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Why do reporters keep falling for GOP spin about Pelosi?

October 12, 2009 1:02 pm ET by Jamison Foser

Here's the headline on a blog post by Los Angeles Times reporter Johanna Newman: "Secret Republican weapon for 2010 -- attack Pelosi."

Now, you're probably thinking to yourself "What's so secret about that?  Republicans have been running against Nancy Pelosi for years."

And sure, enough, Newman acknowledges:

Republicans have used this playbook before, without success, running against Pelosi in 2006 and 2008.

...

The Republicans have been running the playbook all year.

So, basically, it isn't "secret," it isn't new, and it hasn't been effective in the past.  So why does Newman hype it as though it's news?  Because:

Republicans are salivating over Pelosi's low ratings, Obama's slipping popularity and a stubborn recession, convinced the mid-term elections give the anti-Pelosi campaign new promise.

Except, of course, that Pelosi's "low ratings" aren't really any worse now than they were when Republicans tried to use this same "secret" playbook in 2008. (The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds slightly more people have positive feelings towards Pelosi now than right before the 2008 elections, and slightly more have negative feelings toward her, while slightly fewer have neutral feelings or are unsure.) 

Oh, and except that "Obama's slipping popularity" still leaves him with about a 15-point net positive rating.

But other than that, Newman's analysis is spot-on.

Tags: Los Angeles Times

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    • Author by kydem09 (October 12, 2009 1:10 pm ET)
        10
      I'd like to know which poll Foser's using regarding Obama. The Rasmussen poll has him at a negative 8, with overall approval at 49% approval and 51% disapproval.
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      • Author by peace4all (October 12, 2009 1:29 pm ET)
        5  
        there is only one problem with your polling data. you only take into account one poll by a company that tends to lean to the right anyway. for a more complete view maybe you should check out his link.

        http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/

        as you can see by the data. the poll that you are citing is way off when compared to other polling firms. and your -8 number suddenly becomes +13.1

        but i think you know that already. i think that maybe you just post nutty things here to see if you can get a rise out of people. no?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by kydem09 (October 12, 2009 2:19 pm ET)
             
          No. Foser should have indicated which poll he was using.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by peace4all (October 12, 2009 2:25 pm ET)
            1  
            why. pick any poll EXCEPT the one you cited and they are all pretty clear. why should he cite a specific one when they all say pretty much the same thing. well, at least the credible ones
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          • Author by bintx (October 12, 2009 2:57 pm ET)
               
            go to pollster.com and you will see ALL the polls on one graph. You will also see that Rasmussen is so far off the norm to be extremely suspect.
            Report Abuse
      • Author by NG_Officer (October 12, 2009 1:30 pm ET)
        1  
        ahhh. Rasmussen: the favorite push-pollers of the right wing...
        Why don't you look at real polls
        Report Abuse
      • Author by mk3872 (October 12, 2009 1:39 pm ET)
           
        kydem09 = Limbaugh dittohead troll.

        Below are the actual national polling aggregates. Obama dipped to low-50s and is heading back to mid-50s approval.

        The -8 is a Rasmussen-only devised number of very negative vs. very positive responses. FYI, under Bush W., that number was more that -30, to put it into perspective for you ...

        See actuall poll results here
        Report Abuse
        • Author by kydem09 (October 12, 2009 2:21 pm ET)
             
          Sorry to disappoint, but I don't listen to Limbaugh.

          I'm not attacking Obama, so take a chill pill. I'm simply stating that Foser should have indicated which poll he was basing his stats on. What's wrong with that?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by peace4all (October 12, 2009 2:29 pm ET)
               
            see. the difference is that sometimes when MMfA posts an article some things are just taken for granted that can easily be looked up. such as polling data. and as you can see, some people here did do the poll research and decided that yes, his premise was correct in the polling data. the trouble is you don't like that data so you find the one poll out of many that support you and try to use it as some sort of evidence against the article.
            thats another difference between the left and the right. on the left we use research. on the right you have to be spoon fed but hate radio and fox news.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by kydem09 (October 12, 2009 2:35 pm ET)
              1 2
              Sorry, but MMFA should know better. They attack people all the time for not backing up what they say. Foser should have included the info.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by rtwmd1230 (October 12, 2009 2:47 pm ET)
                1  
                "They attack people all the time for not backing up what they say"

                Fail. They point out when people lie.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by kydem09 (October 12, 2009 2:57 pm ET)
                  1 4
                  Fail. They spin it to the left when they disagree with what's being said or throw up smoke screens to obscure the truth.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by peace4all (October 12, 2009 3:01 pm ET)
                    4  
                    really? please post an example. i would like to see what your are referring to exactly.
                    Report Abuse
      • Author by bintx (October 12, 2009 2:56 pm ET)
        2  
        You are aware that Rasmussen's poll is considered an "outlier" . . . a poll which is so far off average [above or below] as to be suspect. Rasmussen has been discredited time and again. It is FAR from a non-biased polling service as it is run by Murdoch's best bosom buddy.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by wesley (October 12, 2009 3:21 pm ET)
         
      The dailykos polling finds that Pres.Obama's favorable ratings have fallen by 20% and his negatives have risen by 30%...since the first of the year.

      Pelosi...her favorable ratings have dropped a little bit but her negatives have skyrocketed...up 50% from the first of the year.

      While democrats remain staunchly in favor of both Obama and Pelosi...independents/republicans are rapidly deserting the ship...according to dailykos.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by kydem09 (October 12, 2009 3:36 pm ET)
          1
        Talk about an unreliable poll . . .
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        • Author by peace4all (October 12, 2009 3:42 pm ET)
             
          why is the daily kos poll unreliable? they use research 2000 who is a respectable polling company. your the one always complaining about no proof. please provide some proof that the KOS poll is incorrect. thank you, i look forward to the proof you will be offering.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by bintx (October 12, 2009 4:12 pm ET)
             
          Actually, it's not an "unreliable poll." DailyKos doesn't have anything to do with the polling. The polling is done by an independent polling company. The DailyKos poll is not outside the average. Rasmussen is . . . WAY outside the average.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by peace4all (October 12, 2009 3:39 pm ET)
           
        the same poll you cite has obama at 54 favorable and 38 unfavorable.
        which is still pretty respectable under normal conditions. however, with the economy the way it is and all the misinformation being spread by the right and big business i think his numbers are pretty darn good. as for independants and republicans deserting the ship i would just say that republicans were never on board to begin with and independants will come back to the fold as things improve. i will grant you though that if healthcare reform fails it will hurt both obama and the democrats in 2010 and possible 2012. and it should. democrats control both houses and the presidency. if they can't get something like healthcare thru then they will have proven that they are not ready to govern.
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        • Author by wesley (October 12, 2009 3:57 pm ET)
             
          -- i would just say that republicans were never on board to begin with -- peace4all

          The dailykos poll finds that 32% of republicans supported Pres.Obama at the first of the year...that number has fallen to a microscopic 4% currently.

          One might make a guess that the 32% of republicans who supported Obama had Bush Fatigue Syndrome and were willing to vote for anyone promising different...those same voters may now be experiencing buyers remorse.
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          • Author by loonz (October 12, 2009 8:28 pm ET)
               
            Obama won the election 53 to 46 with 90 percent of republicans voting against him. The 32 percent was artificial.
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            • Author by strokeofirish11276 (October 12, 2009 10:05 pm ET)
              1  
              Come on ,lets face it you obama lovers are feeling, well lets say a little voters REMORSE . You can plainly see that this smuck is just an empty suit(or skirt) he is basically ball -less .and reminds me of a scared school girl. Running around the world apologizing, and offering up Americas nuclear weapons. I mean i know all you libs are in love with this guy but get real take the blinders off or maybe just take a peak . thanks and have nice day! (OH NO ARE CONSERVITIVES ALLOWED IN HERE?)SORRRRY.
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              • Author by benjr (October 13, 2009 8:19 pm ET)
                   
                I'm confused, Obama gave American nukes to other countries?? When did I miss that?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by strokeofirish11276 (October 13, 2009 11:11 pm ET)
                     
                  Are serious or just being silly? B.O. agreed to get rid of 1/3 of our nuclear missles while in Russia.
                  Report Abuse
    • Author by bluestate69 (October 12, 2009 11:04 pm ET)
         
      if a person is going to bring up the approval ratings of a politician, then they should also bring up the approval ratings of, said politician's, political adversaries. if newman is a good journalist, then he would cite the poll position of republican leadership (which are very low ). republicans that bring up the rasmussen poll, remind me of republicans that would cling to any poll that had mccain/palin within striking distance of obama last year. oh yeah, lest i forget, they were beaten badly that year. i think the republicans run the risk of looking like misogynists if they continue to show no respect for her position as speaker of the house of representatives.
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