The Mainstream Media Have No Clothes
By Monte Kuligowski (09/12/04)
In times past the so-called mainstream media operated under a thin veil of objectivity. Yes, you could see through the veil and everyone knew that NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, the New York Times, et al, were composed of liberal Democrats with a few moderates here and there.
But even though you knew they were biased, a certain fear of appearing to be partisan, prevented a complete run-away media train. You would expect biased reporting, but the instinct for self preservation of their reputation as neutral reporters usually prevailed to create at least the appearance of objectivity. In other words the liberal media would sneak in their agenda subtly without actually becoming advocates for the Democratic Party.
But oh how times have changed. Now the liberal media are operating as a well-oiled machine for the Kerry/Edwards presidential campaign. An interesting question to ask is: why would the media so blatantly abandon its credibility and integrity, knowing that once lost, these virtues are almost impossible to retrieve?
One reason is that John Kerry and John Edwards are the most liberal duo to ever run for our nation’s highest office. They represent everything the counter-culture of the 1960s stands for. In a nutshell, this means a socialist utopian to liberals. Once placed in office, liberals working together with the United Nations will finally attain social justice. That’s why it’s worth risking their status as objective journalists. The same principal of following a religious leader applies. They believe so strongly in the utopia Kerry/Edwards will usher in, that they’re willing to sacrifice everything, including reputation, for the cause.
Another reason is that they no longer have a complete monopoly on public opinion. Yes, most people still get their news from the major broadcasting companies, but the monopoly is increasingly breaking up – and without government intervention. With the tremendous success of conservative talk radio and with the advent of the internet, other sources are available to get the other side of the story. Also, the much maligned – by liberals – FOX news source is rising in popularity to provide a more conservative approach to news presentation. Therefore, liberal news reporters must work a little harder to persuade the public to see things their way.
And the gears of the pro-Kerry media machine are turning fast now that President Bush has commanded a double digit lead over the Democratic senator from Massachusetts. It’s nothing short of astounding to watch the unbiased media run to support their man.
Unlike Senator Kerry, President Bush hasn’t made his 30-year-old military service the centerpiece of his 2004 presidential campaign. The sole focus of the president has been his leadership during the last four years as commander-in-chief. But that’s beside the point to the neutral media. Even though the National Guard issue is an irrelevant smoke screen, it is back as front-page headline news courtesy of not the official Democratic Party, not the various anti-Bush attack groups, but the unofficial Democratic media attack machine, CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN and the many fine print outlets. Yes, “it’s payback time for Bush.” But payback for what? Bush didn’t raise the Kerry/Vietnam issue. And he went way beyond what was necessary to distance himself from the honorable vets who challenge Kerry’s version of events. Bush is the man who refused to question Kerry’s record and anti-war remarks, noting that he respects his service for our country.
Whether Kerry was totally honest about his military service probably would have been a non-issue in 2004, but for the mouth of one person – and it’s not John O’Neill. Whether Mr. Kerry owes his fellow Vietnam vets an apology, as Senator Bob Dole and a multitude of other war vets believe, also probably would not have been an issue, but for one man. John Kerry opened the door wide open for the media to demand the full release of his military/medical records and a recanting of his slanderous words against his fellow vets as an anti-war protester. John Kerry opened the door, but it’s George Bush who is facing the wrath of the media.
Anyone who has eyes can see the blatant hypocrisy of the media. Even though Kerry opened the door for scrutiny, the media never demanded the full release of his military/medical records and never demanded that Kerry apologize for the graphic war-crime accusations leveled against his fellow Vietnam servicemen. In fact, the media won’t as much as repeat those horrible words uttered by Kerry before a congressional committee in 1971. That might hurt Kerry’s ratings.
But, close your eyes to the double standard and let’s pretend the real focus should be on Bush’s National Guard service. CBS didn’t demand to see Kerry’s records, yet the broadcast company managed to procure questionable documents which are being used to smear Bush. This bogus and irrelevant story has taken the headlines by storm. Because it would seem to hurt Bush, this is real news.
But the media are being exposed for the partisan political operatives that they are. And their modus operandi of the election coverage will backfire as surely as an old 1971 Buick.
I had intended to get into the specifics of comparing how the media covered the Veterans for Truth claims versus the claims leveled against Bush’s Guard service by Democratic attack groups; but space won’t allow. But please give yourself a real treat and review Brent Bozell’s fine and exhaustive work on this subject at MediaResearchCenter.com.
(Printer friendly version) Email: Monte Kuligowski
