Cognitive Dissonance In The Headlines: Take Your Pick and Stick With It
CRABBY IS SUFFERING FROM WHIPLASH DUE TO THE daily contradictory stories on the race between Democratic presidential candidates Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Seems those who suffer from what psychologists call "cognitive dissonance" have their pick of which stories to read, which opinions to reinforce. To wit, here's a sample of headlines from the last two news cycles:
"Obama Surges on Electability, Challenges Clinton on Leadership"
"Poll Shows Obama Ahead as Candidate Dems See as Most Likely to Win in November" -- From ABC News online, April 16, 2008.
"Quinnipiac Poll: Clinton Has Stopped Obama Momentum In Pennsylvania"
From The Moderate Voice, which describes itself as a "moderate" online political website.
"Obama moves to largest lead yet in Gallup tracking poll"
"Three days' worth of polling after the news broke that Sen. Barack Obama said some small-town voters are "bitter," he has edged out to his largest lead yet in Gallup's daily national tracking survey." -- from USA Today, April 15 at 1:40 p.m.
"Obama's responses to controversy may be hurting him"...But amid signs that the controversy is hurting Obama in Pennsylvania -- one poll out yesterday showed Clinton opening up a double-digit lead again -- some analysts are questioning whether all of Obama's talking now is only helping to keep the story alive." -- from Newsday, from April 14, 8:17 p.m.
"Obama ahead in N.C., statistically tied in Pennsylvania and Indiana"
"New polls for the next three Democratic contests show little evidence so far of any damage to Barack Obama from his comments about bitter small town voters." -- from The Boston Globe, April 15 at 5:10 p.m.
"New poll shows Barack Obama tanking in Pennsylvania"
"...The findings could hardly be worse for the Democratic presidential contender." -- From the Los Angeles Times,April 14, 2008.
"Poll: Obama 'bitter' comments haven't hurt"
"Democratic U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama's comment that some rural voters might be "bitter" has not cost him in Pennsylvania, a voter survey shows." -- from United Press International, April 15 at 7:51 p.m.
"New Poll: 'Bitter' Controversy Actually Helped Obama"
From The Huffington Post, April 16.
"Editorial: Obama's lapses make him vulnerable"
From the Dallas Morning News, April 15 at 12 a.m.
"The Hillary Deathwatch"-- "The "bitter" flap fails to ignite"
From Slate, April 15 at 3:15 p.m.
"Poll shows 10-point lead for Obama, increasingly negative view of Clinton"
"Sen. Barack Obama holds a 10-point lead over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton when Democrats are asked whom they would prefer to see emerge as the party's presidential nominee." -- from The Washington Post , April 16, at 3:00 a.m.
"John McCain capitalising on Democratic battle"
"While he is concentrating on uniting his Republican party..."two contenders in the other party" are frantically trying to destroy each other." From The Telegraph, April 16 at 2:47 a.m.
"The Ricing on the Cake for a Republican Disaster"
"... [I]n the campaign's homestretch, Senator McCain and the Republicans have stepped in to reassert their claim to a defeat that is rightfully theirs." -- from Huffington Post, April 16 at 12:26 a.m.
And for now something really funny, The Hartford Courant has a blog entry headlined, "Ralph Nader Says He's At 10 Percent in Michigan"
Root for your candidate and take your pick. You can find the story to reinforce your views! Crabby is so fucking grateful that each election brings its own surprises and makes a mockery of the pundits. Can't wait until this year's election surprise.
Posted April 16, 2008
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