'Name That Party' Reaches House Floor

On NewsBusters we have for a few years now been chronicling the constant failure of the media to label a criminal or troubled politician with his party affiliation when that politician is a Democrat, we all know. Every couple of days we detail a new "name that party" story where an Old Media outlet reports on a Democrat politician arrested, convicted, or accused of a crime though he seems never to be labeled as such. We've also noted many times the opposite tale where a recalcitrant pol that happens to be a Republican finds his party receiving top billing in the Old Media. We have dozens and dozens of examples.

Well, it appears that at least one member of Congress has noticed the same thing and has mentioned the media's penchant for Democrat Party passing on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Hill's Briefing Room blog gives us the story.

But, I just had to laugh at The Hill's headline. It went a little something like this:

GOP Leader Blasts Media Bias in House Floor Speech

You got it... The Hill made darn sure that party affiliation was first up in the headline.

Sigh.

An alleged liberal bias by journalists covering recent scandals was enough "breaking news" to House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who took to the floor of the House yesterday to complain.

"The national media spells scandal without the 'D,'" Smith alleged during one-minute speeches by members on the House floor Monday.

"Two weeks ago the Governor of Illinois was removed from office," he added. "All three television networks ran full reports on the story the same night and again the following morning. Not one report mentioned that he is a Democrat."

Smith asserted the media failed to similarly include the party affiliation of indicted Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and convicted Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, as well as sex scandal-plagued former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer -- all of whom are Democrats.

"Americans need and deserve balanced reporting from the media, not selective omissions," Smith added.

So, Lamar Smith (did we mention he's an R- Texas) has noticed the media's practice of conveniently forgetting the party of a Democratic Party troublemaker, eh? Well, good for Rep. Smith (did we mention he's an R- Texas).

Our message about this partisan practice by the Old Media might be getting through.

(Photo credit: USA Today)