Bozell's Media Research Center Wrong Again

MRC is Spinning the Poll Reporting In Order To Claim That Dan Rather "distorted" a Poll

This is from what the MCR says is "a bi-weekly compilation of the latest outrageous, sometimes humorous, quotes in the liberal media."

Without irony, they titled their example of "liberal bias" as "Dan's Distorted Poll Reporting" They quote Dan Rather, “The President calls the tax cut necessary. Democrats call it a campaign for the wealthy. So far, it's a problematic sell for the President. In a CBS News/New York Times poll out tonight, less than half the respondents thought the Bush tax cut would actually help the economy ."

Then they make this assertion: Dan Rather on the May 13 CBS Evening News. Rather failed to report that the poll he cited showed twice as many said tax cuts would help the economy (41 percent) than said new tax cuts would hurt (19 percent).

There was nothing wrong with what Rather reported! The MCR deviously creates a false impression by leaving out the key numbers in the poll. The fact is "less than half the respondents thought the Bush tax cut would actually help the economy": 41%.

What Bozell's MCR doesn't say is that 33% didn't think it would have an effect So 33% (which MCR didn't mention) plus 19% who said it would actaully hurt gives a total of 52%. You can even say that 7% more (for a total of 59%)didn't say it would help either since they said they either didn't know or didn't answer. It is MCR that really distorts the picture, not Dan Rather. When you have 52% or 59% of Americans that don't say it would help, it means less less than half think it would actually help.

Here is the poll:
CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL: TAX CUTS, THE ECONOMY & BUSH ADMINISTRATION 5/9-12/03

q24 From what you know, do you think a new tax cut would be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or won't it have much effect on the economy?