Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Media doesn't accurately represent President Bush
By Angela Meyers
Daily Trojan (USC)
04/11/2006

(U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES — If I were to trust the media's portrayal of President Bush, I would believe that he is inept, clumsy, awkward, dull and just plain stupid.

But last summer I had the chance to meet and speak with Bush, which allowed me to develop firsthand knowledge of what he is like face-to-face. After hearing him speak to a small group of people without any cameras around, I saw a much different person from the man who is portrayed in media clips on television.

My first impression is that he seemed really relaxed compared to how he comes across when he's giving big, important speeches on television. This is understandable, of course, since I'd probably be pretty nervous when being broadcast around the world to people just waiting to judge me, too. I would probably be so nervous that I might slip up on my words from time to time. When Bush makes the occasional verbal slip ("Bushisms"), instead of understanding the stress and pressure caused by being the leader of the free world, many people take a mental shortcut and just label him as being dumb.

But let's be realistic. Whether you agree with his politics, you must admit that brainless people don't become president. Educated, hard-working, ambitious people judged to be qualified by the majority of the American population become president. Idiots do not land what is arguably the hardest job to get in the world.

The next thing that struck me about him is that he is actually quite funny in a self-deprecating sort of way. During my interactions with him, he cracked jokes about himself, which made him seem pretty charming. What's clear is that Bush doesn't walk around on airs pretending to be someone or something that he's not. Unlike many politicians, with Bush, what you see is what you get.

My overall impression, though, was that he's a nice person who genuinely cares about doing a good job as president.

The extreme dichotomy between how the media portrays Bush versus what I witnessed firsthand was startling. And this begs the question: Why doesn't the media show the down-to-earth, compassionate, laid-back side of Bush that I witnessed when I met him?

Television emphasizes the worst of politicians because this is what is going to sell more to viewers.

This is not just the case for Bush, but it has happened to many politicians through the years. After all, television viewers want to be entertained; they want juicy stories with a dramatic flair. And networks - businesses that exist to make a profit - are willing to give consumers what they want. This is supply and demand.

Furthermore, once an image of a public official has been sold to viewers, there's no turning back. To do so would seem contradictory: The story must remain consistent at all times. Unfortunately, instead of providing viewers with a balanced sense of reality, all too often media simply provide a story that will entertain.

So, should we trust what media tells us? Should what we see on television factor into our voting? How can we separate truth from opinion? Does the source of information matter? Which sources can we trust?

My general advice is to just be a critical thinker - something that hopefully college has helped you to develop in yourself. Gauge whether your news source is providing fair and balanced coverage of a politician. Do you sense that a source has an agenda? If so, switch the channel.

And please, don't watch Jay Leno or Jon Stewart to find out about political news. They're comedy programs and should not be confused with legitimate news sources.

As viewers, we will only know that which we are told, so it's critical that we choose sources that are factual, not opinion-based, when we are searching for the truth. If you repeatedly hear the same stance over and over again from your chosen media source, that's a red-flag warning. Don't sit idly by and accept one-sided stories.

The best option, of course, is to go straight to the politician - to their Web site or by watching their speeches (not just snippets of them). Don't let other people interpret reality for you. Make judgments about politicians based on your own fact-based research.

Remember, there are always two sides to every story; you deserve to know both of them. This is especially important in the political realm, which affects the quality of our lives as citizens of this country and of the world.

Look past the surface of news stories and find alternative arguments. You might not agree with these alternative points of view, but at least be aware of what they are.

Do not be misled by media companies being run by imperfect human beings. When people talk about politics, they usually have their own biased agendas, and media outlets are no exception to this rule.

Educate yourself. Search for balance. Think critically. This is what living in a democracy is all about.

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