How does it make you feel when the media says '(republican candidate) will do ___ against Hillary'?

[Dawgs]

Why do they always assume Hillary will be the Democratic candidate? Is the media that confident that she will win, or are they trying to influence the election by telling us who to pick?

This isn't a Hillary bashing thread; it's more of a media(specifically republican) bashing thread.

I hate it when I hear it, and I want to know what others think.

[TwilightGardener]

1. She's not just the presumed nominee, she's a lightning rod--

that's why I'm nervous about her winning.

[primative1]

2. It makes me wonder

It makes me wonder if my vote is anti-hillary or anti-media.
I hate being told what to do.

[papau]

3. no problem except lack of policy articles - of late they always include Obama and Edwards

in the horse race articles -

I am not sure the media is allowed to discuss policy.

[OHdem10]

4. She is the Presumed Nominee

Listen to all the Pundits and Commentators.
She leads in all polls, keeps winning the Money Race.

I have not selected a candidate.

these comments are observations. Television is what
counts. Most Americans get their news from television.
Commentators and Pundits on TV seem to believe is
is presumed Nominee.

[slackmaster]

5. I don't have a problem with it

First Amendment right to freedom of the press and free speech.

[primative1]

6. When Freedom of speech preempts democracy ...

When you watch the dem debate aren't you viewing everything through the prism of their analysis?
First off the top three have valid opinions and the others are wasting time that the top three could use to make there case ...
I'm thinking anti hillary so I sit there hoping she will screw up or that the other two will make some good points, anything ....
Wouldn't it be better to let ALL of them make or break a case on their own merits without having the odds board in our face all the time ....
Kucinich hmmm ... he's a 3000:1 shot, better put my money elsewhere .....
I know its unavoidable to see all this polling all the time but when you know they become self fulfilling prophecies how is democracy served?

[slackmaster]

8. I never let anyone else do my thinking for me

When you watch the dem debate aren't you viewing everything through the prism of their analysis?

No.

I know its unavoidable to see all this polling all the time but when you know they become self fulfilling prophecies how is democracy served?

There are two ways to fight it: 1) Voice alternative opinions and 2) Teach people to think for themselves.

[primative1]

9. Your Idea is Great Except ...

Read Sheila;s reply #7.
She is correct. We are the junkies, we are the political geeks. String us all together and we dont add up to a whole fraction .... By the time general public Jack and Jill wake up to the unfolding event the case will be closed .... AGAIN.
Not meaning to dump on you, its just a fact of life like rain and mosquitos but understanding the consequences such as we see today, it irritates me to no end .... but also no solution so ... :)

[SheilaT]

7. It certainly makes it easier

for the MSM, not to mention the RNC, figure out how to run the eventual campaign. Of course, if they actually do gear up under the assumption that Hillary will be the nominee and it's some one of the other equally fine candidates currently running, won't they be shocked!

What's going on is a presumption about her that is, in my opinion, completely unwarranted. With all due respect to her, her accomplishments, her intelligence, her campaign savvy and (most importantly) her husband, I don't think she'll be the nominee. I think that the actual primary voters are for the most part holding back and watching her and all the others and assessing events as they occur.

What these kinds of polls really show at this point is name recognition, pure and simple. We here on DU are political geeks. We know who the candidates are, many of us have very strong opinions about them, some of us are fully committed to one candidate or another, most of us will support the eventual nominee whoever it turns out to be. But the vast majority of people out there don't really care at this point, haven't heard of half of the people running, don't read a daily newspaper, and don't even watch Fox news. We're the weird ones.

[Ethelk2044]

10. They are simply trying

to sway voters. However, it will not work.