do not pay their fair share of tax anyway, and will not create a single job with that “trickle down” mentality.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:56 pmMeanwhile, the media ignores Obama’s second major screwing of the Constitution: Keeping bush’s state secret abuse intact.
First telecom immunity complete capitulation, now resuming bush’s abusive policies on state secrets. Beginning to stink to high heaven.
Obama’s “transparency” bullsh*t just went permanently out the window.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:56 pmOr maybe, hanshiro, just maybe President Obama feels that the primary focus should be on the commencement of the stimulus package, to help turn around our rapidly deteriorating economy.
Because, I’ll be honest with you here, I feel it’s more important to stop the job loss and start recovering quickly, than to worry about every single non reversal of Bush’s policies.
Due time my friend, due time.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:15 pmMeanwhile, let’s worry about now.
Yep. It’s $2 trillion that’s on it’s way out the backdoor.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEzPekVa3eEE&refer=home
Where’s the lack of rage from this group?
February 10th, 2009 at 2:17 pmblotchdog says:
Good thing Libs follow their feelings and not the market or they might start getting worried about now.
Yeah, because nothing says panic like an unsuspected drop in the market.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:18 pmWhat?
You mean we’ve been in a decline for months? During Bush’s reign?
blotchdog says: Nevermind!
Did anyone understand the point that watchdog was trying to make?
February 10th, 2009 at 2:18 pmRuh-uh. The Republican thing doesn’t work for squat if both sides of the story get told.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:20 pmNot me…
February 10th, 2009 at 2:21 pmactually ralph, blotchdog is cutting and pasting what it’s told to do.
The funny thing is, from his link:
Buy the rumor, sell the news.
Jobs must be created in order for the market to do well.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:22 pmCalifornia will be bankrupt by the end of MARCH. Other states will follow very shortly.
Gov don’t have money??? 750billion is spent every year for your millitary. China with a population of 1.3 billion people has a millitary expenditure of $260billion.
Do you see why the US is going broke????? SAD JUST SAD!!!!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:31 pmUmm…
The usual crowing, what flavor koolaid ya got today? Same one as yesterday… same one as the day before.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:36 pmGee watchdog, or maybe the market fell because the Republican obstructionists have been talking all day about slowing down the stimulus bill.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:40 pmReally Dannyboy, since President Obama won in a landslide and Democrats took over the House and the Senate it kinda looks like reality has a LIBERAL BIAS to me.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:41 pmOh sure danny because Joe Scarborough, Pat Buchanan, Glenn Beck and Lou Dobb are regular liberal hacks. And CBS was so liberal that they fired Dan Rather for telling the truth about Bush. And I could go on for days but you’d still be an idiot.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:43 pmThe media has a conservative bias? CNN, MSNBC, CBS, local news, Comedy central, MTV, BET, PBS don’t exist then? Moron.
Except for PBS, they’re all owned by corporations, who always prefer conservative policies. Even PBS gets most of it’s funding from right-wing foundations. You’re just not dealing with reality, here.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:44 pmComedy Central and MTV are quite well known for their news… hell, Jon Stewart has even said himself that he doesn’t consider what he does “news”. Now, if the Fox guys could do that…
Good call LTfabulous.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:44 pmBut really danny, MTV and Comedy Central? Are you insane?
February 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pmShayne asks…
Have you ever interacted with LTfabulous before? ;) Question kind of answers itself.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:46 pmWhoo hooo!
It’s a potpourri of unsubstantiated ditto head talking points.
Be still my heart!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:47 pmCNN has a fellow of the Heritage Foundation on their news team. That’s some damn sneaky liberal bias.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:50 pmLiberal bias! Liberal bias! Unfair to FOX News…!!!
====
February 10th, 2009 at 2:50 pmLTfabulous says:
Well… jeez, the conservatives could always found their own non-news comedy channel to pick on the Obama administration. Oh WAIT! They have it! It’s called Fox “News”!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pmComedy Central has people like John Stewart and colbert that made their living off constantly using liberal talking points to poke fun of the bush admin.
And now they’re making fun of Obama’s cabinet picks, and Joe Biden’s verbal gaffes.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:52 pmAnd as far as MTV… well, the right has Rush and Hannity… maybe get them to spin some records… they’re good at spin!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:52 pmLTdan Says:
I didnt say MTV and comedy central are news outlets, but they still have a extreme liberal bias. MTV had hours of pro – obama propaganda, and Comedy Central has people like John Stewart and colbert that made their living off constantly using liberal talking points to poke fun of the bush admin.
Stewart and Colbert didn’t need “liberal talking points”, fool, they only had to work with what the Bush administration and wingnuts provided them, free of charge, for new material every single day.
And media outlet that isn’t constantly spouting Republican talking points is “liberal” in the eyes of creatures like you.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:52 pmYou’re right Old Goat, I just lost control there for a minute.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:53 pmThat would be “any media outlet” not “and media outlet”.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:54 pmFUdan Says:
I didnt say MTV and comedy central are news outlets, but they still have a extreme liberal bias.
Care to elaborate on this? Especially the “extreme” part.
Does South Park have an “extreme liberal bias”?
Drawn Together?
What about Comedy Central Presents…? Does Lewis Black count as “extreme liberal”?
C’mon. You can do better. In the words of j. cantrell,
I’ll
February 10th, 2009 at 2:56 pmwait
Well they do spin their medical and education records. :)
February 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pmHey FUdan, care to remind us how well Faux Newz, an “extreme conservative biased” network, did with it’s attempt at comedy?
What was it?
February 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pmHalf hour comedy hour?
I think it’s title was how long it lasted before it was shelved!
San Diego’s local Fox affiliate also talking up Obama’s package.
Oops, I mean damned liberal media!
February 10th, 2009 at 2:59 pmDRxJ… problem is, they only have one joke, and they’re the only ones who think it’s funny.
They really have to research new material.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pmLOL! That’s great, barfly… my local Fox affiliate is also speaking quite positively of the package. Someone up in Fox “News” HQ must be hitting the panic button…
February 10th, 2009 at 3:02 pmLTdan Says:
You’re right barfy, Stewart would never dare to say anything negative about obama.
Try actually watching the show. When Obama does something stupid or criminal, Stewart will be all over it.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:03 pm10.DRxJ Says: Or maybe, hanshiro, just maybe President Obama feels that the primary focus should be on the commencement of the stimulus package, to help turn around our rapidly deteriorating economy.
“Presidents have to do more than one thing a time.” ~Obama
Due time my friend, due time.
Meanwhile, let’s worry about now.
With all due respect, DRxJ, this is crap. Obama has had defining moments to uphold his promises and our Constitution, and he has consistently opted to protect bush and big business at the expense of the Constitution. By the way, the Constitution is not something you “get around to.” You either defend its validity, or you do not.
Obama does not. Clearly and indeniably.
Add to the fact that Obama’s nominee just protected the banks from substantive oversight:
Mr. Geithner, who will announce the broad outlines of the plan on Tuesday, successfully fought against more severe limits on executive pay for companies receiving government aid.
He resisted those who wanted to dictate how banks would spend their rescue money. And he prevailed over top administration aides who wanted to replace bank executives and wipe out shareholders at institutions receiving aid.
…
But as intended largely by Mr. Geithner, the plan stops short of intruding too significantly into bankers’ affairs even as they come onto the public dole.
…
Nor will the government announce any plans to replace the management of virtually any of the troubled institutions, despite arguments by some to oust current management at the most troubled banks.
Finally, while the administration will urge banks to increase their lending, and possibly provide some incentives, it will not dictate to the banks how they should spend the billions of dollars in new government money.
And for all of its boldness, the plan largely repeats the Bush administration’s approach of deferring to many of the same companies and executives who had peddled risky loans and investments at the heart of the crisis and failed to foresee many of the problems plaguing the markets.
So let’s see: Obama wants to protect the telecoms, bush’s spying program, black-bag abductions from being fairly challenged and substantive oversight for your money being shoveled to incompetent bank/corporate management.
Heckuva job, Barry! This “hope” and “change” swindle is working well for the corporations and our little government Mengeles.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:03 pmLTfabulous squeals:
Why wouldn’t he? He’s a comedian. Give him time… give him time. Jeez, you guys want results immediately… simmer down, Beavis!
February 10th, 2009 at 3:03 pmwell hanshiro, you bring up some interesting points, and to be honest, I’ve just read the link you provided, without investigating it’s counterpoint.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pmThat being said, it is my belief that the stimulus package is the priority, above almost everything else.
You concern yourself with the ramifications of “state secrets”.
I’ll concern myself with the single mother of 3, now jobless and with no benefits, who’s about to be kicked out of her single bedroom apartment because she can’t make the payments, and she has no where else to go.
You can label that “crap”, but it won’t deter my compassion for others.
Ever.
49. DRxJ Says: You concern yourself with the ramifications of “state secrets”. I’ll concern myself with the single mother of 3, now jobless and with no benefits, who’s about to be kicked out of her single bedroom apartment because she can’t make the payments, and she has no where else to go. You can label that “crap”, but it won’t deter my compassion for others. Ever.
How ignorantly selective of you.
You profess to value ‘compassion for others’ but obviously rate joblessness far above having one’s genitals sliced and other extreme torture methods unconscionably defended:
This is a Gitmo detainee that your government has threatened the British government over release of the details of his treatement.
Mohamed remains at Guantanamo Bay and “is currently on hunger strike.” “All terror charges against him were dropped last year,” the Telegraph reported.
But hey it could be much worse; at least Mohamed hasn’t been kicked out of his “single bedroom apartment,” huh? Oh, and DRxJ, the sanctimonious angle you tried? Epic. Fail.
You can label that “crap”
I just did.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:48 pmLTdan Says:
I didnt say MTV and comedy central are news outlets, but they still have a extreme liberal bias. MTV had hours of pro – obama propaganda, and Comedy Central has people like John Stewart and colbert that made their living off constantly using liberal talking points to poke fun of the bush admin.
OMG, how ignorant. Clearly you do not watch “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” or “The Colbert Report” (which is your loss because they are hysterically funny.) And they didn’t use “liberal talking points” to poke fun of the Bush admin, they often used the Bush admin’s own words to poke fun at them! And they didn’t limit their humor to making fun of the Bush admin (which was all too eay at times), they also made fun of Democtrats, too. In fact, they made fun of anyone in politics who did something foolish. Did you ever see the TDS coverage of Blago, which they liked to call “Scumdog Million Hairs”? No, of course you didn’t, because you obviously don’t watch those shows.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:38 pmDan you are just a moron troll. You dont care how stupid something is you will just claim it anyway. You never know what you are talking about and just repeat the idiocy of the day. you are embarassingly stupid
February 11th, 2009 at 7:08 am