If There Isn't An Enthusiasm Gap, Just Make One Up

[babylonsister]

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/if-there-isnt-enthusiasm-gap-just-make-one

If There Isn't An Enthusiasm Gap, Just Make One Up
By karoli


Credit: Daryl Cagle


Over the past few months leading into these midterms there has been nothing but a nonstop litany from the mainstream media about how unenthused Democrats are, how the Tea Party is going to take over Congress, how Democrats are going to have to live with the fact that health reform and financial regulatory reform will be repealed by the New Generation of TeaBirchers, and so on.

It requires a daily reality check on my part, because I just don't see it. In my district, I see enthusiasm everywhere I go, as do others. President Obama is coming to USC this Friday for a GOTV rally, and they've already had to move the venue to USC alumni park due to overwhelming demand. (I plan to be there with my cameras, by the way). Last Sunday, 35,000 turned out for his rally in Boehner territory. The week before, 18,000 in Philadelphia. Yet, if you watched either of those two rallies on CSPAN, what you saw was a tight shot of the President's face with no pans of the crowd whatsoever. None. Zero. Not only that, they squelched the crowd response sound, so one was left with the distinct impression that the rallies had low attendance and enthusiasm.

These impressions and themes are not accidents. There are $200 million real benefits to our corporate media in the "Republican takeover" narrative, and so they will continue to tell their viewers, readers and listeners about this mythical enthusiasm gap.

snip//

Finally, not to be ignored, the Washington Post weighs in to remind us all that Democrats have a daunting task ahead.

Democrats across the country know they face a daunting enthusiasm gap that veteran politicians such as Reid can't possibly overcome. What they can do is try to outperform their Republican opponents by taking advantage of the longer window to get folks to the polls.

Can't possibly overcome? Really? In a state where there are 60,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans? Why, you'd think with that horrible, terrible, awful enthusiasm gap Republicans could have overcome that pesky problem of having fewer registered voters in their state, wouldn't you? But no, that's now how it works in the Land of Media Narratives.

I'm not saying we should be sitting back on our haunches and getting complacent. We should all be getting out the vote in a big way between now and November 2nd. But there is a misshapen and dreadfully out-of-reality narrative being fashioned, and it's worth nailing them on it now.

I really want the pleasure of watching them all twist around on November 3rd to figure out "how they missed it". So go vote. Just do it, whether or not you're enthusiastic.

Update: Well, this is interesting. It looks like Gallup's likely voter model maybe isn't really all that accurate. That could be your enthusiasm gap right there.

[mdmc]

1. k/r

no need for enthusiasm in NYS - we have all the races locked..

[Historic NY]

2. Media & RW inspired invention to surpress the vote.

[ProSense]

3. Gallup accused of cooking the polls

Daily Kos: Gallup Scandal. Urged to STOP Polling Immediately.

[babylonsister]

4. Yes, I just read about that; quelle surprise, huh. nt

[Tippy]

6. I just fired of an e-mail to Gallup

And told them exactly what I thought of them.

[Tippy]

5. K&R....It makes me sick to see the media doing this

When God passed out the brains, these fools were absent. I hope and pray we give them a good chalking(sp)come Nov.2....What really angers me is all the money the other side spent, what a waist, that could have helped pull our economy out of it's slump....best quit writing and go take my BP meds, which I can barley afford thanks to what they have done.....they meaning asshole republicans.

[fugop]

7. I'm really not a conspiracy theorist

but seriously. I see this stuff and get so nervous that widespread election theft is on the docket for these guys. Even after 2000 (and 2004), I tried to push away my thoughts that we lost two huge states due to theft. And in 2006 and 2008, I sighed with relief that it didn't happen again. But I watch the media pounding away day after day and start to fear we're headed back to 2000/2004 ... only worse, because now the beneficiaries would be batshit crazy t-baggers.

Very nerve-wracking.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. Huge sums of money are being spent to create this illusion. I'm proud to say..

that here in NC, Democrats are outpacing Repubs in early voting. That almost never happens. I'm not seeing this "enthusiasm gap" in my community. My aunt's church is taking part in an event where area churches plan to go to the polls immediately following this Sunday's services, and then have a big musical feast after everyone has voted. Apparently, the idea of the feast & music was conceived by a group of young parishoners, to ensure that their peers made it to the polls.

Sunday voting? I didn't even realize there was such a thing, but I checked out my county B.O.E. website, and it's true.

Enthusiasm gap, my a**. :kick:

[babylonsister]

9. Thanks, good to read! nt