In today's "Another Election Winner: The Mainstream Media," the Washingtonian's Harry Jaffe begins:
"Except in a few races, the outcome of last week’s midterm election was determined in large part by the Mainstream Media."
To support his contention, he then cites evidence. A major campaign issue was corruption, which was detailed by the Washington Post, the San Diego Union-Tribune and Copley News Service.
The New York Times tapped into voter unease by reporting on "the government’s intrusion into private conversations by secret wiretapping of calls in the name of combatting terrorism."
The Mark Foley scandal broke on ABC News' Web site, but "then other mainstream media outlets advanced it."
Then there was Iraq: "Here the mainstream media—from newspapers to magazines to television—was doing the tough job of reporting the news: the relentless accounts of dead soldiers, bombed buildings, wasted millions."
I have to agree with much of what Mr. Jaffe asserts. The mainstream media did have a major impact on last week's elections. Voters were paying attention to what the MSM served up, day after day, week after week, and month after month.
And that's a reason why the Democrats seized control of both houses of Congress. Like it or not - and I don't - the mainstream media chalked up a major victory on November 7.
