Posted on 04/10/2010 6:26:25 AM PDT by Kaslin
While many Americans believe the national press is biased toward the left, a more damning charge is now being debated: Are U.S. media outlets actually corrupt? Those who believe they are point to the cheerleading of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and to the recent reportage on the Tea Party movement.
As you may know, the Tea Party people have been branded in some media quarters as a bunch of racist, far-right loons. TV commentators on MSNBC and CNN have actually called the Tea Party folks dirty names on the air -- all in an attempt to diminish the growing influence of the movement.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the gutter. Regular Americans have apparently opted to decide for themselves about the Tea Party, and the polling is interesting. Despite all the rhetorical madness on TV, a new Gallup poll says 28 percent of Americans support the movement, 26 percent oppose it and 38 percent have not yet formed an opinion about support or opposition. Thus, there is a persuadable factor in play, and that is what the liberal media fear the most.
This time last year, there was no Tea Party. Now, it is perhaps the most vibrant political force in the country. If millions more Americans sign on, liberalism will take a huge hit. By the way, Gallup also reports that the Tea Party movement breaks down this way: 49 percent Republican, 43 percent Independent and 8 percent Democratic. The issue that binds the Tea Party folks together is fear of big government.
When the Founding Fathers granted the press privileges beyond those of everyday citizens, they did so with some trepidation. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, opposites in political thinking, both loathed the early press in America because it often operated irresponsibly; that is, it was not unusual for money to change hands in the production of a news story.
But Jefferson, Adams and their peers understood that the people needed information in order to make informed decisions at the voting booth. Therefore, the greater good was served by allowing a free press in the hope that the honest journalists would outnumber the dishonest ones.
Today, we have a problem in America. Entire news operations are devoting themselves not to reporting events honestly, but to promoting a certain ideology or party. The Fox News Channel, where I work, has been accused of this. But a study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs found that FNC's coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign was tough on both candidates, while most other news networks blatantly favored Obama.
Now we have a systematic media campaign to demean the Tea Party movement. At first, organizations like The New York Times ignored the movement. Then they mocked it. Neither worked. As the rallies grew larger, the liberal press got meaner. There was little reporting being done -- it was all about bashing.
This isn't bias; it's corruption. News organizations are supposed to be watchdogs, not attack dogs. The Tea Party should be scrutinized like every other political movement. But that's not what's going on here. A large part of the national media is out to destroy these folks. And that's flat-out wrong.
Yes they are totally corrupt. The kicker is they combine this with being monstrously stupid.
To the core, It would seem.
YES! When the press becomes the propaganda arm of the government it is corrupt and NO LONGER A FREE PRESS!
Is the American Press Corrupt?
Uh, Boys! The silliness thread was posted yesterday.
To ask that question is to answer it.
The irony lost on the msm is that I don’t know of a single prominent person in the republican party who ever ever slurred Anderson Cooper for his homosexuality. Yet he saw fit to slur the Tea Party with a homosexual vulgarity.
One poll put the libs closer to 40%!
Another Freeper said it best about the left (including the press) when he quoted Gandhi: “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win!”
Boy, isn’t that the truth. That’s why no one is watching anymore for truthful news. Most people watch to see what bilge the MSM spouts for entertainment value..
Completely corrupt. Totally in the tank for Obama; at least that part of the “press” that we call the MSM.
Nothing but spin machines for the DNC.
They are why we watch Fox. At least Fox looks at both sides, even with their bias, we get more than one point of view.
After we get done with the lawyers, we are coming for the reporters.
Heard recently that the Saudi’s own a large amount of stock in Fox’s parent company hence a more go easy attitude recently on the mooslims and geehad. If Fox shuts down...
Bill, that's a very poorly thought out comment.
Among other things, it's simply not so.
yep...
“Is there tea in China?”
ROFLMAO
Achtung baby, ze state run media ess NOT korrupt. Ve are in Amerika und ve hav a free press. Next!
“/sarchasm = that gaping whole between a liberal and the truth...”
Gees. Good one.
___________________________________________________________
GE owns NBC. GE/NBC get 4.3 billion in stimulus money from Obama. Obama is defended, promoted, while ANYONE who is opposed to his policies are political targets. Money is still changing hands as in Jefferson/Adams time. They will not report their own sins and are leading the sheep following Obama to believe he is the only one honest.
Yes, we have Fox, but that is only one station. Many people don't have cable, only ABC, CBS & NBC. They aren't getting any of the truth.
I'm sure the democrats are doing many unlawful things (bribes, lying under oath (what is in health care) stealing money from the American people. We NEED true patriots in the media to expose Obama. They only want to promote him.
I do find peace in the fact that: God knows all, sees all and will judge all.
And this earlier poll had the Tea Parties doing better than either the Democrats or the Republicans:
“WSJ/NBC News Poll: Tea Party Tops Democrats and Republicans
snip-
More than four in 10, 41%, of respondents said they had a very or somewhat favorable view of the Tea Party movement,
-snip-
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, which controls both the White House and Congress, has a 35% positive rating
-snip-
The Republican Party identifies closest to the Tea Party movement’s ideology, but the group has also caused splits within the GOP. Republicans currently hold a 28% favorability rating”
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/12/16/wsjnbc-news-poll-tea-party-tops-democrats-and-republicans/
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