Before getting all steamed up about Obama's not vetoing the bill, ask yourself,

[Anatos]

55. They already are

As you point out, they have been for years. But your explanation of why is a little off, in my opinion.

I have trouble with an analysis that paints all media as a single tremendous vast powerful will intent on 'manipulating the electorate'...

that then fails to successfully do that. What is the point of such a world view?

The media don't refuse to say nice things about President Obama because of any vast conspiracy or any conscious goal of manipulating the electorate. They are simply the American media, and so they are infected with the same cultural racism as any other American institution. Granted, some of it is largely that he is not conservative/Republican, and they would attack him, ruthlessly and baselessly, regardless. (Cf. Clinton, Bill) But it is the issue of black/white racial attitudes which account for the general nature of the coverage you see. They cannot not talk about him, but they cannot possibly say anything positive about him.

The word "manipulation" indicates a wholesale misrepresentation of what is actually going on. Polls cannot be used to understand voter opinion. Who ever told you that was possible? All you can do is construct a hypothetical fantasy about some imaginary super-averaged voter. And you will always magically find that this 'typical person' perfectly reflects whatever you want them to.