Double standard
Jamison Foser of Media Matters served up this scathing appraisal Friday of the blatant journalistic double standard on display during the Alito confirmation hearings. Foser notes:
In repeatedly suggesting that Democrats had made up their minds about Alito before the hearing began -- and less frequently suggesting it of Republicans -- news outlets reinforced a claim often made by Republicans: Democrats would oppose anybody Bush nominated. And by focusing on the Democrats, the media let Republicans off the hook. In fact, the Republicans' job is no more to grease the wheels for Bush's nominee than the Democrats' is to decide in advance to oppose.The next time I hear the phrase "liberal media bias", I think I'll just have to hurl myself from the cliffs of the Palisades!
posted by Bob P @ 2:15 PM
2 Comments:
And its *not* true that Democrats made up their minds before the hearings began? I didn't hear them asking many questions, just giving speeches.
Perhaps you're missing the point, adam. The fact that many Dems did make up their minds before the start of the hearing is justifiably criticized here, as it should be.
What MM is pointing out, however, is that it was made to seem in the media that ONLY Dems had decided in advance, when in fact even more Repubs had done precisely that same thing.
That does not justify these actions by the D's. But neither does it make them worthy of receiving criticism all alone.
Both sides were equally guilty of walking into the hearings with pre-determined opinions. And that is what was not accurately reported to the American people.
Clearer now?
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