Have you ever noticed how differently Republicans are treated in the media than Democrats?
Every newsroom in the country used to have what was called the “AP Stylebook” to use in writing news stories.
Now you need two AP stylebooks, one for Democrats, about whom seldom is heard a discouraging word, and a second for the GOP, with a hundred different pejoratives.
Two parties, two vocabularies. One positive, one negative — very bad, evil in fact.
Consider the testimony by Michael Cohen last week in front of various Congressional committees.
For example, since he worked for Donald Trump, Cohen was described about a million times as a “fixer.” Democrats, on the other hand, have lawyers.
To prevent the release of embarrassing information, Democrats’ lawyers negotiate NDA’s — nondisclosure agreements. Republican fixers’ NDAs are “hush money,” or “bribes.”
Hillary Clinton paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrat operatives who then bought or made up false Russian dirt on Trump — that was opposition research. Republicans, on the other hand, “collude!”
Republicans lie, Democrats misspeak.
Democrats plan, Republicans scheme.
Republicans hire lobbyists, Democrats use advocates. Republicans employ operatives or hired guns, Democrats prefer community activists.
If a Democrat changes his or her position on an issue, they have evolved … grown. Republicans “flip-flop.”
Whenever an unfamiliar politician is ensnared in some scandal, you naturally wonder which party he or she is a member of. If the “embattled” pol is a Republican, affiliation is usually noted in the headline, or at the very latest in the first paragraph.
If, however, you reach the third paragraph of the story without his party being identified, you can be absolutely certain you are reading about a Democrat miscreant.
Likewise, accusers are handled differently depending on who exactly they’re accusing. Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court was almost derailed by the not particularly credible “Dr.” Christine Blasey Ford. One of the women who’s accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of Virginia of sexual assault likewise has a Ph.D., but how often does the alt-left media refer to “Dr. Vanessa Tyson.” Fairfax, you see, is a Democrat.
Was Jussie Smollett’s fake hate crime ever referred to as “alleged?” Of course not. But all the real, documented, videotaped attacks on conservatives — invariably they are alleged, or “according to police reports.”
A Republican tax cut is a “corporate giveaway” for the rich, a boon to “one percenters” that the government “can’t afford.”
A Democrat-proposed tax increase, though, is an “investment in the future.” It’s for the children.
When there’s bad news about Republicans, Democrats “react.” But Republicans “pounce” or “seize.” Often, in fact, the only way any Democrat woes get mentioned at all in the media is when Republicans seize and pounce, not to mention “weaponize” Democrat scandals.
Let’s talk about legislation. When a Democrat solon finds a way to stop some GOP initiative, it’s because the brilliant parliamentarian (Nancy Pelosi?) has come up with a master stroke.
But when a Republican, say Mitch McConnell, does exactly the same thing, he is invariably called an obstructionist, relying on “arcane” tricks to produce “gridlock” and overturn centuries of “Congressional tradition.”
When Democrats in Congress hold oversight hearings, they are never less than “historic” “explosive,” full of “bombshells.” The Cohen hearings were so explosive, in fact, that I was expecting to see footage Wednesday night of the Capitol in smoking ruins.
Republican-run Congressional hearings are always described as grandstanding, sideshows, overreach and a total waste of taxpayer money.
Yes we have noticed how language is tortured, stories left unreported if it doesnt help the agenda. The crisis or revolution in France a near media black out, until they find a way to blame Trump or the republicans they will continue to ignore it. There is a populism/conservative anti socialist movement in Europe shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Story after liberal story blows up in the corrupt media’s face, yet those liberal consumers of their fictional renditions of life NEVER seem to catch on and see what fools they are considered to be. It’s almost as if they WANT it that way.
Bill Shine, former FOX News executive officer, has just resigned from his current position as White House Propaganda—er—Communications Director. Shine had continued to be paid by FOX while working in the White House via a $15.4 million severance and bonus package. Shine, who in his White House capacity has made regular guest appearances on Hannity and FOX and Friends, will be taking on a new job with the Trump reelection committee.
FOX News quietly dropped their Fair and Balanced slogan back in June 2017, by the way, officially replacing it with Most Watched, Most Trusted, which is an altogether different claim. Most trusted is not the equivalent of most trustworthy.
March 8, 2019 — White House Communications Director Bill Shine Resigns
Among the hypnotized bunnies, nothing about any of this will even raise an eyebrow.
@Greg: He is working on the Reelection committee. Details, details, details.
Yet Fox IS most trusted, most honest, most fair, most balanced. Not that the completion is strong….
Sure they are. They must be, since they constantly tell you they are.
What we have here is an incestuous relationship between a corrupt White House administration and a major media outlet—an arrangement which magnifies the power and wealth of numerous parties on both sides of the bed. Everything about this arrangement is rotten.
None are so blind as those who will not see.
@Greg: Wikileaks has an extensive list of “journalists” that worked on Hillarys campaign, giving her advanced notice of debate questions, requesting editing of fluff pieces.
Several each from NYT, MNBC, CNN, WaPo. Buzzfeed cooperation in releasing the dossier for Brennan.
Better an open and honest relationship than building a conspiracy tale with liars and leakers police state tactics.
@kitt: Oh, and let’s not forget all the “journalists” and relatives of journalists that worked for Obama. But, like all the collusion committed by Hillary, the DNC, Obama and Warner, it’s only a problem when Republicans do it… or can be ACCUSED of doing it.