The Media's "Obama-Remorse"

MarketWatch's Jon Friedman Says President-Elect Should Remember That What Goes Up, Must Come Down

(MarketWatch)  I'm starting to feel a little guilty about the media's treatment of President-elect Barack Obama -- and I may not be the only one.

Chalk it up to a phenomenon I'd like to call "Obama-remorse." You know how you feel buyer's remorse after you've spent a lot of dough on some big-ticket item, only to realize that you might have made a mistake? Well, it's going to happen to the president-elect as well.

Perhaps this sort of recognition prompted Washington Post media writer Howard Kurtz to do an incisive piece called "A Giddy Sense of Boosterism" on Nov. 17. As Kurtz noted, the media have tripped over themselves to celebrate and cash in on Obama's victory.

NBC News is preparing a DVD called "Yes, We Can: The Barack Obama Story." ABC and USA Today are racing to publish a book on the election. HBO is readying a documentary on the campaign, too.

As I see it, the media are having second thoughts about their performance over the past year.

First, they gave Sen. Hillary Clinton the cold shoulder and all but rolled out a red carpet for Obama during the Democratic primary season. Perhaps Amy Poehler's eerily spot-on send-up of Clinton on "Saturday Night Live" helped reduce the New York senator to a caricature, making it even easier for the reporters to consign her to a complementary role.

Once Clinton was dispatched, they lavished favorable attention on Obama, as his opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain, was forced to watch from the shadows.

Yes, I'm thrilled that he won the election, underscoring the American ideal that we live in a foreword-thinking democracy, where any man or woman can rise to the highest office in the land. And I'm proud that even Obama's staunchest foes -- particularly the man he defeated, John McCain -- seem to be willing to accept his victory and pledge to help him turn around the economy and cure the nation's other ills.

Adulation Express

But I also feel guilty because I know that the media's Adulation Express -- never to be confused with McCain's old Straight Talk Express -- is going to hit a few speed bumps before it inexorably grinds to a halt.

It's inevitable. Look at what happened to Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate.

When McCain first nominated her, she could do no wrong in the media's eyes. She was hailed for her aw-shucks demeanor, in contrast to the inveterate Beltway sharpies, and her unlikely ascent to such a big job (I suspect that Tina Fey's brilliant impersonation of Palin on "Saturday Night Live" owed as much to Palin's newness as it did to Fey's uncanny ability to look and sound like the governor of Alaska. Most SNL viewers had no frame of reference for Palin, other than her speech at the Republican National Convention, so Fey didn't have to worry about competing with a hardened image of Palin).

It's inevitable, too, that Obama will eventually have his turn under the microscope. When the media start picking apart some of his Cabinet choices or his pronouncements on the state of the economy or his declarations about Iraq, he may be surprised to find that the afterglow of his stunning victory turns sour so fast.

MEDIA WEB QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Have the media treated President-elect Barack Obama too kindly for the past year - and, if so, should that kind of treatment end now that he has won the election?

Join the online community of Media Web readers by posting comments directly to the MarketWatch.com site.

[chetthor]

The writer should have taken a day off. He shouldn''t get paid for writing this kind of thoughtless drivel!

[stan821]

Is it really remorse over this, or are you feeling guilt for giving Bush a free pass for the last 8 years?

How quickly we forget.

[amjoe-2009]

The media fixed the presidential election in favor of Barak Hussein Obama. It is as simple as that. As a group, media outlets used their constitutionally protected rights to throw the election to a guy whose father was literally born in Africa and was a Moslem. The media is guilty, guilty, guilty. If there were ever a serious argument for ameding the US Constitution re freedom of the press, this is it.

[platteman]

There is one thing for sure. Obama, will never ever get the bashing by the media that George W. Bush has gotten over 8 years. If he does, he will fold like a house of cards.

The media is fickle. they will change their mind. Of course when your in the tank for one person, never asking the tough questions for two years, always bending over backwards for one person, you reap what you sow.

He can''t speak without lots of uh''s ah''a and with no telaprompter, he is worse than George W. Bush.

Of course he will instutute the fairness doctrine, he doesn''t want anyone to criticize him ever.

Oh well, he will spread the wealth, won''t get the money from me, I don''t make anything, I will get lots more. So work all you liberals, you can pay for me.

[idnnsg]

This is republican sour grapes. They lost. According to their own message of a few years ago, they should "just get over it". Instead, they continue plowing ahead, spreading their usual manure, fear and hatred and distrust.

[rev_miesse]

-The media fixed the presidential election in favor of Barak Hussein Obama. It is as simple as that. As a group, media outlets used their constitutionally protected rights to throw the election to a guy whose father was literally born in Africa and was a Moslem. The media is guilty, guilty, guilty. If there were ever a serious argument for ameding the US Constitution re freedom of the press, this is it.

Posted by AmJoe at 06:44 AM : Nov 28, 2008

All wrong. In fact what happened is that the governing republicans are such failures and so incompetent that the country, in sheer desperation, has elected a communist black man named Hussein. You have nobody to blame but your damned fool self.

[perk235]

Here''s the title of an article about the author of this article:

"The Man Who Knew Too Little and Wrote Too Much. Jon Friedman occupies a singular place in the world of media criticism - we%u2019re just not sure what it is."

Sounds like they got it right. This article is much ado about nothing to get attention. He gives not data to support his arguments and only expostulates emotional evidence. Maybe he also believes the world is flat or the universe is heliocentric?

[hunterdon6]

As far back as last January it was evident that the media want the Obama for president. The media has made the recession sound worse than it is. The media puts fear into the hearts of the people when fear is not warranted. Katie Couric looked liked she wanted to crawl into bed with Obama, but when she interviewed Palin, Katie was so mean looking and sounding. Yes the media pushed for Obama to become president.

[saj210]

AmJoe:

Where is your common sense. The media did not "FIX" the election. American people voted!

It''s people like you who probably didn''t take the time to read and search for information about each candidate. You probably didn''t take the time to listen to all of the debates! Because your candidate probably didn''t win, you want to blame the media.

You don''t give the American public much credit!

The media didn''t have one thing to do with whom I cast my ballot.

You should stop being so narrow-minded. Get a grip!

You believe the media is "guilty"? You are "GUILTY" of being ignorant!

[saj210]

Platteman:

Your ignorance is showing!!!!!

[saj210]

Rowdydfw:

It''s obvious you didn''t mind the manure George W. Bush spread over everyone during the past 8 years!

Do you have a problem with President-elect''s skin color?????????

If you do, get over it! Because it''s not changing!!!!

[perk235]

There is an article on Jon Friedman titled "The Man Who Knew Too Little and Wrote Too Much". Looks like they were spot on.

A commentary on Jon Friedman:

"Friedman''s columns are no more weighty than those you''ll typically find in high school papers. And, like his youthful peers, Friedman presents or does not present his cases with a haughtiness unbecoming a professional, and especially one incapable of bolstering his points with facts."

Looks like they are spot on. How can someone use Saturday Night Live and emotions as their evidence for an article?

[len134]

This article assumes the media was the driving force behind Obama''s election. What arrogance! The American people trust the media no more than they trust anyone else with an ounce of power. Obama won overwhelmingly because no matter what the outcome he was the only candidate that offered ideas to improve this country, not drag it down the same path of destruction of the last 8 years.

[stoltz61]

Americans are so gullible that they believe everything they hear and see on TV. It is too much trouble to do fact checking. Obama is as crooked as they come and played Illinois politics better than anyone else. The media found that they could make a president and did it. Of course, the big wheels of the media want things to remain the same. We have another George Bush with another name. No change just more of the same. The progressives will soon realize they supported another man of questionable intentions. Power corrupts and when you are already corrupt, it make one bad guy or woman, in charge of a nation. Sad for America!

[whosaid1]

Wow....so angry....so early in the morning!!

[hatesthecolt]

did the "media" cast your vote for you? if not then SHUT THE F*** UP.

if you cant discern what you see and hear , then you dont really need to be voting anyway.

if you used more than ONE news source maybe you would be able to make an INFORMED decision...

Posted by dltgold

THANK YOU DLTGOLD! My sentiments exactly. People have to take personal responsibility for their votes. It''s not like there weren''t debates, speeches and public appearances aplenty. Americans had every opportunity to see the candidates positions.

[lumesi]

There is a general consensus that Fox News is a "Network" filled with kooks , now I totally believe it. I think that Fox kooks believe that if they say or write something you can by some wave of wand make it possible despite convincing evidence to the contrary. Wake up, Ninnies . There is no "''Obama-remorse'' " that is sweeping Through The Media .At least ,NOT YET. It exists only in your stark raving madness.Saying it , writing it repeatedly ,long and loud does not make it so.

One good example of Fox''s bias was that poll where you *** had Senator Mccain (who is a wonderful man) win one debate by 82-18 or so ,despite every credible poll scoring it the other way 59 to 30.

All credible polls , any crevice of the universe where there is an ounce of common sense except Fox News shows that there is enthusiasm and support for the president-elect . You have thrown all caution to the wind now.You have gotten so desperate that you have become unhinged .

Get over it.KOOKS.Send your goon Jon, "dumb ***......Knows too little , writes too much" Friedman to under the rock he crept from. You are sad and pathetic.

[kittykatty2]

stolz61, I fact checked everything. Obama is nothing like Bush; he took his job in the Illinois Senate seriously and while he did distort a few of the McCain platform promises, he otherwise ran a quite truthful and extremely positive campaign. What are you talking about? How is he crooked? I don''t think you''ve done much fact checking so you might want to take some of your own advice.

[runningralph]

In China, Russia, India and people don''t see Obama as a messiah. They see him as a competitor, and probably a weak one. Obama only won by a couple of percentage points in popular votes. If he preaches to women to be careful who they mate with, get off the dole, if he exhorts young people to get educated, serve their country and avoid committing crimes and taking drugs, if he denounces terrorism and takes active steps to squelch it, the next election will be a shoo-in. In other words if he becomes a conservative he will be unstoppable.

[asamiller]

This is a ridiculous article. If the media treated Obama generously it was largely because he had a consistent story to tell. McCain did not. Add to that the historic character of his candidacy, perhaps, but if he had been flakey, he would have been treated as such. The same could be said during the Reagan reelection and during his administration. The media was relatively forgiving of even gross violations of law like Iran-Contra because Reagan gave them lines, images and ideas that could be easily and well translated into compelling news.

[pjsandiego]

What utter horse pucky.
The media did not favor Obama any more than the public who liked him more did. McCain made so many major mistakes and ran such a horrible campaign that it would have been impossible for anyone to not write the occasional more favorable story for Obama. People who win always in hindsight look like
they did better with the press because they did better running their campaigns.

In other words if he becomes a conservative he will be unstoppable. Posted by runningralph
-----
You mean unstoppable as in John McCain? Unstoppable as in Sarah Palin? Unstoppable plummet to the bottom economically, diplomatically, socially? In that case, winning may very well be too great a price to pay.

[hatesthecolt]

runningralph, you did not read the same election results as everyone else, did you?? One by "a couple of percentage points???" Obama won by a lot more than that and if you watched anything but fox news you''d know that.

[pjsandiego]

What utter horse pucky.
The media did not favor Obama any more than the public who liked him more did. McCain made so many major mistakes and ran such a horrible campaign that it would have been impossible for anyone to not write the occasional more favorable story for Obama. People who win always in hindsight look like
they did better with the press because they did better running their campaigns.

[sandycat2]

I cannot wait until Obama is ruled ineligible to be POTUS as per Article II of the US Constitution. And the Media will have abetted Obama''s illegal election for POTUS. Then the Media''s bias will be criminal. On December 5, the Supreme Court will decide whether they will take the case that will find Obama ineleigible to be POTUS. I hope this fraud goes to jail for 20 years for his lies that will tear this country apart.

[thcarson-2009]

Conservatives were thrown out of office so it''''s highly unlikely that adopting a failed ideology will lead to success.

Neo-cons did to the GOP what LBJ did to the Dems.

The GOP will be lucky to still be around 20 years from now unless they drop their conservative (we hate everything except war & greed) ideology.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tuckerndfw

W. is no conservative my friend, not even close

[hatesthecolt]

I cannot wait until Obama is ruled ineligible to be POTUS as per Article II of the US Constitution. And the Media will have abetted Obama''''s illegal election for POTUS. Then the Media''''s bias will be criminal. On December 5, the Supreme Court will decide whether they will take the case that will find Obama ineleigible to be POTUS. I hope this fraud goes to jail for 20 years for his lies that will tear this country apart.

Posted by sandycat2


PLEEEEZE do us all a favor and have your doctor check your medications because this fantasy world you are living might be driven by too much or not enough of something. The Supreme Court is NOT going to take this case. THERE IS NO CASE!

[downsteamjim]

"...Obama will eventually have his turn under the microscope." A fair media would have done this before Obama was elected.

[sandycat2]

hatesthe colt, sorry, but there is a case. Obama''s is a Kenyan citizen and was adopted by his stepfather, Indonesian Lolo Soetoro as so he has Indonesian citizenship. When he came back to the uS to live, he would have had to be naturalized to be an American citizen. There is no record of such naturalization so Obama is an illegal alien just like his aunt who lives here illegally. No wonder Obama wants open borders so illegal immigrants can come and go as they please. He''s been doing it for years.

[dnsallday]

MEDIA WEB QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Have the media treated President-elect Barack Obama too kindly for the past year - and, if so, should that kind of treatment end now that he has won the election?
*********************************************************
Doesn''t a person who is effective deserve positive coverage? If somebody is doing good, it isn''t up to the media to decide whether to portray it in a postive or a negative light. How about just reporting it period, we can decide for ourselves how to view it.
This isn''t even a question you should be asking yourselves? Just give us the news!

[hatesthecolt]

sandycat2 You misunderstood me. I know someone filed a case, but it has been dismissed for valid reasons and the Supreme Court is not going to take it''s valuable time pursuing this. The official dismissal may be December 5, but it''s already over.

[dnsallday]

cannot wait until Obama is ruled ineligible to be POTUS as per Article II of the US Constitution. And the Media will have abetted Obama''''s illegal election for POTUS. Then the Media''''s bias will be criminal. On December 5, the Supreme Court will decide whether they will take the case that will find Obama ineleigible to be POTUS. I hope this fraud goes to jail for 20 years for his lies that will tear this country apart.


Posted by sandycat2 at 09:12 AM : Nov 28, 2008
************************************************************
Oh good grief, people who rely on lounge act type entertainers for their news should really try to grow up!

[kazoodan]

hatesthe colt, sorry, but there is a case. Obama''''s is a Kenyan citizen and was adopted by his stepfather, Indonesian Lolo Soetoro as so he has Indonesian citizenship. When he came back to the uS to live, he would have had to be naturalized to be an American citizen. There is no record of such naturalization so Obama is an illegal alien just like his aunt who lives here illegally. No wonder Obama wants open borders so illegal immigrants can come and go as they please. He''''s been doing it for years.

Posted by sandycat2 at 09:31 AM : Nov 28, 2008

---------

The SCOTUS won''t even consider this frivolous claim by the two nutbags bringing it.

And let''s be honest, SandyCat, you don''t really care about the constitutional ramifications. You''re just angry that your candidate lost.

[dnsallday]

"...Obama will eventually have his turn under the microscope." A fair media would have done this before Obama was elected.


Posted by downsteamjim at 09:17 AM : Nov 28, 2008
**********************************************************
He did have his turn under a microscope, but there was nothing there, so people were forced to entertain themselves by attempting to smear him with guilt by association tactics. Fortunately enough people have woken up and were paying attention this election season and chose somebody with intelligence and a clear indication that he believed he had a responsibility to the public interest, unlike the crooks and mob mentality looking out for their own personal interests for the past 8 years.

[dnsallday]

W. is no conservative my friend, not even close


Posted by thcarson
******************************************************** That is true. About 90% of RepubliCONs aren''t.

[sandycat2]

I think you are wrong. The case was dismissed because of legal standing. The dismissal has nothing to do with the facts of the case at all. The very fact that the Supreme Court justices are even discussing the merits of the case in order to decide if they want to hear the case should tell you that here is sufficent facts in this case. If there was no case as you put it, then the case would not even be put on the docket to be voted on. To be put on the docket for this hearing, noe Supreme Court justice, in this case Clarence Thomas, has to have read the case and recommend it put put on the docket for this hearing. So there is a case. Of course, the Supreme Court can decide to turn down this hot potato and paqss the buck, but then they wouldn''t be protecting our constitution, would they?

[downsteamjim]

Truthdoesn''tmatter: As if.

[downsteamjim]

Truth: Maybe I misread your comment. You state that "..there was nothing there.'' That is a pretty good analysis of Obama''s accomplishments. Sorry.

[dnsallday]

. To be put on the docket for this hearing, noe Supreme Court justice, in this case Clarence Thomas, has to have read the case and recommend it put put on the docket for this hearing. So there is a case. Of course, the Supreme Court can decide to turn down this hot potato and paqss the buck, but then they wouldn''''t be protecting our constitution, would they?


Posted by sandycat2 at 09:
************************************************************
You mean Clarence Thomas would have to put down his porn long enough to actually make a recommendation?

[centerfall94]

Poor Jon Friedman, a writer with nothing to write, so he picks a blatantly ridiculous concept and topic, hoping for adulation of his own.

Not from this reader.

[dnsallday]

Truth: Maybe I misread your comment. You state that "..there was nothing there.'''' That is a pretty good analysis of Obama''''s accomplishments. Sorry.

Posted by downsteamjim
***********************************************************
It doesn''t sound like you have a very clear thought process, 1. you say he should have been looked at by a microscope. 2. you say there isn''t anything to see.

What are you doing today to make this country a better place to live in?

[sandycat2]

The stae of Hawai never PRODUCED a birth certificate for Barack Obama. The simply said the Obama has a birth certificate on file. Obly Obama can tell Hawaii to release his birth certificate to let us verify he is a natural born citizen of the uS and he hasn''t done that to date. Hawaii is one of four states where birth certificates are not open to the public.

[onarollagain]

Barack Obama was seated next to a little girl on an airplane trip back to Washington. He turned to her and said, %u201CLet%u2019s talk. I%u2019ve heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.%u201D

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to The Obama, %u201CWhat would you like to talk about?%u201D

%u201COh, I don%u2019t know,%u201D said the Obama. %u201CHow about What Changes I Should Make To America?%u201D and he smiles.

%u201COK,%u201D she says. %u201CThat could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?%u201D

Obama, visibly surprised by the little girl%u2019s intelligence, thinks about it for a second and finally says, %u201CHmmm, I have no idea.%u201D

To which the little girl replies, %u201CDo you really feel qualified to change America when you don%u2019t know @#$%?%u201D

[dnsallday]

The stae of Hawai never PRODUCED a birth certificate for Barack Obama. The simply said the Obama has a birth certificate on file. Obly Obama can tell Hawaii to release his birth certificate to let us verify he is a natural born citizen of the uS and he hasn''''t done that to date. Hawaii is one of four states where birth certificates are not open to the public.

Posted by sandycat2
**********************************************************ahahaahhaha.......YOu must consider yourself a Republican. You are creating your own facts or more likely you are trusting lounge act type entertainers to supply you with news, never bothering to check anything for yourself.
What you posted is false!

[jab102255]

ok here goes anyone born in the united states is a citizen no matter if the parents are or not. Anyone born to a mother who is a citizen can be born anywhere in the world or universe and be a citizen.

[sandycat2]

tucker, I went to school when schools were good. When our high school with 500 kids didn''t need cops and metal detectors stationed at the doors. When kids behaved in class caus ethey knew they would catch hell from their parents if they didn''t behave. I got a better education through high school then most who graduate college today. So don''t tell me I need to go back to school. I wasn''t born yesterday and I can connect the dots just fine. And yes the election is over, but how will it make you feel if when Obama takes the oath of office and has to swear to protect and defend our constitution and here he knows he is not eligible to be President and is ******** on our constitution.

[jimmyc1955]

After reading all the posts I still am amazed at the number of people who attack others simply for having an opinion they don''t agree with. One would think that "progressives" or "liberals" would be more open minded and willing to exchange ideas. What I read tells me that those "progresivess" want only agreement and dissenting voices should be quashed.

So for all you ardent Obama supports - should we pass a "fairness doctrine" that effectively removes political speech by individuals from radio and television?

If so - does SNL loose it''s rights to parody political figures since that is in itself political speech and therefore subject to the fairness doctrine?

[hatesthecolt]

Sandycat: Okay fine, live the dream. Thousands of cases are submitted to the Supreme Ct, Hundreds entered into the docket and only a hundred or more are considered each session. You do the math.

I don''t suppose it has occurred to you that the way to get through to some of you that this is OVER is for them to decide not to hear it (just so you know there''s NO MISTAKE).

The reason this isn''t making the news is because there isn''t a legal scholar or expert alive who believes this is going anywhere.

And, by the way, standing IS a legitimate reason to dismiss a case and crying about it won''t change that.

[dnsallday]

The main stream media where a joke during the election.

They did everything to promote Obama and to destroy Gov.Palin , using unfair attacks , smears and gossip.



Posted by Joe10005
********************************************************
Yea,what right does the media have to report the facts, when it helps the Democratic party and hurts the Republicans.?

I guess those intimidating and threatening phone calls from Karl Rove and *** Cheneys office finally stopped working.

[bobbyduck1]

The election is OVER.

True Americans - regardless of party affiliation - will now drop the divisionism and get to the business of supporting our newly elected officials in what is one of America''s most trying times.

All of you who continue to bash and foster these divisions that were part of the election, you''re not helping. In fact, you are now the PROBLEM!

Get over it and get on with the business of fixing the mess we are in!