Do you judge public figures based on media image, or their actions and words?

[Katherine Brengle]

It seems like many of us (if not most) are very willing to perpetuate mischaracterizations of public figures that are based on what we see and hear in the popular media, rather than judging individuals based on the quality of their words and deeds.

That doesn't seem very progressive to me.

When you, as an individual, form an opinion about someone, how much does actual research factor into your judgment?

Myself, I try to find out as much about that person as I can - including looking at any relevant writings, speeches, actions, voting records, etc. Once my judgment is made, it can be changed by additional information.

How do you do it?

[sojourner]

1. I guess I do it your way. I don't trust the media ever since Howard Dean's "scream" moment.

[Katherine Brengle]

6. Indeed. Excellent example.

[The Straight Story]

2. When it comes to candidates

I try to read what they have to say. I peruse the senate website daily and check most dem senators each day for press releases and speeches.

HRC for the record updates her site more than any other - which is good and bad because it gives both sides debating her that much more info to mull over :)

Sometimes, I talk the person and their past out of the equation to simply look at the current situation based on it merits - either the deed itself or words. For example, the whole circuit city thing :) Some mentioned info about the guy who walked out and speculated about the whole event from that view - to me, regardless of his past or intentions the core of the discussion was the whole notion of having to prove you purchased something 10 feet away from where you just bought it. Solution is easy: make the security people the baggers :)

[BlooInBloo]

3. DUers are little better, if any, than the general public in this regard....

... But of course every single DUer will swear up-and-down that "they make their own determinations" and "they're not influenced by the MSM" and that "they live in the reality-based world". It's all a lie.

[sojourner]

9. And then there are those who admit they are just human, but try anyway.

[napi21]

4. It's VERY difficult to avoid being influenced by the media image

of any candidate. It's the media who chose what clips to show, and wether or not to pick up on mistakes that are made.

I try to watch votes, listen to as many speeches as I can, read all the different media takes on each candidate, and most of all watch how each candidate responds to the different questions, both orally and physically...then make MY OWN decision about what I think of each one. But after doing all of that, I'd be liying if I said I was completely uninfluenced by the Media!

[Katherine Brengle]

7. Of course, it's impossible not to be influenced, but it is possible to

look closer and undo that influence, with a little work.

[sojourner]

10. Here's one way........

If you believe, as I do, that the media exists to portray things the way THEY and their OWNERS want us to see them, then it's fairly easy to dismiss everything they portray as propaganda and spin. I read my news online, from a variety of sources. So I think I get a fleshed out version of as many facts as are out in the open -- I love DU and other liberal sites because there is diligence in the vetting of stories and their accuracy.

Then, IF the major media report something truthfully, I try to look at what motivated them to do so. They don't do it without an agenda. Sorry if I sound awfully cynical, but's that's how I deal with the media. Mostly. Of course some days I'm less diligent and I succumb to some stupid "sound-byte" -- but usually the next week's news helps me to adjust my views on that.

[TwilightZone]

5. It's easier to pursue an agenda if one ignores evidence...

that contradicts one's preconceptions about an individual.

[Katherine Brengle]

8. Well said.