[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3149-H3150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AMERICANS NEED OBJECTIVE REPORTING

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)

[[Page H3150]]

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, recently the New York Times asserted 
that President Obama enjoyed ``remarkably high levels of optimism and 
confidence'' among Americans. The very same day, Gallup released a poll 
with very similar results as the Times poll, but Gallup characterized 
the result as ``typical of how the last several Presidents have fared 
at the one-month mark.'' In other words, not remarkable.
  Gallup also found that the number of people who disapproved of the 
way President Obama is doing his job had doubled in just one month, 
from 12 percent to 24 percent, and noted that President Obama's 
disapproval rating was higher than the average of the last six 
Presidents.
  The Times and Gallup had similar polling results, but the Times gave 
a very biased report and ignored the historical facts.
  At least one member of the White House press corps recognizes his 
colleagues' bias in favor of President Obama.
  Jake Tapper, ABC's Senior White House Correspondent, said during a 
recent interview that some news editors and producers are soft on the 
President and inclined to ``root for him.''
  Regarding the media's bias, Tapper also said: ``Certain networks, 
newspapers and magazines leaned on the scales a little bit.''
  It is telling that a man who sees news coverage of the President 
first-hand on a daily basis would be so forthcoming about the media's 
pro-Obama bias.
  When it comes to the major issues we face, Americans expect the media 
to be referees, not cheerleaders.

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