The media's shabbiest moments

Townhall.com ^ | 12/21/05 | Brent Bozell

[LdSentinal]

The year 2005 is ending as it began, with another successful election in Iraq and a liberal media still flapping around trying to find other controversies to submerge it. It does not matter to them that a Gallup poll found that 74 percent of Americans express confidence in their military, but only 28 percent express confidence in their newspapers or TV news outlets. The "mainstream" media excels in excoriating the performance of nearly everyone else, but acts as if nothing they do should be held up as ineffective, inaccurate or just plain absurd.

That's why the Media Research Center and a panel of more than 50 judges have compiled an annual "Best Notable Quotables," a collection of the media's greatest stinkers in the past 12 months. The utterances speak volumes about our supposedly ideologically detached press corps.

In August, NBC's "Today" show was in Iraq, and Specialist Steven Chitterer told co-host Matt Lauer that "Morale is always high. Soldiers know they have a mission. They like taking on new objectives and taking on the new challenges." Lauer won the "Good Morning Morons Award" for interjecting: "Don't get me wrong here, I think you are probably telling me the truth, but a lot of people at home are wondering how that could be possible with the conditions you're facing and with the attacks you're facing. What would you say to those people who are doubtful that morale can be that high?" Capt. Sherman Powell unloaded a quote for the ages: "Sir, if I got my news from the newspapers also, I'd be pretty depressed as well."

The networks specialize in moral equivalence, that we in America need to be held to the highest standard, but what that really meant in 2005 was that our leaders and our troops were to be constantly presented as nearly identical to terrorists. The more extreme example of this came from NBC anchor Brian Williams, who won the "Slam Uncle Sam Award." He tried to dismiss concerns that the new radical Muslim leader of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, might have been a holder of American hostages in Iran in 1979-80 thusly: "What would it all matter if proven true? Someone brought up today the first several U.S. presidents were certainly revolutionaries and might have been called terrorists at the time by the British Crown, after all." The father of our country, a terrorist? Why, yes, said Williams, according to some.

Some quotes were shorter and yet even dumber. The "Politics of Meaninglessness Award for the Silliest Analysis" went to CNN weekend anchor Carol Lin. She was so politically correct she couldn't be factually correct. Riots in Paris centered on the deaths of two black French citizens of Tunisian heritage. What did she report on national television? "It's been 11 days since two African-American teenagers were killed, electrocuted during a police chase, which prompted all of this."

Some of the awards were predictable. David Gergen of U.S. News won the "Media Hero Award" for sucking up to someone who might be the next president, oozing on CNN that uber-feminist Hillary Clinton has "always had strong religious faith. She's been a strong Methodist. She does have conservative social values on many issues."

Speaking of journalistic apple-polishers, the "Crazy Chris Award for Matthews' Left-Wing Lunacy" was a real contest. He swooned over Jane Fonda's Vietnam views. But the winning quote came on the night Matthews fawned over Cindy Sheehan for being so bright she should run for Congress: "I have to tell you, you sound more informed than most U.S. congresspeople, so maybe you should run."

But the media's biggest losers continue to be the die-hards who went down on the "60 Minutes 2" ship that tried to destroy President Bush with phony National Guard documents. Dan Rather remained "Captain Dan the Forgery Man" by boasting to old colleague Marvin Kalb on C-SPAN that "To this day no one has proven whether it was what it purported to be or not. . . . You know, I didn't give up on my people, our people. I didn't and I won't." Kalb replied: "I believe you just said that you think the story is accurate." Rather affirmed: "The story is accurate."

He's still clueless. And so is his comrade in concoction, former CBS producer Mary Mapes, who won "Quote of the Year" honors for her interview with ABC's Brian Ross. Ross was stunned when Mapes claimed she would retract her story if anyone could disprove it. "But isn't it the other way around? Don't you have to prove they're authentic? . . . Isn't that really what journalists do?" Replied Mapes: "No, I don't think that's the standard."

And they wonder why only one in four Americans trust their work.

Brent Bozell is President of Media Research Center, a Townhall.com partner organization.

[MNJohnnie]

Intresting. Be funny if the next time the Dinasour Media raises the Presidents poll number the Republican throw back the fact that the "Journalists" have an approval rating is just slightly more then half what the President is. Considering their plummeting polling numbers, what steps are the "Journalists" going to take to import their standing with the American people?

[victim soul]

"And they wonder why only one in four Americans trust their work."

[MNJohnnie]

Wander around for a while. You will see all sort of people attacking Bush. However, be prepared to be slapped silly if you are just another Democrat coming here to spew the latest Moveon.org talking points. If you can make a coherent argument fine. If you are just going to do nothing by spew talking points, be prepared to get fried to a husk. I suggest finding the appropriate forum to make your points. Ranting about Immigration in a Media thread is probably a stupid idea. Kind of depends on your motivation. If you are crusader here to save us poor peons from our political heresies, be prepared to get you head handed to you. Motivation and delivery is key. How you say it may be as important as WHAT you say. If you go looking for fights there are plenty who will oblige you.

[Old Sarge]

Let me offer this:

The ZOT! only occurs when someone is so obviously toeing the Socialist line that no amount of logic will ever affect their twisted outlook on things.

On many occasions, the original poster himself only starts the thread to shriek some DNC talking points and leaves. Not interested in honest open debate whatsoever. That's when the fun begins...

As to supporting conservative causes and people, that's not always the case. Causes that could be considered "libertarian" are also open for talking. And feel free to explore any which direction you're compelled to go, but be prepared to defend your course with logic and fact. You WILL be called on it.

Enjoy being here - I know I have! Welcome!

[highlander_UW]

Speaking of journalistic apple-polishers, the "Crazy Chris Award for Matthews' Left-Wing Lunacy" was a real contest. He swooned over Jane Fonda's Vietnam views. But the winning quote came on the night Matthews fawned over Cindy Sheehan for being so bright she should run for Congress: "I have to tell you, you sound more informed than most U.S. congresspeople, so maybe you should run."

The dems have already sent more than their quote of morons to congress...they aren't allowed to send any more until they take back a few.

[MNJohnnie]

Well you could post it as a vanity. Pick the Post Topic button on the Forum menu. Use the menu to post it as a Vanity, Your Opinion and set it up in General Chat. Since this is a media topic, you may want to try it in this thread. You do not sound like a bomb throwers. We get a lot of them here and peoples tempers are short. Trick to weblogs is not to take anyone comments to heart. People are rather cruel because they are anonymous. Stress is high at this time of year and politics have become nasty in the last few years so you will get so thoughtless response. Just ignore them. If you try responding to every flaming idiot you will go nuts. Really shocked me back when, and I am a pretty raw meat bare fist debater, how utterly nasty some responses can be. If you are being confrontational and provocative people will probably jump on you. Key is probably to get your feet wet in a few threads. Good luck too ya. I am for bed. Been a long day.

[Domangart]

The reason for the zot is generally the person doesn't know what they are talking about.For example you advocate a position with out taking into consideration the impact.

[MNJohnnie]

Nope. Just a tired old fart who has been doing this a couple of years. Was a US Army Infantryman back when so perhaps some of the Military Instructor style rubbed off. Those were some impressive men. My Platoon Sargent in Infantry school was a sniper in 'Nam. He was just about at the end of his 20. Seeing him in Dress Uniform with all his badges and medals on was memorable.

[ncountylee]

Here are the four categories that Ms. Couric received nominations for the worst examples of media bias:

++The Good Morning Morons Award

++The Media Hero Award

++Politics of Meaninglessness Award for the Silliest Analysis

++"Bagdad Bob" was Correct Award

[MNJohnnie]

Merry Christmas Old Sarge. Stopped into the Canteen? The Ladys are always glad to see you.

[decal]

"And they wonder why only one in four Americans trust their work."

We here wonder why one in three hundred million would.

[Old Sarge]

Yeah, I think I need my Canteen Galz fix tonight...

[Lijahsbubbe]

Gee, I nominate the Sean Hannity radio show, a segment this evening.

I don't know who was filling in for Sean, but he was interviewing Barbara Walters.

Barbara said something to the effect of Christians believing that if you don't believe in Jesus, you will not go to heaven.

Sean Hannity's replacement then asks Barbara, "isn't that what the terrorists believe also?"

Well nice job there, buddy. No equivalence AFAIC.