WaPo Spins to Play Off NY09 Win

Posted by P.J. Salvatore Sep 13th 2011 at 9:36 pm in Democrats/progressives, Featured Story, GOP, Mainstream Media, Washington Post, elections, media bias

The Washington Post was eager to plan spinmeister for the DNC tonight in reporting how the historically blue NY09 — Anthony Weiner’s old seat — went red, to a GOP novice named Bob Turner. Desperate to avoid the results viewed as a referendum on President Obama, WaPo and even the AP are insisting that the results are instead due to opposition to Palestinian statehood.

Republicans sought to turn the race into a referendum on President Obama, tying Weprin to the surprisingly unpopular commander-in-chief at every turn. (Obama’s approval rating was at 43 percent in the district, according to a survey conducted by Siena Research Institute).
Obama’s position on Israel became, fairly or not, an effective wedge against Weprin. The Democratic candidate tried to distance himself from Obama’s assertion that Israel should return to its pre-1967 borders but Turner effectively linked that position, deeply unpopular in the district’s Jewish community, to his Democratic rival.

That’s quite a spin, even by WaPo’s standards. Consider the facts:

Obama disapproval rating peaks

WashPo/ABC Poll: Only 17% of Americans Think Obama Has Helped Economy

One in four Democrats wants to dump Obama | Campaign 2012

AP Poll: Obama Losing Key Voting Groups

Gallup: Approval of Federal Gov’t Hits All-Time Low

Most Americans say U.S. on wrong track: poll | Reuters

“Republican Candidate” Extends Lead vs. Obama to 47% to 39%

Poll: 44% of Americans Worse Off Under Obama – Bloomberg

Poll: Obama is losing public’s confidence on economy | McClatchy

Need I say more? The media and this administration can hide their head in the sand all they want and ignore the coming tide. Midterm elections, Wisconsin, and the bellwether that is this race are all warning flags of a presidential incumbent in serious trouble. This was a rebuke of Obama — nothing else — and spin at this point only serves to hurt the administration’s chances.

Big Journalism