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New Yorker Media Columnist: NY Times News Coverage Not Liberal
Hardball/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 06/27/2006 5:27:10 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

June 27, 2006

You're having a first conversation with someone. Alright, maybe you don't agree with him, but he seems rational. Then, out of the blue, he comes out with something so strange, so disconnected from reality, that you say to yourself 'whoah! - who is this guy?' And you go back and rethink everything else he had said in light of his suddenly-exposed madness.

That's what is was like watching Chris Matthews' interview of Ken Auletta on this evening's Hardball. Alright, Auletta's the media columnist of the New Yorker. So you have no illusions. This is a liberal. Even so, he seems so urbane, so calm, even reasonable. You could almost imagine having a drink and a conversation at sunset on the deck of one of those fancy Hampton houses you imagine he visits on weekends.

And then . . .

The topic was the New York Times' latest leak. Naturally Auletta thought it was OK. But, all of a sudden, he comes out with this:

"The New York Times is red meat to many elements of the Republican party, and red state voters. It is perceived as a liberal institution. I don't believe it is. Editorially it is, but not in its news coverage."

What? Was it the editorial page that has published not just this latest leak, but the leak of the NSA terrorist surveillance program, and that has been hostile to all things Bush and Republican in a thousand ways the Media Research Center could document from here to Sunday? No. It was 'the news coverage' side. The side Auletta doesn't believe is liberal.

Conservatives need to learn not to be fooled or intimidated by the seeming sophistication of people such as Auletta. They are either dissembling, or not quite as brilliant as they might appear.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: chrismatthews; dissembling; hardball; kenauletta; leaks; liberalmedia; mnsbc; newyorker; newyorktimes; nyt

1 posted on 06/27/2006 5:27:15 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; YaYa123; MEG33; ...

Hardball/NewsBusters detached-from-reality ping to Today show list.


2 posted on 06/27/2006 5:27:57 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

He's right. It's beyone "liberal."


3 posted on 06/27/2006 5:28:01 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

He's right. It's beyond "liberal."


4 posted on 06/27/2006 5:28:17 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

In related news, the Pope is no longer Catholic!


5 posted on 06/27/2006 5:28:51 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

The Hildebeast isn't the illigimate daugher of hellspawn either.


6 posted on 06/27/2006 5:31:18 PM PDT by xcamel (Press to Test, Release to Detonate)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I wonder if Mark Finkelstein is realted to Brian Finkelstein.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1656524/posts


7 posted on 06/27/2006 5:31:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

These people think liberal is middle of the road. The only persons they see or associate with are liberals so they think everyone is.


8 posted on 06/27/2006 5:32:21 PM PDT by Uncle Hal
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Editorially it is, but not in its news coverage."

The entire NY Times is left leaning.
9 posted on 06/27/2006 5:33:02 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Editorially it is, but not in its news coverage."

The entire NY Times is left leaning.
10 posted on 06/27/2006 5:33:30 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Would a Marxist liberal recognize a Marxist liberal if he saw one in the mirror? I have my doubts! :-)


11 posted on 06/27/2006 5:33:36 PM PDT by ladyinred (The NYTimes, hang 'em high!)
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To: BenLurkin

No relation. We're not exactly Smith or Jones, but there are many more of us Finkelsteins out here than people might imagine!


12 posted on 06/27/2006 5:34:20 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
You're having a first conversation with someone. Alright, maybe you don't agree with him, but he seems rational. Then, out of the blue, he comes out with something so strange, so disconnected from reality, that you say to yourself 'whoah! - who is this guy?' And you go back and rethink everything else he had said in light of his suddenly-exposed madness.

I have this experience with liberals all the time.

13 posted on 06/27/2006 5:34:28 PM PDT by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Interesting, bias trumps intelligence every time.


14 posted on 06/27/2006 5:35:09 PM PDT by TruthWillWin
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To: Uncle Hal

It's like "Me and my children don't have accents, but everyone else does"...


15 posted on 06/27/2006 5:38:11 PM PDT by Wil H
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To: garbageseeker
I does not "lean" left, it has completely fallen over.
16 posted on 06/27/2006 5:38:44 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Viva la Migra!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"..It is perceived as a liberal institution. I don't believe it is. Editorially it is, but not in its news coverage.".."

Maybe he is demented enough to believe that, not many outside the beltway would agree.

17 posted on 06/27/2006 5:39:08 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: SouthTexas

LOL. That is so true.


18 posted on 06/27/2006 5:41:28 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
It is perceived as a liberal institution. I don't believe it is. Editorially it is, but not in its news coverage.

Times has long since ceased to be a newspaper. It is one big compilation editorials that also sometimes contains a few news articles.

The Times has lost all concept of what differentiates an editorial from covering the news.

Actually, that's being generous to them. In an editorial, a journalist should make a genuine effort to present the facts in a reasonably unbiased way and then explain their interpretation of those facts and then attempt to persuade readers in an honest and forthright manner.

The Times is far too lacking in integrity to do that. They simply believe they know what we should believe, and the truth is less important than their beliefs.

19 posted on 06/27/2006 5:42:32 PM PDT by untrained skeptic
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To: untrained skeptic

Auletta is a tiresome toady for the NYTimes and his written at least one book on the news organization. Let's hope his next one on the NYTimes is a threnody.


20 posted on 06/27/2006 5:53:45 PM PDT by gaspar
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Maybe he is demented enough to believe that, not many outside the beltway would agree.

I'm beginning to think that some of these idiots are unaware that there is an "outside the beltway". Their whole lives are lived within it.


21 posted on 06/27/2006 5:54:02 PM PDT by Joan Kerrey
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
He has a point, most NY Times "news items" are actually editorials.
22 posted on 06/27/2006 5:54:40 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Denial: a comforting harbor for children, a dangerous shoal for adults.


23 posted on 06/27/2006 5:55:07 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

New York Times columnist: Moses did not bring down the Ten Commandments, the American Revolution was fought against Albania, Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders actually stormed San Juan Capistrano, Mount Everest lies somewhere just outside Albuquerque, and rice is not consumed in China. Welcome to the MSM tea party, at which reality stands on its head.


24 posted on 06/27/2006 5:55:56 PM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Chris Matthews ran out of spit sucking up to this guy! "You're the best", "I told them I wanted you". (gag me) There was no doubt before he even opened his mouth, this guy would be agreeing with Matthews.

Most political operatives "go Hollywood". Not Matthews...he's gone New York. (I forget which celebrity he announced would be a guest later in the week, but he got his drool back.)


25 posted on 06/27/2006 6:01:37 PM PDT by YaYa123
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To: YaYa123

At the end of the interview, it was also a real mutual love-in.


26 posted on 06/27/2006 6:04:58 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Haven't read the article but the headline is hilarious.


27 posted on 06/27/2006 6:07:10 PM PDT by pepperdog
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To: pepperdog

I thought the whole purpose of a good headline was to suck the reader in! Guess I've got to go back to the drawing board!


28 posted on 06/27/2006 6:10:33 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

The last Republican the New York Times endorsed for president was Dwight Eisenhower. 50 years of liberalism going strong.


29 posted on 06/27/2006 6:19:07 PM PDT by philo
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To: ncountylee; All
He has a point, most NY Times "news items" are actually editorials

The Los Angeles Times is the same way.
30 posted on 06/27/2006 6:23:06 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: philo

In fairness, Auletta admitted the editorial page is liberal. But he denied that the news coverage is liberal. I have to conclude he was either consciously not telling the truth, or is detached from reality.


31 posted on 06/27/2006 6:24:26 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Detached from reality. All liberals are detached from reality.


32 posted on 06/27/2006 6:25:20 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Naw, it was good, I was just in a hurry!
33 posted on 06/27/2006 6:31:23 PM PDT by pepperdog
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

ping


34 posted on 06/27/2006 6:37:12 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
No relation. We're not exactly Smith or Jones, but there are many more of us Finkelsteins out here than people might imagine!

I know. Can't swing a dead cat around here without knocking over two or three Finkelsteins...

=D

35 posted on 06/27/2006 6:40:25 PM PDT by SquirrelKing
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
In fairness, Auletta admitted the editorial page is liberal. But he denied that the news coverage is liberal. I have to conclude he was either consciously not telling the truth, or is detached from reality.

The papers editorial agenda goes to all sections of the paper. Auletta should read Kohn's "Journalistic Fraud".

36 posted on 06/27/2006 6:41:15 PM PDT by Exit148 (Founder of the Loose Change Club. Every nickle and dime counts!!)
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To: SquirrelKing

LOL. Yes, there are Finkelstein Societies in all South Carolina cities and most towns and villages ;-)


37 posted on 06/27/2006 6:44:32 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

They're waaaaaaayyy beyond liberal...


38 posted on 06/27/2006 6:46:32 PM PDT by GOPJ (Team Bush: STOP begging the NYT with your hat in hand. Arrest them when they commit treason.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Here's my question. Suppose for a minute that there was technology which protected our soldiers from bullets, a shield or something and then pretend that there was a technology which would shoot through that shield and the NYT got hold of that information and published it. It seems to me that this is the same question as the one posed by the publication of the info on the NSA surveilance and the financial forensic stuff.


39 posted on 06/27/2006 7:06:22 PM PDT by Mercat (Looks like all the Dummies got for Fitzmas was a beat-up scooter)
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To: GOPJ
Same with the LA"Pravda" Times
40 posted on 06/27/2006 8:13:51 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: Brilliant
He's right. It's beyond "liberal."

I think I agreed with that over here. To save space I'll just leave a link here.

41 posted on 06/27/2006 9:04:28 PM PDT by TigersEye (They hang traitors don't they?)
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To: Uncle Hal

"These people think liberal is middle of the road."

Exactly. This is what I think is the root cause of liberal media, liberal academia and liberal Democrats. When I was unfortunate enough to be under the illusion, it was a default position to know conservatives as idiot hayseeds and journalists as the highly intellectual...with all of America aspiring to be like the Democrats but not yet smart enough to achieve the goal of enlightenment.

Liberals think they are teaching the truth, that if you're not liberal you haven't learned enough yet. In fact, most liberals do not even know themselves as liberals, just more educated. Ergo, there is no "liberal bias," just truthtelling in the media.


42 posted on 06/27/2006 9:48:06 PM PDT by soloNYer
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
A long read, but very informative:

A Measure of Media Bias

43 posted on 06/27/2006 10:05:31 PM PDT by Washi
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