Why the Conservative Media Got it Wrong
If there was any question as to whether there is such a thing as a conservative media it was settled in the run-up to the Presidential election.
From Forbes to the Washington Times, right leaning media outlets predicted a close but decisive win for Mitt Romney.
Their assertions were based almost entirely on the Romney campaign platform which focused on perceived weaknesses in the Obama presidency. Let's take a look at a few of them...
The weak Economy...
"Obama and congressional Democrats are clearly to blame for the dismal economy." said Policymic.com...
The argument ignores basic economics if not the calendar.
For one thing, Economists of any stripe agree that it's impossible to completely recover from a worldwide economic recession (near depression) in less than four years. It also ignores Wall Street, a favorite economic indicator of the media.
Speaking of Wall Street...
Throughout the Romney campaign President Obama was accused of being "Bad for Business"
Obama and the belligerent anti-business cartel running Congress have created an increasingly hostile environment for businesses to operate in. from the Weekly Standard...
On January 20th 2009 (Obama's Inauguration) the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 8279.63. Election day 2012 found the close at 13245.68.
We all know that Wall Street isn't main street but the media treats the securities markets as an economic barometer. A 5000 point spread is hard to ignore. A number conspicuously absent from the Republican campaigns.
Let's try another one...
Legislative gridlock that could only be resolved with a Romney presidency...
"Obama has needlessly created political enemies among the electorate.", again from Policymic.com
This one is pure fabrication unless the mere existence of the man is reason enough to despise him. Remember Senator Mitch McConnell's (R-KY )quote?
For the two years since the quote to the National Journal, McConnell has insisted he was taken out of context. Considering the almost intractable ideologies we've seen in congress throughout the President's first term I'm not sure what other context would apply.
Both parties were aware of the frustration of the electorate with approval ratings leading up to the election hovering at 17%, an historic low. "My way or the highway" isn't compromise and even a casually informed voter knows that the President can only propose not write legislation. After that he has to wait for something to come to his desk to sign. Misdirection and the fallacy of the straw man.
Continued on the next page
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