I hadn't expected this

(Entry added at 20:15hrs on 4-SEPT-2008 to include link to UCLA study about liberal bias in the media.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20080904/pl_rasmussen/palinmedia20080904;_ylt=AvU.bb3dYLG5zpYlPdRqnFph24cA

Folks, please put down whatever (if anything) that you're eating or drinking.

"The findings, nevertheless, are troublesome for the embattled news industry and parallel what voters said in surveys earlier this summer. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of voters now believe most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win, and 49% believe reporters are trying to help Obama this year. Only 14% think they are trying to help McCain. In another survey, 55% said media bias is a bigger problem for the electoral process than large campaign donations. "

There's the entire quote, complete with their (NOT MINE!) hyperlinks.  Let me distill these numbers down:

68% think most reporters try to help "their" candidate. (Yes, a 'duh' moment.)

49% believe that reporters are trying to help Obama!!!  THAT'S NEARLY HALF!!!

55% believe that liberal media bias is a bigger problem campaign contributions.

51% believe that reporters are trying to hurt Sarah Palin!!!!  THAT IS OVER HALF!!

No liberal bias?!?  !!!!  OK, Yes, I am dense in some areas and I admit that.  But come on already.  Go read the UCLA study I referenced in an earlier post.  http://journals.aol.com/gregb1967/my-journey-my-journal/?page=10#Entry1288

But here's the point I'm not sure I agree with:  "Voters are more ambivalent about whether the media coverage of Palin and her family reflects a double standard that treats women worse than men. Forty-six percent (46%) say it does, but 35% disagree."

Um.... let's see.  Remember, I'm not too sharp here, so bear with me.

46 - 35 = um....wait.....11?

An 11 point spread, folks.  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambivalent  It means "uncertainty" in case you were wondering.

An 11 point spread does not "ambivalent" make, folks.  While it's not a slam dunk or a 'duh' moment, that's well outside the margin of error.

And the poll that they cite is the Rasmussen Reports poll.  They are one of the standards by which the others are judged.