A few weeks ago, I promised more entries here about the role of the press and the media in the America of now. So here is an example: In this week's Sunday edition, The Washington Post declared in a bold headline that President Biden is "above water" in polling results, but at an average below that of recent Presidents other than Trump at this point in their terms.
With all due respect, this is -- professionally speaking -- idiocy. Why is it idiocy? It is so on several grounds. First I am not aware of what "above water" means when applied to Presidential polling. I am familiar with the term relating to mortgages, but in this context it is awkward and imprecise, to say the least.
Further, the headline attempts to leave Mr. Trump completely out of the picture, a decidedly dubious stance. Moreover with a sharply divided country, which is part of the Trump legacy, President Biden standing above 50% in approval is a major accomplishment, something no other candidate in the race could likely have achieved.
Finally, is not a certain noted Washington newspaper trying to appear "even-handed" in its reporting, by being "tough" on President Biden, just as they were with Trump? This does have its hilarious aspect.
So we come to the matter of truth. Do headlines such as this serve the public interest, with their combination of hubris and dishonesty? After all, context does matter. A majority of the public agrees President Biden is doing somewhere between a good and a terrific job -- under these circumstances.
Let America be grateful. Watchful, yes, and critical as needed, sure. But let us be freed from this soupy, muddy attention-mongering of some headline crafters.
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