The Medias Influence On Public Opinion
Ken Hughes
December 10, 2007
Many have always believed the Liberal Media bias has been vastly over stated. Given the opportunity the Media will as quickly destroy a Democrat as a Republican. The Media delights in sensationalism if they can turn a silk purse into a sows ear they’re elated. And that’s very much the way they report political news, to [corn] a phrase the Media looks up into the bottom of the barrel not down from the top. The media are carnivores with a taste for red blood, anybodies red blood.
This weekend I listened and watched a couple of reruns of events that took place the past couple of week that I had missed. I was totally taken back at how the original differed from the media reports I had seen and heard earlier. The first was the Republican Presidential debate in St Petersburg Florida and the second was the president’s exchange with the Washington Press Corp. Not surprisingly neither of the original events followed the Medias scripted version. There were more distortions and half truths than a teenager explaining why he kept his date out all night after the prom.
Anderson Cooper the CNN moderator seemed to delight in trying to trip the candidates up on issues a president has no jurisdiction over. Roe v Wade was one issue for an example. Roe v Wade is not a law it’s an illegal opinion by the high court. Until congress takes the issue of abortion on it’s something a president has no jurisdiction over. If we were still a nation that believes in the constitution abortion would be a states rights issue, not one of the federal government.
Illegal immigration is another of the issues a president can only offer opinion and suggestions on. Immigration falls under the responsibility of congress. Not just this president but all presidents have had problems getting congress to act on their suggestions. This brings up the question if not the president then whose agenda is congress following? I think it’s fair to say the Media has a greater influence on congress than either the president or the public. Sometimes the Media can’t tell the difference between the Fox and the Hunters pet hound dog, and they directly influence public opinion.
In 2000 Al Gore was anointed by the Media as Clintons successor, with few exception in the Media Al Gore becoming the next president was a given. The Media has never forgiven Bush for challenging their wisdom and proving them wrong. In 2004 the Medias chosen winner was John Kerry and again George Bush and the voters proved them wrong. The Media feels some sins so egregious they can’t be forgiven. Their only recourse is to dig until they find cause for the original allegations to be vindicated even if it means the distortions of facts.
Over the years there have been attempts to muzzle the press, requiring professional standards has been suggested. Licensing reporters another, censorship is perhaps the most frequent suggestion. For those who have never experienced a controlled media I would suggest they take a long hard look at those countries that do control their press and judge how free their citizens are to express themselves.
I have a solution to the Media distortions, actually I have several and they all start with “We The People” Challenge congressional incumbents to explain why they’ll do this term what they failed to do last term. Anyone can create an internet Blog at no cost, let you thoughts be known. Get involved don’t let a Union, Church or Social Club make your decisions for you. Create a voting association of like minded voters. Flood the media with your views through talk radio, letters to the editor and e-mails. No one notices a single grain of sand but enough sand makes a beautiful beach. Enough voters making enough noise and someone will pay attention.
For all the Medias bravado they are little more than whores selling their wears on Americas street corners. In order to make a sale their product must have some interest to the buyers, [ergo] distortions and overstating the obvious. The News Consumers are little more than “Johns” looking for a quickie fix in their otherwise mundane day.
People wonder why presidents are reluctant to hold press conferences and congress relishes them. When a congressman gives a foolish answer to a stupid question its normal. When a president makes the same mistake it cost him hard earned political leverage. An example was a question asks in the recent president’s press conference. A reporter asks the president if he had expressed his displeasure to the King of Saudi Arabia for the treatment of the young Saudi girl who had been raped by 7 young Saudi men. That is not a question that should be discussed between leaders of nations. Any reporter dumb enough to ask such a question doesn’t belong in the Whitehouse Press Corp. Had the president given a satisfactory answer to the American public it would have harmed American / Saudi relations for years to come, some question are to bazaar to be answered.
Can the public blame the president, congress or the media when things get off track. Aren’t we the voters and non-voters ultimately responsible for the choices we make or don’t make in selecting our leaders? It’s been said we get the leadership we deserve, that’s an obvious observation given the democratic system we live in. The democratic political system is adversarial by design. The intent was to be a system built on negation and compromise, unwavering partisan politics and hostility was never meant to be part of the system.
If you vote for congressional incumbents prepare to be guilt ridden for the next 2 years, all we’ll get is the past 2 decades repeated. It’s time for new younger men and women filling the jobs the current congress has abandoned in favor of lobbyists provided perks and self aggrandizement. When ego replaces duty it’s time to replace the egos.
VOTE SMART VOTE FOR CHANGES IN CONGRESS. VOTE FOR THE NEW GUY OR GAL REGARDLESS OF PARY AFFILATION.
This weekend I listened and watched a couple of reruns of events that took place the past couple of week that I had missed. I was totally taken back at how the original differed from the media reports I had seen and heard earlier. The first was the Republican Presidential debate in St Petersburg Florida and the second was the president’s exchange with the Washington Press Corp. Not surprisingly neither of the original events followed the Medias scripted version. There were more distortions and half truths than a teenager explaining why he kept his date out all night after the prom.
Anderson Cooper the CNN moderator seemed to delight in trying to trip the candidates up on issues a president has no jurisdiction over. Roe v Wade was one issue for an example. Roe v Wade is not a law it’s an illegal opinion by the high court. Until congress takes the issue of abortion on it’s something a president has no jurisdiction over. If we were still a nation that believes in the constitution abortion would be a states rights issue, not one of the federal government.
Illegal immigration is another of the issues a president can only offer opinion and suggestions on. Immigration falls under the responsibility of congress. Not just this president but all presidents have had problems getting congress to act on their suggestions. This brings up the question if not the president then whose agenda is congress following? I think it’s fair to say the Media has a greater influence on congress than either the president or the public. Sometimes the Media can’t tell the difference between the Fox and the Hunters pet hound dog, and they directly influence public opinion.
In 2000 Al Gore was anointed by the Media as Clintons successor, with few exception in the Media Al Gore becoming the next president was a given. The Media has never forgiven Bush for challenging their wisdom and proving them wrong. In 2004 the Medias chosen winner was John Kerry and again George Bush and the voters proved them wrong. The Media feels some sins so egregious they can’t be forgiven. Their only recourse is to dig until they find cause for the original allegations to be vindicated even if it means the distortions of facts.
Over the years there have been attempts to muzzle the press, requiring professional standards has been suggested. Licensing reporters another, censorship is perhaps the most frequent suggestion. For those who have never experienced a controlled media I would suggest they take a long hard look at those countries that do control their press and judge how free their citizens are to express themselves.
I have a solution to the Media distortions, actually I have several and they all start with “We The People” Challenge congressional incumbents to explain why they’ll do this term what they failed to do last term. Anyone can create an internet Blog at no cost, let you thoughts be known. Get involved don’t let a Union, Church or Social Club make your decisions for you. Create a voting association of like minded voters. Flood the media with your views through talk radio, letters to the editor and e-mails. No one notices a single grain of sand but enough sand makes a beautiful beach. Enough voters making enough noise and someone will pay attention.
For all the Medias bravado they are little more than whores selling their wears on Americas street corners. In order to make a sale their product must have some interest to the buyers, [ergo] distortions and overstating the obvious. The News Consumers are little more than “Johns” looking for a quickie fix in their otherwise mundane day.
People wonder why presidents are reluctant to hold press conferences and congress relishes them. When a congressman gives a foolish answer to a stupid question its normal. When a president makes the same mistake it cost him hard earned political leverage. An example was a question asks in the recent president’s press conference. A reporter asks the president if he had expressed his displeasure to the King of Saudi Arabia for the treatment of the young Saudi girl who had been raped by 7 young Saudi men. That is not a question that should be discussed between leaders of nations. Any reporter dumb enough to ask such a question doesn’t belong in the Whitehouse Press Corp. Had the president given a satisfactory answer to the American public it would have harmed American / Saudi relations for years to come, some question are to bazaar to be answered.
Can the public blame the president, congress or the media when things get off track. Aren’t we the voters and non-voters ultimately responsible for the choices we make or don’t make in selecting our leaders? It’s been said we get the leadership we deserve, that’s an obvious observation given the democratic system we live in. The democratic political system is adversarial by design. The intent was to be a system built on negation and compromise, unwavering partisan politics and hostility was never meant to be part of the system.
If you vote for congressional incumbents prepare to be guilt ridden for the next 2 years, all we’ll get is the past 2 decades repeated. It’s time for new younger men and women filling the jobs the current congress has abandoned in favor of lobbyists provided perks and self aggrandizement. When ego replaces duty it’s time to replace the egos.
VOTE SMART VOTE FOR CHANGES IN CONGRESS. VOTE FOR THE NEW GUY OR GAL REGARDLESS OF PARY AFFILATION.