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Media's hidden agenda
Toronto Sun | 2005-11-30 | Lorrie Goldstein

Posted on 11/30/2005 4:21:36 AM PST by Clive

From their respective opening statements and scrums with the media yesterday, it's already apparent what kind of election campaign this is going to be for Paul Martin compared to Stephen Harper.

Martin's going to get a relatively free ride from the national media and Harper's going to get killed.

The reason is that, at least as far as our media are concerned, the Liberals have succeeded in defining Harper, while the Conservatives have failed to define Martin.

This was evident from the very first questions the media asked Martin and Harper after both men had delivered their respective opening statements about the campaign.

Martin's questions were lob balls -- on things like whether he would use negative campaign ads, to which he basically replied "yes", once you cut through all the bafflegab.

Most tellingly, Martin wasn't even asked about the Gomery report and Liberal corruption.

In fact, he was already walking away from reporters before one of them finally asked whether he thought he deserved a majority government in light of Judge John Gomery's findings. Martin simply ignored the question.

Harper, by contrast, just a few questions into the campaign, was asked something that would have brought joy to any Liberal spin doctor's heart. He was asked, "Do you love the country?"

Think about that. Who are the only people who regularly suggest Conservatives and their supporters (about 30% of the country according to the polls, compared to 35% for the Grits) "hate" Canada? Liberals, that's who.

What this illustrates is how totally the Liberals, who have been in power for 12 years, control our national dialogue.

If they insist that Liberal corruption, AdScam and the findings of the Gomery report are no big deal, then inevitably, that argument works its way into the media's thinking, no matter what Harper and the Conservatives say.

Similarly, if they insist that Harper and the Conservatives are "scary" have a "hidden agenda" and hate Canada, then that too, inevitably influences the media's thinking.

Yesterday's coverage of the leaders' opening statements and press scrums on CBC Newsworld emphasized this.

Don Newman felt so compelled to criticize Harper's response to the "do you love Canada" question, along with another about whether he was ready to be prime minister, that he practically barged in on an unsuspecting Peter Mansbridge to declare it Harper's first big gaffe.

Meanwhile, the CBC reporter covering Martin, asked by Mansbridge what had stood out from his opening statement, replied it was the fact Martin hadn't mentioned Gomery or the sponsorship scandal. Mansbridge sagely replied that Martin had done so, indirectly, by noting that he had promised to call an election within 30 days of the release of Justice John Gomery's second report, but that the opposition had rejected this and forced the election.

Now, I would have thought the more interesting questions were (a) why was Harper even asked a "when are you going to stop beating your wife" question like "do you love the country?" and (b) why didn't the media ask Martin about Gomery, since it was obvious why he wouldn't raise it.

Finally, I can't wait for our national media to explain the findings of yesterday's Stragetic Counsel poll, reported on the front page of the Globe, that found more Canadians believe the LIBERALS have a "hidden agenda" than the Conservatives (33%-25%). Maybe the CBC will do an election special on that, since it flies in the face of Liberal spin and conventional media wisdom. Then again, maybe not.


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1 posted on 11/30/2005 4:21:37 AM PST by Clive
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To: Great Dane; Alberta's Child; headsonpikes; coteblanche; Ryle; albertabound; mitchbert; ...

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2 posted on 11/30/2005 4:21:53 AM PST by Clive
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To: Clive

sigh...at what point was it in question for these people that the MSM would support the liberal/progressive? Breathlessly announcing that the sun rose this morning doesn't quite make it as news. I think Torontoans should sue for their money back on today's edition (unless the crossword was particularly good).


3 posted on 11/30/2005 4:25:37 AM PST by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, protector of the Innocent, pray for us!)
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To: Clive

Do you have a link for this?


4 posted on 11/30/2005 4:28:13 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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To: Clive
You may find this amusing...

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/
 

bah.jpg

The Librano Election Sign Generator is here.


5 posted on 11/30/2005 4:36:24 AM PST by backhoe
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To: backhoe
Too bad this one's a bit too wordy for for ol' Librano$ sign generator:

The essence of being a liberal:
“The absolute conviction that there is one set of rules for you, and another,
completely different set of rules for everyone else.” ~ Ann Coulter

6 posted on 11/30/2005 7:11:13 AM PST by GMMAC (paraphrasing Parrish: "damned Liberals, I hate those bastards!")
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To: backhoe


7 posted on 11/30/2005 7:29:18 AM PST by GMMAC (paraphrasing Parrish: "damned Liberals, I hate those bastards!")
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To: Clive

I'm confused by the headline. Why is the word "Hidden" in there?


8 posted on 11/30/2005 11:59:07 AM PST by HHFi
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