WILLisms.com: Left-Wing Media Bias On Social Security.

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Left-Wing Media Bias On Social Security.

Today, the nonpartisan Center for Media and Public Affairs released its analysis (.pdf) of the major network (ABC, CBS, NBC) media coverage during President Bush's recent 60 Day Push promoting Social Security reform:

83% of Social Security comments by nonpartisan sources (reporters, experts, ordinary citizens) were critical of President Bush's overhaul plan.

Broken down by network, ABC had the most biased coverage, at 92%, with CBS right behind at 89%, and NBC at 69%:

Click image for original .pdf press release.

In terms of the content of the coverage, it focused less on the fact that Social Security faces a crisis and more on "private accounts" and the "political implications" of Social Security:

Click image for original .pdf press release.

In terms of that 24% segment of coverage discussing the politics of Social Security, 98% of the comments asserted that the President was not succeeding in persuading Americans on the issue.

Yes, you read that correctly.

98%.

But, no, there's no liberal slant to the news.

Posted by Will Franklin · 16 May 2005 02:18 PM

Comments

92%!! LOL!

Hilarious. I mean how else do you react to coverage like this? All you can do is laugh at it.

Objective journalism is now an oxymoron.

Posted by: Hoodlumman at May 16, 2005 03:09 PM

The President is not succeeding in persuading the public probably because the liberal media is interviewing Joseph biden and all the liberal Senators right after the Presidents news conference.
Is it true not many people actually even watched the President and more people tuned into Paris Hilton?
I think the negative voices after the news conference have more to do with the results of those percentages. If not,...Someone needs to reach these people and let them know how important it is to reform Soc.Sec. I appreciate WILLisms.com for the efforts you continue to make towards the goal of Social Security reform! I really believe it is soooooooooo important for our future...

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at May 16, 2005 03:21 PM

A news organization that criticizes a specific proposal on its merits is somehow a biased leftie outfit? I guess all those CNN stories condemning 9/11 were somehow American bias? Pathetic! Look, the White House is flat out lying to the American people. IMHO, the news media is not critical enough.

Posted by: pgl at May 16, 2005 04:28 PM

Zsa Zsa - if you think Joseph Biden is "liberal", then I guess I've tuned into the Rush Limbaugh show. Unreal!

Posted by: pgl at May 16, 2005 04:29 PM

pgl,

Biden is a liberal. Just look at his ratings by the ACU, ADA, National Journal, et al.

Posted by: Will Franklin at May 16, 2005 04:36 PM

While reading your story I just knew that the left slant would be "of course the stories were negative, given what they were reporting on." Right on cue, pgl.

With all this negative reporting it's amazing the Bush Social Security modernization push has the support it does.

Posted by: Giacomo at May 16, 2005 05:37 PM

Maybe I wasn't paying much attention, pgl, but until recently there were no specifics about it!

The three majors attempt destroy the idea of reform and you claim they aren't biased enough.

And the 9/11 herring was a nice touch. Using your argument there, I guess you thought some should praise 9/11?

Great debate.

Posted by: Hoodlumman at May 16, 2005 06:05 PM

pgl,

You are surely kidding? You would have to know that Joseph Biden is a liberal! Had Clinton said those same words that George W.Bush said about Social Security reform he would have been singing the praises of Social Security reform to the media... i am so sorry if I have offended you! I just happen to be sick of the do nothing political partisan bologna that exists right or left. It is time to reform Social Security. It is past time! Our future generations of Americans deserve a better system. I do consider myself a conservative on many issues. Not everything but Soc. Sec. reform is something important for all Americans. I would sure like to hear some suggestions from the Democrats! The do nothing, oppose, oppose, oppose system of government is just not getting it for many of us. Left or Right Democrat or Republican we are Americans and I believe we have to do something! At the moment we have a President who wants to do something! What seems to be the problem?

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at May 16, 2005 07:05 PM