Another day passed without a Supreme Court ruling on ObamaCare, but the anticipation has already moved into the reaction stage, with most betting on a ruling against President Obama’s showcase program. And now the conservative Media Research Center, which helps with our weekly Mainstream Media Scream feature, is out with a report on what to look for in the network coverage of a court rejection.
To come up with a template, the group reviewed how the networks covered the multiple rulings against former President George W. Bush’s war on terrorism, a total of 15 stories spreading over 35 minutes. Their prediction:
? They will quote anti-ObamaCare justices twice as often as pro-Obama justices.
? By a 3-to-1 margin, they will air mostly soundbites from activists opposed to ObamaCare.
? They will cast the decision as a “rebuke” or “slap” of Obama by a superior authority.
? They will include no suggestion that the court was motivated by politics or ideology.
? They will limit to 10% the share of coverage devoted to any potential negative consequences of an anti-ObamaCare decision.
