Bias Alert: CNN profiles Texas Democrats as heros

vanity ^ | 5/16/03 | vanity

[tdadams]

4:20pm EDT - Today on Inside Politics, CNN ran about a five minute story about the Texas Democrat state legislators who hijacked justice and fled to Oklahoma in order to wait out a redistricting bill that expired at midnight Thurdsay. The bill was backed by U.S. Representative Tom DeLay.

CNN's take on the story was just another prime example of extreme left wing bias in the media. The Texas Democrats were portrayed in sound bites as strong - using forceful words addressing Rep. Tom Delay - and heroic - showing them locked in a group embrace upon their return to Texas among cheering Democrat constituents hugging them and waving supportive placards.

On the other hand, over video of a scowling Tom DeLay, the narrative accused Republicans of engineering a redistricting plan that would have given Republicans four more seats in the Texas legislature, insinuating that this is some inventive and nefarious tactical scheme of unscrupulous Republicans. They failed to mention (deliberately?) that Democrats have held the Texas legislature for decades and for just as long have gerrymandered the district seats in their favor.

The Texas Democrats have found what must be the nadir of political trickery and bad faith. They have violated their oath to uphold the duty of their office and their oath to protect and defend the Constitution. They should be held accountable. We need to make sure this story does not fade away before it's ramifications are thoroughly debated in the media.

Please make a point to write a letter to the editor of your local paper (especially if you live in Texas), to political TV talk shows, and call your local talk radio.

These Democrats subverted justice. They are not heros. They must not be portrayed as such.

[RetiredArmy]

Shows you how low the term "hero" has sunk too. If someone called me that, I would be insulted now-a-days.

[alancarp]

Seems that when the-most-similar-thing-I-can-think-of-but-its-really-not-even-close event happened, the headlines were "Gingrich, Republicans Shut Down Government"

[longtermmemmory]

they are TEXAHOMANS!

how about yellow streamers to go with their yellow streak.

How fast can a special session be called? Here's a plan, The doors are locked to the legislature, exactly one second after adjournment is called, a special session is immediatly called. They can howl and scream but they are going to be there.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Our local radio station here in South Texas is doing the same thing. They are reporting the "Killer D's" got a "heros" welcome with banners flying from the statehouse.

[ex-Texan]

In my personal opinion -- Republicans set themselves up by caving in to the Democrats. Never should have done that in a million years !!! All it will do is send a signal across the nation -- just watch. A simlar scenario will play out across the country now.

Republicans need to stand up and tell Democrats to stuff it. Instead, they just caved in. Yeah, CNN is calling it correct for once. Feel free to flame away, but my mind is made up.

[skinkinthegrass]

TX(D) = Chicken $hit$ - during the 130 yr. rule by the $hit$, the GOP did right thing...they stayed, took their lumps. Now that the $hit$ have lost their hold of power in Austin, the losers hightailed it out of TX to prevent a mandated change in redistricting...last yr was done by the courts. ABCNNBCBS/TNYTLAT should be condeming this action by the TX $hit$. The truth never been a strong point for the Stalinist\Liberals.

[TomGuy]

Why bother?

The problem in Texas, just like the problem in the US Senate, isn't the Democrats. No, the problem is the Republicans who have majority and can't do a damn thing with it. The Democrats never have a problem even when their majority is only +1. Heck, the Democrats can control things even with a substantial minority, like the 41 to 59 they are using to hold up the judicial nominations in the US Senate.

The Republicans need to start acting a majority party and quit crying and cowering and caving in to the mean ole Democrat minority who has them 'skeer't of their own shadders.'

It is becoming laughable to be a Republican Legislator. They are becoming the laughingstock of the legislative process.

[caisson71]

The Clinton News Network is alive an well. What a bunch of jerks!

[jagrmeister]

Occasionally, there is coverage of a news event where the liberal bias is so pronounced, it rankles even those accustomed to the corruption and deceitfullness of the liberl media. The Texas Democrat story is such a case. The media- from the Texas newspapers to the news wires to CNN- have played cheerleaders for the Democrats in such a shamefully biased fashion, that any honest observer would have to conclude they are shills for the Democrat party. The assemblymen-on-the-lam story, told without bias, leaves people bewildered how public representatives could act so irresponsibily. It's seen as childish, juvenille, cowardly, undignified, dishonorable - you name it. And certainly for Texans- it's just not acceptable to run from a fight. But the media begs to differ and is retelling the story in such a way that the villains are the heroes, and the reasonable, law-abiding types are the instigators. I found the Texas Democrats behavior amusing and a political opportunity for the Republicans- but given the spin control of the liberal media- it's gone the other way. Just goes to show that in a democracy, perceptions shape outcomes, and the media shapes perceptions- the media could tell people that night is day and the intellectually uncurious would accept it. The media in a democracy is too important to be left to liberals.

[budanski]

I second that TomGuy. Its time for the GOP to toughen up and stop worrying about offending the DemocRATS!!

[Political Junkie Too]

I'd like to know where they draw the line on which laws are acceptable to break to further the liberal Democrat cause. In this instance, the Democrats violated their oath of office and were being paid for jobs not being performed. What happens next? Do they obstruct the arrival of Republicans to the chamber in order to stop a bill? Do they kidnap a child? Do they kill someone? I know these are extreme examples, but once you applaud breaking the law, why stop at the minor ones? Once you show that you have no integrity, who's to believe that you will play fair in the future?

Also, the Democrats and the media are not applauding the lawbreakers for standing up against the Republicans, they are actually showing contempt for the voters of Texas who rejected Democrat leadership and indicated their desire for Republicans to lead for a while. That's what this ultimately comes down to, contempt for the electorate.

-PJ

[oceanview]

what really could have been done to stop this? Bob Dole stopped the Clinton "stimulus program" in the Senate in 1993 as I recall with a minority. Let's see what happens in Texas.

[Contra]

Can't the Republican governor force the legislature to stay in session or call a special session? I'm sure there are ways the Republican majority could play hardball and force the issue but they won't because they are afraid of bad publicity (which is ridiculous for them to worry about because they are going to get bad publicity from the socialist media no matter what they do).

[sweetliberty]

Headline should read: Spoiled Brats Rewarded For Throwing Temper Tantrum!

[jimt]

freedom is slavery
ignorance is strength

</sarcasm>

and CNN is Communist News Network.

That they shill for and applaud the Chicken Ds and their scummy behavior is completely expected - and completely wrong.

[Happy2BMe]

[RetiredArmy]

Did I say I was surprised? No sir, I didn't.

[hocndoc]

The bat lady and I were there this morning, withmany more Republicans who most certainly do notapprove of the D' s who subverted the process of representative government. We had our red outfits on.