GainesvilleMoms.com

My husband told me a TV channel reported a poll that said McCain got more favorable coverage in the media. Now I've been watching the late night shows and I hear the republican party being brutally made fun of but do not hear the deocratic candidates receiving the same kind of jokes. What about news coverage? Is it fair?

I try to watch a varity of coverage. I would have to say that, overall, it seems the media is favoring the democratic ticket in this election.

Media favors the democratic ticket in most elections. It's a fact of life. Media is run by people and people who have that stage will show whatever agenda they believe in (whether liberal or conservative). That's why I think it's important for people who really care to go out and look for themselves. Look at voting records to see whether the candidates favored the issues that are important to you. Read transcripts of their speeches, look at funding they support, the state of the state they represent, and so on. Don't vote for someone because you like the interview they gave Jon Stewart, or how funny they were on SNL, or even what Hannity and Combs or Rush Limbaugh say about them.


Sorry, I'll step down off my soapbox now.

I agree with LEW...the media is favoring the democratic ticket this time.

I hate to discuss politics and religion as they usually end up with someone's feelings hurt but this time, I gotta say the media coverage is way off the 'neutral' line. Fair and balanced my arse! Even this past weekend while we were watching the game, I think I saw Senator Obama more than Coach Meyer!

I loved the one day both parties called a truce with the ads and we had a day with no politics shoved in our faces. I know the right to vote is important but I feel like the people running campaigns think the general public is a bunch of drooling idiots with the constant barrage of playground level tactics of he-said vs we-said.

Okay Caryn, you can have your soapbox back, I'm done with it.

I agree with everyone else on this topic, and I'd like to comment on something Caryn said, because I think she is right, too.

The world of entertainment (like art, design, and most anything creative) is heavily populated by liberals and libertarians. And thusly, the industry does often favor Democratic candidates.

What makes this election different is that no one seems to be even TRYING to hide their personal politics. We could formerly expect professionals like Dan Rather (a liberal) to be a dependable source of news. Whatever his personal views were, it didn't come through on the air, he just provided information.

But it's quite frankly amazing to me how obviously biased the reporting is this time around. Everyone is so excited about Obama that they are dropping any pretense of objectivity. Even in the Gainesville Sun there are noticable prejudices toward the Democratic ticket.

I would never expect a newscaster, a reporter, a producer, or any other journalist to not have their own political beliefs. That would be ridiculous. But that is what blogging is for, and that is what talk radio is for -- not the news. Journalists should inform, help the public to know the FACTS about the candidates, and not impose their personal politics.

I will agree that the media does seem to favor the Democratic ticket. I personally think it is fine for Leno or other late night shows to voice their opinions. I don't know about you, but that's part of the reason I watch those shows. To me, many of the late night shows are tv's talk radio.

I don't think it's right for newspapers and tv news stations to take an obviously biased stance though.