Defining Media Bias: Suddenly Discovering Murtha's Abscam Tapes After Election

Photo of Tim Graham.
By Tim Graham | November 19, 2006 - 08:40 ET

For about a year, John Murtha was portrayed by the liberal media as a bold Marine hero of the anti-war movement. So why did they almost never mention Murtha's sleazy role as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscam probe? And why is it important now? If the question was Murtha's fitness to be House Majority Leader, surely it was known that Murtha was running for that post before the midterm elections. The media withholding this story line until it fit with the timing of the Democratic Party's mainstream defines a liberal media bias. It was certainly considered bad form when our CNSNews.com wrote about it in January:

Since Murtha's Nov. 17, 2005, call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, one CNN anchor has called him "one of the most highly respected members of Congress," the Associated Press has referred to Murtha as "one of Congress' most hawkish Democrats," and ABC News has noted that he is "a decorated marine who served in Vietnam."

But a search of the Nexis online database by Cybercast News Service found only three newspaper articles over the past two months connecting Murtha with the FBI's Abscam (short for "Arab scam") sting operation that led to the arrest of several congressmen for accepting bribes...

In his Friday, Jan. 13, response to the Cybercast News Service investigation, Murtha confined his reply to the controversy surrounding his military service and did not address the accusations surrounding Abscam.

"Questions about my record are clearly an attempt to distract attention from the real issue, which is that our brave men and women in uniform are dying and being injured every day in the middle of a civil war that can be resolved only by the Iraqis themselves," Murtha wrote in an email response.

—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center

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More overwhelming proof of

More overwhelming proof of left wing MSM bias. Incident after incident. Will the table ever tip? How long before the tides turn? I'm afraid I will be long dead before that happens. Sigh.

DSG

Don't feed... I think you're

Don't feed... I think you're right.  I'm convinced the msm hires people for their looks, polically correct agenda--not for character, educaiton, experience or possessing a complete content.  And as long as they do that, their being a reliable source of anything is suspect.  We'll continue to be treated to the American version of Pravda in most outlets.   

Never relent.

Murtha, Media, and Insider Democrat Corruption

I have been following US elections since 1956 (wow, am I getting old?) I have never seen a more biased, liberal-interested media. What the MSM did to George Allen should be a study for some J-school student's Ph.D.

Sorry, I forgot, J-schools don't allow Republican-oriented students in. 

Ain't it funny how the media just LOVES "diversity" in everything except ideas. Their idea of a Republican is David Gergen who served in the Clinton White House; or George Will, who is to say the least, different.

No, you'll never find a real Republican commentator on the MSM. He might attract votes.

"...Will the table ever

"...Will the table ever tip? How long before the tides turn?..."

The liberal Boomers are in control of the MsM, and it will only get worse as long as they are in.  They know how to argue, agitate and create strife, but they don't know how to lead or get anything done.  They moved in early (see Bill Clinton) and will hang on as long as possible (well beyond their tenure) because they don't believe that any rules apply to them (its in their DNA), that's the bad news.  The good news is that the New Media mitigates the MsM to the degree that it is relied upon by the public.  And slowly but surely (over the next 25 years or so) the public should begin to consume other forms of media.  The bad news is that the Liberals are moving into the New Media as well, see YouTube

MSM Bias concerning the demis and Murtha

Chief T, USN-Ret
When you look at the facts you have to remember polling during an election period was behind Murtha push to be nominated by the demis. Murtha, supposed military hero during Nam, wanting Troops home, wears a dress behind closed doors are some of the factors. Well, two are correct. He seemly would pull in Vietnam era votes, current military and the extended family vote. The votes I’m speaking of would be who ever the demi nominate for Pres. Of course, Murtha would be just a part of the formula to pull in the public on election day 2008. Thinking they could keep the documented shady, sleazy side of Murtha buried through the election and nominations following the elections, was the demis downfall. Elections are over, demis rule, but they at least have the presence of mind to know that now Murtha can be an anchor, since the hardcore MSM is reporting Murtha’s past. As far as this being a part of the demi future downfall, NOT! I would hope it will make a dent in the demi's overall plan, but history has shown it just slows them down a bit. 2008 will be where history will show where our country is going politically. If a demi gets the oval office, then the gigs up in my estimation, but if a Republican Conservative sits in the hot seat, the next four years will be a soap opera. Either way the country is in for deep problems, with the Muslim’s knocking at our doors, and the immigration reform tearing the U.S. apart literally. As long as the U.S. has a two party political system nothing will ever change.

Murtha's scandals

Well it's plenty disturbing that the media can cover-up for Murtha for so long, until they finally decide it's in their own best liberal interest to hack the lifeline and save their glorious grandma san fran from the trouble of a democrat culture of corruption.

 I'd sure like to see one elected democrat that steps up and I don't wind up finding out that they are a nam sleazer that doctored up, embellished, and twisted their own service for fake vote points. In Kerry's case there is evidence that was his plan all along, provided by a Rear Admiral. So now this other mouse-eyed moron has a hidden record he won't release, won't talk about his medals, and has a book out on "the military service". Three different running stories about his medals, with some long ago detractors, one he spilled the beans to during Abscam.

 Wow, how the media manages to sleaze along with these jerks is beyond me. I'm wondering how many more democrats are in congress that have unknown criminal brushes painted all over them, and the media has silently covered it up for them.

 There's something fishy as well about how congress can manipulate service records for elected senators. I've heard that often enough to know they have some procedure to doctor up whatever they feel the need for, secretly. Surely the House elected aren't left out of that.

 I recall when Kerry said publicly that he was talking to the Navy records guy and arguing that some of what was in his record didn't belong there. I took that to mean Kerry has some skeletons he needed purged and was looking for some obscure law, reg. or code or some manipulation a lawyer or friend in the bureaucracy could work for him so he could present a "clean signed 180" release. The skum was so thick I could taste it. Murtha has the same problem, seeing his answers to the fellow who wrote the letter about the corner admission talk in congress, and his complete " this is an attempt to talk about me not the troops" BS line. Skum, thick skum. 

 I guess the media has taken the place of J Edgar Hoover and his "secret dirt list" I have heard about, but now the media has one ten times that size but never has to report about it. The dirty dems are putty in their hands, knowing the axe can be dropped whenever they see fit.

This is a new degree of polit

This is a new degree of political control for the MSM.

Their new strategy is to also control the Democrat Party after the election by controlling who get put into the leadership.

The MSM pumping up Murtha before the election was part of their usual a strategy to elect Democrats.

The MSM has now embarked on their new strategy of controlling the Democrat Party after the election.

Problem Democrats have to go.

The MSM will get rid of any Democrat that threatens the long term success of progressive control of the government.

 

MSM goals for 2006:

Build up the Democrat Congress.

Protect Hillary.

Damage anyone who threatens Hillary’s nomination.

I think it will be a bad year for Kerry.

Yep, that's about right.

Don't forget, the other major goal of the MSM is to get McCain the GOP nomination. They seem well on their way to it for him.

Yes and no, yes the MsM is pl

Yes and no, yes the MsM is playing a huge role not only in shaping the elections but also in shaping the Democrat Party after the election.  But its not the MsM itself, rather Big Players within the Liberal Establishment are using the MsM as a tool to shape the elections and the Democrat Party.  Basically, there are some HUMONGOUSLY wealthy individuals who have set up a Shadow Party parallel to the Democrat Party.  They have pull with the Foundations, NGOs, 527s, MsM, etc. and are trying to guide the Democrat Party and America.  See Shadow Party

Protect Hillary.Damage anyo

Protect Hillary.

Damage anyone who threatens Hillary’s nomination.

I wonder about this. I think the MSM really wants Obama in there. After all, a black muslim as president would just scream diversified tolerance. The fact that it might be a crippling blow to America (if Obama is true to his religion) means nothing to the elite MSM.

DSG

DFTT-I agree that the media l

DFTT-I agree that the media loves Obama for the reasons you stated,but I believe he is Christian,not Muslim.That newly elected Michigan representative is the first Muslim in congress.

ArmedDad Says:

Ouch, you are right. Thanks for the head slap.

DSG

Minnesota, Perhaps?

Actually, I believe he's from Minnesota, and his name is Keith Ellison.

R/
Clyde

"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC

Ellefson

Clyde,

Is he from the Twin Cities?  I can't imagine he'd be from anywhere other than that fine liberal bastion.  Duluth & the Iron Range just doesn't make sense.

"I would also say that despair is not a method." ~Gen. John P. Abizaid, CENTCOM, in response to an idiotic, grand-standing statement by Hillary Clinton.

Yes, Blonde

Ellison's district is the Minnesota 5th, I believe, and includes Minneapolis and some of the suburbs.

V/R
Clyde

"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC

Thanks, Clyde.I spent ten ver

Thanks, Clyde.

I spent ten very chilly months in the Cities years ago....nice town, but definitely looney liberal land.  And the taxes!

Taxes! Ouch!

Cold - yes! Looney liberal - yes! And the taxes are indeed outrageous, right up there with Wisconsin's! lol But a beautiful area non-the-less.

V/R
Clyde

"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC

Reid

Will the Republicans ever learn? The MSM is now ignoring the Harry Reid situation and Republican silence is defening. There seems to be no one in that party with any guts. Keep it up Rinos, and you'll lose again.

NEVER, NEVER trust a liberal

If you have noticed there has

If you have noticed there has been a pattern in the country over probably the last 5 years.  The left has always had a monopoly over the MSM and given us what they have decided we needed to know.

With the creation of FoxNews and Blogs you are seeing the conservative movement in America gain power and a voice. This scares the MSM to death, look at how they have behaved recently.

I say if you give the conservative voice another 5-6 years to develop without something like congress enacting that fairness doctorine BS, that you will see the demise of the current MSM.  Already NBC and such have declared layoffs. I think you will see liberals get more and more desperate.

DNC presidential candidate for 2008, "Brave Sir Robin"

For the same reason MSM has s

For the same reason MSM has stopped talking about Mark Foley. The election is over and MSM coverage suited its purpose.

As to Foley, Good Riddance.Bu

As to Foley, Good Riddance.

But the poor man buried his father this weekend, and all of the press vultures were there.

What have we come to as a nation?  Have we no sense of decency any longer?

"I would also say that despair is not a method." ~Gen. John P. Abizaid, CENTCOM, in response to an idiotic, grand-standing statement by Hillary Clinton.

If your conservative the MSM

If your conservative the MSM does not believe that privacy is your right. If you are on the left though people should respect your rights.

DNC presidential candidate for 2008, "Brave Sir Robin"

CO,I'm no fan of Mark Foley's

CO,

I'm no fan of Mark Foley's, but this was despicable.  I'm rather surprised it wasn't on the national news.  Sheesh.

"I would also say that despair is not a method." ~Gen. John P. Abizaid, CENTCOM, in response to an idiotic, grand-standing statement by Hillary Clinton.

I firmly believe Foley is wro

I firmly believe Foley is wrong and deserved to lose office, but I dont care what political party you belong to, invading the funeral of someones father is fundamentally wrong.

DNC presidential candidate for 2008, "Brave Sir Robin"

I'm rather surprised it wasn'

I'm rather surprised it wasn't on the national news.

No doubt an effort on the part of the MSM to avoid stirring up any sympathy for the man.

Wouldn't want him to appear human.