Last night on PBS Newshour, Gwen Ifill discussed with Amy Walter (of The Cook Political Report) and Stuart Rothenberg (of The Rothenberg Political Report) just how dismally the Democrats will do in 2014 because of how much the voters dislike President Obama, or the Affordable Care Act, or both. Infuriatingly, there was no discussion of any the negatives that the Republicans should present to most voters - according to this trio, just how poorly the Democrats will fare is entirely due to how voters feel about Democratic negatives.
"GWEN IFILL: [...] Warning signs are popping up everywhere for Democrats. Last week, Republican David Jolly won a special House election in the Sunshine State that Democrats had hoped to use to build momentum. Red flags are also popping for Democrats in the Senate, where Republicans need only six seats to take the majority this fall."
The fact that the entire "report" talked about nothing but Democatic negatives, and that this took place, not on FOX "News", but on supposedly ~truly~ "fair and balanced" PBS, perhaps it is merely part of the self-fulfilling prophesy that the "lamestream media" are ginning up for in November's elections. [I find myself agreeing with half-term ex-governor of Alaska on just one thing - her use of the term "lamestream media" for much of what is presented as "news and analysis" nowadays.]
It is not that the discussion was factually dishonest (and I will admit that that is a difference, as compared to FOX "News") - it is just that the discussion focused ~entirely~ on how voters will be focused ~entirely~ on the President's unpopularity and/or their distaste for "Obamacare".
"GWEN IFILL: How much of a drag in the big picture is the health care law, and how much would [the President] have had problems whether this law existed or not?"
At least Judy Woodruff on occasion questions what is sometimes offered off as "analysis", but last night's "horse race" coverage by Gwen Ifill lacked any such attempt at achieving either balance or thoroughness. I might as well have been watching the "No Spin Zone" on FOX "News"...
"GWEN IFILL: But no matter how much money is involved, it doesn't matter, if the president is the drag."
Both a video of the discussion and a transcript are available at http://www.pbs.org/...
"GWEN IFILL: OK. We will leave it there."
"GWEN IFILL: Just say yes."
"AMY WALTER: Just say yes."
"(LAUGHTER)"