NY Times Omits John Edwards's Party ID After Indictment; Quick to Label Troubled GOP
UPDATE: Some hours after the Times's initial filing, the phrase "former senator" in paragraph one was changed to read "former Democratic senator."
Where’s the party? New York Times reporter Katharine Seelye filed an online report early Friday on the breaking story of the indictment on campaign finance violations of John Edwards, the former senator and 2008 Democratic presidential candidate (and John Kerry’s 2004 running mate), on charges he violated campaign finance law to conceal an extramarital affair during his presidential campaign. Only one thing missing: His political party.
The word “Democrat” does not appear at all in the nine-paragraph story, which simply identifies Edwards as a former senator and presidential candidate:
John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina and presidential candidate, was indicted Friday morning by a grand jury in Raleigh on charges that he violated campaign finance law during his 2008 presidential campaign.
In contrast, the Washington Post managed to identify Edwards as a Democrat in the first paragraph:
Former vice presidential nominee John Edwards was indicted Friday on charges of violating federal election law for allegedly using nearly $1 million in illegal campaign donations to conceal an extramarital affair during his 2008 run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
USA Today and the Los Angeles Times also made room for Edwards’s party affiliation in paragraph two of their stories.
The Times often omits the party affiliation of Democrats in trouble, like former Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, but is generally quick to label Republicans involved in controversies.
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Comments
Yes, but they did call him "Mr." Edwards.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:50pm.
It's not like they have no editorial standards at all.
/s
Blago
Submitted by deadeyedan on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:48pm.
Oh, come on. The media will mention Edward's affiliation just as often as they do for Rod Blagojevich and every other mold spore crook from that curiously misnamed party. Maybe they just have trouble figuring out whether to call them Democrats or Communists.
ClimateGate - the revelation that the pseudo-scientists from East Anglia University know just as much about the atmosphere as Harvard law professors know about the Constitution - deadeyedan
Not at ABC News either
Submitted by EricTheRed on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 2:37pm.
Mr. Waters - Stephanopolous, Woodruff, et al. didn't mention Edwards' party ID either. But they DID include John Ensign's last month and the month before. (http://vocalminority.typepad.com/blog/2011/06/liberal-media-bias-promine...) Just sent you guys a tip about it.
I'm just surprised they didn't label him a republican...
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 3:31pm.
...like some media outlets did with comrade Weenie.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November