This piece from the New York Daily News admirably illustrates the sloppiness of the press these days
There was a special election in Hawaii yesterday, and the Republican won-with 39.4% of the vote; the balance split between two Democrats, neither one of whom had the grace to withdraw and give the other a clear field. Perhaps that’s because each figures they can come back in the fall, when there will be a single Democratic candidate, and take the seat back. The percentages of votes are set forth in the article, as is the Democratic confidence. But how explain this:
Republicans see the victory as a powerful statement about their momentum heading into November. They already sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate to replace the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts — a place that was once thought to be the most hostile of territories for the GOP. Now Republicans can say they won a congressional seat in the former backyard of the president and in a state that gave Obama 72 percent of the vote two years ago.
Yes, they can say that, but shouldn’t it also be pointed out that they won’t say that this particular victory is pretty meaningless, and that it is their first House special election victory this cycle, including a recent loss in Pennsylvania that they had high hopes of winning? If you are going to pass on someone’s spin, oughtn’t you place it in some sort of context?
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