Issue Area: Elections/2008
One of the most important functions of the U.S. media is to give voters the tools to make informed decisions at the ballot box. But instead of open forums where qualified candidates debate issues of national significance, we see a contest warped by candidate mudslinging, dubious fact-checking and skewed issue coverage that obsesses on the irrelevant and trivial. Judging media coverage of elections is often reduced to asking whether the press is fair to this candidate or that. FAIR's media critics go further to explore the better question - whether the press is fair to the American voters.View our latest election coverage - organized below by FAIR's main media outlets.
Decoding the Media’s Ideological Spin: ‘Bipartisan’ warnings and ‘pragmatic’ praise (March 2009) By
Let’s Talk About Race—or Maybe Not: Coverage of Obama and ethnicity says more about media (March 2009) By
Beyond Clinton & Palin: Coverage of women in election misses real women’s issues (January 2009) By
Let’s Talk About Race—or Maybe Not: Coverage of Obama and ethnicity says more about media (March 2009) By
Beyond Clinton & Palin: Coverage of women in election misses real women’s issues (January 2009) By
Less...
Sarah Palin: Maverick Feminist? (Update December 2008) By
‘Secret Muslims,’ Open Bigotry: Islamophobia in the 2008 presidential campaign (November/December 2008) By and
‘Voter Fraud’ Claims Unchecked by Media: Restrictive laws spread based on scant evidence (November/December 2008) By
Top Troubling Tropes of Campaign '08: The media-created narratives that derail election coverage (November/December 2008) By
Playing the Racism Card: Race-baiters are no strangers in the McCain camp (Update October 2008) By
The Myth of Pro-Obama Media Bias: Little evidence for self-proclaimed ‘lovefest’ (September/October 2008) By
Spinning the Surge: Iraq & the election (September/October 2008) By
Inventing Obama’s Race Problem: Media muddle needs some sort of trouble (September/October 2008) By
When a ‘Flip-Flop’ Is a Badge of Honor: Switching positions can be good—if McCain does it (September/October 2008) By and
Dubious Debates: How media moderators lowered the level of Election ’08 (July/August 2008) By
Failing to Do the Math on Oil: Support for offshore drilling increases following media misinformation (Update August 2008) By
The 'Pledge' That Wasn't: Misrepresenting Obama's public financing promise (Update August 2008) By
Sidebar: An ‘Elitist’ by Any Other Name (July/August 2008) By
Obama the Snob?: Hanging the ‘elitist’ label on another Democratic candidate (July/August 2008) By
Sidebar: The Most Liberal Senator? (July/August 2008) By and
Fair Study: TV’s Low-Cal Campaign Coverage: How 385 stories can tell you next to nothing about whom to vote for (May/June 2008) By
Failing to Use the 1st Amendment to Defend the Bill of Rights: Media don’t probe candidates on civil liberties (May/June 2008) By
Misogyny’s Greatest Hits: Sexism in Hillary Clinton coverage (May/June 2008) By
The Press Corps’ Unshakeable Crush on McCain: Some straight talk about the media’s favorite ‘maverick’ (May/June 2008) By
Media Miss Bigger Picture in Healthcare Debate: Ignoring ‘mandate’ plans’ record of failure (May/June 2008) By
Journalists Predict Scrutiny of McCain . . . Some Day (Update June 2008) By
Endorsing a Different Standard (Update April 2008) By
McCain’s Iraq War 'Advantage' (Update April 2008) By
Giuliani's Winning Strategy of Losing: 'Front-runner' spent millions in states he 'skipped' (March/April 2008) By
Are People a ‘Special Interest’?: Media language equates citizens and money (January/February 2008) By
The Lou Dobbs Primary?: Media, not voters, push immigration issue (Update February 2008) By
Humbled in New Hampshire?: Press needs to quit guessing and start reporting (Update February 2008) By
Taking Offense at Edwards: Media can't forgive his anti-establishment rhetoric (Update February 2008) By
Choosing to Call Giuliani 'Pro-Choice': Media mislabel GOP hopeful (January/February 2008) By and
Poll-obsessed media focus on strategy over substance (12/11/07) By
Risky Business (Update December 2007) By
Rudy Giuliani, Teflon Candidate: Scandals are non-stories for 'America's Mayor' (November/December 2007) By
Democrats, Double Standards and the ‘Anti-Giuliani’ (November/December 2007) By
Swift-Boating 'America's Mayor'?: Hometown paper rushes to defend Giuliani (September/ October 2007) By
Clear the Stage: Media have little time, tolerance for ‘second-tier’ candidates (July/August 2007) By
MSNBC's 'Truth Squad': Democrats labeled 'untruthful' for criticizing Bush (Update October 2007) By
Why People Hate Politics: Blame journalism that isn't (Update August 2007) By
The Media's Mayor: Mythologizing Guiliani and 9/11 (May/June 2007) By
Obamamania: How loving Barack Obama helps pundits love themselves (March/April 2007) By
Covering McCain: Are Journalists On the Bus or Off the Bus? (2/24/00) By
Sarah Palin: Maverick Feminist? (Update December 2008) By
‘Secret Muslims,’ Open Bigotry: Islamophobia in the 2008 presidential campaign (November/December 2008) By and
‘Voter Fraud’ Claims Unchecked by Media: Restrictive laws spread based on scant evidence (November/December 2008) By
Top Troubling Tropes of Campaign '08: The media-created narratives that derail election coverage (November/December 2008) By
Playing the Racism Card: Race-baiters are no strangers in the McCain camp (Update October 2008) By
The Myth of Pro-Obama Media Bias: Little evidence for self-proclaimed ‘lovefest’ (September/October 2008) By
Spinning the Surge: Iraq & the election (September/October 2008) By
Inventing Obama’s Race Problem: Media muddle needs some sort of trouble (September/October 2008) By
When a ‘Flip-Flop’ Is a Badge of Honor: Switching positions can be good—if McCain does it (September/October 2008) By and
Dubious Debates: How media moderators lowered the level of Election ’08 (July/August 2008) By
Failing to Do the Math on Oil: Support for offshore drilling increases following media misinformation (Update August 2008) By
The 'Pledge' That Wasn't: Misrepresenting Obama's public financing promise (Update August 2008) By
Sidebar: An ‘Elitist’ by Any Other Name (July/August 2008) By
Obama the Snob?: Hanging the ‘elitist’ label on another Democratic candidate (July/August 2008) By
Sidebar: The Most Liberal Senator? (July/August 2008) By and
Fair Study: TV’s Low-Cal Campaign Coverage: How 385 stories can tell you next to nothing about whom to vote for (May/June 2008) By
Failing to Use the 1st Amendment to Defend the Bill of Rights: Media don’t probe candidates on civil liberties (May/June 2008) By
Misogyny’s Greatest Hits: Sexism in Hillary Clinton coverage (May/June 2008) By
The Press Corps’ Unshakeable Crush on McCain: Some straight talk about the media’s favorite ‘maverick’ (May/June 2008) By
Media Miss Bigger Picture in Healthcare Debate: Ignoring ‘mandate’ plans’ record of failure (May/June 2008) By
Journalists Predict Scrutiny of McCain . . . Some Day (Update June 2008) By
Endorsing a Different Standard (Update April 2008) By
McCain’s Iraq War 'Advantage' (Update April 2008) By
Giuliani's Winning Strategy of Losing: 'Front-runner' spent millions in states he 'skipped' (March/April 2008) By
Are People a ‘Special Interest’?: Media language equates citizens and money (January/February 2008) By
The Lou Dobbs Primary?: Media, not voters, push immigration issue (Update February 2008) By
Humbled in New Hampshire?: Press needs to quit guessing and start reporting (Update February 2008) By
Taking Offense at Edwards: Media can't forgive his anti-establishment rhetoric (Update February 2008) By
Choosing to Call Giuliani 'Pro-Choice': Media mislabel GOP hopeful (January/February 2008) By and
Poll-obsessed media focus on strategy over substance (12/11/07) By
Risky Business (Update December 2007) By
Rudy Giuliani, Teflon Candidate: Scandals are non-stories for 'America's Mayor' (November/December 2007) By
Democrats, Double Standards and the ‘Anti-Giuliani’ (November/December 2007) By
Swift-Boating 'America's Mayor'?: Hometown paper rushes to defend Giuliani (September/ October 2007) By
Clear the Stage: Media have little time, tolerance for ‘second-tier’ candidates (July/August 2007) By
MSNBC's 'Truth Squad': Democrats labeled 'untruthful' for criticizing Bush (Update October 2007) By
Why People Hate Politics: Blame journalism that isn't (Update August 2007) By
The Media's Mayor: Mythologizing Guiliani and 9/11 (May/June 2007) By
Obamamania: How loving Barack Obama helps pundits love themselves (March/April 2007) By
Covering McCain: Are Journalists On the Bus or Off the Bus? (2/24/00) By
Best of CounterSpin 2008 (1/2/09)
Michael Ratner on detainee abuse report, Alfie Kohn on education nominee (12/19/08)
Bob McChesney on Tribune bankruptcy, Steve Early on card check (12/12/08)
Michael Ratner on detainee abuse report, Alfie Kohn on education nominee (12/19/08)
Bob McChesney on Tribune bankruptcy, Steve Early on card check (12/12/08)
Less...
Kai Wright on the Proposition 8 vote, Andy Worthington on Guantánamo (11/21/08)
Bernie Horn on election mandate, Billy Bragg on art & activism (11/7/08)
Lori Minnite on ACORN & vote fraud, Bethany Albertson on the Bradley Effect (10/17/08)
Phyllis Bennis on the presidential debate, Wendy Weiser on voter suppression (10/3/08)
Eartha Jane Melzer on Ohio GOP vote suppression, Sarah Anderson on Wall Street CEO pay (9/26/08)
Jim Naureckas on McCain/Palin campaign claims, George Farah on open debates (9/12/08)
Heidi Boghosian on convention protests, David Moore on polling (9/5/08)
Adam Serwer on Obama and race, Eric Boehlert on TV diversity study (8/8/08)
Robert Dreyfuss on Obama's foreign policy, Amanda Marcotte on 'pregnancy pact' story (7/11/08)
Glenn Greenwald and Arianna Huffington on right-wing myths (7/4/08)
Tyson Slocum on offshore drilling, Matthew Lasar on the Red Lion decision (6/20/08)
Pepe Escobar on UN Iran report, Sarah Posner on McCain's Pastor problem (5/30/08)
Rob Richie on primary coverage, Forrest Hylton on FARC laptops (5/23/08)
Bill Fletcher on Wright and Obama, Andy Worthington on Guantanamo (5/16/08)
Ben Dangl on Bolivian referendum, Kate Sheppard on McCain & environment (5/9/08)
Justin Levitt on Supreme Court and voter ID, Sara Robinson on Texas Mormons case (5/2/08)
Mark Weisbrot on Colombia trade deal, Rick Perlstein on John McCain (4/11/08)
Robert Dreyfuss on McCain's foreign policy, Michael Jacobson on incarceration rates (3/14/08)
Tavia Nyong'o on Kenya, Trudy Lieberman on health care policy (2/8/08)
Glen Ford on Obama-Clinton, Rob Richie on electoral process (1/25/08)
Peter Hart on 2008 primaries, Kali Akuno on New Orleans public housing (1/11/08)
Max Brantley on Mike Huckabee, Marc Herold on Afghanistan (12/14/07)
Gareth Porter on Iran, Tarso Ramos on Values Voters (11/2/07)
Cynthia Boaz on Burma, Dean Baker on Social Security (10/5/07)
Wayne Barrett on Giuliani's 9/11 lies, Michael Schwartz on Iraq 'benchmarks' (8/17/07)
Aziz Huq on Protect America Act, Laura MacCleery on White House for Sale (8/10/07)
Elizabeth de la Vega on Libby sentencing, Jeff Cohen on John Edwards (6/8/07)
Kai Wright on the Proposition 8 vote, Andy Worthington on Guantánamo (11/21/08)
Bernie Horn on election mandate, Billy Bragg on art & activism (11/7/08)
Lori Minnite on ACORN & vote fraud, Bethany Albertson on the Bradley Effect (10/17/08)
Phyllis Bennis on the presidential debate, Wendy Weiser on voter suppression (10/3/08)
Eartha Jane Melzer on Ohio GOP vote suppression, Sarah Anderson on Wall Street CEO pay (9/26/08)
Jim Naureckas on McCain/Palin campaign claims, George Farah on open debates (9/12/08)
Heidi Boghosian on convention protests, David Moore on polling (9/5/08)
Adam Serwer on Obama and race, Eric Boehlert on TV diversity study (8/8/08)
Robert Dreyfuss on Obama's foreign policy, Amanda Marcotte on 'pregnancy pact' story (7/11/08)
Glenn Greenwald and Arianna Huffington on right-wing myths (7/4/08)
Tyson Slocum on offshore drilling, Matthew Lasar on the Red Lion decision (6/20/08)
Pepe Escobar on UN Iran report, Sarah Posner on McCain's Pastor problem (5/30/08)
Rob Richie on primary coverage, Forrest Hylton on FARC laptops (5/23/08)
Bill Fletcher on Wright and Obama, Andy Worthington on Guantanamo (5/16/08)
Ben Dangl on Bolivian referendum, Kate Sheppard on McCain & environment (5/9/08)
Justin Levitt on Supreme Court and voter ID, Sara Robinson on Texas Mormons case (5/2/08)
Mark Weisbrot on Colombia trade deal, Rick Perlstein on John McCain (4/11/08)
Robert Dreyfuss on McCain's foreign policy, Michael Jacobson on incarceration rates (3/14/08)
Tavia Nyong'o on Kenya, Trudy Lieberman on health care policy (2/8/08)
Glen Ford on Obama-Clinton, Rob Richie on electoral process (1/25/08)
Peter Hart on 2008 primaries, Kali Akuno on New Orleans public housing (1/11/08)
Max Brantley on Mike Huckabee, Marc Herold on Afghanistan (12/14/07)
Gareth Porter on Iran, Tarso Ramos on Values Voters (11/2/07)
Cynthia Boaz on Burma, Dean Baker on Social Security (10/5/07)
Wayne Barrett on Giuliani's 9/11 lies, Michael Schwartz on Iraq 'benchmarks' (8/17/07)
Aziz Huq on Protect America Act, Laura MacCleery on White House for Sale (8/10/07)
Elizabeth de la Vega on Libby sentencing, Jeff Cohen on John Edwards (6/8/07)
Fox Responds to FAIR (11/13/08)
Media Tell Obama--Don't Be a Lefty Like Clinton: Rewriting the '94 election to find a centrist moral (11/7/08)
Fox News Nailbiter!: Conservative channel pushed notion of a tightening election (11/5/08)
Media Tell Obama--Don't Be a Lefty Like Clinton: Rewriting the '94 election to find a centrist moral (11/7/08)
Fox News Nailbiter!: Conservative channel pushed notion of a tightening election (11/5/08)
Less...
More Than a Two-Person Race: Corporate media largely ignore other presidential candidates (10/21/08)
Ayers = Keating?: Media falsely balance Obama, McCain attacks (10/10/08)
Report: Right-wing Pundits Use Mainstream Media to Smear Muslims (10/8/08)
Lehrer's Debate Ignores World's Vast Majority (9/29/08)
CBS Cheats on Tax Coverage: Manipulation of data leaves viewers disinformed (9/22/08)
Post's Post-Convention 'Balancing' Act: The problem with the paper's 'fact-check' (9/11/08)
Brokaw Responds to FAIR (9/8/08)
Maverick No Matter What: McCain's VP pick just reinforces media storyline (9/3/08)
ABC Errs on Obama's Iraq Votes: Echoing McCain line on 'funding for troops' (9/2/08)
Brokaw Warns Dems to Lay Off McCain: Criticizing Republican candidate 'very tricky,' says NBC host (8/29/08)
Media Cheer Biden Choice: Obama's running mate seen as ratifying conventional wisdom (8/27/08)
Media Fall for 'Race Card' Spin: Outraged press ignores McCain's ties to GOP race-baiting tradition (8/5/08)
Washington Post Responds to FAIR's Criticism Over Poll Question (7/23/08)
Washington Post's McCain-Friendly Poll: Deceptive question misleads on Iraq position (7/15/08)
Obama Moves Right? Pundits Cheer (7/15/08)
NPR host responds to FAIR (7/9/08)
Two Standards on Public Financing (7/3/08)
Press Distorts Clark's Comments (7/2/08)
Manufacturing Difference Between McCain and Bush: NYT exaggerates areas where GOP leaders "mostly disagree" (6/17/08)
FAIR Study: TV News Stresses Strategy, Downplays Issues (5/22/08)
Journalists Predict Scrutiny of McCain...Some Day (5/9/08)
ABC's Debate Debacle: Trivia and biased questions dominate Democrats’ debate (4/17/08)
Media Double Standard on Fundraising Promises: Challenging Obama, ignoring McCain's hypocrisy (4/16/08)
Media Hold McCain, Obama to Different Standards (3/14/08)
On NBC, 'Expertise' Means Getting Iraq Wrong (2/28/08)
Giuliani's Winning Strategy: Losing: Press make excuses for "front-runner" (1/24/08)
NBC Uninvites Kucinich: Rules changes kept progressive out of GE's debate (1/17/08)
Humbled in New Hampshire?: Press Needs to Refocus Campaign Coverage (1/11/08)
Media to Voters: It's Over: Pundits rushing to end primaries and preempt voter choices (1/8/08)
USA Today Squeezes Edwards Out of Race (12/21/07)
War Is Over--Say the Pundits: But it's media, not voters, who seem to have lost interest in Iraq (12/19/07)
The Lou Dobbs Primary?: Immigration more an issue for media than voters (12/7/07)
Giuliani, Pro-Choice?: Media mislabel GOP front-runner (11/13/07)
Obama's 'Missing' Flag Pin: Trivia again distracts media from issues voters care about (10/10/07)
Five-Year Plan for Iraq?: Dem frontrunners please pundits with unpopular stand (10/2/07)
Times Corrects Obama Anti-War Smear (8/31/07)
NYT Smears Peace Movement, Again: Newspaper invents Obama dig (8/24/07)
MSNBC's 'Truth Squad': Democrats labeled 'untruthful' for criticizing Bush (8/10/07)
Jeff Greenfield Responds to FAIR: CBS reporter misses the point on healthcare (6/26/07)
CBS's 'Sicko' Spin: Americans Don't Want Single-Payer Health—Except They Do (6/25/07)
Romney's Iraq Gaffe Ignored: GOP contender's bizarre pre-war history (6/8/07)
Treated Like a Democrat: GOP candidate Ron Paul's 'unorthodox' 9/11 theory (5/31/07)
Democratic Excess: Media find too many candidates—at only one debate (5/8/07)
Who's Counting?: The media should avoid early election polls (4/26/07)
More Than a Two-Person Race: Corporate media largely ignore other presidential candidates (10/21/08)
Ayers = Keating?: Media falsely balance Obama, McCain attacks (10/10/08)
Report: Right-wing Pundits Use Mainstream Media to Smear Muslims (10/8/08)
Lehrer's Debate Ignores World's Vast Majority (9/29/08)
CBS Cheats on Tax Coverage: Manipulation of data leaves viewers disinformed (9/22/08)
Post's Post-Convention 'Balancing' Act: The problem with the paper's 'fact-check' (9/11/08)
Brokaw Responds to FAIR (9/8/08)
Maverick No Matter What: McCain's VP pick just reinforces media storyline (9/3/08)
ABC Errs on Obama's Iraq Votes: Echoing McCain line on 'funding for troops' (9/2/08)
Brokaw Warns Dems to Lay Off McCain: Criticizing Republican candidate 'very tricky,' says NBC host (8/29/08)
Media Cheer Biden Choice: Obama's running mate seen as ratifying conventional wisdom (8/27/08)
Media Fall for 'Race Card' Spin: Outraged press ignores McCain's ties to GOP race-baiting tradition (8/5/08)
Washington Post Responds to FAIR's Criticism Over Poll Question (7/23/08)
Washington Post's McCain-Friendly Poll: Deceptive question misleads on Iraq position (7/15/08)
Obama Moves Right? Pundits Cheer (7/15/08)
NPR host responds to FAIR (7/9/08)
Two Standards on Public Financing (7/3/08)
Press Distorts Clark's Comments (7/2/08)
Manufacturing Difference Between McCain and Bush: NYT exaggerates areas where GOP leaders "mostly disagree" (6/17/08)
FAIR Study: TV News Stresses Strategy, Downplays Issues (5/22/08)
Journalists Predict Scrutiny of McCain...Some Day (5/9/08)
ABC's Debate Debacle: Trivia and biased questions dominate Democrats’ debate (4/17/08)
Media Double Standard on Fundraising Promises: Challenging Obama, ignoring McCain's hypocrisy (4/16/08)
Media Hold McCain, Obama to Different Standards (3/14/08)
On NBC, 'Expertise' Means Getting Iraq Wrong (2/28/08)
Giuliani's Winning Strategy: Losing: Press make excuses for "front-runner" (1/24/08)
NBC Uninvites Kucinich: Rules changes kept progressive out of GE's debate (1/17/08)
Humbled in New Hampshire?: Press Needs to Refocus Campaign Coverage (1/11/08)
Media to Voters: It's Over: Pundits rushing to end primaries and preempt voter choices (1/8/08)
USA Today Squeezes Edwards Out of Race (12/21/07)
War Is Over--Say the Pundits: But it's media, not voters, who seem to have lost interest in Iraq (12/19/07)
The Lou Dobbs Primary?: Immigration more an issue for media than voters (12/7/07)
Giuliani, Pro-Choice?: Media mislabel GOP front-runner (11/13/07)
Obama's 'Missing' Flag Pin: Trivia again distracts media from issues voters care about (10/10/07)
Five-Year Plan for Iraq?: Dem frontrunners please pundits with unpopular stand (10/2/07)
Times Corrects Obama Anti-War Smear (8/31/07)
NYT Smears Peace Movement, Again: Newspaper invents Obama dig (8/24/07)
MSNBC's 'Truth Squad': Democrats labeled 'untruthful' for criticizing Bush (8/10/07)
Jeff Greenfield Responds to FAIR: CBS reporter misses the point on healthcare (6/26/07)
CBS's 'Sicko' Spin: Americans Don't Want Single-Payer Health—Except They Do (6/25/07)
Romney's Iraq Gaffe Ignored: GOP contender's bizarre pre-war history (6/8/07)
Treated Like a Democrat: GOP candidate Ron Paul's 'unorthodox' 9/11 theory (5/31/07)
Democratic Excess: Media find too many candidates—at only one debate (5/8/07)
Who's Counting?: The media should avoid early election polls (4/26/07)
Media Beat
Issues Have Gone Missing in Presidential Race (1/12/08) By
Awful Truth About Hillary, Barack, John... and Whitewash (4/12/07) By
Awful Truth About Hillary, Barack, John... and Whitewash (4/12/07) By
