Word choice can be a subtle but effective way in which the media colorfully editorialize on the news, skewing the perceptions of readers in one direction or another. Take Washington Post's Philip Rucker, who did masterful job in skewing his 19-paragaph-long page A4 story "Activists bring 'tea party' to Capitol Hill" in favor of ObamaCare proponents while smearing conservatives in a negative light.
Rucker's labeling bias was a thread woven through the entire piece, starting with the lead paragraph (emphasis mine):
With the stage set for a historic House vote on health-care reform this weekend, an estimated 10,000 conservative activists descended on Capitol Hill on Thursday for a campaign-style rally in a last-ditch effort to defeat a bill they demonized as "Pelosi-Care."
In other words, Rucker tells readers, the Democrats, poised to make history, are threatened by a "last-ditch" effort by conservatives driven to defeat a bill they've unfairly maligned.
But the starkest contrast was how Rucker described how "hundreds of activists stormed congressional offices in an attempt to turn wavering Democrats against the [Democratic health care] bill" yet found "nine pro-reform activists" who "had staged a sit-in the seventh-floor office of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman."
The tea partiers "unleashed their ire on Speaker Nancy Pelosi," while the Lieberman protesters simply came "demanding that he return campaign contributions from health insurers."
The message is clear: the Lieberman protesters, who were arrested with unlawful entry of the Connecticut independent's office, were civilly disobedient, while the tea partiers -- no arrests within their ranks reported -- were a seething mob.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Astroturf mob at Lieberman's office
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:24 ET by Gary HallThat obnoxious bunch of loud and unruly trouble making mob-like radicals making that horrible scene and getting arrested for it in Sen. Lieberman's was Astroturf if I've ever seen Astroturf!
(;~/ gary
The first report I heard was about
Sat, 11/07/2009 - 00:24 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonTea baggers holding an anti healthcare reform demonstration outside the congresional buildings, then going inside, causing at least 9 people to be arrested for disorderly conduct.
It wasn't until here that I found out just WHO it was that was 'disorderly' and needed to be arrested and hauled off.
Typical, liberal nutcases get arrested for borderline rioting and the media blames the normal, intelligent, PEACEFUL American Citizens peaceably assembling per their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
http://gjresult.com
It's kinda hard for nine
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:26 ET by mattmIt's kinda hard for nine libtards to "storm" anything....a sit-in is pretty accurate...an astroturf picnic is more accurate.
Frankly I think the term "demonize" is the most blatantly slanted word in the piece. It's also hypocritical because if anyone is demonizing anything it's the MSM.
BTW - 50 Year Old Cartoon, Must Watch This was made 50 years ago and is even more appropriate today.
http://fhu.com/cartoon.html
mattm... MSM is
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:39 ET by bigtimermattm...
MSM is right...you hit the nail right on the head...another reason I don't watch all that much anymore compared to what I used to, can't take it anymore, blood-pressure rising isn't worth it daily, let alone damage to the television...hehee
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I let the NB staff view the
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:01 ET by mattmI let the NB staff view the MSM for me...then I can take it with less chance of blowing a cork.
"...then I can take it with less chance of blowing a cork."
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:04 ET by R D HelmOr having a stroke.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.
Instead of "stormin norman" language...
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:36 ET by holeinthehullHoleinthehull
How about this...2010 will be the year voters will decidely balance on one foot while strategically placing their other foot in the crack side of liberal politicians backsides, sending them abruptly, without hesitation, and with great fanfare, the hell home.
"Storm" is the least of their problems
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:44 ET by Blonde....if they keep this up.
The democrats and media are brewing up a mix that will result in the "Perfect Storm".....and if they keep it up, I'm afraid it may actually get violent. Because they keep painting us as the kook fringe, un-hinged and on the verge.
Well, that verge is getting closer and closer, methinks.
We're mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore. Pelosi et. al. need to get a clue.
I hope he fails, too.
Good one
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 17:20 ET by acumenPelosi getting a clue....that's rich Blonde.
Wait...channeling Teddy Kennedy....says Pelosi getting a clue is his last chance at hell freezing over.
OK - coming back to reality now...nope...Pelosi still scheduling Nancycare vote Saturday night. She thinks nobody will notice. Sorry Teddy.
"The Revolutionists and Colonial Patriots stormed Yorktown...
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:46 ET by stage9...but the tyranical British got their rears handed to them on a platter and were forced to flee our shores."
Hmmm...I'm ok with that familiar comparison!
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will
be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for
pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner."
— Malcolm Muggeridge
stage9... ...and their is
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:50 ET by bigtimerstage9...
...and their is a mighty storm a-brewin' that is coming down the road if they keep cramming this crap down our throats..they ain't seen nothing yet.
This week-end is going to be interesting in the House.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
The NY Times does the same
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:51 ET by jwm45The NY Times does the same thing. Their verb-of-choice for headlines involving Republicans is "attack"
Damn I wish I'd
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:52 ET by bre1227had more notice and AA's flight schedules were more convenient. I soooo wnated to go. Was that all there was? 10,000? I thought I heard a higher estimate on Fox last night
bre... I've heard
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:55 ET by bigtimerbre...
I've heard anywhere from over 20,000 to 50,000.
No matter what, on such short notice it was amazing!
The leftist everywhere know it too.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Thanks BT
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:58 ET by bre1227I thought I heard between 25 and 50,000 also. I understand the short notice -- afterall we were reacting to Pelosi's timing. I wish I lived closer than Chgo, I might have drove there.
the crowd was 20,000
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:56 ET by Free StinkerRep. Michelle Bachman was on Mark Levin's show last night and said the crowd was 20,000
خال
I've also heard her say
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:08 ET by bigtimerI've also heard her say 50,000 on Hannity radio and TV show...she may not have even known for sure at the time she did Levin...I missed her on Levin.
Matters not, it was HUGE!
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I wonder what they are going to call it when we show up...
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:00 ET by R D Helm...with pitchforks and torches, which is what I anticipate will happen if the out-of-touch goobers in the congress try to force yet another mega-huge, treasury-busting spending bill down our throats, no matter what it is for.
It might even happen if they don't.
I don't think these people truly understand just how close this country is to an outright revolt.
The only thing remaining to be seen is if that revolt takes place in the voting booths, or somewhere else.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.
I have been shocked by the pictures...
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:05 ET by Prester John.....of the smoke billowing from the Capitol and Congressional office buildings, the scenes of the Tea Party mobs carrying loot from the offices, bodies of Congresscritters and staffers laying in their offices and in the streets, bloodied Tea Partiers throwing rocks at the police, police firing tear gas at the out of control mobs, innocent bystanders fleeing for their lives, the National Guard pouring onto Capital Hill...
(sarc)
Oh, and isn't it interesting that whereas the MSM did everything they could to ignore the Tea Parties and protests earlier in the year, all of a sudden they see mobs of extremists storming the Capitol?
Methinks we are getting their attention. Who knows, one of these days someone may tell BHO that the natives are getting restless.
"The Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"
www.campaignforliberty.com
PJ.. ...and to think, the
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:05 ET by bigtimerPJ..
...and to think, the msm ignored all of this... again! ;-)
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Some say Tomato
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:53 ET by Dragonsbreathsome say tomato.
"While Americans died at Fort Hood, Obama had a good laugh..."
The Bastille, the Winter
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 17:26 ET by RR GOPThe Bastille, the Winter Palace, Capitol Hill 2009.
Nope. No comparison. Guess we're not pissed off enough. As for the Libtards they're pissed because the government isn't Communist enough for them...yet.
What's interesting is that the Libtards are more ticked and louder and things are going their way. With us Conservatives, we, uh, sit around and type stuff like this, er...wave flags, oh, and send messages to Congressmen that ignore us, a few get escorted out of public meetings/get their mics turned off...
Yep. The plan seems to be working very well.
Not much else to do really. The problem is that the sheeple out there don't know a fraction of what we talk about here and other sites...don't wanna hear it. So I've pretty much resigned myself that things are going to get rather ugly and hope I am prepared enough to get through it while the sheeple are losing their minds because they never thought it could happen to them.
Or, perhaps everything will magically come up peachy keen! :-)
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Only 3 years to go until
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 23:54 ET by HogTideRebelCatsNovember 6, 2012
Then us Patriotic Americans will vote NObamASS out.
How in the Hell did 67 million stupid americans decide to vote for this TRAITOR!?
H.T.R.C.
Sat, 11/07/2009 - 12:06 ET by Jerry MackHere is a game I play with Obama voters. I ask or have asked them ( in a nice way ) why they voted for him. I keep mental notes. You would be surprised at how their answers change. Many of then actually thought ( my deduction ) that he would solve their problems.