Media Bias – A Commentary
Several years ago I read an eye-opening book by Bernard Goldberg called Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News.In it Bernard recounts his own experiences and how he became aware of significant bias within the company for whom he worked. The result was he was excoriated in the main stream media (MSM).This 10 time, Emmy Award winning writer/journalist, is by no stretch of the imagination, a right-wing nut. In fact, he acknowledges his left slant describing himself as “…old-fashioned liberal. I’m a liberal the way liberals used to be when they were like John F. Kennedy and when they were like Hubert Humphrey.”1 So in his book Bernie was calling out his cronies, exposing the bias that had taken root in the MSM. For that, they went after him. But in my opinion he was right. The main stream media, the journalists, the press if you will, have in the last several years completely abrogated their responsibility and compromised the ethics of journalism.
Our country was founded upon a Constitution whose first amendment recognizes the importance of a free press. They were always intended to be a “check” against despotism or tyranny or an out of control government agency. Down through the years investigative reporters have played their part. They even took down a President. But where are they today? They have become a silent majority, unless of course it involves someone from the right. Oh, then you’ll hear from them. For weeks they’ll harp on some Republican’s indiscretion ad nauseam. But let the subject be a Democrat and you’ll get nary a peep. That is the biggest disappointment of all. They have lost their perspective, their impartiality and their code. They have let personal bias guide their daily efforts. Granted in some cases the management of major networks, newsrooms, publishers probably dictate the tone. But a true journalist would go to the wall to support a position. They wouldn’t compromise a story at the direction of a superior. So one can only assume they have compromised themselves, allowing personal prejudice or their own agenda become their driving principle. Otherwise CBS, NBC, CNN, The NY Times and a myriad of other notable sources would be scrambling to beat each other, to get the scoop and expose the dangers and questionable language of HR3200. But they aren’t. Why?
As I listen to the town halls, the tv and radio interviews and the speeches, I am hearing the same verbiage over and over. Dissenters are unpatriotic, they are Nazi’s, they are disruptor’s. These are the talking points of the left. Congress adjourned last week and Democratic Senators and Representatives headed home with a script (see my post here). Much to their surprise they have been met, not by a crowd of nut jobs enlisted by that far right wing conspiracy Hillary was fond of citing, but by informed US citizens who had in fact actually read the bill (unlike some of the Congressmen). And people are scared. Not because someone behind the scenes is telling them grandma is going to be left to die. But because they can read for themselves, wording, that if passed, would enable government agents to stick their noses in places it doesn’t belong and take on the role of judge and jury for deciding what care should be given to the sick or the elderly. They are worried some federal busy-body will come calling to lecture them about parental skills or how to raise a child. They are reading the sections that will make it impossible for a sick person to re-admitted to a hospital for the same reason for which they were recently discharged. They are reading the section that will make it impossible to get into a new private plan if you change jobs. Yes, you can keep your private plan, for now, but employers will not be allowed to offer it to new employees. They are reading the section that opens up your private IRS data to the feds so they can get whatever info they need on you. And finally they are reading the section exempting federal officials from review by the courts. These are issues that affect people deeply.
These are not my speculative observations. These are in the bill and you can and should verify for yourself that what I am telling you is true. Check out what John David Lewis, PhD at Duke University had to say about these items here. Better yet, read the bill yourself here. I did.
My point in all this is why isn’t the media heading up this charge for us? Why hasn’t 60 Minutes done an expose? Why hasn’t the Times dedicated a front page article to this? Why hasn’t MSNBC…, oh never mind them. They’re a complete waste of air time as it is. Yes, some outlets are speaking up but it is primarily right-aligned sources. Can the left have swallowed so much of the Obama kool-aid they can no longer read and comprehend? Hmmmm, maybe I’ve answered my own question.
——————————
1. Hawkins, John, Right Wing News; Retrieved August 13, 2009 from http://www.rightwingnews.com/interviews/goldberg.php