The legislation creating public broadcasting in 1967 contained a rule that PBS should be objective in all programming of a "controversial nature." In our latest study of PBS primetime coverage of the RNC and DNC conventions, we found the taxpayer-funded network is obviously making no attempt to hide its pro-Democrat tilt.
If you think PBS is fair and balanced and moderate in tone, you haven’t been watching it. Their programming is by Democrats, for Democrats, and Republicans pay half the taxpayer money it relies on.
Our PBS specialist Clay Waters explains his findings. Overall, PBS commentary on the Republican convention added up to 72% negative and 28% positive commentary. (This excludes neutral statements.) The Democrat convention received far friendlier reception: 12% negative, 88% positive. Clearly, no one at PBS was attempting to observe these conventions with an attempt to describe them objectively.
Some of the negativity was fierce. PBS anchor Amna Nawaz introduced the second night of the Republican meeting with: "We have seen though, we should note, Republican rhetoric veer into outright racism, echoing some white supremacist notions as well.”
Meanwhile, her co-anchor Geoff Bennett celebrated socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the first night in Chicago: “her elevation and evolution I think has been so striking because she has found a way to blend populism and pragmatism and blend protest and power, and she got one of the most raucous receptions when she took the stage tonight.”
You could just tell the strong tilt by watching liberal pundit Jonathan Capehart -- he was 10 to 1 negative for the Republicans, and 44 to 1 positive for the Democrats. His pseudo-conservative counterpart David Brooks was much closer to balance: he was 2 to 1 negative for the Republicans, and 1.66 to 1 positive for the Democrats. PBS couldn't imagine putting a pundit on set who might be substantially pro-Republican and anti-Democrat.
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