Is Obama Getting Too Much Coverage?

Critics Charge Media Has Been Unbalanced In Race Between McCain, Obama

(CBS)  Sen. Barack Obama, continued a multi-nation overseas trip that has been dominating media coverage the last few days.

The widely covered trip is the latest example of what some critics are saying is a continuing pattern that puts Obama's presidential opponent, Sen. John McCain, at a disadvantage, reports CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston.

The trip is a high risk gamble, and as one journalism expert adds, highly unusual.

"International travel is not usually a way for candidates to win the White House," says Tom Rosenstiel, the director of the Project For Excellence In Journalism. "That says something about Obama's needs as a candidate and what the issues are this year."

What Obama is trying to strengthen is his foreign policy credibility. McCain, a war hero with decades in the Senate, claims he already has it.

What McCain doesn't have these days is media magic.

Since June 9th, when Obama effectively clinched the votes for the nomination, the Project For Excellence In Journalism took a weekly look at 300 political stories in newspapers, magazines and television. In 77 percent of the stories, Obama played an important role, and 51 percent featured McCain.

"That's an edge," said Rosenthiel. "That is a big enough difference that it is an uneven playing field probably for McCain."

And there is more to come. As Obama continues his foreign travels to the Middle East and Europe, he will be interviewed by all three network anchors - CBS' Katie Couric on Tuesday, ABC's Charles Gibson on Eednesday and NBC's Brian Williams on Thursday.

While Obama's likely to endure tough questions from the networks, the amount of media attention will probably remain lopsided.

"A lot of Republicans are very frustrated with what they see is the uncritical coverage of Barack Obama's candidacy," said David Mark, a senior writer at Politico.com.

At the end of the day, Obama may have his chief political opponent to thank for this shower of media attention.

"This could end up backfiring on Sen. McCain who sort of goaded Barack Obama into taking this trip. On his Web site, he repeatedly had a sign up about how long it had been since he went to Iraq," Mark said.

The tour could also trip up Obama. One slip or gaffe could hurt his candidacy and give him the kind of media coverage he doesn’t want.

[minnick8-2009]

Any time the media starts an article by asking a question such as this one, "Is Obamba getting too much media coverage?" The answer of course is YES.

[zerato-2009]

To bad the press didn''t point out that many of the stories on obama were negative stories

[ariel133]

There''s nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context. Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. Obama''s radical positions on life, marriage and national security leaves only one choice: John McCain.

[joshuac33]

I think he is getting too much coverage, but it''s not positive. McCain is getting a free ride on dozens of missteps and gaffes. If Obama had done anything that McCain has lately, he would have been raked over the coals by the right wing hack media. For example, if his economic adviser had made a comment at all similar to Gramm, they would have said that is was proof that he was an "elitist". If Obama had called the Czech Republic "Czechoslovakia" like McCain erred recently, they would have said it was proof that he was ignorant in global politics... these are just 2 of literally dozens of recent examples on how the media has let Camp McSame as Bush slide lately.

[confused25]

Looks like he is getting a free ride via the press. While McCain has to pay for all his coverage, Obama gets free coverage. This is just a photo op, you can''t learn foreign policy by just flying to a place for a day or 2 and voting "Present".

[kofiananimus]

I''m constantly seeing negative or unflattering press about Obama. Meanwhile, McCain is making a million mistakes that go uncovered by major media outlets... the only place I find out about them is on The Daily Show, Countdown with Keith Olberman, liberal talk radio and websites, and sometimes, but not often, on NPR. There are audio and video documentation of these mistakes, but Big Media loves John McCain and are afraid to say anything negative about him. Quite a sad state the major networks are in.

[txladyjc]

this is nothing new. all during the campaign it was the same, except for the bad news the media dug out of Clinton''s campaign.

even though he has changed his stance on several of his promises, the media chose to ignore those state-ments. the media and people chose him because of the color of his skin, but that is not racial?.

his autobiography and books should be read by every-one. how many, besides me, are probably not going to vote because of the candidates?

[actornaught]

Posted by kofiananimus at 12:11 PM : Jul 21, 2008

Dead-on. For almost every issue, you can find John making statements or voting on both sides.

The ''cons whined about BO not going. Now they whine that he''s there. They whine that we don''t know enough about BO. He gets coverage so we know more, and they whine. Fact is, the ''cons are just whining hypocrites.

[shinxy-2009]

Cryos: You don''t get it. Offshore drilling isn''t a solution to our energy problem. It''s not going to lower gas prices. Not not, not ever. Every reputable economist would back me on this. Bush and McCain both admit that the only positive effect offshore drilling would have for the average American is psychological. Translation: if we drill offshore, people might get tricked into THINKING that the price of gas might go down. Judging from your response, it''s already working. Way to drink the Kool-Aid!

Obama is getting too much coverage, but only from media types looking for weaknesses and gaffes. The MSM is firmly in the McCain camp. We need more coverage of McCain, with a critical eye towards how out of touch he is. Just today he said that Iraq and Pakistan border each other! This is front page news, people! Either Afghanistan magically disappeared, or this guy has about as much knowledge of geography as the average American - which is a scary thought, considering this guy will have control of the red phone if we elect him. What happens when he calls in a nuclear strike on Czechoslovakia?

[actornaught]

Posted by shinxy at 12:33 PM : Jul 21, 2008

Thx for the heads up on McCain''s ''Iraq-Pakistan'' border, PRICELESS!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0Y7zMcn_4

"International travel is not usually a way for candidates to win the White House," says Tom Rosenstiel, the director of the Project For Excellence In Journalism. "That says something about Obama''s needs as a candidate and what the issues are this year."

What Obama is trying to strengthen is his foreign policy credibility. McCain, a war hero with decades in the Senate, claims he already has it.

===========

So, why did McCain go, not only to the Middle East, but also South America, recently? And why does this article imply that only Obama would do such a thing?
This is bad reporting.

[tscc2]

Obama is setting the tone of the campaign. With all of this attention you would think he was President already. McSame McCane is always one step behind.

[lindafranke]

Yes Obama is the "preferred" MSM candidate. Why? Lots of reasons. Nobody likes change. Right?

[G H M]

For gods sake - he is running for President - he should get coverages.
McSame or is it McBush, or is it McAgain is getting too much faverible coverage. You guys hide the old farts blunders and misstatements.

[actornaught]

If the media doesn''t favor John, why don''t we see more about this huge Iraq Flip-flop??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOHupX1-zJ8&feature=related

More drilling means using up the precious resource faster, so that we won''t have it to make lubricants and plastics anymore. It means more global climate change. Offshore drilling means oil spills.

[shinxy-2009]

Lol, 4 responses in the last 10 minutes.

Need some ointment for that sweet burn, Cryos?

Don''t worry, I suspect you''ll be in good company. All the McSame supporters are going to be smarting when Obama sweeps their man this November. Good luck, you''ll need it.

[G H M]

Cryos Stop insulting democrats with your demeaning lables, most are conseritive, the right type!!!

[ariel133]

You all who support the "child" are just so naive and forgetful that you have left out one important factor: He is NOT READY FOR CHANGE He has barely changed his diapers. Please, wake up- get a grip, and grow up before you make A HUGE MISTAKE. Obama spent 20 years hating America, if he didn''t win the primary he would still be Rev Wrights best friend!

[j_mcdouglas]

1) Most media coverage is negative, so if John McCain wants it, he should get it. I won''t hold my breath for our media to really get tough on John McCain though... he''s untouchable, despite the fact he''s been wrong on every major issue since Vietnam.

2) Will stories like this... which are about the media coverage of Obama... will they be counted as stories about Obama as well? Garbage. Naval gazing stories from the media about their own coverage? And they''re including the Wright nonsense coverage as well?

MCCAIN SHOULD STOP WHINING...

lest he gets what he''s asking for... actual media coverage on his flips, his flops, and his "senior moments."

Just today he confused Iraq with Afghanistan. Hey John, IRAQ DOESN''T BORDER PAKISTAN, GENIUS!!!

John McBush is a Special Olympics candidate and Obama is going to win the gold. McBush should be glad people aren''t paying attention to his meltdown.

[j_mcdouglas]

It''s so sad Americans are dumb enough to think that selling more leases for ocean drilling will make a difference in gas prices. Republicans treat their voters like pets... thinking they can only see what''s dangled in front of their faces; sadly they''re right more often than not.

The oil companies aren''t even drilling on 75% of the land they''ve already got leases for. It''s just another boondoggle from Republicans in order to dismantle more of our environmental laws. All it is. Gas prices are a completely phony construct... it''s just price gouging, and Republicans continue to veto any legislation Dems come up with to stop the gouging... and Republicans continue to let it happen without taxing the oil companies on their profits... as we sink further and further into debt.

It won''t stop until the oil companies either decide enough is enough and their price gouging is hurting their bought and paid for Republican candidates... or Dems get into the White House and hold the veto pen.

[baborn-2009]

Obama is a product of Affirmative Action, this is obvious by his lack of knowledge: i.e. 57 States,
being Pres. for 8-10 years, etc. He''s only been in the Senate(a questionable outfit)for 143 days and left no foot prints.
The Liberal Press(their voting record proves this)is proping him up. McCain on the other hand is running a campaign reminiscent of Bob Dole''s ...
Senators are NOT presidential material. The Islamic Fundalmentalist Terrorist are still with us and are putting a grand attack together!
Wake-up.

[googetter]

i have always watch this news but i won t be doing it no longer you are not fare on this campaine coverage at all i ve never seen such favertisome do you not think people pay attenion are you just don t care you made my mind up i will not vote for oboma so thanks for that

i have always watch this news but i won t be doing it no longer you are not fare on this campaine coverage at all i ve never seen such favertisome do you not think people pay attenion are you just don t care you made my mind up i will not vote for oboma so thanks for that

Posted by googetter at 01:57 PM : Jul 21, 2008

==


Wow. Do you care that your writing makes you appear to have an IQ of 70?

[fuzzback-2009]

Obama is getting coverage because, unlike McCain, he is making news.

[maryr6340]

Rather than the school-girl crushes on Obama from the media, why don''t you all do your jobs and inform the public of his positions? JFK is dead my friends. Camelot is over. Let''s deal with today. Hope and Change ain''t enough and you journalists should be doing your jobs.

[no2zeebas]

Change, change, change...Maybe a taliban will take out barraki hussein with a grenade...

[j_mcdouglas]

baborn,

Nope. John McCain is the icon of "affirmative action."

He''s never earned anything on his own in his life. Not one red cent. He has to beg his sugar-momma (the one he cheated on his first wife to be with) to cover his $1,000/bet craps habit.

He got shot down and held prisoner and he''s been coasting on that his whole life.

Obama on the other hand overcame incredible odds to be where he is, as all blacks who achieve what he''s achieved must.

McCain is a Special Olympics candidate that the media is treating like an untouchable God... they''re fair and balancing out the playing field for him like they do for all Republicans.

Meanwhile, Obama is getting the lions share of media attention (ie negative attention) and McCain and his supporters have the audacity to complain about it?

Well, OK... McCain SHOULD get more criticism from the media... only I won''t hold my breath. The media won''t get tough on John McCain... they have too much money to make if he wins the presidency. He''s been a sellout to the media all his life, flipping and flopping in order to be in the spotlight. He doesn''t show up for work... but he''s always looking for more time on camera.

Now this Special Olympics candidate, John McBush... he''s even begging the media for it like he begged Obama to take him along to Iraq, like some pitiful little terrier. McWoof! McWoof!!

[j_mcdouglas]

No2Zeebas,

If that was Bush you were talking about, the FBI would have already tapped your phone.

You''re not only a nut, you''re a Treasonous worm.

Us liberals always knew you Republicans were really on Al Qaeda''s team... ever since you let the Saudis fly home after 911... ever since you guys let one slip one past the goalpoasts on 911 in the first place.

Traitors.

[j_mcdouglas]

Media attention is NEGATIVE attention.

Yeah.. the media isn''t focusing on McCain. That''s the liberals'' argument.

Thanks for finally proving us right Republicans.

McCain should get media focus and scrutiny. Just today he confused Iraq with Afghanistan.

Note to McCain: IRAQ DOESN''T BORDER ON PAKISTAN, GENIUS!!!!!

Yeah media... cover that. It''s definitely news.

But you won''t. Negative media attention is reserved for the Democrat... as usual... you biased clowns.

And Republicans are either dumb enough or they think America is dumb enough to fall for their talking points on media attention?

I suppose so... but liberals know better.

[tscha1]

Is this piece supposed to add to your credibility as unbiased? CBS IS ONE OF THE MAIN COVERAGE GIVERS!!! Remember to towel off when you get out of the tank for Barry... you could slip and fall and as a member of the BHO Campaign team, unemployment may go up if you get hurt!

[danielle_mom]

24/7 until the election is not too much coverage. I am sure that someone can squeeze in another second or two.

[bladdy10]

I think Jesse Jackson had a point about Obama being worth all the attention. What is Obama but anyone other than a Republican.

Wouldn''t it be nice if there was a presidential test for Obama? There is, go to YouTube and type ''anonbene'' into the search engine and watch
''Sen. Obama''

[carolc241]

The better man with better ideas deserves more coverage!

[rirose1]

Let''s stop the madness - the Obama madness - instead check out some background information -
Like Boston Globes - "Grime Proving Ground for Obama''s Housing Policy"
and research "Obma, Rezko and the Iraq Power Plants"
and "Obama''s history as chairman of the US Senate
Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs"
supposedly to oversee NATO involvement in Afganistan -appointed chairman in early 2007 he has not held one meeting on the subject of Afganistan.
These are just some of the MINOR details on the character of the man.
It is not that there is too much coverage - it is not the full coverage explaining all his baggage.

[libh8er]

''Is Obama Getting Too Much Coverage?''

It should read, ''Is Obama getting too much leftwing BIASED coverage?'' The answer would be - YES!

In the LAMEstream media''s eyes, Obama (the baby Jesus) can do no wrong. That''s why no one really cares what the media says anymore. They have lost their objectivity and credibility.

[libh8er]

The better man with better ideas deserves more coverage! Posted by carolc241 at 03:01 PM : Jul 21, 2008

So then, why is the press ignoring McCain?

[hasher47]

I think Obama should get more coverage. He''s relatively unknown to most Americans. Crisps, some people still think he''s a Muslim.

McCain story has been told and retold a hundred times. I think it''s only fair to the lesser known guy to get better coverage.

[element51]

Why does the press continue to refer to McCain as a "war hero"? Yes, he was shot down and was a prisoner of war but there were countless others who suffered the same fate or much worse. I''m not saying that McCain doesn''t deserve credit for what he went through but he does not qualify as a "hero". Recently there was a story about a soldier who threw himself on a live grenade to save his fellow soldiers. That''s a hero. And as to media coverage, it may be that Obama is just more interesting than McCain. I didn''t hear any complaining when most of the stories about Obama were negative. So why, all of a sudden, is there such an outcry about Obama getting to much coverage?

[element51]

Concerning press coverage and McCain. It was recently reported that reporters on McCain''s airplane were rewarded for "good" stories about McCain by being seated in the same section as McCain with intimate access to the Senator. Those who do not produce flattering stories are not allowed to get close to McCain. That says a lot about the media. They don''t call them media hors for nothing.

[element51]

Ariel133....There you go again. Take a moment and compare the educational backgrounds of Obama and McCain. McCain...895 out of 899 of his class. That''s it, he has nothing else. Obama....Honors graduate from Harvard Law School..editor of Harvard Law review. And you''re trying to tell us McCain is a superior intellect? Sorry, but I''m not drinking that Kool Aid. And I don''t believe that Obama spent 20 years hating America. That is nothing more than empty rhetoric that you cons are trying to pass off.

[element51]

baborn...Your post is absurd. Afirmative action has nothing to do with being elected to a political seat. And he said 57 stops, not 57 states. And exactly how long did Bush, Clinton or Reagan serve in the House or Senate before they were elected? And since when did the "liberal press" start getting to vote in the House or Senate? However, I do believe you are right on one point. There are no doubt terrorist out there somewhere and we will hear from them again. One good reason to strengthen our ports and borders. Obama will do that because he knows that the threat is real. He will pay attention during his security briefings.

[a1106foothil]

You will never see the day when a Republican gets the kind of treatment that Obama gets. As a principle, the media agressively protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press. But that does not translate into what they actually publish. A liberal bias in the media certainly isn''t new. And that should come as no surprise. The media''s personal interests are better served by Democrats than Republicans. However, the bias has become much more pronounced during recent years. I really don''t think the media cares if their liberal bias is apparent. Like politicians, their target population are the sheep amongst us, who believe everything they see or read; people who''s minds are easily molded. Still, I think most Americans see the media it for what it is. Interesting to note that with three months to go, the race is almost a dead heat....even with the grossly slanted reporting. That would seem to indicate that a lot of Americans are resisting biased coverage and thinking for themselves. And that''s a good thing!!

[deacon20081]

If coverage is slanted, and the Democratic candidate is recieving more interest, doing so only plays to the popular opinions of their readers and listeners.
The Republican party has lost it''s credibility, no matter how much advertising money they spend.

[alanrobisch]

I read the philadelphia inquirer. Its headline on sunday was about 1/2 page about obama. its editorial page had 5 pro obama articles. Yeah I think the coverage is out of balance and if you actually do some research for a party who is in disarray its presidential candidate trails by 2 % in the Gallup Poll. IMHO john mccain is trusted even if the republicans aren''t at the present time

[obama8years]

obama isnt getting enough!!! we need him to slip again calling americans typical white people.

[obama8years]

And he said 57 stops, not 57 states

no, your wrong he said states.

[obama8years]

You will never see the day when a Republican gets the kind of treatment that Obama gets. As a principle, the media agressively protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press. But that does not translate into what they actually publish. A liberal bias in the media certainly isn''''t new. And that should come as no surprise. The media''''s personal interests are better served by Democrats than Republicans. However, the bias has become much more pronounced during recent years. I really don''''t think the media cares if their liberal bias is apparent. Like politicians, their target population are the sheep amongst us, who believe everything they see or read; people who''''s minds are easily molded. Still, I think most Americans see the media it for what it is. Interesting to note that with three months to go, the race is almost a dead heat....even with the grossly slanted reporting. That would seem to indicate that a lot of Americans are resisting biased coverage and thinking for themselves. And that''''s a good thing!!
---------------------------------------
Yes it is

[tiredofthebs]

Is Obama Getting Too Much Coverage?


Two words ....... HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

[obbcbs]

McCain gets headlines that shout his repeated lies.

It is imperative to closely follow both campaigns.

Today McCain went on TV and demonstrated his lack of understanding of the middle east, by saying Iraq has a border with Afghanistan.
That demands detailed consideration.

Today, in Iraq, the Maliki government said, Iraq agrees with Obama''s plan to get our troops out by the end of 2010. That''s major news.
We have been at war for 7 years. You cannot cover that story TOO MUCH. The Iraq''s disagree with John and Bush and the Iraqi''s support the Obama position. You cannot cover that story too much.

Until now, the Bush-McCain "plan" was to keep our troops in Iraq for a generation. The rejection by the elected Iraqi government of the McCain Bush ''plan'' is major news, and the only spin the Bush-McCain cabal could come up with today is that the Iraqi''s may have been mistranslated.
They were not. The NY Times took that ball and ran with it and they came up with the same translation as the German magazine that first ran it. Then, after all that, the Maliki employee SAID IN ENGLISH, WE WANT THE US OUT BY THE END OF 2010. That is the opposite of John McCain''s PLAN. OBAMA wins. That''s NEWS. You cannot play it big enough. The end of the war is in sight. And we can go after Bin Laudin now, something that Bush apparently was unwilling to do.