Posted on 09/20/2008 1:40:53 AM PDT by bugseye
Journalists race to 'check' Palin claims, ignore Democrats' billion dollars in earmarks.
When Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin claimed she defeated the infamous Alaskan “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark, the Democratic nominees and network, cable and print journalists rushed to “fact check” her statement.
Journalists across the media spectrum carried Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s argument portraying Palin as an exaggerator at best, a liar at worst. Reports often failed to fully explain Palin’s handling of the “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark and mostly ignored budget watchdogs that still defended her record of reform. Obama’s nearly $1 billion in earmark requests, as well as Sen. Joe Biden’s $323 million were not mentioned by network reporters either.
The assault stemmed from Palin’s remarks in her acceptance speech and on the campaign trail since September 3 about earmarks and specifically the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.”
USA Today said on September 10 that her claim about the bridge was “barely half true.” A Washington Post front-page headline hit harder: “As Campaign Heats Up, Untruths Can Become Facts Before They’re Undone.” CBS “Evening News” ran three separate “Reality Checks” criticizing her statements.
Obama’s shots against Palin on the campaign trail also resonated with media eager to discredit her. Obama’s sound bite on the issue made its way into four network stories in four days and seven CNN reports in six days. Recent stories aired by ABC’s “Nightline,” “World News with Charles Gibson,” and “Good Morning America” all repeated Obama’s criticism of Palin without rebuttal from her or the McCain campaign
(Excerpt) Read more at businessandmedia.org ...
I’m reminded of the scene in “Airplane” when the reporters all ran for the bank of pay phones.
TWO QUOTES:
‘My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join with me as we try to change it.’
— Barrack Obama
‘’Life’s tough.....it’s even tougher if you’re stupid.’’
— John Wayne
My explanation for the blatant bias that we’re seeing in this election cycle is the reduced effectiveness of the MSM propaganda machine.
When they were all powerful, they didn’t need to be this biased to be effective, they could just subtly throw in a negative innuendo here, a light jab there, a raised eyebrow here, and it would have an effect.
But as means of information delivery have evolved, they are discovering that their subtle advocacy is no longer working, so they are trying harder and harder, to the point now where they have essentially thrown in the kitchen sink. B
ut in this shrill attempt they have torn off the mask that even the most dense of observers can easily spot the bias. So they try even harder, but the harder they try, the more credibility they lose, and the less people believe them.
the msm still have influence over half the population is is still significant
Which half is that?
Ford was a Rino who supported the ERA and abortion and thought conservatives were idiots. Carter was.....Carter, and he was so far ahead the media started building up Ford to have a race to cover.
The last week of the campaign, Newsweek carried a fawning profile of Ford looking like your favorite grandpa. Other than that year, it's all Dems all the time.
Yes, of course they were always in the tank, but I think their methods were more subtle
Nicely balanced by US on Palin: "Sex, Lies and Scandal"
Don’t forget all those media folks out there with tingly legs for Obama, laughing when McCain had one reporter show up at a campaign event while Obama had hundreds following him around Europe. Don’t forget how it was reported Obama could do curls with 70 lb of free weight with one hand. The media has largely ignored his lying and incompetent speaking, gaffs and general stupid statements. Now we have a fair balanced press.(not)
“Networks Help Obama Bridge Gap on Earmarks”
How about them bridging the gap between his ears.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.