For each entry, include the following as the TITLE

1) the title of the news article (in quotation marks);

2) the author of the article if one is listed (Associated Press & Reuters count as authors);

3) where you read the story (eg: New York Times online), in italics;

4) The URL of the story if you read it online; the page number(s) if you read it in print;

5) the date the story was published (and if you read it on line, the time you consulted it).

At the end of the summary, write your name!

 

 

 

"Donation record as Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama"

Jeff Zeleny

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/20campaign.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=barack%20obama%20as%20an%20african%20american&st=cse&oref=slogin

October 19, 2008  Accessed 11:15 pm 10/21/08

 

 

Recently this week as Barack Obama announced he raised an intense amount of money over John McCain he received an endorsement from former Secretary of state Colin Powell. Colin Powell is a member of the Republican Party so for him to nominate a Democrat was a shock. Colin Powell also went to say that he did not nominate Obama because he was black, but because he was a “transformational figure”. Because Mr. Colin Powell was such a huge figure while he served under George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Obama is looking to receive more votes from the Democrat, independent and Republican Party. Sen. McCain already has 5 nominations from previous secretary of states.

 

 

"Obama Appeal Rises in Poll; No Gains for McCain Ticket"

Megan Thee

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/us/politics/21poll.html?ref=politics

October 20, 2008 Accessed 10:00 pm 10/21/08

 

 

Barack Obama is sweeping the nation in all the polls. Over the last 21 months people have grown to know the Illinois senator and his amazing run to become president. Currently he is dominating the polls with 53 percent in favor of him being elected to office. In the same poll Senator McCain only has 36 percent worth of favorable votes. Barack Obama has broken many records during his run for president. He broke the record for raising money and he also has the most favorable votes a president has ever received in 28 years for a president running for their first term. Many of these increased votes come from his calm appearance during the debates and being able to keep cool, unlike Senator McCain.

 

"If Obama Loses, Don't Assume Racism" 

John McWhorter

CBS News (The New Republic)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/17/opinion/main4528585.shtml

October  17, 2008 Accessed October 22, 2008 5:30 pm

 

 

People look at Barack Obama as a person who fulfills a prophecy that was never made. Plenty of black people look at Barack Obama as a person who will continue Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech. If he becomes America’s first president it will mean America as a nation has grown and can accept people of all races and cultures. The main question is what if Barack Obama does not win the election? What will happen than? Because that is a possibility most people cannot blame it just on racism. Many black people will believe that he is not going to win because he is African-American. Although Obama is supported by many black people, many black people are not register to vote.  He has the support of both black and white people, young and old. Some people criticize him for his background though. It was said that since he is biracial depending on what states he travels to, he code-switches. Code-switching means acting different around white people or black people. I don’t think a person should be judged because of who he is. It is not his fault that his background is one of multicultural origins but some people are trying to use that against him and saying that it is a bad thing.

 

 

 

"In US election, turnout may outweigh any racial bias"

International Herald Tribune

Albert R. Hunt

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/19/news/letter.php

October 19, 2008 Accessed October 23, 2008 10:45 am

 

 

Although Barack Obama is a popular candidate many people were looking at his less likelihood of winning the presidential election based on his race. This article eliminates that notion by something called the Bradley affect. The Bradley affect was a term coined in 1982, after a man named Tom Bradley. Bradley ran for a position as a mayor of Los Angeles. He was the popular candidate and many people believed he was going to win. Bradley lost the election though. He lost because many of his supporters of were white would not or could not simply vote for a person of color so they voted for the opponent. Many people believe the same will happen with Barack Obama. He currently has the support of many, not just African-Americans. But it is reported that this may not happen because of a larger turnout may come to vote. Many people have currently registered and Obama has the support of younger voters. With campaigns such as Rock the Vote, many of today’s youth have registered to vote, I know I have. A large number of black people and the new votes have the possibility to through off any of the votes Obama could lose to the Bradley Affect. Not only do the new votes count but Obama’s ability to sway the crowd. It was seen throughout the primaries and all three of the debates, which he won, that people love him.

 

 

“Voters’ views on race, gender surface in presidential election”

Times Herald-Record

Steve Israel

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081019/NEWS/810190333

October 24, 2008 Accessed October 24, 2008 5:38 pm

 

 

This article brings up a very interesting assumption that is possibly very try, most Americans have some type of bias whether about race, religion or gender. This election is one that is very crucial in proving that. Barack Obama, if he wins, will become the nation’s first African-American president and if John McCain wins Sarah Palin will become the first female vice president. Because of the thoughts that Americans have the election will be unpredictable. Although Barack Obama holds the favorable vote all of that may change on Election Day. Even though many white people support him, it is not sure that many of white people will vote for him. This is called the Bradley affect. The Bradley affect is when white people or non black people say they will vote for the nominated African-American but on Election Day they do the opposite. If at least 2.5 percent of people do this it will leave a possibility that Barack Obama will lose the election. It is very similar to the President Bush and Al Gore situation in 2004. Polls have been conducted proving that 1/3 of white Democrats view black people in  a negative way and that 40 percent of white people have negative thoughts towards black people. Many of the people who look at black people negatively pair the words violent and lazy with black people.  Racism and bias is always going to be there. It is represented in each election that takes place but it is one that is seen throughout this election because it involves an African American and a female.

 

 

"Obama Takes Time for a Woman Dear to Him"

New York Times 

Julie Bosman

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/us/politics/22grandmother.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

October 24, 2008 Accessed October 24, 2008 7:45 pm

 

 

Barack Obama is taking time of the campaign trail. His maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who helped raised him is in ill. She is located in Hawaii where he will be visiting her. Because he is doing so he will be unable to make two campaign stops. Obama’s grandmother is one of the last relatives surviving. His grandmother helped raise him after his family was abandoned by his father. His mother died in 1995 and he was not able to make it to her bedside and he is making up by visiting his grandmother. Obama’s grandmother was a major influence in his life. He talks about her influence on him in many of his speeches and even in his memoir.  Obama even confuses his white grandmother’s prejudices against black people. As a young child she made racial slurs against them that upset him but he still respects and loves her. His grandmother’s condition has not yet been revealed to the media but it is said to be serious. Many people are trying to say that this is Obama said to reconnect with white voters in the Midwest by connecting with his white grandmother. In the process this will help him gain votes, which will work against McCain’s plan to confuse Obama’s biracial identity.

 

 

Amelia Jeffcoat

English 1A

October 29, 2008

Obama and Media Coverage

 

 

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081019/NEWS/810190333

 

 

I think this article is a good example of explaining that there is a bias in the media towards all candidates but towards certain people they are more noticeable. Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are directly targeted more because they are both minorities to the election process because one is an African-American and the other is a woman, which the election process has never seen before. It also explains that each time an election occurs there is some form of bias to any candidate, this election is just covered more in the media. “The election has thrust race and gender front and center — and crystallized an ugly truth: Americans are divided by race, religion and gender.”, this quote is show true because all of the articles in the media speak on this separating this election apart from others . Mudslinging and negative campaigns are forms of provided bias because they are supported by the media but since this election has two minorities in it, it is a little more controversial. This article illustrates that everyone has a personal prejudice but that is something society no longer mentions but this election brings it up again because now people are forced to choose from a lesser of two evils, a black president or a female vice president.

 

 

Paper #4 Outline

 

Argument: About 2 of the 6 articles that I summarized had some sort of bias incorporated within them, while 3 of 6 talked about racial bias not affecting the politic race and one article mentioned that bias would be present throughout the election.

 

Bias

Commission

1.      "Donation record as Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama"

a.       He endorsing Barack Obama

b.      States only reason he sided with Obama was because they are both black since Powell is a republican

 

Omission

1.      “Donation record as Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama”

a.       Ignores Powell’s observation as to why he is voting for Obama

b.      Briefly mentions that him and McCain have different opinions 

c.       Does not mention the differences between McCain and Powell

d.      Only similarity between Obama and Powell mentioned was race

 

Spin

1.      "Obama Takes Time for a Woman Dear to Him"

a.       Mentions him visiting his sick/dying grandmother as a way to win votes

                                                                                      i.      McCain thinks he uses this to build identity

                                                                                    ii.      Connects more to white people because his grandmother is white

 

Not-Bias

 

1.      "Obama Appeal Rises in Poll; No Gains for McCain Ticket"

a.       Article mentions Obama has more supporters than McCain

                                                                                      i.      Gives reasons as to why the money problem happened the way it did

                                                                                    ii.      Mentions he friendlier perhaps

                                                                                  iii.      Also says more teenagers might donation

                                                                                  iv.      It talks about McCain supporters and how he could get more money

2.      "If Obama Loses, Don't Assume Racism" and “In US election, turnout may outweigh any racial bias"

a.       Article gives more reasons as to why Obama would lose, not just about race

                                                                                      i.      Talks about the Bradley affect/past elections

b.      Does not mention McCain or Obama election platforms or campaigns

 

Objective article

1.      “Voters’ views on race, gender surface in presidential election”

a.       States that bias appears in every election

b.      This election is more publicized because each candidate has a physical different

                                                                                      i.      Obama-race

                                                                                    ii.      Palin- gender

                                                                                  iii.      McCain-age