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My Shared Shame: The Media Helped Make Trump
The New York Slimes ^ | March 26, 2016 | Nicholas Kristof

Posted on 03/27/2016 8:30:19 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

THOSE of us in the news media have sometimes blamed Donald Trump’s rise on the Republican Party’s toxic manipulation of racial resentments over the years. But we should also acknowledge another force that empowered Trump: Us.

I polled a number of journalists and scholars, and there was a broad (though not universal) view that we in the media screwed up. Our first big failing was that television in particular handed Trump the microphone without adequately fact-checking him or rigorously examining his background, in a craven symbiosis that boosted audiences for both.

“Trump is not just an instant ratings/circulation/clicks gold mine; he’s the motherlode,” Ann Curry, the former “Today” anchor, told me. “He stepped on to the presidential campaign stage precisely at a moment when the media is struggling against deep insecurities about its financial future. The truth is, the media has needed Trump like a crack addict needs a hit.”

Curry says she’s embarrassed by the unfairness to other Republican candidates, who didn’t get nearly the same airtime.

An analysis by The Times found that we in the news media gave Trump $1.9 billion in free publicity in this presidential cycle. That’s 190 times as much as he paid for in advertising, and it’s far more than any other candidate received. As my colleague Jim Rutenberg put it, some complain that “CNN has handed its schedule over to Mr. Trump,” and CNN had lots of company.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They did this because they wanted only democrats running for president.


21 posted on 03/27/2016 9:01:22 PM PDT by lonestar67 (Trump is anti-conservative / Cruz 2016)
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To: EagleUSA
Yes, how the lowlifes are so afraid of Trump.!

Trump against the evil world of open borders pimps like The NY Slimes, BUSHCO! Levin? Rush? National Review/Lowry/Compost, the BLM and Sander’s Thugs at Chicago! Including the thugs trying to attack him in Ohio/ Kansas City! Now the hysterical puppies at the Compost, Karen Tumulty, Jenna Johnson and Jose A. DelReal, LA Slimes, SF Gayrhonical w/ Thomas Beaumont and Jill Colvin. The liars like Michelle Fields, Ben Terris, Jabin Botsford, Lloyd Grove, Ben Sharpiro.


22 posted on 03/27/2016 9:02:13 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (I 'm just another low info/stupid & evil/vile/crazy Trump supporter wanting to select my candidate!!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Oh the horror! The media unwittingly helped the campaign of a candidate who wants to make America prosperous, and put America and Americans first. Oh, the humanity!


23 posted on 03/27/2016 9:03:47 PM PDT by mbrfl
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To: ground_fog

And notice

The media and trump are done with debates.

They all got what they wanted.

Conservatives out in the political cold.


24 posted on 03/27/2016 9:06:18 PM PDT by lonestar67 (Trump is anti-conservative / Cruz 2016)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I put a huge amount of blame on them for giving us Lying Hillary


25 posted on 03/27/2016 9:08:59 PM PDT by Lib-Lickers 2
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To: IncPen
The one they really made was Obama.

Everyone knew who Trump was the minute he announced. The press had nothing to do with all the attention he received from the public.

On the other hand who outside of Illinois knew who Obama was?
The press enthusiastically, sycophantically, went all in for him without the Nicholas Kristof hand wringing.

26 posted on 03/27/2016 9:09:30 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: dp0622

I agree. I will go beyond the characterization of hate you touched on at the end.

They know damn well it’s not hate, but it’s the only garlic and silver bullet they have.

They’d rather slander the U. S. Citizen at will as racist, than be honest about the topic.


27 posted on 03/27/2016 9:12:50 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Facing Trump nomination inevitability, folks are now openly trying to help Hillary destroy him.)
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To: The Toll

So very true.The media will never recover from that speech.All the A-holes that were saying we cant deport blablabla is falling on deaf ears.Trump has outed all the talking heads and shown them for what the really are.He is the master.


28 posted on 03/27/2016 9:13:52 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: DoughtyOne

Yes, they created him by giving him all the coverage he could ever ask for to the exclusion of all else. Like the droning of thousands of mindless bees.


29 posted on 03/27/2016 9:14:53 PM PDT by piasa
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To: CaptainK

You’re absolutely right, and the greater crime is that they went all in for him simply because of his skin color.

Don’t forget his Nobel prize for skin color too.

We can say that, if it’s the truth, right?


30 posted on 03/27/2016 9:16:11 PM PDT by IncPen (Hey Media: Bias = Layoffs)
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To: piasa

How much does Ted pay for anti-Trump spots? Do you have any idea?

This was not Trump getting nice kudos for everything he did. You do recognize that right?

Who was getting the free beneficial air-time? Trump or Cruz?

Cruz was the one getting the free beneficial air-time.

This was trash Trump 24/7/365. You folks really do need to come to terms with who got the free air-time.

It was not Trump.


31 posted on 03/27/2016 9:18:29 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Facing Trump nomination inevitability, folks are now openly trying to help Hillary destroy him.)
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If the Dems want to get the coverage back from him they’ll have to nominate their own equivalent celebrity, like Rosie O’Donnell. Wouldn’t that be fun.


32 posted on 03/27/2016 9:20:39 PM PDT by piasa
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The public votes with its eyeballs as well as ballot, feet and wallet.

Trump = eyeballs.

Eyeballs = ratings = money.


33 posted on 03/27/2016 9:56:19 PM PDT by cicero2k
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They tried to destroy him every day, from day one.

Now, they realize they “made him.”

Well whoopdie-freakin’ doo.


34 posted on 03/27/2016 9:58:16 PM PDT by period end of story (Give me a firm spot, and I will move the world.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

These lying F.H. are hilarious. People actually pay to read this drivel.

How dare the masses resist the politically correct crap strangling the nation?


35 posted on 03/27/2016 10:12:12 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Nationalist, Patriot, Trumpman)
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To: clearcarbon

It is much easier. You find leaders willing to FIGHT the media rather than surrender.

That group is very small unfortunately. Fortunately, we have one now.


36 posted on 03/27/2016 10:15:16 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Nationalist, Patriot, Trumpman)
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To: livius

Trump has the media jumping through hoops in spite of itself. He should be called “The Ringmaster”.

BTW War came to Chicago and the Three Stooges joined the Enemy. Only two left now, though.


37 posted on 03/27/2016 10:18:12 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Nationalist, Patriot, Trumpman)
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To: lonestar67

I have repeatedly asked how can a man who has less than a third of the votes from a semi-conservative electorate win with a semi-socialist one?

Even a hint would be appreciated. Got one?


38 posted on 03/27/2016 10:20:16 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Nationalist, Patriot, Trumpman)
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To: lonestar67

“Conservatives out in the political cold.”

That depends on how they respond to our next president. If they go off in a snit like 2012 then they will become more marginal. Ever wonder why it is near impossible to elect conservatives (those considered conservative by the ideologically pure) on a state-wide basis.

If they get on board the Trump Train and help go after our enemies they will increase their influence. Likely? not from what I’ve seen.


39 posted on 03/27/2016 10:24:17 PM PDT by arrogantsob (Nationalist, Patriot, Trumpman)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

$1.9 billion in free publicity ... OVER RATED, OVER PRICED!

MOST WAS NEGATIVE!


40 posted on 03/27/2016 10:30:47 PM PDT by onyx (You're here posting, so sign-up to DONATE MONTHLY!)
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