As the networks wind up to praise President Obama, there are easy comparisons to make with President Bush eight years ago. They were looking for any excuse to deny or destroy Bush’s popularity at that time. Brent Bozell gave an example of poll-denial and poll-mangling:
In his 100-days interview with the President, ABC's Charlie Gibson cut to the chase: our pollsters' finding of your 63 percent approval rating is nice, "yet less than half the people in the poll say that they approve of policies or feel that you understand their needs, which could be interpreted as saying, ‘nice guy but we don't like his politics or his policies.’"
Gibson was taking the media’s usual poetic license with polling data. The Washington Post story on this poll didn't report that people disagreed with Bush's policies. The pollsters deliberately prodded them into saying they thought that the tax cut would go to the wealthy (not that they want to forego their tax cut and stick it to the rich). They were also urged to prefer "protecting the environment" to new sources of oil and gas.
As for "understanding needs," this is what ABC/Washington Post pollsters asked: "Do you think Bush cares more about protecting the interests of ordinary working people or cares more about protecting the interests of large business corporations?" A better question might have been: "Who do you agree with more? President Bush or a group of divisive pollsters who never got over the Marxist game of putting ‘real people’ and cold, faceless caricatures of business in separate, warring camps?"
The data, in fact, contradict Gibson’s interpretation. When they asked if Bush was too liberal, too conservative, or just about right ideologically, 31 percent said too conservative, but a whopping 62 percent said about right. Well, what a shock. Moderates and conservatives like his policies; liberals don’t. When Gibson says Americans "don’t like his politics or his policies" – guess which camp he’s representing?
You can also consult Brent Baker's Cyber Alert for more details on that time. Here's how Gibson's "nice guy" exchange continued:
President Bush: "Well, you know, for example, the signature piece of legislation is going to be the tax relief plan. I think when it's all said and done, most Americans will appreciate tax relief."
Gibson: "And yet the poll would indicate only a third of them would prefer that; two-thirds say they'd rather be spending the money to meet people's needs."
It's funny to see ABC's pollster say "Tax cuts aren't unpopular." Gibson was also appalled that Bush hadn't consulted the wisest man in America, that sage with the desperate need for intern sex:
Gibson: "Why haven't you consulted Bill Clinton? "Have you ever -- it just occurred to me -- have you ever, in the first hundred days, consulted or called former President Clinton?"
President Bush: "No, I haven't."
Gibson: "To talk to him?"
President Bush: "No, I have not."
Gibson: "Don't feel the need?"
Below that item in the Cyber Alert is the MRC's 2001 report card on the networks for more contrasts.
