The Difference in Coverage of Wars and Economic Crises is Stunning

[Bonn1997]

In the lead up to war, the media sees their job as rallying the country behind the President. They play patriotic, inspiring music and try to unite the country. Skeptics don't get airtime. Those with airtime are not allowed to be too skeptical. It couldn't be a more opposing approach to our financial crisis. Skeptical Republicans outnumber Democrats on TV. Suddenly having a good bill or smart plan is not good enough; it has to be undeniably perfect. If Dems were questioning Bush pre-Iraq as hard as Republicans are Obama and the stimulus package, I could hear the media saying things like, "Don't you think it's your job to get behind the President right now? There will be time later on to nit-pick." Now, without being so direct, it's basically "Let me hear all your obsessions about the 1% of the plan that you dislike"

Anyone else notice this? How do you explain it? (I'm curious why this difference occurs)

[sinkingfeeling]

1. USA becoming a failed state very rapidly. The media is leading the way. Corporations run it all.

[Karenina]

2. Unless Americans CONFRONT their media problem

NOTHING will save them.

[bird gerhl]

3. You must have different channels from the ones I get

since I see nothing but full support for the stimulus and portrayal of the RepugliCAN'Ts* as obstructionists.

[Bonn1997]

4. What channel do you watch? I'd love to watch it!

Excluding Olberman and Maddow, I haven't seen anything close to that on MSNBC or CNN.

[bird gerhl]

I dunno. NBC?

I don't have cable or satellite or any of that stuff.

[onethatcares]

8. do you have, "rabbit ears"?

have you ever gotten signals from outer space on your television? Maybe Rod Serling has been the news anchor?:shrug: I've been flippin the channels here and can't find anything close to what you get.

[Bonn1997]

9. I find what he's saying but

it's about 1% of the time; the other 99% is focused on how "terrible" and "unpopular" the stimulus package is

[annabanana]

5. fox viewer? . . . . . n/t

[annabanana]

6. Very well stated . .Media Matters deconstructed the Rep/Dem ratio

last week and you are 100% correct. The bobbleheads have showcased repubs at a ratio of 2 to 1 in discussions of the bill.

I just heard Cont. Brewer tease her next segment like this . . ."Why is President Obama struggling to get his message out and garner support for his stimulus bill?"

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Bonn1997]

11. There are two separate, important points

One is that the media is favoring conservatives, and that was definitely part of my message.
But I think there's a separate, nonpartisan component that for some reason, it's viewed as unacceptable to criticize wars or war strategies until it's way too late, whereas you can criticize any economic plan at any point in time. For some reason, you never criticize the President "on the eve of war" but today, on the eve of the President making an economic speech, we'll hear non-stop criticism by Republicans.

[annabanana]

7. recommended . . . .n/t

[deaniac21]

10. I must be living in an alternate universe.