Legal Commentary

Faux News Reporting

By Jeralyn

I caught the intro to Countdown with Keith Olbermann announcing that Obama's ahead in Indiana and Hillary's lead is gone in PA.

I changed the channel. Is it too much to ask that cable news and talk show hosts like Olbermann at least fairly report the news before they put their spin on it? How could he not mention the multiple dueling polls?

Starting yesterday, Big Tent Democrat and I catalogued every poll (other than daily trackers) in the states yet to vote regardless of results. First the results, then our analysis. We didn't cherry pick and report only those we agree with or that favor one candidate or the other. Examples:

• The LA Times/Bloomberg Poll on PA, Indiana and NC (Hillary by 5, Obama by 5, Obama by 13 respectively)
• Survey USA: KY (Clinton up by 36)
• Survey USA PA: Clinton Up By 14
• Quinnipiac and Rasmussen PA: Clinton Up By 6 and 9, respectively.

More...

• Survey USA Indiana: Clinton up by 16
• Public Policy Polling NC: Obama Up by 18.
• Rasmussen on Bitter-Gate: 56% Disagree With Obama's Remarks
• Susquehanna Univ. PA: (pre Bittergate): Clinton up by 3.
• American Research Group PA: Clinton Up by 20

That a cable news network can't do the same -- even on an opinionated news/talk show -- is pathetic.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on April 15, 2008 (boomark / email).