Archive for October 15th, 2008

15
Oct

Obama Says Fox News Costs Him 2-3 Points in the Polls

   Posted by: Aurelius    in 2008 Election Follies, Media

Thus Spake Obama:

“I am convinced that if there were no Fox News, I might be two or three points higher in the polls,” Obama told me. “If I were watching Fox News, I wouldn’t vote for me, right? Because the way I’m portrayed 24/7 is as a freak! I am the latte-sipping, New York Times-reading, Volvo-driving, no-gun-owning, effete, politically correct, arrogant liberal. Who wants somebody like that?”

Hmmm.

Hillary Clinton said:

Hillary Clinton appeared on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning, where she discussed sexism with co-host Gretchen Carlson and took the opportunity to say that she “appreciated” Fox News’ balanced coverage of her campaign.


Terry McAuliffe, HIllary’s former campaign manager, and former head of the DNC said:

“Fair and balanced Fox!” he exclaimed, noting that the network was the first to project Mrs. Clinton’s Pennsylvania primary win.

But, given the Democrat/Socialist/Leftist/Friend-Of-William-Ayers-(I-mean-he’s-just-a-guy-that-lives-in-my neighborhood) meme out there, it must be just the red meat hunter/killer Vast Far Right Wing Conspiracy members watching Fox News, right?

Maybe not:

Who Is Watching

Survey data have shown that there are some clear partisan differences among those tuning into the three cable news channels.

According to data from the Pew Research Center for the People and Press, CNN and MSNBC had more Democrats tuning in, while Fox News™ audience leaned Republican.

Looking at party affiliation, CNN and MSNBC had nearly identical viewer demographics. Almost half of both of their audience members were Democrats: 48% for MSNBC and 45% for CNN. Independents made up about a quarter (26%) of viewers, while Republicans took up the smallest share: 22% for CNN, and only 19% for MSNBC.

On Fox News, the trend was somewhat reversed. The largest share of its audience: 38% — were Republicans, followed by Democrats (31%) and independents (22%).

In real terms, that means that Fox has a LOT of Left leaning people watching.

In Q2, 2008 Fox News Channel averaged 1,585,000 viewers. CNN: 961,000, MSNBC: 685,000. So according to the PEW survey, how many of these are Democrats? Numbers don’t lie:

* FNC (31% Democratic): 491,350 Dem viewers
* CNN (45% Democratic): 432,450 Dem viewers
* MSNBC (48% Democratic): 328,800 Dem viewers

Yes, it’s true. More Democrats watch Fox News Channel than either CNN or MSNBC.

Perhaps what is really bothering the Obamessiah is that the one place in Broadcast/Cable news that is not totally in the tank for him, but tries to tell both sides, is watched by more Democrats and Independents than his tame media at MSNBC, CNN, and the rest…

And what does it say about a man who, in the face over nearly universal adulation from the media, feels compelled to malign the one source of reasonably objective coverage?

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15
Oct

Obama and Social Security

   Posted by: Aurelius    in 2008 Election Follies

Well, I had intended to write a piece on this, but I simply cannot do a better job than Economistmom.

Obama is proposing that the current Social Security payroll tax of 6.2% apply to wage incomes up to the current maximum of $102,000, not at all to the wage dollars earned between $102,000 and $250,000, but again for wage dollars above $250,000.
…
This strikes me (and Len Burman of the Tax Policy Center) as a very messy and inefficient way to try to introduce more progressivity into the federal tax system.

The quotes are just to catch your interest. I really recommend everyone follow the link, and spend a few minutes with someone who is far better with a calculator (and explaining the numbers) than I will ever be.

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15
Oct

Obama’s “Tax” Cut

   Posted by: Aurelius    in 2008 Election Follies

I tried to find a link to this information on the Obamessiah’s website, but only found light and fluffy overviews, short on specifics.

Yesterday, I heard Shepard Smith at Fox News talking to a representative of the Obama Campaign about this (can’t find a video of the discussion), and went out looking for some detail…

Senator Obama is constantly talking up his plan to give 95% of Americans a tax cut. Since a large percentage of Americans pay no income tax, at the end of the day, how can that be true?

The dirty little secret is this: When Obama talks about “Taxes”, he is not only talking about Income Taxes, but also Payroll Taxes. The Obama plan would give a credit for Payroll Taxes ($500 per person/$1000 per couple, for folks making over $8K/yr, 100% under that) to everyone who makes under a specific amount (I believe the number is $200K, but I would welcome confirmation or correction on that).

Using this definition, people with NO income tax liability will still be eligible for a credit for Payroll Taxes that they have paid in. So, if you use the Obama definition, yes, they are giving a “tax cut” to 95% percent of Americans.

Background: for those that are unaware, Payroll Taxes are contributions to Social Security and Medicare. The level of contribution varies by gross pay, from 6.2% up to 12.4% at the current Cap ($102K, beyond which the worker has no further contribution assessed).

The major problem with this is that to pay for this credit, Obama would increase the federal deficit (and thereby the debt) by around $728B over 10 years. This number assumes that the credit phases out for workers earning over $75K/yr.

From the information I can find, this proposal is not related to Obama’s Social Security proposals. More on those soon.

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