Pundits spin Osama tape for Bush

[owillis]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200410300002


On the October 29 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, following the release of a taped message from Osama bin Laden, Newsweek chief political correspondent and NBC news analyst Howard Fineman spelled out how partisans of President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry each might plausibly interpret the political impact of the tape as benefiting their side in the final 72 hours of the presidential race. But while Fineman did not endorse either interpretation, a slew of cable pundits and reporters Friday night did -- and they were unanimous and mostly unequivocal in adopting the partisan Bush line. NBC's Andrea Mitchell went further, saying "it almost makes it more difficult" for Kerry to continue pointing to the administration's failure to capture or kill bin Laden.

The basis for most of these assessments is the assumption that Bush's opinion poll numbers would likely climb with terrorism back in the news. Yet a FOX News/Opinion Dynamics poll, conducted October 28 and October 29 and released late Saturday, showed Bush's support falling three points, from 50 to 47 percent. Kerry's support was unchanged at 45 percent. An article about the poll on FoxNews.com noted: "Polling was conducted Thursday and Friday evenings, so about half of those interviewed would have had the opportunity to hear reports of a new tape from Usama bin Laden." And according to Salon.com's "War Room," Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg told reporters in a call on the afternoon of October 30 that voters split 46-36 in favor of the view that the bin Laden tape makes them think Bush "took his eye off the ball in Afghanistan and diverted resources to Iraq."

[TimeToGo]

1. Right

And if they would do the math they would figure it out, wouldn't they? But they don't, but I hope the people do.

[CarolynEC]

2. Thankfully, JK's out there slamming the crap out of Bush on this.

Really, it's amazing. How do these "pundits" come up with this nonsense? Do they each have a staff of joke-writers?

:crazy:

[OneMoreDemocrat]

3. This..........

"..."it (the Bin Laden tape's sudden appearance) almost makes it more difficult" for Kerry to continue pointing to the administration's failure to capture or kill bin Laden."

is absolutely ridiculous; clearly the simple fact that Osama is making tapes and seemingly not particularly concerned about being captured or killed any time soon is a glaring example of how this administration is failing to properly fight the 'War on Terror'.

How the fuck can anyone say ANYTHING different?

Amazing.

[AusTexDem]

4. How the fuck can anyone say ANYTHING different?

these people have a lot invested in the * myth. they have placed their entire reputations on his presidency. * won't admit his mistakes and neither can they. Very sad.

[indie_voter]

12. You're traveling through another dimension,

"A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of the imagination. Next stop: THE TWILIGHT ZONE."

replace wondrous with insane and that about covers it.

[jimshoes]

5. Well, at least we don't have to worry about

* pulling Bin Laden out of the deep freeze before the election as was discussed on these boards a few times. Obviously the chimp was being uncharacteristically truthful when he said last year he was not concerned about finding him. Bin Laden certainly seems non-plussed.

[Mr_Spock]

6. Yawn, thanks for the info. Pundit - yep, uh-huh, yep

Mmmm, pundits make good food.

[splat]

8. OBL said bush is decieving you

talking heads are probably trying to "balance" that.

[0rganism]

7. We should have figured out long ago not to listen to massmedia punditry

Who are you going to believe, Sean Hannity or your own lying eyes?

[madaboutharry]

9. It is hard to believe that there

was once a time when none of us knew just how stupid Andrea Mitchell was.

[Mr_Spock]

10. Bush "Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!"

Bush + Osama = lovers!

[bettyellen]

11. i've only seen the ny post try this approach

some crappy headline about osama wanting you to vote against bush.
whatever.
what an asswipe. i actually think the national enquirer is more accurate these days. i'm glad it's in nyc, where it can't really do damage!

[Catt03]

13. Shame on them

Chris Matthews, Howard Fineman, Andrea Mtchell, Tom Brokaw,
Matt Lauer

you have shamed this country by being pawns of bin Laden and attempting to throw this country into a frenzy during it's most vulnerable time.

[DemsUnited]

14. Hmm, let's think about this

The Republicans think it's a f** gift that Osama bin Laden is alive and well and making threatening tapes to the American people.

The Democrats are livid that the world's number 1 terrorist hasn't been sent to hell where he belongs.

What party would YOU rather be associated with?

And as for Andrea Mitchell, what Koolaid has she been drinking to think that Kerry -- who blasted Bush for letting bin Laden escape before, during and after the debates -- is gonna have a difficult time continuing to pound Bush now that he was PROVEN RIGHT?!