I sent the following letter to Juan Williams of NPR today. I was attempting to be as neutral as possible (considering that I'm obviously pro-Dean since I was complaining about his coverage of Dean). It's painfully clear to me that Mr. Williams did not bother to check his facts before speaking.
Dear Mr. Williams,
I'd like to address a few of the comments in your column, Politically Speaking, of 2/9/2004.
While your overall assertions (given in the last paragraph) that Dean was a good guy but a poor candidate are apparently true (since votes are a good measure of effective candidacy), at least so far in the race, other comments you made seem to be based on incomplete information.
...(continued)...
You said,
"Is it the way the media played the governor's speech after his
Iowa defeat -- in which he ranted and hollered out the name of every state he planned to win? The caller said there was a problem with the sound system in Iowa and the doctor's voice was distorted."
In fact, your caller was incorrect, as well. There was no problem with the sound system, but a directional mic was in use which obscured the sound of the crowd. In reality, Dean himself could not hear his own voice and was trying to be heard over the roar of the crowd.
This has been acknowleged by Diane Sawyer and several other journalists and networks:
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/news/012904_NW_r2_group_deanscream.html
You acknowledged the overplaying of the speech, but not the fact that it was played out of context.
You said,
"I was puzzled by her claim that the news media was sinking her
candidate."
Uneven coverage of the 2004 Democratic candidates has been found repeatedly by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, as per the following.
-Study: Iowa Caucus Victors Received 98 Percent Positive Coverage
http://www.cmpa.com/pressrel/EW200402.htm
"Prior to their surprising Iowa caucus performances, 98 percent of the network evening news coverage of Democratic Presidential candidates John Kerry and John Edwards was positive, according to research conducted by the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA). The study also found Howard Dean received more critical coverage over the same time period, at 58 percent positive"
-Study: Dean Trails in Race for Positive Press
http://www.cmpa.com/pressrel/EW200401.htm
"Only 49 percent of all on-air evaluations of former Vermont governor in 2003 were positive while the rest of the democratic field collectively received 78 percent favorable coverage."
"Exit polls show voters want an experienced candidate and someone who cares about them. Those desires have vaulted Kerry and Edwards to the top."
Actually, if you look at exit poll data, these were not the top
issues in the majority of exit polls.
From MSNBC's exit polls of
Iowa
Candidate quality that mattered most in deciding whom you are supporting:
#1 - Takes strong stands on the issues
#2 - Can beat George Bush
NH
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted for
president?
#1 - He stands up for what he believes
#2 - He can defeat George Bush
South Carolina
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted for
president?
#1 - Cares about people like me
#2 - Stands up for what he believes (with "can defeat Bush" a close third)
Oklahoma
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted for
president?
#1 - Cares about people like me
#2 - Stands up for what he believes (with "can defeat Bush" a close third)
Missouri
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted today?
#1 - Can defeat Bush
#2 - Stands up for what he believes
Delaware
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted today?
#1 - Can defeat Bush
#2 - Stands up for what he believes
Arizona
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted today?
#1 - Can defeat Bush
#2 - Stands up for what he believes
Virginia
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted today?
#1 - Can defeat Bush
#2 - Stands up for what he believes
Tennessee
Which ONE candidate quality mattered most in deciding how you voted today?
#1 - Can defeat Bush
#2 - Cares about me
I believe that the appropriate conclusion to be drawn from this data is that perceived electability was the top issue thus far in the race in deciding how to vote.
Sincerely,
Valerie E. Polichar, Ph.D.