[promoted from the diaries -- Hunter]As some of you know, I strongly objected to the challenge of the Ohio electoral vote which occurred today. My concern was that the valid issues that Democrats would attempt to raise with respect to fraud and election irregularities would not get sufficient play, and that the focus would instead be on a Democratic challenge to the outcome of the elction. I was heartened that both Rep. Tubbs-Jones and Sen. Boxer clearly spoke that this challenge was not meant to question the validity of Bush's election, but I am not yet convinced that their framing of the issue is picked up and passed on by the media. The fact that most Democrats, while ultimately voting "nay" to throwing out the electors, did indeed address the electoral concerns raised by Rep. Conyers' committee probably allows the Democrats to claim not only the high ground, but a more honest evaluation of their concerns. I congratulate them on getting their concerns heard in Congress.
However I'm interested in knowing how the media is reporting this event - are they reporting on the merits of the challenge or merely on the implication, that Bush's victory could have been overturned. Below are the headlines and lead paragraphs on major websites regarding today's events.
New York Times
Democrats Force Debate on Ohio Election Problems
A small group of Democrats transformed the traditionally routine ritual of certifying presidential election results into a tart partisan protest today, forcing both the House and Senate to debate Election Day voting problems in Ohio, the state that gave President Bush the crucial electoral votes needed for his re-election.
(not yet updated post-vote)
CNN
Democrats challenge Ohio electoral votes
Move delays official certification of presidential election
Alleging widespread "irregularities" on Election Day, a group of Democrats in Congress objected Thursday to the counting of Ohio's 20 electoral votes, delaying the official certification of the 2004 presidential election results.
(not yet updated post-vote)
Fox News
Lawmakers Dispute Electoral College Results
The Senate voted 74-1 to reject an objection to the certification of Ohio's Electoral College votes after Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, on Thursday stopped the formal declaration of President Bush's second term to protest voting irregularities.
NB - elsewhere, the title reads "Dems Get in Dig at Bush" and "Dems Halt Bush Win"
MSNBC (AP)
Congress rejects challenge to Bush election
Democrats used procedures to examine voting dispute
Congress certified President Bush's re-election Thursday, but only after Democrats forced a symbolic challenge to the quadrennial count of electoral votes for just the second time since 1877.
Agence France-Presse
Democrats try to upset Bush re-election rubber stamp
Democrats sought to block the official certification by Congress of President George W. Bush's re-election triumph to highlight what they said were widespread irregularities in the November vote.
Reuters
Congress Certifies Bush's Win After Protest
The U.S. Congress on Thursday formally certified President Bush as the victor of the November elections after two Democrats symbolically stalled the event in protest at alleged voting irregularities in Ohio.
On none of the websites is the story given prominent play, although it is linked to from the main entry page.
Any other observations?
Update [2005-1-6 19:27:33 by DaveOinSF]: added Reuters thanks to johnny rotten