For conservatives, it’s ‘Blame the media!’ time

Alarmed by polls that they claim not to believe, conservatives are rushing to find explanations for why Mitt Romney may lose the presidential race.

You know, the race that they claim they don’t believe he’s losing.

The obvious explanation is the same one they trotted out after their 2008 defeat at the hands of Barack Obama: The media. Four years ago, you may recall, Obama supposedly got elected because the media failed to “vet” him properly by making a big deal of the Rev. Wright and Tony Rezko and the birth certificate, etc. Such criticism overlooked the fact that their own presidential candidate, John McCain, also failed to make a big deal of those things. He and his staff not only judged those claims unconvincing, they feared they would cause a backlash against the GOP should he bring them up.

You see, McCain understood that the things that get the base all riled — the things that they see with perfect clarity through their right-wing lens — just don’t look the same to the rest of the country.

This year, the press is once again coming under attack from conservatives unable to believe that they again appear to be losing an election to that Kenyan Marxist anti-colonialist. In fact, if you accept the notion that right-wing vitriol rises in direct proportion to right-wing desperation, these arguments provide more compelling evidence of Mitt Romney’s problems than any poll could offer.

For example, Mona Charen complains that “Mitt Romney is facing perhaps the most corrupt and tendentious coverage in presidential history as members of the fourth estate eschew any semblance of integrity in their attempt to skew interpretations in favor of their pinup, Mr. Obama.”

And as John Podhoretz writes:

“In 1988, Michael Kinsley issued a now-famous definition: “A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth — some obvious truth he isn’t supposed to say.”

Now, almost a quarter century later, we need a new definition for the word. Here’s mine: “A gaffe is a statement that makes a Republican politician look bad.”

And of course, the always consistent Jennifer Rubin at The Washington Post, apoplectic that Obama supposedly called the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens “a bump in the road,” tell us that “Had Romney said such a preposterous and grossly insensitive thing as Obama did, there would be calls for him to quit the race; alas, when Obama does it’s not even front-page news for most of the mainstream media.”

(The fact that Obama said no such thing does not deter Rubin in her belief that the media should have condemned him for it.)

However, to get an insight into just how deep this thing really runs, you have to go to the home page of National Review, where they ask their readers an intriguing question: “Are conservative pundits too tough on Romney?”

And the answer is, of course they are!

nro

Conservatives believe that even conservatives are biased against conservatives, THAT’S how big a conspiracy it is!

– Jay Bookman

425 comments Add your comment

Truthteller

September 25th, 2012
7:15 pm

As a lifelong Republican, I have to admit that I do not like Mitt Romney. I never did. No one really does. We have to hold our noses to vote for him. When your own party doesn’t like you very much, it’s hard to win.

Democratic Plantation Dweller

September 25th, 2012
7:16 pm

There is no liberal bias.

F. Sinkwich

September 25th, 2012
7:17 pm

“But I know for a fact that most of the professional reporters I know honestly do try to avoid injecting bias into their work.”

It’s sad they fail so often. But not surprising.

alittlecommonsense

September 25th, 2012
7:17 pm

It is well known that the media votes and donates approximately 90% to democrats. Why is it such a stretch then to believe that their reporting follows their bias?

This is a sore point with me. The media holds itself up as basically a referee in political battles. If you are going to be a referee, you have to maintain neutrality. Sadly that isn’t the case with the media. We wouldn’t put up with biased judges or ref’s at sporting events. Why is it ok in politics where so much more is at stake?

gm

September 25th, 2012
7:17 pm

Could it be the man insulted half of the country many of his own party? I guess the media force to say those stupid things.

But wait, he is still winning amoung conservatives white males in the south except the state that has common sense Florida, in key states like Ohio, Pa, Mich white males are droping this idiot, but the bubbas of the south dont care if Mitt had of call them white trash, these brain damage beer drinkers would still vote for him.

Then we wonder why the southern states are dead last in every catagory except college footbal? these conservative poor whites dont care if Mitt tax them to hell, send there sons to war, continue to send their jobs overseas, just be proud we did not vote for the black guy who has are interest, these people deserve what they get”””

Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes

September 25th, 2012
7:17 pm

What is your plan as a member of the media to regain our trust?

Our?

Who granted you the authority to speak for anyone other than yourself?

Marty Huggins'

September 25th, 2012
7:19 pm

Jay
September 25th, 2012
7:04 pm

See you show your bias with this……
“That’s my main problem with Fox. They don’t even try, but still like to claim they do.”

See who specifically does not try? That’s a strong accusation! Is it only Fox who you feel doesn’t try?

Do you think you opinion on that could be because you disagree with the message they provide. Thus they must not be trying to be fair and balanced?

alittlecommonsense

September 25th, 2012
7:21 pm

“That’s my main problem with Fox. They don’t even try, but still like to claim they do.”

Do you have the same problem with ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and CNN? They all tilt to the left and deny their bias. We have one network. You have all the others, and 99% of the newspapers and news magazines in the country. You can’t stand that we have one outlet that sees the world our way huh?

Rick

September 25th, 2012
7:21 pm

Little bit of reality here, a pew survey says that 82% of graduates with journalism degrees declared themselves DEMOCRATS. They lean to the left, way to the left. They practically held O’Bummers hand and sang kumbaya around the fire side. They pounce like rapid dogs on anything side by a conservative and try to attack him/her with it. Even if they knew what was intended to be said. The deck is stacked way against the right. And since when is telling the truth wrong, O’Dummer wont tell the truth. But the fact that 47% of Americans did’t pay a dime of taxes is true. And want to bet it’s those 47% percent doing the most complaining. Here’s a fair and equitable idea. How about ONLY those who pay taxes get to vote on how the money gets spent. NOTHING ELSE IS FAIR. Reprobates and welfare denizens, minoritys and people who sneak across the border after dark get to decide how my money is spent, and i have very little say

Marty Huggins'

September 25th, 2012
7:22 pm

Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
September 25th, 2012
7:17 pm

Well 60% do not currently trust the media.

If you are not part of that 60% then you are not included and thus nobody was speaking for you.

But the use of the word our when speaking of a majority is acceptable.

alittlecommonsense

September 25th, 2012
7:22 pm

lol Marty – I guess great minds think alike.

You libs

September 25th, 2012
7:22 pm

Marty Huggins

“What is your plan as a member of the media to regain our trust?”

He would obviously have to start telling you the lies you want to hear.

Marty Huggins'

September 25th, 2012
7:23 pm

Democratic Plantation Dweller
September 25th, 2012
7:16 pm

There is no liberal bias.

———————

Lots of research says you are wrong. But no less entitled to your opinion.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

September 25th, 2012
7:24 pm

If you are going to be a referee, you have to maintain neutrality. Sadly that isn’t the case with the media. We wouldn’t put up with biased judges or ref’s at sporting events

because of course refs and judges are never accused of bias or even guilty of it. Why its clear that no ref even watches the sports they ref nor do they have a favorite team. They would never be able to set aside those things in order to be neutral.

While we are at it, of course, men can be completely neutral when it comes to women issues. They would never show a bias.

In life, we of course know that only them liberals in the media have biases.

Jay

September 25th, 2012
7:24 pm

Marty, all I can do is do my job as honestly as I can. Faith in all American institutions is faltering, from churches to Congress to the press to corporate America.

Personally, I lost more faith in my profession during the runup to the invasion of Iraq than I ever thought possible. That wasn’t an instance of bias, but rather a case of deference to power and a reluctance to state the truth that many saw but few dared utter.

I was honestly shocked by that, and deeply disappointed.

Again, bias is a human reality that will never be eradicated. And readers and viewers are correct to look at everything skeptically and to double-check it against other sources.

Marty Huggins'

September 25th, 2012
7:25 pm

You libs
September 25th, 2012
7:22 pm

That is your opinion.

However polls would show you to be wrong since the distrust goes across the political board.

I do not need to be lied to, but would appreciate waaaaay less spin out of the media. Regardless of who or what their bias is.

F. Sinkwich

September 25th, 2012
7:25 pm

“What is your plan as a member of the media to regain our trust?”

No plan, Mary.

Their worldview is aligned with “Bumpy Roads” O’bozo’s mission to destroy American exceptionalism. The desire is to turn this great nation into something less than the Unitied States of France.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

September 25th, 2012
7:26 pm

Lots of research says you are wrong.

And who tell you that? The liberal media…… why its all part of the conspiracy. Remember its catch-22

JamVet

September 25th, 2012
7:26 pm

The national media is by and large, a pro-war, pro-corporation public relations arm for the United States government. That does its damnedest to hide the white collar crime syndicate that pays it way. On Wall Street, on K Street, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and on Capital Hill.

That the Republicans whine endlessly about it being liberal is indicative of their collective vast mental illness…

Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes

September 25th, 2012
7:26 pm

But the use of the word our when speaking of a majority is acceptable

Not to me, sport.

It’s a linguistic sleight-of-hand parlor tick used by talk-radio.

You were not granted authority to speak for any 60%.

Mama Says

September 25th, 2012
7:27 pm

Jay,

It’s an absolute fact thatthe media is occupied by a large majority of the more liberally inclined. We all know that.

Now if you accept that fact then you would understand that intentional or not they would be more inclined to look more closely at a conservative canidate.

Look a liberal knows what a liberal thinks, that being the case they would not be inclined to ask Obama anything critical about his policy positions, they understand the thinking. Since they are not conservatives I would think they are not conservative minded. Therefore it stands to reason they would be more critical or more dubious of any conservative plan. That leads to asking more detailed questions.

There is no way anyone in this country can say the country is less liberal in general than it has been. Our parents would have never discussed gay rights, religious orginizations would have never thought about handing out birth control and budget deficits this size would have been an impeachment issue.

So lets be real for a moment, can we ? You are a living example of media bias and you know there are more of you at AJC than more of me.

By the way since when isn’t it headline news that a presidential canidate hung out with someone who blew up a police station in an act of public defiance ? How much did you cover it ?

I do believe the Wright issue was taken out of context and the birth certificate issue is stupid to even discuss now. BUT why don’t we verify the citizenry of our canidates ? Isn’t that common logic ?

Brosephus™

September 25th, 2012
7:28 pm

Paul

I think I’m gonna have to bookmark that post for future reference. That one was the blue whale of lies there.

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
7:28 pm

Rick or anyone else

Pick a non editorial article from today’s AJC and dissect the “liberal bias” for us.

Would ask you to present substantiated facts and not your opinion as to the bias.

Thanks

Common Freaking Sense isn't very Common

September 25th, 2012
7:29 pm

Rick

EVERYBODY PAYS TAXES.

The STOOPID IT BURNS.

:-)

Jay

September 25th, 2012
7:31 pm

“But the fact that 47% of Americans did’t pay a dime of taxes is true.

No, it isn’t. Not by any stretch of the imagination is that true. And in the eyes of some, by saying so I have betrayed a bias. Very well. It still isn’t true.

What IS true is that 47 percent of Americans didn’t pay one particular type of tax, a federal income tax. They paid a lot of other federal taxes. Other taxpayers who collected all their income in capital gains paid no payroll taxes.

In fact, percentage-wise, that 47 percent typically pay a lot more of their income in the form of state and local taxes than do the more affluent.

Brosephus™

September 25th, 2012
7:31 pm

It’s an absolute fact thatthe media is occupied by a large majority of the more liberally inclined. We all know that.

Sounds like conservatives might wanna start steering little Jimmy and Suzie into journalism instead of making them think the only way to success is to work on Wall Street.

The problem is, when you do such a great job of painting intellect and learning as “liberal”, how are you going to get any modern day conservative to go for such a thing?

You libs

September 25th, 2012
7:31 pm

Global Warming is a Hoax.

That’s just one of many examples I could give. The National Academy of Science, the advisory committee that was set up by Abraham Lincoln to advise our government on matters of science, has validated the findings of the IPCC for years. The Academies of every other developed nation have also issued statements of support for those findings.

The media, under pressure from the right-wing noise machine, treats this like it is some kind of controversy among scientists. The message has been controlled by the right for years now, but it started with the false accusation that the media supports the left.

It used to support the truth.

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
7:32 pm

VANDALIA, Ohio — Mitt Romney said Tuesday that President Obama did not raise taxes during his first term, contradicting a constant attack he has leveled on Obama — that his healthcare plan was a tax increase.

“I admit this, he has one thing he did not do in his first four years — he’s said he’s going to do in the next four years — which is to raise taxes. And is there anyone who thinks raising taxes will help grow the economy? No!” Romney told thousands gathered at a chilly tarmac rally. “His plan is to continue what he’s done before. The status quo has not worked. We cannot afford four more years of Barack Obama. We’re not going to have four more years of Barack Obama.”

__________________________________________

With the base in his camp, the push for the middle & independents is now on. Full court press

gm

September 25th, 2012
7:34 pm

Lets not forget the witch looking Ann Coulter, wow wha a bigot, and then you have high school drop out Rush Limbaugh and 3 times college drop out Sean Hannity these scum baggs dont reports facts or news all they do is take insults at the President of the United States.
These people and their low misinformed viewers are the reason the rep party have jumped off the cliff.

Marty Huggins'

September 25th, 2012
7:35 pm

Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
September 25th, 2012
7:26 pm

It is a fact that 60% when polled claimed to not trust the media.

I would include myself in agreement with that 60%.

They have already spoke to the fact they do not trust the media. I was simply jumping on the bandwagon and including myself.

Do you see the 60% has already spoke for themselves on the issue. By the use of the word our I am simply including myself with them.

So I am not speaking for anyone as they have already spoke!

Seems you listen to waaaaay too much talk radio..

Jay

September 25th, 2012
7:35 pm

Do you think you opinion on that could be because you disagree with the message they provide. Thus they must not be trying to be fair and balanced?

Actually, no, I don’t. Their bias is conscious and well-designed, and it is also glaringly obvious. They have made a market decision to appeal to a relatively small segment of the market, and they do it very well. In business terms, it’s brilliant.

MSNBC seems to have copied their approach but applied it to the left. Most other mass-market news outlets continue to try to reach a broad audience and so attempt to avoid as much bias as possible. When bias does appear — and it certainly does — it is a mistake and a lapse, as opposed to a calculated marketing approach.

F. Sinkwich

September 25th, 2012
7:36 pm

“That the Republicans whine endlessly about it being liberal is indicative of their collective vast mental illness…”

I already proved the MSM was a bunch of lib ilks like you, Jammie.

Please try to keep current.

Thanks.

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
7:37 pm

Sinkwich

Pick the article and dissect it for us………

Mama Says

September 25th, 2012
7:37 pm

Oh yeah,

I don’t blame the media I think for the most part Americans assume they are not being told the entire story. However I do blame Romney for being soft. He should stand up and firmly say that if 47% of the citizens don’t pay taxes then 47% are dependent on the government. If those are the actual numbers. Either way he should tell the people in a TV add what the actual number is and then explain how much that actually cost this country.

Then he should tell all you libs to get over it.

We all know he wasn’t being critical of social security recipients nor was it a shot at minorities since we all also know those recipients are vastly white. It was a statement of fact. He can forget the votes of those people who either factually will loose those benefits or those who don’t know the facts and think they will.

It would be the same as Obama telling his donors that they can forget the southern white male vote. It’s a simple fact. You know those that would have to have heir guns prayed from their hands.

MeetTheFullCourtPress

September 25th, 2012
7:38 pm

Can anyone tell me when and where the Media meet to gameplan how to derail Romney? It must happen sometime, somewhere.

Republicans———Just children arguing on the playground. Never grew up. Nothing more. Pathetic.

Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes

September 25th, 2012
7:38 pm

Do you see the 60% has already spoke for themselves on the issue. By the use of the word our I am simply including myself with them.

Sophistry.

You have nothing rational, just rationalizing.

You libs

September 25th, 2012
7:41 pm

I’ve never seen anyone pray a gun from somebody’s hands, but if it gets results, I’m all for it.

Mama Says

September 25th, 2012
7:42 pm

Bro,

I have never directed my son into finances or Wall St.

I have told him to do what makes him happy, and to work hard at whatever that may be.

I believe you just engaged in profiling my friend

getalife

September 25th, 2012
7:43 pm

Pssst, it is corporate media.

I watch cnn anchors giggle about the gop’s behavior towards our President.

They give the gop a free pass. I post on their threads that they took a dive for the gop.

Many other Americans do too. It is very obvious.

Mama Says

September 25th, 2012
7:43 pm

Yeah I knew as soon as I saw my post you would jump the pray thing.

Oh we’ll you got the point

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
7:44 pm

All that liberal bias and no one is able to take a non editorial AJC article and factually dissect it and present that bias

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Got ya

:-)

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
7:45 pm

I know, it is there…………… hidden within between the lines and sheets

:-)

Mama Says

September 25th, 2012
7:46 pm

As a conservative I can also admit this. I an sick of hearing republicans saying Obama is a partisan.

Our party has made him a target ever since he was elected. But I am also sick of hearing the libs cite that as something new.

The out party always has targeted the sitting president for defeat. That’s one of the things that make them opposing parties

Brosephus™

September 25th, 2012
7:47 pm

I believe you just engaged in profiling my friend

And I didn’t say you personally did that, did I? However, it is glaringly obvious that the conservative movement has a love jones for business and finances.

My point was, if you complain about liberal bias in media, then you respond by getting more legitimate conservative voices in media.

Honestly, the whole liberal media bias is pure BS if you as me. Conservatives dominate talk radio, media. Conservatives have their own mainstream pundits, media. You have numerous internet outlets, media. As jconservative posted earlier, it’s laughable that people cry about media bias when previous conservatives have won election with no problem. Maybe, it’s time to look at what you’re peddling as opposed to who’s biased.

JamVet

September 25th, 2012
7:48 pm

I already proved…

Proof in FrankBurnsville is simply to proclaim something proven without the first shred of empirical, verifiable data, evidence or facts.

Is it any wonder that you idgits stand alone, along with the North Koreans, against the rest of humanity on the subject of anthropogenic climate change?

No, it is no wonder at all.

And your anti-intellectualism is one of the reasons that American Jews vote so overwhelmingly against you.

You can look it up.

G Mare

September 25th, 2012
7:48 pm

Mary Elizabeth, as I know you know, nobody on any blog is worth endangering your health. Please be assured that some of us appreciate your intelligent, well-written comments. And then there are others of us who are ignorant & nasty by nature. I have pretty much figured out who they are on this blog & scroll past their comments. Also seldom go to Kyle’s – the nasty just reeks & rants &
reigns there, seemingly despite Kyle’s efforts toward civility. Take care, Honey.

F. Sinkwich

September 25th, 2012
7:49 pm

“When bias does appear — and it certainly does — it is a mistake and a lapse, as opposed to a calculated marketing approach.”

Tis sad it occurs almost hourly…

Mama Says

September 25th, 2012
7:49 pm

Both,

Facts can be facts but with a voice infliction or. Eye roll it be presented as BS.

Try reading the political cartoons in this paper, you will know real quick which way the wind blows downtown

Don Abernethy

September 25th, 2012
7:49 pm

I wonder why conservatives complain about the media?. Could it be they are very liberal and promote Obama every chance they get?? Could it be they want the country to drown in debt?? Does the government send checks to the liberals in the media?? Is there one, just one, who is a christian??

You libs

September 25th, 2012
7:50 pm

Sorry, mama, I just couldn’t resist.

It’s that liberal spelling bias thing.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
7:52 pm

The last time the mainstream media was even close to objectivity was WW II ……….. and the government had to force most of that via censorship.

Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes

September 25th, 2012
7:52 pm

Try reading the political cartoons in this paper…

There’s your sign.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

September 25th, 2012
7:53 pm

Oh goody, Senior Digits is here to demonstrate the non-bias objective WND media coverage. :lol:

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
7:53 pm

Hey Jay:

How about a thread on MARTA tomorrow?

Headline (AJC): “Audit: MARTA spends $50M too much, should privatize some functions”

Marty Huggins'

September 25th, 2012
7:54 pm

Jay
September 25th, 2012
7:35 pm

With someone in a background in reporting one would think you would have some type of evidence that they intentionally include bias into their reporting.

It’s one thing to have a bias but your accusation is they intentionally incorporate their bias.

Do you have any knowledge of this or is it your opinion?

It seems odd to me that you and your friends do the very best you can to avoid bias in your reporting, but not those guys at fox or Msnbc don’t.

Also I wonder why Foxs ratings are so high if they are only catering to a small group.
Why does CNN do so bad when as you say any and all bias on their behalf is by accident

F. Sinkwich

September 25th, 2012
7:55 pm

“When bias does appear — and it certainly does — it is a mistake and a lapse, as opposed to a calculated marketing approach.”

Why is this bias always LIBERAL?

Brosephus™

September 25th, 2012
7:55 pm

The last time the mainstream media was even close to objectivity was WW II ……….. and the government had to force most of that via censorship.

And, in spite of all that, how many conservatives have been elected president since WWII?

Why hide behind the excuse of media bias and ignore the idea that your candidate just isn’t what America wants?

Jay

September 25th, 2012
7:55 pm

“I wonder why conservatives complain about the media?. Could it be they are very liberal and promote Obama every chance they get??

Maybe.

It could also be that conservatives need some way to avoid the ugly realization that their message simply isn’t that popular.

Even with the billions of dollars being dumped into ads, etc., by wealthy conservatives, their message still just isn’t getting through?

Keep Up the Good Fight!

September 25th, 2012
7:55 pm

Try reading the political cartoons in this paper…

So political cartoons are suppose to be unbiased? :lol:

Welcome to the Occupation

September 25th, 2012
7:57 pm

“MSNBC seems to have copied their approach but applied it to the left. Most other mass-market news outlets continue to try to reach a broad audience and so attempt to avoid as much bias as possible”

You’re right about MSNBC of course, but in general this whole discussion is missing the point, which is that the most mainstream media organizations, including the two major national newspapers the WaPo and NY Times, are heavily biased, but not towards any particular party per se. They are biased towards the political ruling establishment, and in particular towards the status quo of foreign policy as dictated by the national security elite. Although the NY Times can be pretty bad in its own right, they all pale in comparison to the war-drum beating Washington Post.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
7:58 pm

Accurate & Balanced Reporting ? Accurate, Compelling and Complete?

How about Biased, Boring and Babel !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KauE9tQw8k8 (Talk about SPIN !)

West Indian Charlie

September 25th, 2012
7:59 pm

GM, don”t give up on the bubbas of the south at
least not yet.
According to a new Zogby poll, Obama leads Romney 49 to 42 percent among NASCAR enthusiasts. This is a traditionally conservative constituency with lots of bubbas.
Come November they will get drunk as hell and pull the lever for the black guy. Of course they will keep it a secret or blame it on the alcohol. There is hope.

Jay

September 25th, 2012
7:59 pm

Why is this bias always LIBERAL?

Maybe because, if you look at the world from a VERY conservative position, as you clearly do, everything will of course seem liberal.

Or does that make too much sense?

getalife

September 25th, 2012
7:59 pm

I think drudgey is biased and Americans do not believe a republican will help the middle class. It does not pass the smell test.

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

JamVet

September 25th, 2012
8:04 pm

Also I wonder why Foxs ratings are so high…

For the same reason that non-political Tard TV (vacuous and vapid sitcoms and titillating night time soap operas) is so popular.

Though not alone, huge numbers of you Republicans, simply put, are addicted to the worst of the worst on the boob tube. And the more intellectual and scientific it is (PBS, GPB, Discovery, etc.) the more you hate it.

Two great books that I bought back in the mental malaise of the 1980s Reagan era, addressed this sad evolution – Cultural Illiteracy and The Closing of the American Mind.

Read them at your own peril…

Welcome to the Occupation

September 25th, 2012
8:06 pm

Jay: ““When bias does appear — and it certainly does — it is a mistake and a lapse, as opposed to a calculated marketing approach.”

Actually this is not quite true. In (partial) defense of our Bro Sinkwich, what is at issue here is the structural bias of the mainstream press that is manifestly there, not the occasional slip-ups and lapses. The reason there is bias in the press is that some sort of bias is inevitable. The press has to have some coherency of perspective, otherwise it would not be able to present the news in any kind of coherent and compelling way. It could not even attempt be a reliable moderator and mediator, and instead would just an aggregator of news.

Where the right wing is wrong of course is to assume that because they HAVE a perspective and that perspective does not coincide with theirs in every respect, therefore they are biased AGAINST them. In reality, the press is, as I said above, biased towards a certain understanding of the national interest that is heavily influenced by the Beltway establishment consensus.

Jay

September 25th, 2012
8:06 pm

Jamvet, that’s a little over the top. Seriously.

lefty_316

September 25th, 2012
8:07 pm

In his new book The Party Is Over lifetime republican Mike Lufgren slams the media, and rightly so.
With the exception of McClatchy the media completely failed to do their job checking into the lies and garbage Bush-Cheney dispensed as reasons for the Iraq war. Lies and garbage that has cost us in the trillions and for what? An Iraq that has basically become an Iranian satellite nation.

Brosephus™

September 25th, 2012
8:08 pm

I’m bowing out early. I think somebody just opened the gate @ 8:02 and no telling what’s coming through.

Y’all have fun!!!

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:08 pm

……………….. and let’s not forget Government T.V. ……….. aka “Public Broadcasting”.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:09 pm

……….. and why are journalists are their lowest approval rating ever ???

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:10 pm

Excuse me: “journalists at their lowest”

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:13 pm

“Ralph Nader calls president ‘war criminal’… ”

Now that’s a little strong even for Ralph.

JamVet

September 25th, 2012
8:15 pm

Jay, the T word is one that I am loathe to use and almost never do, but it works so well with the word TV!

Mea culpa to those I offended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISTSUoXpDq4

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:16 pm

“Piers Morgan Charmed by Ahmadinejad”

Just one reason why liberal journalists are so often biased ………….. they’re “charmed” by evil.

St Simons

September 25th, 2012
8:18 pm

a billion dollars of dirty money couldn’t buy 3.01%

hell, i’d want to blame somebody too, heheh

Welcome to the Occupation

September 25th, 2012
8:20 pm

Marty Huggins: Also I wonder why Foxs ratings are so high if they are only catering to a small group.

That’s an easy one. As we know going all the way back to Plato a couple of millennia ago, if not uch earlier, nothing’s more profitable and “popular” in the crassest sense than flattering the intellectual laziness, myths, and prejudices of the masses. It proves NOTHING as to the truth value of the message being peddled.

“Why does CNN do so bad when as you say any and all bias on their behalf is by accident”

One reason CNN is doing poorly is that the “flattery” model of demagoguery mentioned above is being increasingly exploited by both right (FOX) and now left (MSNBC) to draw viewers away from what used to pass for an intellectual engagement with the issues to an air-brushed selective presentation of the events tailored to rile up the faithful of either side by air-brushing the warts of each side’s particular leaders.

The classical “objective” media model is increasingly under threat by these partisan models, but CNN thinks it can address the crisis in a cynical manner (hiring extremists from the right with no integrity to mimic FOX) instead of rethinking the weaknesses of the original “objective media” model in some serious way.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:22 pm

I think the current crop of NFL officials should just walk away. Why take the grief.

The NFL right now is basically what it was BEFORE instant reply. Big deal.

Wilbur

September 25th, 2012
8:23 pm

Jay the media has been proving its self unreliable and biased for a generation. Ever since Cronkite came out from behind the desk, we have gotten steady diet of advocacy journalism. I know it sucks to have people see the truth but no one trusts the media any more. The AJC is a case in point as market share falls like a stone, year after year.
The media deserves the condemnation it is getting.

Randy Ayn

September 25th, 2012
8:25 pm

So, the liberal media forced Mitt on the GOP. Was that a “legitimate” or “illegitimate” rape?

Don't Tread

September 25th, 2012
8:27 pm

No bias in the media. Riiiiight. Rathergate didn’t happen either.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

September 25th, 2012
8:30 pm

Rathergate

One event for which people were fired is of course complete evidence of so much bias. So when were those Fox shows cancelled like Hannity?

Fred ™

September 25th, 2012
8:31 pm

Really Jay? THREE today? Couldn’t you have saved this one and trotted it out early tomorrow? I mean I will have waked up, made and drank coffee, gone to work out, come back, showered, eaten breakfast and taken a nap before you throw something out tomorrow………….. Can’t you hold one back, set the alarm clock (or set the auto post) post it and THEN go back to bed to sleep until noon? I think you’ve got too much time on your hands…………

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XcKBmdfpWs

Ahem

September 25th, 2012
8:33 pm

Barack Obama is a good man. He is trying hard. He’s just not very good at this job.

Obama is a nice guy; he is just not very good at his job.

Obama is doing his best. His best just isn’t good enough

Barack Obama is a pleasant enough fellow. But, he’s just not very good at being President of the United States.

Old Timer

September 25th, 2012
8:34 pm

When I was in college—way back in the 60s—the journalism courses I took always stressed objectivity. A reporter was to stress the facts. Opinion was to be left to the editorial pages. A paper stressed the most important happenings of the day, and not because those happenings made one political side or the other look good or bad. The reader was left with the facts and the opportunity to form conclusions.

Somewhere along the way that all changed. Now one publication views its “famous liberal bias” as a selling point. Other, equally strident conservative publications use news reporting as an opportunity to push political points. On both sides of the aisle, even the news selected to be reported is chosen for its political value. We all know who these publications are. Within the past 30 years or so, news publications have been dedicated to palliating the faithful. It all has become so ridiculously hypocritical that some have resorted to making the old credo a selling point—Fair and Balanced comes to mind.

What the hell happened in the past 50 years? My sole conclusion is that politics has become a blood sport, so powerful that it now dominates even the news we receive.

Fred ™

September 25th, 2012
8:34 pm

Don’t Tread

September 25th, 2012
8:27 pm

No bias in the media. Riiiiight. Rathergate didn’t happen either.
+++++++++++++++++

Dan Rather was an unmitigated lying asshat. What is your point? The fact that he was a lying asshol…….. um anus excuses any lying from the right?

I don’t get it? Isn’t that kindergarten thinking?

Fred ™

September 25th, 2012
8:36 pm

Old Timer

September 25th, 2012
8:34 pm

When I was in college—way back in the 60s—the journalism courses I took always stressed objectivity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++

Really? Did they just blip over the far right wing bias (Hearst) during the McCarthy years? Or are you too simple to know what I’m talking about?

Fred ™

September 25th, 2012
8:37 pm

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:16 pm

“Piers Morgan Charmed by Ahmadinejad”

Just one reason why liberal journalists are so often biased ………….. they’re “charmed” by evil.
+++++++++++++++++++++

Not always, I’ve yet to see one sing the praises of that lying devil Rush Limbaugh……….

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 25th, 2012
8:39 pm

Ahem:

On that one we must disagree.

Obama knows EXACTLY what he is doing ………… and that’s what’s scary.

Orange12

September 25th, 2012
8:40 pm

“For conservatives, it’s ‘Blame the media!’ time”

“Yer durn tootin”! Jay, you hit the nail right on the head.

JamVet

September 25th, 2012
8:41 pm

Mitt Romney is a pleasant enough fellow. But, he’s just a terrible candidate for President of the United States.

And unfit to lead.

F. Sinkwich

September 25th, 2012
8:42 pm

A true American speaks:

“Florida Rep. Allen West ripped President Barack Obama’s United Nations speech Tuesday, saying he would have told the U.N. that America would be an “Angel of Death” that wreaks “havoc and destruction” on anyone who attacks the U.S. “My statement to the United Nations would have been, ‘The future does not belong to those who attack our Embassies and Consulates and kill our Ambassadors. The Angel of Death in the form of an American Bald Eagle will visit you and wreak havoc and destruction upon your existence,’” the Florida congressman wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.”

And “Bumpy Roads” O’bozo can’t even utter the words “Islamic terrorism” to those UN dictators and America haters. He just apologizes and appeases…

scott

September 25th, 2012
8:47 pm

Jay…Damn you are dumb.

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
8:47 pm

Mama Says

I guess you were not able or unwilling to locate that non editorial article……….

psst: let you in on a little secret……… the cartoons are animated editorials………..

Thomas heyward Jr

September 25th, 2012
8:49 pm

“For conservatives, it’s ‘Blame the media!’ time”
.
Mitt Romney and the above mentioned………..are about as conservative as…………………………
.
Barrack Obama and his Bookman sycophants are……………………………liberal.
.
Romney/Obama supporters are nothing but Generic collective Statists.
Absolutely NOT intectually capable of even approaching a “conservative” or “liberal” idealogy.
They’re frightened followers.
Pleading for a leader.

.
Dime a dozen on the world market.

getalife

September 25th, 2012
8:49 pm

I don’t think it is a good idea for corporate media to party with pols and kiss their behinds .

I don’t think corporate media should pal around with pols getting unlimited donations.

I think they should report the truth and keep their biased opinions to themselves.

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
8:50 pm

Damn, not one non editorial article could the right leaning contingency find from the commie AJC…………

Really?

Orange12

September 25th, 2012
8:51 pm

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/25/reid-romney-not-face-mormonism/

Do you libs actually claim this guy. First he was claiming Romney didn’t pay taxes, and now this.

They BOTH suck

September 25th, 2012
8:51 pm

Thomas

Tell Ron Paul and Alex Jones that I said hello