Has the press taken sides?
September 12th, 2008 Elliot
Most members of the mainstream media are politically Liberal.
That’s an undeniable fact
For the most part, I think over the years professional journalists have made an effort to be as nonpartisan as their unconscious biases would allow.
But, now, it feels like the mainstream media has abandoned any pretense towards impartiality and declared open war on the Right.
There’s a reason why a majority of Americans think the press is out to hurt Sarah Palin.
For well over a year, the mainstream media has been fawning all over Barack Obama.
And now I’m wondering if, like Paul Soglin, the press hasn’t decided that this election is so important that anything they have to do to assure Barack Obama’s election is justified.
The Fourth Estate has an important role to play in a Democracy.
They should ask hard questions.
They should probe for answers.
They should try to find the truth.
But they should not take sides.
And, at this point, it is my judgment that many members of the press have abandoned their traditional role as democracy’s referees and have chosen advocacy over arbitration.
3 Comments Add your own
1. grumps&hellip | September 12th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Or could it have something to do with the Press’ love affair with The Original Mavericky John McCain who has just now shown them the depths of his Same-ol-sameness? I think it’s a reaction to McCain turning his back on the truth.
2. elliot&hellip | September 12th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I think there is a boomerang element to what’s going on, too, Grumps.
I’m less concerned why it’s happening than that it is happening.
I hope most of my readers know I’d like to see a fair fight.
I think there SHOULD be a fight, but there is something unsettling about what’s going on in the mainstream press right now.
Sure the blogosphere is crazy. It always has been and probably always will be. I just see a lot of that craziness crossing the line into the professional press and that concerns me.
3. grumps&hellip | September 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Was the kid who pointed out thatthe Emperor was pantsless participating in craziness or pointing out the obvious.
If the Press says, “Candidate X told a lie,” and Candidate X did indeed tell a lie, then is that an attack or just the pointing out of the obvious?
If Candidate Y calls Candidate Z a “poopy butt” and the Press says it’s an attack is that reflecting the tone and tenor of the original statement or is it partisan.
Truman said, “I tell them the truth and they think it’s hell.” Sometimes the truth has teeth.
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