Ridiculous Bias in Boston Globe Hit Piece on Barney Frank Opponent
If you need any more evidence of the blatant animus that a mainstream newspaper like the Boston Globe can have for conservative Republicans, here you go. Compare the following:
- Sean Bielat was the Republican challenger to Rep. Barney Frank in the 4th Congressional District in Massachusetts last November. While spending ten months to run for the seat, he paid himself a salary of $10,000.
- Mac D’Alessandro, a self-identified "progressive Democrat," was a primary challenger in the 9th District. The Globe heartily endorsed D'Alessandro, a "public-interest attorney," "community activist," and political director for the SIEU. Even though his campaign barely lasted five months (he lost the primary), he collected stipends totaling nearly $27,000.
Well, last week, the Globe slammed Bielat with a can't-miss, top-of-page-B1 article (Sat. 2/12/11), "Law change helped House candidate pay himself: Bielat took $10,000 salary from campaign in loss to Frank."
The article made no mention at all of Democrat D’Alessandro collecting his stipends, even though D’Alessandro collected over two-and-a-half times what Bielat collected in a campaign that lasted half as long. In fact, the Globe falsely reported that "it appears Bielat is the first Massachusetts candidate" to collect a salary. The Globe begrudgingly published a weak "clarification" for their error a few days later.
Mr. Bielat has responded to the Globe hit piece. In doing so, he also pointed out that the Globe also conveniently failed to mention that he donated $3,500 to his own campaign, so he actually "netted" only $6,500. So his salary roughly equaled $3 an hour. "Not exactly a get rich quick scheme," said Bielat.
The 2002 McCain-Feingold law made it permissible for candidates for federal office to collect a salary. The goal was to make it possible for people who are not millionaires or deeply entrenched incumbents to run for office. (In other words, the law encouraged regular folks like Bielat to run.)
But it seems in the Globe's view, there is only a problem if a Republican takes advantage of this law.
One-sided reporting? You bet.
-- Dave Pierre is the author of the book, Double Standard: Abuse Scandals and the Attack on the Catholic Church. Dave is also the creator of TheMediaReport.com and is a contributing writer to NewsBusters.
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Comments
Isn't it ironic that the state that produced Paul Revere...
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 10:44pm.
...who helped bring about the birth of the greatest nation in history, is the same state that repeatedly sends someone to Washington that will share more than a little responsibilty for our nation's very possible near-term demise?
Or is it just me?
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
No, Dave
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 10:51pm.
It isn't just you. I know more than a few Bay Staters that are always bragging about living in the "Birthplace of Freedom." When I ask them about all the taxes and restrictions they vote upon themselves, I get silence as a response.
What really gets me is that the reason I know these people is because they've moved here to Virginia to escape the madness. When I ask them about local politics, they're supporting Democrats and wanting to vote for the same stuff that ruined the place they felt the need to escape....my head hurt just thinking about that.
TP,
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:26pm.
Yeah, we get more than a few of them around here, too.
I don't care if they want to move here as long as they leave their liberalism behind.
Problem is, so many bring it with them.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
What was their opinion....
Submitted by NeoKong on Fri, 02/18/2011 - 12:13am.
On Barney Frank and his drugged out boyfriend flying to the Virgin Islands with S.Donald Sussman on his private jet for a luxury vacation....? Just wondering.
They Have to Use These Tactics
Submitted by Boil It Down on Fri, 02/18/2011 - 4:19am.
Barney Frank and the uninformed who vote for him are indefensible in an arena. Those who promote him have no other recourse than to jump to these absurd lengths in hopes of garnering support. If you were charged with keeping Frank in office what else can you do but to tear down the competition. There is no way to raise Barney up.
The Globe only puts these thing out because they're an important part of Barney Frank's team. Of course that takes them out of the realm of their original responsibility which was journalism.