Pro-Obama Media or Good Business?

[Dr. Shane]

Obama inauguration got unprecedented news coverage

President Barack Obama's inauguration generated an unprecedented 35,000 stories in the world's major newspapers, television and radio broadcasts over the past day -- about 35 times more than the last presidential swearing-in -- a monitoring group said on Wednesday.

The Texas-based Global Language Monitor said there had also been 6 million new Obama-related mentions on the Internet since December 31.

By comparison, the last U.S. presidential inauguration, of George W. Bush in January 2005, resulted in about 1,000 stories in major media worldwide, Paul JJ Payack, president of Global Language Monitor said...

Payack said that according to his group's monitoring, the Obama campaign and election story had generated 717,000 citations in print, television and radio across the world in 2008 and 254 million mentions on the Internet and in Web blogs.

That surpassed media interest generated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the global financial meltdown in 2008, the Iraq War in 2003 and the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, Payack said.

[text from link]

[Bravus]

The rest of the world is excited. The right-wingers in the US can harumph all they like about 'Obama mania' but the plain truth is that Bush scared the wossname out of the rest of us, and there's a massive sense of relief and excitement that he's gone and has been replaced with someone who in many ways seems the opposite of the characteristics of Bush that did that.

You may not like it, but it's the truth.

[Dr. Shane]

I understand how market-driven media works. The media publishes or broadcasts what the market wants. Clearly the market wants to see more about the inauguration of Obama than they did Bush - especially Bush's second term. That doesn't surprise me at all.

What does surprise me is that the media attention has surpassed 9/11 and the Iraq War. Is the market looking for more information about the Obama inauguration than they were about 9/11 or the Iraq War? It is kind of hard to believe that is the case.

[Neil D]

Bush's presidency did nothing but start the war...Obama has promised to end the Iraq war and to look for the man who caused 9/11....Bush, by your own admisson, mismanaged the war...Obama promises to find a way end it...Thus, his inauguration not only eclipses Bush's, but seeks to end and unravel the economic and political knots that Bush's conservative philosophys has foolishly got us into.

[Bravus]

Maybe there are just *more* media now than in 2001 and 2002?

[fccool]

Reply to the original thread.

This has to do more with historic context than with the "media bias". Considering that 2004-2005 was Bush's second term, there's certainly less to say about what he is about. Likewise, people are making a big deal out of 150 million inauguration cost, yet government spent 140 million in 2004-2005 for the same cause and without all the historic context of first black president.

On top of that, Obama promised transparency, something that media deserves and did not get with Bush administration. Bush essentially would shut many journalists up when it came to answering questions... without even attempting to answer these.

Obama thus far demonstrated his willingness to cooperate with the press. There's every reason for them to prefer him over Bush based on the attitude.

[Woody]

Quote:

On top of that, Obama promised transparency, something that media deserves

Yet ... the first thing that happens is that the President gets officially sworn in with the oath of office ... in the oval office by the Chief Justice ... and the media is not notified.

Fox News has registered a complaint about not being notified. And this is 'transparency'?

[fccool]

Since the Constitution explicitly states that the incoming President becomes President of the United States at exactly 12 noon on Jan 20th, the oath is a formality. He is not obligated to swear on the Bible.

The transparency that I am talking about is willingness to answer questions. I'm sure that if he was asked about this issue by the media, he would address it appropriately (if he indeed to practice what he preaches)

[Dr. Shane]

Itis looking more and more like this is a case of a bias media and not a market-driven one.

Updated: Will Obama break 1981 Reagan record for inauguration Nielsen ratings? No.

Quote:

The Obama inauguration was watched by 37.8 million, second only to Reagan’s 41.8 million in 1981.

And the population of the country was less in 1981.

[Woody]

Quote:

He is not obligated to swear on the Bible.

Well ... as it turns out ... Obama didn't.

[Bravus]

You're not comparing apples with apples, Shane: first story was about worldwide media, second was about US TV ratings. We *know* America is pretty evenly split between the left and the right, so you're only starting off with half the viewing audience really interested. But the worldwide interest has been huge, and overwhelmingly positive in both left and right-leaning media.

[Bravus]

He did the first time, just not on the do-over in private. Come on guys, a bit of 'fair and balanced' coverage of some real issues would go well...

[Woody]

If he ain't spiritual in private ... how can he be spiritual in public?

He should have used the Bible. This is a serious issue.

During the election ... he claimed to be a Christian. Now he throws out the Bible when we ain't lookin.

[Bravus]

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Bravus]

Them straws sure are hard to grab when you're clutching...

[Woody]

Hey. Ya can't blame a Republican for tryin.

[Tallmark]

You Obots gave the homosexual community more power over the rest of us:

http://hottopics.gay.com/2009/01/obama-outlines-his-gay-agenda-on-whitehousegov.html

a stimulus package that is NOT for whites:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86827

an illegal president, and a faux first lady (who cannot practice law anymore)

http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd430.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYdk26ezVio

I didn't like Bush either. In fact, I never voted for him. McCain would not have been 4 more years of Bush. Now we're getting 4 more years of the Clintons. Some change! Enjoy your messiah!

[fccool]

HEY ALL

YES IT is interesting that the prayers that were give

for good understand and yet NO BIBLE TO SWEAR ON

but still the religious leader want to work on their

issues... the next day the press was showing OBAMA in

church also interesting.....

but the question is how can any one attend church

and not swear on the bible

dgrimm60

[Tallmark]

It's traditional for all newly innaugurated presidents to attend church in DC. I'm not sure what the name of it is, but a pastor, Joel Hunter, from a large church (Northland a Church Distributed) in the Orlando FL area prayed with Obama.....for whatever that's worth.

[Kingroyal]

How can anyone support Obama as a committed Christian? One of his first acts was to lift the ban on U.S. funded abortions abroad. Using our taxpayer dollars to kill unborn babies throughout the world, often by awful partial birth methods! This is nothing more than murder... the genocide of babies before normal birth time. Jesus would never have supported such actions!

Here is a short article about Obama and the Pope communicating in person on the subject of abortion and marriage.

=================================================================================

Pope Benedict, Obama Talk: Disagree on Abortion, Agree on Marriage

Thursday, January 22, 2009 5:33 PM

By: Jim Meyers as reported in Newsmax

Pope Benedict XVI has communicated with Barack Obama twice since the Democrat won the White House — but the first message almost never got through.

The Pope telephoned Obama shortly after Election Day to congratulate him on his electoral success, but the Obama staffer receiving the call didn't believe it was actually the Pontiff on the line and wouldn't put the call through.

Benedict was eventually able to get through, however, and he and the president-elect had a "cordial" conversation mainly about cultural issues, according to a Bush administration source with close ties to the Vatican.

When the Pope brought up the subject of abortion, Obama said simply: "We agree to disagree."

But the source said that Obama did agree with the Pope on the controversial issue of same-sex marriage, saying the two shared a common view that marriage should be only between a man and a woman.

Benedict again contacted Obama by sending him a telegram on Tuesday shortly before presidential inauguration.

"I offer cordial good wishes, together with the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you unfailing wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high responsibilities," the Pope stated in the telegram.

"Under your leadership, may the American people continue to find in their impressive religious and political heritage the spiritual values and ethical principles needed to cooperate in the building of a truly just and free society."

Such a society, the Pope said, must be "marked by respect for the dignity, equality and rights of each of its members, especially the poor, the outcast and those who have no voice."

=======================================================================================

Where will such misguided actions take this country? And is this the start of a dialog between the Catholic Church and the U.S. Nation that portends ominous future collaborations?

Far from being euphoric about Obama we should be praying that the Lord will keep him and his administration from going down the road he has promised throughout his election campaign with even more grievous actions.

And regarding the comment by Neil D, that Obama is going "to end and unravel the economic and political knots that Bush's conservative philosophys has foolishly got us into." It must be remembered it was Bush who warned in 2002 about the economic problems caused by Congress. It was Franks and Dowd who were the key principals in pushing FANNY MAE and FREDDY MAC to lend money to individuals who were not capable of paying back the home mortgage loans. Certainly greedy financiers and Wall Street wizards contributed willing to the scheme. Politicians and the money sources were in bed together... the politicians loved the contributions to their election campaigns and the donors loved the legislative support they got in return.

No, my friends, Obama is not going to be the savior of our country! Jesus Christ is our Savior and His coming is sooner than most realize. It is my humble opinion that Obama will be an active participant in some of the rapid events, foretold in Scripture, that are soon to transpire before the end of the world and Jesus returns! Rather than look to Obama we need to look to Jesus for our salvation and to be active in upholding Him to our friends and neighbors!

[Dr. Shane]

I am pro-choice. I believe abortion should be legal BUT I believe public policy should discourage the practice. Thus I do not support government subsidized abortion except in cases when the woman is on public health insurance and is dealing with an issue of rape, incest or the mother's health.

However to understand Obama one has to get into that mindset. Many people believe that legal abortion is the mark of a civilized society. Thus they do not consider countries like Kenya and Mexico as being civilized. If that is one's mindset, then of course they are not going to withhold financial aid to countries that use it to fund abortion.

Abortion is, however, the termination of human life. It is a terrible practice that society should discourage and look for ways to support pregnant women so that they do not want to abort the child living inside of them.