In a blog titled "How ‘Media Bias’ Saved America," Philadelphia Daily News senior writer Will Bunch (on his well-named "Attytood" blog) first tried to argue that the media are not really biased, just accurate in pointing out the sleazy negativity of John McCain and the know-nothingness of Sarah Palin. But he ended by merely proclaiming that this so-called media bias "may just have saved America." Objectivity is for cowards:
Yes, they’re voicing outrage today inside the sacred sanctuary of the Temple of Objective Journalism , where the celebrants nervously fingered their rosaries rather than confront the Constitutional bonfire that was building outside.
But for eight years now, there’s been an out-of-control fire raging outside of that temple – a fire that was built upon the USA Patriot Act and Guantanamo and rendition and torture and signing statements and 16 words in a State of the Union Address. Ultimately, saving the last fabric of democracy is more important than worrying about what contrived commandments of journalism were stepped on while the blaze was finally extinguished.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓I myself would call it truth-telling, and honest journalism, but now we have some who want to call it "media bias." That’s fine with me, but understand this.
"Media bias" may have just saved America.
To liberals, proclaiming your liberal beliefs from the rooftops of a newspaper building isn't biased, it's just "honest journalism." But the first honest thing to say would be "I wasn't trying to be objective."
Bunch also lamely claims that George McGovern's press coverage was "horrific" in 1972 (examples, anyone?) and cites Mark Hertsgaard's book On Bended Knee that claimed a dramatic pro-Reagan bias in the press corps. Hertsgaard's primary method of research in that book was interviewing liberal journalists who apologized for not being anti-Reagan enough.
(Hat tip: Tom Johnson)
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.




















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I dont get it
November 6, 2008 - 11:36 ET by MillerTimeWarpWhy are these people still bashing McCain/Palin and glorifying the media ? Its over. Lets sit back and watch the circus. I've been working for over 25 years and this reminds me of when the company decides to promote someone with no experience or talent - just because they have a charmin persona. Always happens....they dont live up to their promises or so called abilities. Can be quite entertaining to watch.
I would rather be a Conservative nut job, than a Liberal with no nuts and no job
Reminds me of a picture
November 6, 2008 - 22:04 ET by GrannyGrump42Reminds me of a picture frame I once saw, with the words, "He's pretty, but can he type?"
About those 16 words in the SOTU
November 6, 2008 - 11:46 ET by ArminiusFactcheck.org concluded that Bush did not lie. http://www.factcheck.org/bushs_16_words_on_iraq_uranium.html
Has anyone here hear the "truth-telling" media report that?
Did anyone here hear the "truth-telling" media, who insisted that Obama is not a socialist, report that he ran for the Illinois state senate in 1996 as a fusion Democrat/New Party candidate? The New Party was affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America.
I have heard that
November 6, 2008 - 11:52 ET by dscottI have heard that confession is good for the soul, but really since when is self justification of unethical conduct the basis for forgiveness?
Now that Obama will be installed as President, the MSM now feels it can openly lie and mislead for the greater good? Thanks a bunch Will, you just admitted nothing you people report upon can be trusted. I am so looking forward to your paper going out of business.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Got that 'folk' look
November 6, 2008 - 11:59 ET by Mica the MagnificentIs it just me or do most of these liberal writers look like they're from central casting ready to step in as bassist for Peter, Paul and Mary?
The arrogance of this man
November 6, 2008 - 12:03 ET by nadadhimmiThe arrogance of this man reflects that of the media in general. After all, isn't he the all knowing, the wise, the magnificent, 2nd only to the Annointed One himself???? These media people have absolutely no idea of the contempt and disgust in which they are held by 90% of Americans. It's nice to know though to whom I can go to be told the correct way to think, act and live. At least I won't need a thought permit from the new civilian security force, aka, Acorn. All praise the new Messiah. Remember: wrong thinking will be punished. America now reminds me of "The Village" in that old TV show; The Prisoner.
This is how fascism takes
November 6, 2008 - 12:05 ET by ConservativeRexThis is how fascism takes hold. A compliant media, a "private" army, complete control of the schools/universities. We no doubt will soon see individuals who speak out against Obami publically have strange "happenings".
Like reporters getting thrown off of Air Force One for instance. Wait, that's already happened hasn't? There's more to come.
The liberals are serious about the "Fairness Doctrine". I have already read instances of people saying since Obami won Conservatives have no right to say anything or critize anything. This is what we will be facing for the next four years. Bush never stifiled anyone's free speech, hell in my opinion he should have. We will experience worse. Be prepared.
I would not be surprised if this site isn't monitored by Obami's truth squads and given warnings. It's happened before in this country, and Obami is well aware of it.
Attytood
November 6, 2008 - 12:16 ET by KC MulvilleI was born and raised in the Phily area, so I check my hometown newspaper regularly. I usually catch the sports and obituaries, but I skip the opinion articles, since the Inquirer and DailyNews are run by the same ultra-liberal, ultra-Democrat clique. But I couldn't miss this article, and I was so embarrassed by this article that I was going to write something, but I had to step back and keep my temper.
His logic is that his beliefs are true, and anything else must be lies and treason. He apparently doesn't recognize any honest disagreement, so all disagreement with him must be dishonest. His conclusion is that his job as a journalist is to report the truth, which means that he isn't required to report other points of view.
The really insulting part is that he believes that by excluding other points of view, he helped elect Obama and therefore has "saved" the Republic. But think of the logic there.
He didn't care about your freedom. He was simply worried that you were too stupid to see the truth that he saw. He was worried that if he reported other points of view, you might disagree with him. So, to help you stupid voters, he simply reported only what you needed to elect Obama.
The embarrassing part is that this moron admits it.
the new hypocrites
November 6, 2008 - 12:32 ET by jazzact13In one of his short mystery stories, Chesterton made mention of what he called the new hypocrites--people who tried to seem worse then they really were, as opposed to the old hypocrites, who tried to look better then they really were.
I think now we've come on an even newer hypocrite, one who openly acknowledges his dishonest and bians, and expects to be applauded for them.
"Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true."
Chesterton, Orthodoxy
is there...
November 6, 2008 - 12:36 ET by katainkentIs there an MSM graveyard list?
Great question katainkent.
November 6, 2008 - 12:59 ET by TD in FLGreat question katainkent. Someone should really keep track of all the defunk companies. It would come in handy when trying to illustrate the effects of Economics 101. Demand of liberal bias goes down, Supply naturally follows.
This guy is such a tool.
November 6, 2008 - 12:54 ET by TD in FLThis guy is such a tool. Unfortunately, people like him are a dime a dozen now. An Obama victory has only prevented them from going into full-blown conspiracy activist mode. Now they can solely employ their misguided self-rightousness from the confines of their ivory tower. Deep down they must know most citizens despise them (for even many people that voted for Obama admitted the blatant media bias), but yet, they don't care. Well, I can tell you when they will care; when their company goes bankrupt.
Actually, maybe they are smarter than we give them credit for. They saw the inevitable demise of the MSM media and figured they could at least cash in on the handouts once they do get the pink slip. Nah. Since they don't really believe in capitalism, they don't quite understand that as demand goes down, sales eventually cannot cover fixed expenses. As viewship/readership declines, the company has no choice but to scramble to reduce fixed expenses. You, Mr. Bunch, are that fixed expense.
I'm still Voting - on the MSM - by NOT watching
November 6, 2008 - 12:59 ET by JayTeeCan WE call the TV cable Providers and ASK THAT ABC CBS NBC be blocked ?
A few MILLION of those requests might send a message.
Thank you President Bush, for your Courage and Leadership.
We're at war.
November 6, 2008 - 13:13 ET by CoolShadesNow I've had a little time to cool off...
We should be respectful of the voting decisions of our fellow citizens. It is what our Founding Fathers had in mind when developing the blue prints of our new nation - that everyone has a voice, a fair voice.
That said...The biggest problem with the Republican Party is the Main-Stream-Media. Their extreme and callous bias demonstrated in the 2008 Elections is essentially an act of war against the Republican Party and an act of sedition against the country. They can no longer be termed journalists. That would disrespect former news persons who built the currently inflamed platform they claim to stand upon and desecrate.
We're at war. The enemy is the MSM. And the first thing to do is to break all financial ties with them. As I've mentioned on this site before and have read about others here as well, we should, at least, cancel all newspaper and magazine subscriptions from all guilty parties. I thought I would miss my own newspaper delivery. I moaned and grunted at every bias article and screamed and yelled at what was not covered. But I do not miss it. Not one single bit.
My call to arms is to cancel these frauds.
C.S.
agreed!
November 6, 2008 - 13:28 ET by katainkentI havent bought a newspaper in probably 6 years. I dont even buy magazines or tv guide anymore. Removed all MSM from my tabbed home pages. They arent even going to get me as a hit-count for their ads. Time, Disney and Viacomm are all on my never-by-from-again list as well. The networks sponsor lists (a lot assembled by clinton supporters) are floating around out there too for people who want to really start getting aggressive.
Mica,
November 6, 2008 - 13:42 ET by Nortonalecyou beat me to it! I bet he has a glass of chard and some brie very close.
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."~David St. Hubbins
I thought there was no media
November 6, 2008 - 14:12 ET by mattmI thought there was no media bias.... I guess it's safe to admit it now.
It is almost as if the
November 6, 2008 - 16:09 ET by msh1973It is almost as if the media (TV and print) has been nationalized. No longer are they independent voices for the truth, they are the voice for the Democratic Party (who now have total control and power). You can bet that the truth will never be told about the Obama Administration. Gone are the days of real investigative reporting, no matter the outcome.
The only place to go for the truth is Talk Radio and the internet....for now. Be afraid, be very afraid.
canceling newspaper
November 6, 2008 - 16:34 ET by sanergononlibcanceling newspaper subscriptions and refusing to watch MSM only works for non-true believers. For us true believers many been MSMless for years. Why is it that conservatives can't do a moveon.org thing? Are we so passionless? Are we too bogged down in studying the finer details of policy to use for discussion ammunition to realize that those we fire at are sheilded by a cone of ideological ignorance? Compare the campaigns; which one had the fire? Which one was creative in developing novel attention getters in getting their message out? Do conservatives always have to appear so dull?
Thank you so Much for Newsbusters
November 6, 2008 - 16:38 ET by semolina_filcherHell I stopped reading the Bay Area newspapers, SF Chronicle, Oak Tribune, San Jose Mercury News, CoCo Times, even the Sacramento Bee. I get my news from NewsBUsters!
sanergononlib wrote,
November 6, 2008 - 20:16 ET by CoolShadessanergononlib wrote, "Why is it that conservatives can't do a moveon.org thing?"
Thank you. That was the first laugh I've had in two days.
If NB isn't exciting enough
November 7, 2008 - 08:35 ET by dscottIf NB isn't exciting enough for you, sign up for the Ann Coulter Chat Room. Note of warning if you do, you better put on your big girl panties otherwise you might go away offended.
But to answer your question, there is a difference in tactics of Moron.org due to the diametrically opposed philosophies that guide the left v. the right. We will not stoop to lying and personality cults misleading naïve people. It is so easy to tell and believe in a lie, the truth requires effort to gather the facts and usually can't be distilled into single word sloganeering mantras like "CHANGE".
The reason why most older voters didn't vote for Obama is they have life experience, they have heard the meaningless platitudes before and know he was just selling himself and didn't stand for anything. A person with life experience upon seeing a candidate flip flop repeatedly knows that one is saying whatever it takes to sell himself. As Joe Isuzu used to say, it's true I promise.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Oh give me a friggin'
November 6, 2008 - 16:53 ET by bigtimerOh give me a friggin' break...what a bunch of partisan pure BULL....along with that, the msm has helped destroy this great country year after year, bit by bit... which is their very intention.
Attytood can kiss my a$$!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I wonder if part of the
November 6, 2008 - 22:04 ET by GrannyGrump42I wonder if part of the reason the puppet masters chose Obama is because he is just so over-the-top, so outrageous and radical, that the truth about him defies belief.
He voted to support infanticide, then dissed everybody who called him on the carpet for it by saying that the "accusation" was "insulting". Kind of the way the "accusation" that Ted Bundy strangled Kimberly Leach and bludgeoned the Chi Omega sisters in their beds was "insulting".
All Obama's opponents had to do was tell the truth about him, and they'd be branded as liars because what they were saying was so staggering that it just couldn't be true.
Satan is the Father of Lies. And Obama managed to master the art of the falsehood to the point that his very presence is like some sort of Dungeons & Dragons "Resist Truth" spell in which every truth said about him is taken as a lie by listeners who don't make their saving throw.