Gallup: Views of Dan Rather Positive, But Still Very Polarized

[Newsjock]

http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=23695

July 12, 2006

PRINCETON, NJ -- Controversial news personality Dan Rather has a significantly polarized image among Americans, with Democrats and liberals giving him a more positive evaluation than Republicans and conservatives. Overall, more than 6 out of 10 Americans view Rather favorably, while about a quarter view him unfavorably -- only slightly less positive than two decades ago.

... The good news for Dan Rather is that he still has an overall quite favorable image among Americans.

... More than 8 out of 10 Democrats have favorable opinions of Rather, compared to 60% of independents, and 42% of Republicans. (Rather's unfavorable ratings among Republicans are 48%, giving him a net negative rating among this group.)

[glarius]

1. There's a phony negative view of Rather being fostered & I wonder why?

Almost every time he is mentioned, it is pointed out that he used a fake document in his report on Bush's military service. As I remember it, there were several witnesses in that 60 Minutes show who personally testified to Bush's lack of military service! Besides the elderly lady who had been a military secretary (she said the document was probably fake but everything in it was true), there were a couple of other servicemen who testified to Bush being AWOL etc. What I wonder is why do none of Rather's fellow journalists ever point this out? I have NEVER heard even one of them say anything about this. WHY?

[bunkerbuster1]

4. Why? Because our MSM thinks they can ride this out.

They believe they can hang tough while the NY Times management are called "traitors," when right wing loons on the radio do everything but call for their lynching.

I think they're wrong, but what do I know.

[LibDemAlways]

2. Why the hell is Gallup conducting a poll

about Dan Rather? He isn't a politician. He isn't running for office.

He was the target of a well-orchestrated rw smear campaign over "phony" documents which I never believed were phony in the first place. This seems like a transparent attempt by repukes to inflict even more damage - like they haven't punished him enough. He's "controversial," "has a significantly polarized image," "a net negative rating" among repukes. I'll bet whoever commissioned this poll is pissed that despite every effort to demonize him, Rather is still viewed favorably by a majority of Americans - though Gallup clearly has it in for him.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. I suspect Gallup was hoping for another outcome.

Don't you?

We really ought to use this, though. For all the work the right-wing noise machine did to smear this man, they only manage to budge opinion by a few lousy points? Ha!

[yellowcanine]

5. Republicans only like Fox News reporters and pundits so this is not

surprising at all. Anyone that displays signs of being a real reporter pisses them off.

[Cha]

6. Damn Straight you have

a positive rating, Dan Rather..fuck cbs and the corporatemediawhores and the johns who pay them.

[DemPopulist]

7. Rather for president!

A 63%/26% favorability rating is better than most politicians. Bush would kill for numbers like that....wait, he already has. :(