Apparently the media “spin” on the debates does according to this study by scholars from Arizona State University:
We demonstrate that the news media’s “spin” or analysis following the last presidential debate in 2004 influenced citizens’ evaluations of the candidates. The media’s “instant analyses” in the twenty-four hours following the debate was decidedly one-sided, favoring President Bush more than Senator Kerry. We show that the news media’s spin persuaded potential voters to alter their attitudes regarding the competing candidates. [GC: I must have a faulty memory or a different measuing device since I don't remember it this way]
On how the media will spin the debate tonight, Howie Carr argues in the Boston Herald that the reaction from the MSM is basically already in:
You know what everyone on every network except Fox is going to say. Comrade Chris Matthews’ leg is going to be tingling out of control. Sgt. Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow will be breathlessly reading phony stories from the Internet about dissension in the GOP ranks.
On CNN, “Republicans” Alex Castellanos and David Gergen will compare Barack’s closing statement to the Gettysburg Address and the Sermon on the Mount. David Brooks will swoon as he notes the perfect crease in Obama’s trousers.
Naturally, he advises that we watch the debate on C-SPAN and stay away from the commentary on tv.
Every news network other than FOX? I wasn’t aware that MSNBC is every network other than FOX. It’s funny that he rages about political hackery but then indicts himself in the same breath.
Anyways, I planned to watch it on CNBC as it is. But, I’m growing a little tired of the crying from Conservatives about CNN and MSNBC. Has he not looked at their viewership numbers versus FOX’s? FOX is the dominant TV news station by far.