The Media Misses the Point — Again

Jewish World Review ^ | Nov. 20, 2003 | Laura Ingraham

[SJackson]

"I actually think that Bush is the greatest threat to life on this planet that we've most probably ever seen. The policies he is initiating will doom us to extinction."

— Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London

You have probably never heard of him before, but Mayor Livingstone is having quite a jolly good run in the worldwide media. The Independent (of London) newspaper ran a feature story about Livingstone and his comments, which was then linked on websites coast-to-coast here at home. To read the media's coverage of President Bush's visit to Britain, one would think that the majority of Britons agree with Mr. Livingstone, that the President was wading into a sea of anti-Americanism.

"London Braces for Bush Visit," screamed the front-page headline in The Washington Post.

"Londoners Gather to Protest Bush Visit," breathlessly intoned the Associated Press.

The day before the President arrived in London, cable television showed endless footage of the crack-pot woman who scaled the gates of Buckingham Palace, and for a few moments, hung an American flag upside down.

As usual, the media highlights the sideshow and misses the main attraction.

Just as a few thousand scruffy anti-WTO/NAFTA/war/Bush protesters here at home are guaranteed lavish coverage on the evening newscasts, the small minority of Britons making the anti-Bush stink in London this week are garnering media attention far beyond what they merit. From a new poll conducted by The Guardian/ICM, we learn that those disgruntled folks no more speak for most British citizens than the radical anti-war group International ANSWER speaks for most Americans.

The survey shows that public opinion in Britain is overwhelmingly pro-American. Sixty-two percent of voters believe that the US is "generally speaking a force for good, not evil, in the world." A plurality of people — 43 percent — say they welcomed George Bush's arrival in Britain, with only 36 percent saying that they wish he did not come. And the news keeps getting worse for the most virulent anti-war faction in Britain. The poll demonstrates a pro-war surge in England. (Yes, you read that right.) The increasingly brutal attacks on Western targets and troops in Iraq — including Italian forces and Iraqi security forces — is thought to have contributed to a 9 point jump in British support for the war — with 47 percent of the voters now saying it was justified. Meanwhile, opposition to the war has slumped by 12 points since September to only 41% of all voters.

[George Too]

Is he related to Craig Livingstone and did Hillary Clinton hire him.

[Always Right]

The media wants us to believe Micheal Moore is over in London leading protests of hundreds of thousands of people. Too bad they can only find a couple of dozen, and that is only if they really look hard.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The good mayor carries a picture of Neville Chamberlain in his wallet.

[zygoat]

Micheal Moore leading protests? It's pretty funny that the "leader" makes up 1/4 of the total weight of the protest package! I'd like to pour a sack of salt on this slug and watch him shrivel.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Laura Ingraham PING!




(Sorry this is so late--I've been out of town. Please excuse me if you've already read this.)

[JohnHuang2]

Laura Ingraham MEGA PING!!

[cinFLA]

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London

Red Ken - as he was described by a guest on O'Reilly. I think from Heritage. He made no bones about calling these guys communists and marxists. Please write O'Reilly and thank him for his guest tonight.

[nopardons]

Thanks John...this was a GREAT read. :-)

[JohnHuang2]

Welcome :-)

this was a GREAT read.

Sure was. Straight to the point; no beating around the bush.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Nice fancy MEGA PING.

Of course, my Laura PING's usually look much better. They usually look like this:

Hot cha cha cha!

[JohnHuang2]

I like your Laura pings much better ;-)

[nopardons]

She usually is...straight to the point and straight at the throat of the morons. I think that's typical, of us Conn. girls. :-)

[JohnHuang2]

*wink*

[nopardons]

*grin*

[JohnHuang2]

hehe

[Choose Ye This Day]

I'm going to Laura's book signing here in Minneapolis tomorrow. I've been waiting months for this. Woo hoo!

I'd better keep it down. I don't want Mrs. MNLDS to think my adminration for Laura is anything but platonic. :o)

[Brimack34]

I think only Laura and Hugh Hewitt are the only ones covering the real news!!!

[NutCrackerBoy]

(Sorry this is so late--I've been out of town. Please excuse me if you've already read this.)

One word: laptop.

[JohnHuang2]

I'd better keep it down. I don't want Mrs. MNLDS to think my adminration for Laura is anything but platonic. :

hehehehehehehehehehehe!