Even if Obama wins by a landslide, the media will not

[ikojo]

say he has a mandate. It's just different for Democrats. In 2004, Bush "won" by 51% to 49% and the media said he had a "mandate." I don't expect such language should Obama win by even the same margins.

I don't call 51% a mandate, even if it's a Democrat.

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

1. The revolution will not be televised. n/t

[99th_Monkey]

2. The ONLY way Obama will win is by a landslide, thanks to Diebold. Fortunately, yes we can. ~nt~

[cali]

3. Want to provide some evidence for that claim? I can't stand the MSM

but I do not recall that they claimed that bush had a mandate- either in 2000 or 2004. I recall their reporting that bush claimed he had a mandate. That's a little different.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Check out the first chapter of Al Franken's "The Truth (with jokes)"

He addresses this particular issue. I don't know about 2000 but most news organizations believed that he did, in fact, have a "mandate" in 2004, or at least they did not dispute Bush's delirious claims of one.

[D23MIURG23]

10. I recall the one word headline "Mandate" on the NYTimes.

Its been awhile so maybe I have the context wrong, but my understanding was that they were saying Bush had earned a clear mandate by his win. I'll check later today and see if I can find any stories to this effect.

[ikojo]

15. I recall hearing a news announcer on Nov 5, 2004

state that George W Bush did indeed have a mandate. I was with some friends, who were as depressed as was I, and our collective mouths dropped. 51% of those who bothered to vote is no mandate.

Will this do as proof that the media claimed Bush had a mandate in November 2004...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200411040009

[liberal N proud]

4. No President should feel they have a mandate

It is pompous for a sitting President to declare they have a mandate. They should lead the country by example and work to unite the nation, not divide.

Declaring you have a mandate just pisses off those who didn't vote for you.

[dennis4868]

5. It still boggles the mind....

that Bush got 51% of the vote in 2004. WTF were people thinking? Did they think things would get better after the first 4 years of Bush.

This is what is keeping McCain alive in the election....his hope that enough stupid people will vote.

[old mark]

7. If you remember how the media treated Bill Clinton

when he was elected,they will be all over Obama even worse.
BUT Obama will have a Democratic majority in congress, and I believe he will have a lot of popular support as well.

mark

[WinkyDink]

8. A victory is a victory. Since when did we start using Republican (phony-arse) parameters?

[Meshuga]

9. He will have a Democratic congress regardless of what the media has to say

And we are going to get things done!

[Curtland1015]

11. I predict the exact opposite, actually.

The media just loves being on the "winning" side, and getting the "good" story.

If Obama wins handily, expect the media at large (who have been panning Obama for MONTHS) to start absolutely GUSHING about Obama, and how it was meant to be, and blah, blah, blah...

[mohc]

12. To an extent I agree with you

But I think it depends on the margin. If Obama wins by large, but not overwhelming, margin, I think the media will spin it as "Why did Obama not win by more?". They will use the Republican's unprecedented unpopularity to frame it in such a way as to say he should have won bigger. At some point that argument fails if Obama wins by a margin that is overwhelming, something at least in the double digits nationally and possibly even higher than that. For similar reasons some framed Bush's 2004 win as a mandate because there was some expectation of loss. When you win by any margin when many expect you to lose it, the win is spun as a huge win. By the same token, if McCain were to win at all it will be framed as an enormous win.

[Atman]

13. You're right. Obama is now up 5 points, generally, and still it's "TOO CLOSE TO CALL"

When McCain was up a couple points they were writing obituaries for Obama. Now that every trend line shows Obama rising a bit every day, it's back to "why isn't he doing better?" and "close the deal" talk and all that crap. It's just that damned liberal media.

.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Even if we win, we LOSE!!!! BOOHOOOHOO!!!!

[JuniperLea]

16. Of course they won't... Obama needs to say it...

And we need to echo it.

[Cha]

17. Fuck the corporatemedia...Who died and

made them god of everything? Fuck 'em if they can't take a Dem mandate.

Obama Biden will decide what is a mandate. Fuckin' chimptard did.

[woolldog]

18. It won't matter what the media says

Both houses of Congress will be Democratic, and the Presidency as well. That is enough to give him a mandate.

[ramapo]

19. One step at a time

I don't doubt your premise and the MSM will be the least of the problems. Wait until you hear the Repubs scream and rant.

[EffieBlack]

20. Of course not.. They'll ask why he couldn't manage to swing a unanimous vote . . .

And spend the next four years analyzing why Obama is simply unable to connect with every single voter in America.