Media bias at work.

[Muckistania]

The only question should be: are there any unbiased media left in the US?

No, because there is no such thing as "without bias". I can make a quantum state analogy right now but reasons.

This is true. Only a person with no self knowledge could give an unbiased report on something. But this never happens as such individuals would be defective and incapable of articulating a point. How can you judge anything if you have no personal point of reference? A persons point of reference is their self knowledge.

It would be like asking a person that always been blind to comment on the colour of the sky.

[Free South Califas]

So trustworthy. Like a Catholic nursery.

Actually, that's more or less what I thought about linking to Freakonomics, too. Neoliberal orthodoxy is still orthodoxy.

ETA: Sorry, the comparison is unfair, but I thought I should leave this post up to be accountable.

[New Chalcedon]

So trustworthy. Like a Catholic nursery.

Indeed - Newsbusters is about as "Fair and Balanced" as Fox News.

So trustworthy. Like a Catholic nursery.

Actually, that's more or less what I thought about linking to Freakonomics, too. Neoliberal orthodoxy is still orthodoxy.

ETA: Sorry, the comparison is unfair, but I thought I should leave this post up to be accountable.

Are you saying that orthodoxy, of any kind, ought to be challenged? If so, I agree - and don't spare my own beliefs.

[The Emerald Dawn]

So trustworthy. Like a Catholic nursery.

Indeed - Newsbusters is about as "Fair and Balanced" as Fox News.

Actually, that's more or less what I thought about linking to Freakonomics, too. Neoliberal orthodoxy is still orthodoxy.

ETA: Sorry, the comparison is unfair, but I thought I should leave this post up to be accountable.

Are you saying that orthodoxy, of any kind, ought to be challenged? If so, I agree - and don't spare my own beliefs.

Trust, but verify.

[Ukrussiaine]

I'm a [Insert Political Affiliation Here], so I'll make a topic insinuating [Insert Opposing Political Affiliation Here] has an unfair advantage.

[Free South Califas]

So trustworthy. Like a Catholic nursery.

Indeed - Newsbusters is about as "Fair and Balanced" as Fox News.

Actually, that's more or less what I thought about linking to Freakonomics, too. Neoliberal orthodoxy is still orthodoxy.

ETA: Sorry, the comparison is unfair, but I thought I should leave this post up to be accountable.

Are you saying that orthodoxy, of any kind, ought to be challenged? If so, I agree - and don't spare my own beliefs.

Well, yes, actually. It just occurred to me after I posted it that Freakonomics contributes something of value now and then, even if their little media project is often little more than high-minded apologetics for neoliberal cruelty.

[Neo Art]

I'm a [Insert Political Affiliation Here], so I'll make a topic insinuating [Insert Opposing Political Affiliation Here] has an unfair advantage.

This..um...this is what you think participation in a discussion looks like? This is what you thought people wanted to read? When given the opportunity to impress those around you with your insight, this is what your mind thought of as a good response? "Oh yeah, gotta write this one down" is what came to mind when pondering this particular gem?

You must be frightfully dull to be around.

[Wiendonia]

I ran across a recent case - blaring and obvious - of media bias, and thought I'd share it with NSG. It involves two Congressmen both caught in marital indiscretions. I will repeat the details of the two cases, and see how many people correctly pick the two Congressmen.

Congressman #1 is caught cheating on his wife by sexting strange women. The media turns the affair into a three-ring circus, and eventually - under pressure from his own party - the Congressman resigns first his leadership positions, then his seat in Congress.

Congressman #2 is caught cheating on his wife by keeping a mistress, a mistres he first seduced as a practising doctor - she was the patient. Furthermore, despite being "pro-life", he pressured her to abort their unborn child, was reckless with handguns around both wife and mistress, and behaved abusively toward his (soon-to-be ex) wife. The media systematically ignores the story, even after it comes out in court, and then exerts no pressure at all on the Congressman to resign his leadership positions or his seat.

So; who are the congressmen? Be sure to think of your answers before reading the spoiler:

Congressman #1 is Anthony Weiner (D-NY-09). The media hounded him out of office after it was revealed that he had tweeted suggestive photos of himself to a follower on Twitter.
Congressman #2 is Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04). Over a decade after Congressman DesJarlais divorced his first wife, and the documents suggesting the abortion pressure were released in open court, the media are finally talking a little about it. And not without running the whole "He said, she said" angle, implicitly accusing the Democrats of character assassination in the process.

So much for "liberal bias in the media". It seems that there are indeed double standards for politicians of the two parties - only, the media holds Democrats to much higher standards in both their personal and their professional lives, whilst ignoring the hypocrisies of "pro-life, pro-family" Republicans cheating on their wives, then urging their mistresses to get the very abortions they attempt to criminalise. And only now - a decade after the documents came out in open court - does the media even begin touching the story.

Keep up the good work, media morons! I'm sure the GOP will be grateful for all the water you systematically carry for them - some day.

1. There is no doubt media bias
2. There are 535 member of Congress and the Senate. Can't expect the media to get them all. I'm not justifying the GOP guys actions however it is reasonable to see how this web under the radar.
3. Anthony Wiener was a much more prominent member of Congress then the other guy and also was fighting in a swing district so naturally he got more attention.

[Andaluciae]

Yeah, here's the difference, Anthony Weiner outright lied to the media (a la Richard Nixon) and let an FBI investigation begin before eventually owning up to it. Lie to the media, they ain't gonna be your friend. Plus, Weiner was generally just a dick (pun intended) to pretty much everyone. So he got what he deserved without any "bias" working in any different direction.

It's also worth mentioning that Weiner is from New York City, which most people in the media find to be far more interesting of a place than Tennessee. If for no other reason that a significantly greater number of members of the newsmedia spend time in Ne w York, than can be said for Tennessee.

[Ethel mermania]

I'm a [Insert Political Affiliation Here], so I'll make a topic insinuating [Insert Opposing Political Affiliation Here] has an unfair advantage.

This..um...this is what you think participation in a discussion looks like? This is what you thought people wanted to read? When given the opportunity to impress those around you with your insight, this is what your mind thought of as a good response? "Oh yeah, gotta write this one down" is what came to mind when pondering this particular gem?

You must be frightfully dull to be around.

if any of us had lives, would we be here?

[Andaluciae]

This..um...this is what you think participation in a discussion looks like? This is what you thought people wanted to read? When given the opportunity to impress those around you with your insight, this is what your mind thought of as a good response? "Oh yeah, gotta write this one down" is what came to mind when pondering this particular gem?

You must be frightfully dull to be around.

if any of us had lives, would we be here?

Talk about projection. Any issues you want to talk about?

[Ethel mermania]

if any of us had lives, would we be here?

Talk about projection. Any issues you want to talk about?

nah, i'm too boring, but thanks for asking.

[Cruciland]

If a so-called "conservative" dares to go back on everything s/he was supposed to stand for, then s/he is now a hypocrite and no longer deserves to be called a conservative. That said, DesJarlais is NOT an actual conservative. He is a hypocrite. Furthermore, by tempting his wife to take an innocent child's wife he is also a heretic. *SIGH* Why can we not all behave like who we affiliate ourselves with?

And why is the left wing acting like such a Goddamned watchdog?

[The Emerald Dawn]

If a so-called "conservative" dares to go back on everything s/he was supposed to stand for, then s/he is now a hypocrite and no longer deserves to be called a conservative. That said, DesJarlais is NOT an actual conservative. He is a hypocrite. Furthermore, by tempting his wife to take an innocent child's wife he is also a heretic. *SIGH* Why can we not all behave like who we affiliate ourselves with?

And why is the left wing acting like such a Goddamned watchdog?

It isn't just the port that's doing that. Starboard is just as guilty.

[Cruciland]

If a so-called "conservative" dares to go back on everything s/he was supposed to stand for, then s/he is now a hypocrite and no longer deserves to be called a conservative. That said, DesJarlais is NOT an actual conservative. He is a hypocrite. Furthermore, by tempting his wife to take an innocent child's wife he is also a heretic. *SIGH* Why can we not all behave like who we affiliate ourselves with?

And why is the left wing acting like such a Goddamned watchdog?

It isn't just the port that's doing that. Starboard is just as guilty.

Of course. Neither side has my full respect for these transgressions.