The only people living in a bubble are these idiotic reporters.
Quite unfairly, but voters are not really fair, particularly when the Democratic media go to work on them, as we can be absolutely certain they would.
In all sincerity, media reporters have a lower level of trust, honesty, and integrity with the American people than Congresspeople do. (One poll I saw some time ago, showed that Congress has something like 33% favorable rating overall with the American people). Contrast that with the Bush White House rating of something near 50%.
When do we get to grade the media?
You're right that the people don't think very highly of the media.
But that is largely beside the point. The media still heavily shape what most people think about politics, and about major public figures.