If you thought Americans were mad at politicians, check out what they're saying about the messengers.
A new Rasmussen poll found 66 percent of respondents describe themselves as at least "somewhat angry" at the media, including 33 percent who are "very angry."
Such numbers -- which rival Congress for the depth of disapproval -- are toxic for news organizations that depend on trust and credibility for their livelihood.
Once championed as public watchdogs, the media are now perceived as lapdogs for politicians -- and government in general. That's a particularly unpopular position when 70 percent of respondents say they are angry at the current policies of the federal government.
Self-described conservatives believe the media enable and promote liberal or Democratic Party agendas.
Rasmussen reported that 48 percent of voters think most reporters, when they write or talk about President Barack Obama, are trying to help the president pass his agenda. Only 18 percent think most reporters try to block the president's agenda; 27 percent said the media are simply interested in reporting the news in an unbiased manner.
The liberal media lost touch with the public and fair reporting long ago, and Americans are sick of their lavish praise for a president who is leading our country and economy into a disastrous state," said Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, a conservative-leaning think tank.
The Rasmussen survey detected a major split in Americans' perceptions.
While 62 percent of "mainstream" voters feel that the average reporter is more liberal than they are, 69 percent of the "political class" say their ideological views are about the same as the average reporters.?Overall, 55 percent think media bias is a bigger problem in politics today than big campaign contributions.
As if to prove the point, the St. Petersburg Times and Palm Beach Post -- two left-of-center newspapers that reflexively endorse Democrats -- carried commentaries excoriating billionaire businessmen Rick Scott and Jeff Greene last weekend. Though Greene is a Democrat, he has ruffled the party establishment for his high-stakes challenge to U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek's bid for U.S. Senate.
The Rasmussen poll affirms previous surveys that revealed the percentage of registered Democrats in U.S. newsrooms is higher than that found in Berkeley, Calif.
The media's declining credibility in the polls is reflected in sharply declining circulation at major daily newspapers around the country.
"The American people are abandoning the old media by the millions because they are simply fed up, Bozell said.
Rasmussen's survey of 1,000 likely U.S. voters was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research on June 13-14.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
