Posted on 07/24/2006 12:54:29 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
July 24, 2006
Bill O'Reilly got his show off to a surprising start this afternoon, with a novel theory as to why the big-city newspapers have tread lightly in criticizing Israel for its role in the current conflict. O'Reilly theorized, during his opening monologue, that the papers are fearful of turning off Jewish liberal readers.
As per Bill's theory, papers such as the NY and LA Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post have been taking big hits in readership and profitability. With Fox News Channel's ED Hill in the studio, O'Reilly continued: "liberal Jewish readers are all [those newspapers] have left" as a significant market segment. If the papers were to be too critical of Israel, it could alienate their last remaining readership niche.
It's hard to evaluate O'Reilly's statement since we can't look inside the minds of the papers' editors, and they would certainly never fess up to such a strategy. As someone who is a former liberal and still a Jew, I'd observe that I used to read the NY Times but don't anymore - except for purposes of perusing the online op-ed page to glean potential nuggets of interest for NB readers. That's a statistical sample of exactly . . . one!
But those same papers have not been hesitant to criticize Israel over the years. Is there really a sudden change of course? Or could it be, mirabile dictu, that there is surprising consensus in much of the world, even extending to portions of the MSM, that the Hezbollah thugs are a threat to most everyone this side of Tehran and Damascus?
Bill O'Reilly/NewsBusters ping to Today show list.
It makes some sense...
Yes, but are there many liberal Jews left who still care about Israel? Maybe the editors are being too fastidious.
For the record: Bill made clear that he recognizes Israel's right to go after Hezbollah. His theory was offered for purposes of explaining the papers' timidity, not criticizing it.
I can see that being true for the NYT but not the Washington Post
While BOR did include the WaPo I think he might have added 'to a lesser extent' and particularly emphasized the NY and LA Times.
Please elaborate.
Ha! I don't know why, but this struck me as really funny Mark. Even O'reilly is right once in a while.
Sort of like asking if there are many liberal Christians who still care about repentance.
If I can bring a chuckle to just one person, my day is a success ;-)
"Or could it be, mirabile dictu, that there is surprising consensus in much of the world, even extending to portions of the MSM, that the Hezbollah thugs are a threat to most everyone this side of Tehran and Damascus?"
I wouldn't be so optimistic.
There's stil Hamas, Al Quaida, Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Fatah, the Wahhabists, etc., etc.
The problem is Islam.
The dispute between these collections of nutjobs is the techinique to be used to strangle us, not in the ultimate outcome.
He's not right about the L.A. SLIMES--it's always been very pro Palestinian. Hugh Hewitt has documented this many times on his radio show.
It is kind of interesting how the New Republic egged on the war against Saddam, and thend turned against Bush for actually doing it.
A lot of younger Jews are, or were, becoming quite fed-up with the Democratic plantation, and are flirting with the idea of wandering down to Republican town. Or have already done so (like yours truly).
The figures are beginning to be noticeable. Its panic time for liberal establishments. ;)
Where has Bill been??
Those paper have been criticizing Israel and their actions
That's been my impression, though he specifically mentioned that the NY Times has gone suprisingly [for it] easy on Israel in the current conflict.
"Yes, but are there many liberal Jews left who still care about Israel? Maybe the editors are being too fastidious."
As a Jew myself, grew up liberal, now conservative, I can assure you that your speculation is completely wrong. Liberal Jews are heavily supportive of Israel---and contribute heavily financially each year. Yes, I know it is a contradiction for a Jew to be a part of the anti-sematic, Israel hating left, but liberal Jews don't see things that way.
I do not care at all about the damn NYT any more. It is one of the worst papers in America.
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