AP Labels Evan Bayh 'Centrist': But Ratings Reveal Just Another Liberal

Reading this AP article on Evan Bayh's announcement that he won't seek the Dem presidential nomination because he's concluded the odds are too long, I kept searching for the predictable labeling reference.  And sure enough it came:

"Bayh has charted a centrist's course throughout his political career."

That sent me scurrying to a favorite source, Project Vote Smart, to check Bayh's ratings from various interest groups.  Yes, he's probably less liberal than, say, Barbara Boxer.  But check out some of his ratings:

• NARAL, 2005 - 100%
• National Right-to-Life Committee, 2001-02 - 0%
• National Taxpayers Union, 2005 - 12%
• Americans for Tax Reform, 2006 - 10%
• NAACP, 2005 - 100%
• Concerned Women for America, 2005-06, 11%
• Children's Defense Fund, 2005 - 100%
• Family Research Council 2004 - 0%
• NOW, 2005 - 100%
• Gun Owners of America, 2005 - 0%
• NRA, lifetime rating - D-
• Association of American Immigration Lawyers, 2006 - 88%
• Federation for Immigration Reform, 2005 - 0%
• AFL-CIO, 2001 - 100%
• Americans for Democratic Action, 2005 - 95%

Now try to imagine a Republican with mirror-image ratings.  Odds the Associated Press would call label such a person "centrist"?  0%.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net