If a journalist ever wanted to exhibit her spectacular ignorance and bias, the Los Angeles Times' Johanna Neuman performed with flying colors. In a recent blog post about the surprise congratulatory phone call from the Bush family to Rush Limbaugh's radio show, Neuman offered,
We imagine the reason the tape has not yet popped up on YouTube is that is was singularly lacking in the biting, mean-spirited, politically pointed invective for which Limbaugh is known and loved by millions.
"Mean-spirited"? "Invective"? Of course Neuman provides zero examples to support her claim. Has Neuman ever even listened to Limbaugh's program?
Amazingly (or maybe not), Neuman isn't just some dim liberal blogger. She's a newswriter for the paper's Washington bureau. Good ... grief.
By the way, if Neuman ever wanted to see some real examples of mean-spirited invective, she should look into her own operation. Just last month, the Times posted a blog on the death of Tony Snow. They then allowed readers, in their moderated comments section, to post some of the most hate-filled, awful filth you could ever imagine. See: "L.A. Times Commenters Joyously Revel in Tony Snow’s Death" and "More Viciousness at the L.A. Times About Tony Snow" at Patterico.com. Absolutely awful.
Neuman could also look in the mirror. When she penned an article last week on the news that Robert Novak was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Neuman spent well more than half of the article revisiting the Valerie Plame affair. (She dug up the names of Rove and Libby and Cheney, but she apparently found no room for the name Richard Armitage, whom Novak actually identified as his primary source.) More importantly, Neuman didn't bother to take the time to find even one person to say some kind things about Mr. Novak and the difficult situation he faces. Go figure.
We here at NewsBusters have also provided several documented examples of true "mean-spirited invective." The names Bill Maher (this, this, and this, for example), Keith Olbermann (countless examples), and Randi Rhodes (this, this, this, this, this, this) stand out. (Add your memorable ones to the comments below.)
I also offer the cruelest words I've ever heard on the radio. It's from July 2005 on Air America. The host was Sam Seder. Click the link at your own risk. Disgusting.
Are you listening, Johanna Neumann?
—Dave Pierre is the creator of TheMediaReport.com and a contributor to NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
People don't have to listen
August 4, 2008 - 22:32 ET by motherbeltPeople don't have to listen to Rush or any conservative to "know" that they are hateful.
I once wrote a letter to the editor of the Mpls Star Tribune because they had a columnist who wrote that Dr. Laura said hateful things, and then encouraged her listeners to call in and offer more of the same.
That's not even her format; she doesn't do a discussion show..it's an advice show, where people call in with problems.
But those tolerant liberals know what conservatives are like and they don't need no stinking facts!
As for the Sam Seder comment....the famous "many people"... lousy coward doesn't even have the courage to say "I"consider...
And let's not forget Alec Baldwin's glee talking about stoning Henry Hyde to death, and killing his family....
mb... You ought to have
August 4, 2008 - 22:43 ET by bigtimermb...
You ought to have heard the paid phone bank looney leftists this morning talking about Rush and his secret conspiracy with the Bush family and Roger Ailes, this had to do with Rush's 20th anniversary and the calls he received from them on air...nobody knows about it doncha' know...they are waiting for the msm to report on this and for the conversations to become public on Youtube...
It was comical...I mean it...I couldn't even get mad is was so crazy...the IQ of some of the geniuses that call in are really scary...these people vote most like early and often.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Motherbelt, the bottom line is...
August 5, 2008 - 09:17 ET by goldenthroatAnything, absolutely anything said by a "conservative" talk show host, albeit El Rushbo, Dr. Laura, Glenn Beck - whomever - will forever be branded by left-coast, bleeding-heart, 'do as I say, not as I do' liberals as hateful, racist, prejudiced, spiteful, sexist - just insert any adjective of negative connotation here!
Of course, when total morons like Al Franken refer to Limbaugh as a "big, fat idiot", or Keith Olbermeister on a daily basis names his "worst person in the world" and it's almost always someone of conservative persuasion - they call that political opinion.
Ah, but then, they do have Air Anti-America, PMSNBC, Daily Kossack and other venues to demonstrate their "free speech". And it's these nincompoops that want to revive the Fairness Doctrine?
They need to get listeners first - but they are clueless as to why no one does listen to them and why their Arbitron and Nielsen ratings are languishing in the sub-basement.
Poor babies - someone hand me a tissue - sniff, sniff...
"We're all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre
Well , it seems the
August 4, 2008 - 22:36 ET by bigtimerWell , it seems the mean-spiritedness has a new definition with these people..there are no bounds...
None.
their description can't be posted here...not allowed.
they have gone beyond the looney-leftists.
all of them.
I heard some reports of Novaks condition on a few different channels...they all included the Plame affair, no mention of Armitage indeed ..
Btw...as if this was what made Novak after the years of work this man had done, Cross-Fire my goodness...then all of them have the same talking points...close of with being sure to mention their sainted Kennedy with his condition.
It has been despicable how they are treating this man, before he is even dead.
As to the Sam Seder comments..I went, I read, link didn't work for now anyway...just as well, as I know who the little slimy sleaze-ball is... very glad I did not hear his words on the subject...I can imagine though...I would be too angry for the evening.
May try in morning though.
God you can see right through their agenda driven madness...they are pure evil in my opinion.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Johanna Neumann
August 4, 2008 - 22:40 ET by Alex44What a dumbass.
Poor thing...
August 4, 2008 - 22:56 ET by BigBI guess I'd hate Rush too if he effortlessly and completly crushed every aspect of my being and pathetic world view.
Loved because he puts idealistic, brain dead fools like you in their place.
Now, this might sting just a little bit.....
Why Rush wasn't on You Tube
August 4, 2008 - 23:07 ET by nkviking75A quick check of Rush's website shows only audio clips are posted on the relevant page. The only way to get video would be to cull it from the videos on Rush's website, which you can only do if you pay for a membership. Looney libs aren't likely to shell out a penny to the e-e-e-e-vil Rush Limbaugh.
Anyone who heard the call knows there was nothing nasty in it.
Also, if someone did try to post it on You Tube, I imagine Rush would have his staff take action to protect his copyright.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Rush Limbaugh isn't mean-spirited. Just lame.
August 4, 2008 - 23:21 ET by R D HelmI miss the Rush Limbaugh from the old days.
Now those were fun times. :-)
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Propaganda is not news....
August 4, 2008 - 23:34 ET by ScrapironShe is not a newswriter, she is a propaganda tool of the democrat party, as 99% of the so called media hypes are. If she worked for a 'news' organization she would come to work at 8AM tomorrow and be in the unemployment office at 8:15. I missed that she works for the LASlimes so that explains why she doesn't have to write the news. They don't have any new, news.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Scrappy
August 5, 2008 - 01:17 ET by Cool ArrowBut don't you think Rush is probably sleeping fitfully tonight knowing these bad things were said about him. In the LA Times.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Neumman is just jealous
August 5, 2008 - 05:15 ET by SGriffisbecause she can't match Rush's style.
Dear Mr. Pierre...
August 5, 2008 - 07:17 ET by c5thenThese two vocations are not mutually exclusive and seem, lately, to be tied rather closely together.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Shame on you
August 5, 2008 - 18:05 ET by jonesey65244Yes Rush, you should stop being so mean spirited.
Why not be more loving and acceptable like Air America and Daily Kos? I just don't get it. They're always nice to you....
I gotta get outta here before I bite my tongue off.
jonesey65244
Jonesey, my sentiments exactly!
August 5, 2008 - 19:23 ET by goldenthroatJonesey, Read my comments above - you just reflected how I feel about this blatant liberal hypocrisy!
"We're all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre