Newsbusters Attacks ABC For Stating A Fact

1:46 pm EST October 5th, 2010 | Media | 1 Comment

I don’t usually get into the weeds of conservative media criticism, but this one is such a slam dunk of deception, it’s worth noting. Writing at Media Research Center’s Newsbusters site, Scott Whitlock wrote:

ABC trumpeted a new poll on Tuesday as proof that conservatives and Republicans could be losing ground in the midterm election. Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos excitedly opened the show by speculating, “This morning, is the Tea Party losing traction? Our new poll says the answer may be yes as the movement’s most famous candidate releases this ad.”

…

The GMA anchor also conducted a combative interview with conservative activist Ginni Thomas (wife of Clarence Thomas). Citing ABC’s new numbers, he argued, “The Tea Party, losing a little bit of steam.”

Stephanopoulos played up a supposed divide between Tea Partiers and the GOP, highlighting a worry that “Tea Party candidates are actually going to cost Republican seats they otherwise would have won.”

Of a possible Republican victory, he spun, “This could end up being a recipe for more gridlock, depending on who wins in November.”

I’m no Stephanopoulos fan. Not by any stretch. He was a key part of one of the worst presidential debates in history.

That said, Stephanopoulos is simply stating a fact. The poll he was reporting on asked this question:

Say a candidate for Congress associates him or herself with the political movement known as the Tea Party. Would that make you more likely to (support) that candidate for Congress, more likely to (oppose) that candidate, or wouldn’t it make much difference in your vote? IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE: Would you be MUCH more likely to support/oppose that candidate, or SOMEWHAT more?

In April 2010, 15% said they would support such a candidate. In July 2010, 30% would support such a candidate. And the most recent poll, October 3, 18% would support such a candidate.

18% is smaller than 30%. This would be characterized by people who do math as a loss of momentum.

On Twitter, I happened to ask Kevin Eder, Marketing Coordinator for Media Research Center – who had pushed this story – what, factually, Stephanopoulos had gotten factually wrong.

He did not answer.

(Also, MRC is upset that ABC referred to Christine O’Donnell as the most famous Tea Party candidate instead of Sarah Palin. Except so far, Palin hasn’t run as a Tea Party candidate. Again, this is a factually accurate statement.)