by Mark Silva
How are the media doing in the coverage of President Barack Obama?
Nearly half of Americans surveyed say, "About right.''
Still, nearly 40 percent say the media are not being "tough enough'' on the new president, while just 11 percent say the press, broadcast folks and the rest are going "too tough'' on Obama.
Not surprisingly, the ratings fall along partisan lines in the Gallup Poll's survey: "Two-thirds of Democrats see Obama media coverage as "about right" while two-thirds of Republicans see it as "not tough enough,'' Gallup reports, and "independents are about evenly split between the two options.''
Yet there is general agreement across party lines over this question: Fewer than one in five of any partisan group says coverage has been too tough.
"Just two weeks into his presidency, Obama is facing both legislative and personnel challenges for which Americans will want answers,'' Gallup concludes. "As both Obama and the media go about their work, they will do so under the watchful eye of the American public.
"To date, Americans have been relatively forgiving of both, but it remains to be seen how long either honeymoon will last.''
The survey of 1,027 adults was run Jan. 30-Feb. 1, and carries a possible margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Comments
11% obviously haven't tuned into Faux news' 24/7 hate fest.
Posted by: bill r. | February 5, 2009 11:07 AM
Too bad Chicago dosen't have a tough major paper, so like more and more fellow AMERICANS go to the internet.
Posted by: Inky | February 5, 2009 11:30 AM
It would be interesting to hear Bruce's opinion on this subject. I seem to remember him mentioning something about this once.
Posted by: GK | February 5, 2009 12:09 PM
I just do not get this. M$M gave us Mr. Tambourine Man and now they are questioning themselves. It is unfortunate M$M did not do that before bestowing their chosen one on the rest of us.
Some where I remember all this hope and change stuff M$M was so happy to report. It sure looks like business as usual for the left and Mr. Tambourine Man in DC. Oh, what was that about fear – Seems we are getting a huge dose of that now – Pass my bill or America will fall off the cliff. I WON remember!!
So for M$M just keep doing what you have been doing.
Posted by: joe | February 5, 2009 12:27 PM
Billr., you really don't watch Fox News do you? You just get your brainwashing from the left wing blogs, right? In reality, I see more Obama hate on Rachel Maddow's show on MSNBC because Obama hasn't been left enough.
The reality also is the media has basically given the Obama administration the biggest kid glove treatment. There has been little scrutiny or uproar over the nominations such as Geithner, Daschle (though amazingly the NY Times did call for him to resign), etc., as well as on the so-called stimulus package, which really isn't in its current form.
Posted by: John D | February 5, 2009 12:49 PM
Republican Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas just said the Republican Party needs to be more like the Taliban in order to defeat Obama. Not a word from mainstream media. And it needs to be tougher on President Obama? Please.
Posted by: Paul | February 5, 2009 12:55 PM
In reality, I see more Obama hate on Rachel Maddow's show on MSNBC because Obama hasn't been left enough.
Posted by: John D | February 5, 2009 12:49 PM
In reality, John D is extraordinarily selective about what he sees and what he doesn't see, and always has been. If it's coming from the right, whatever the message, it isn't hate because the right is incapable of hate. If it's coming from the left, it HAS to be hate because the left is incable of anything but hate.
Posted by: Op109 | February 5, 2009 2:36 PM
Op, you finally got something right, sort of. The left is all about hate. The left lives and thrives off hate. The left provides no good to mankind, only bad.
Posted by: John D | February 5, 2009 2:44 PM
Op, you finally got something right, sort of. The left is all about hate. The left lives and thrives off hate. The left provides no good to mankind, only bad.
Posted by: John D | February 5, 2009 2:44 PM
Precious!
Posted by: bill r. | February 5, 2009 3:21 PM
Op, you finally got something right, sort of. The left is all about hate. The left lives and thrives off hate. The left provides no good to mankind, only bad.
Posted by: John D | February 5, 2009 2:44 PM
Precious!
Posted by: bill r. | February 5, 2009 3:21 PM
So given the hate in your message, John D., that must make you a left-winger.
Posted by: Op109 | February 5, 2009 5:23 PM
The left provides no good to mankind, only bad.
Posted by: John D | February 5, 2009 2:44 PM
Since the right has given us a National Debt that ballooned from $5 trillion to $10 trillion in the past 8 years, please tell us what "good" that provides?
Posted by: BC | February 5, 2009 6:36 PM
bill r obviously most americans are stuck on the communist news network' s love affair with Obama
Posted by: nick m | February 5, 2009 9:38 PM
John D watches Rachel Maddow?? Good John. There's hope for you, yet. Be sure and watch every night.
Posted by: Flo | February 5, 2009 10:12 PM