Reporters Saw Bush as Debate Winner, But Swayed by Media Line

Media Research Center ^ | October 6, 2004

[kingattax]

The power of the media's spin: Newsweek's Evan Thomas and NBC's David Gregory conceded on Imus in the Morning this week that they thought George W. Bush won the debate last week, but changed their mind in the face of the media line. "I was quickly informed I was wrong and that Kerry had won," Thomas quipped Monday morning. Thomas said that while "Kerry did well," he "didn't think that Bush was as terrible as everybody else did." Gregory stated that he "initially" saw Bush as the winner, but then "there was kind of a debate in the press corps, those of us who were watching in the main filing center where we were watching the pool feeds, as opposed to watching some of the other networks that had the reaction shots and the split screens."

The MRC's Jessica Anderson noticed the comments made by phone on the Imus in the Morning radio show simulcast on MSNBC.

On Monday morning, October 4, Thomas, Newsweek's Assistant Managing Editor, revealed: "I thought it was a good debate. I initially thought that it was pretty much of a tie, but I was quickly informed I was wrong and that Kerry had won. You know, maybe I'm used to Bush's peevish side, but it sort of didn't surprise me. You know, I thought Kerry did well, I thought he did himself a lot of good, but I didn't think that Bush was as terrible as everybody else did."

On Tuesday morning, October 5, Imus observed: "I thought he won the debate, by the way -- President Bush." David Gregory, NBC's White House reporter: "I did, initially." Imus, talking over Gregory: "I'm the only person on the planet apparently who did, and my wife." Gregory: "Well, you know, I must say, there was kind of a debate in the press corps, those of us who were watching in the main filing center where we were watching the pool feeds, as opposed to watching some of the other networks that had the reaction shots and the split screens. You know, I saw it as a much, as a much closer debate and then I went back and read the transcript and saw where Bush missed opportunities, which they admit now. You know, I mean, they've sort of come out of denial since last Friday and recognized, after they'd taken quite a bit of flak from Republicans here in town and elsewhere about his performance, that he missed opportunities. It's as if he wasn't listening or had too much information in his head, that he was trying to deploy certain lines at different times, that he missed certain things that Kerry said that he's, you know, now tried to pounce on in the days since."

[kingattax]

Rats of a feather flock together

[Andy from Beaverton]

Something about lemmings comes to mind.

[The Old Hoosier]

To be honest with you, I thought Bush got his arse whipped in that debate, and I am definitely on his side. I can't imagine which debate these guys thought they were watching if they thought he won.

[DSBull]

It's sad that grown men can't have their own opinion..

[camboianchristmas]

Ditto. I am so glad I do not need to take a vote and reach a consensus before I make up my mind! Sheesh

[dc-zoo]

So now they'll be forced to declare Bush the loser again Friday regardless if he does well or not.

[andie74]

A friend of mine wrote a satirical book for children called, "The Lemming Who Wouldn't Go."

Of course, these guys can't think for themselves...they'd no longer be employed!

[swilhelm73]

I seem to recall the MSM rather strongly denying that the fact that they allow their collective leftism to influence their "reporting".

Yet here we have a couple of MSM heavyweights admitting that their brethern's views influenced, and even overrode, their own...

[Stonedog]

They were probably watching the same debate that I was. The one where the President was asked all the hard questions, and John Kerry contradicted himself 3 times in the same sentence. President Bush did miss a lot of opportunities, but he did reasonably well for the first half of the debate. He then got frustrated in the second half and fell back on the same lines too often instead of attacking the obvious gaffes Kerry made (other than the "global test").

[kcvl]

Frankly, I couldn't give a rat's rear what the "press corp" thinks. They aren't going to sway my vote one way or the other. I guess they think we are too stupid to figure out for ourselves who won when, in fact, they can't without a little "help" from their "friends".

It's a group think mentality. Isn't that what they say about "conservatives"?

[DoughtyOne]

I wouldn't word it the way you did, but I basicly agree with some reservations. Let me explain.

To get your arse handed to you, you have to be doing your best and get whupped anyway. Nobody can tell me Bush was giving it his best. Nope. I've got a rope-a-dope theory a brewing and I'm going to post it on the forum.

We'll see how folks like or hate it.

Even on this forum only 52% of the participants said Bush won. Look and the numbers for Cheney. Cheney won by 92% according to Freepers.

Bush lost the debate. That's okay. He won't lose the next two, and I'll explain why in my short comments...

Bush's Rope a Dope Moment?

Look for it in a few minutes.

[Squantos]

When I was a deputy sheriff in New Mexico I had a number of calls where I got to observe the local noooooze man David Gregory in action. He's a spineless little twit IMO. Purest form of presstitute there is. I fully expect him to replace Rather or Brokaw some day.............He's too much of a professional nuthugger to stand on his own merit. A pure metrosexual poodle that preys on all things panache. That screams pivot "anchor" man these days !

[Dat Mon]

No way mon. Kerry gave the RNC the "Global Test" ticking bomb which will come back over and over to haunt him.

Bush gave Kerry and the DNC....what??. Nothin, nada.

Kerry never laid a glove on Bush. How could he? If you listened closely and followed his arguments....they made no sense.

All this talk of style vs substance is intellectual parlour games, IMHO.

[xtinct]

Too little - too late. Thomas Evans and David Gregory lost an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the rat pack aka the media.

John Kerry won style points on the ability to be a well-dressed pain in the a@@ (pita).

Bush won substance points.

It could be me but I prefer substance over style. Were there missed opportunities to slay the pita? I think so...but then Bush would have be characterized as "mean."

[Howlin]

Something about lemmings comes to mind.

Something vulgar comes to my mind. But I'd be banned...

[Texasforever]

I watched the debate 3 times. The split screen shots killed GW. He MUST do something about that wide eyed pursed lipped look when he is listening. It was terrible. As to substance GW did a good job and he did it with a lot of strength. It was obvious to me that the moderator constructed the questions in a way that put GW on the defensive. In other words, the questions were actually accusations. In Kerry's case his questions were invitations to continue the attack without having to defend his own record. Life is not fair and GW must not let himself be interrogated in the next debates. He has to find a way to change the subject to Kerry.

[Ruth C]

I personally thought it was a tie. For many of the President's supporters, because he did not take the opportunities to blow Kerry out of his swift boat that seems to translate into a loss, for me it translates into not being a win and they are not the same thing. Look at the polls had it truly been a loss, rather than not a win, so many of those polls where President Bush was up by 3 to 5 points would have reversed, most did not.

[kingattax]

LOL...howlin....always on the edge..

[kayak]

Gee, no wonder they like sKerry ... they're followers, too.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Do I sense that IMUS really has turned on sKerry? I know he told the Presidents' Father he didn't like what Kerry did when he returned from Vietnam.

As to David Gregory etal... are they Stepford reporters? Didn't God give them a brain to THINK with? Why are these people in the news business if they can't think for themselves?