Confronting liberal bias as it occurs (CNN Gets Zinged)

Media Research Center via E-Mail | December 26, 2001

[Benrand]

Aaron Smith is one weeeird dude. He basically flops on the desk and he's got a bizarre lisp.

[Restorer]

In one of my grad school courses, we had to read some cultural anthropologists bullsh** drivel about how science is merely another worldview, a Western construct.

Actually, this is a true statement.

Except that the scientific worldview produces actual results (unlike most non-scientifically based worldviews) and can therefore be safely assumed to provide the best available explanation of reality.

It's nice that someone recognizes that science is a Western construct. For a while there I was thinking it was invented in Darkest Africa. :)

[thucydides]

Shelby Steele is a black conservative who has written the best book about race relations ever published: "The Content of Our Characters." If you haven't read it, you're in for a treat.

[thucydides]

Shelby Steele is a black conservative who has written the best book about race relations ever published: "The Content of Our Characters." If you haven't read it, you're in for a treat.

[bassmaner]

We can't forget the term "conservative" has changed meaning in the last 30 years or so also. We used to stand for limited goverment and states rights.

Yeah, unfortunately you're right about that.

Replace conservative with "neo-con" (as in "We're for smaller government: we'll only increase spending 5%; that's less than the 7% the Dems want") and that usually 'bout sums it up.

[kezekiel]

My point is that the Left has hijacked the term "liberal" to describe their totally un-liberal socialist agenda. America was founded as a "liberal" country in the true sense of the word. Madison, Jefferson, et al. were "liberals".

Amen. Just consider: how often does the media make references to "right-wing" as if no corresponding "left-wing" views exist in America? In their lexicon, there is: right-wing, extreme right-wing, conservative, moderate, independent, and liberal. There is no left in American politics, if you read their reports.

[awgie2]

Aaron Brown is an attempt by CNN to formulate (or triangulate) a "Newsreader" who will give the impression of "Fairness" (I hate that word) to their "Newsreading" enterprise. They wanted someone who wouldn't be as caustic and bold as O'Reilly, but wouldn't be immediately tagged as "leftist" either. He strikes me as effeminate and wishy washy. He has as much substance as warm cheese. His nasal timid voice sends all the right signals to the libs...he is one of them.

[daler]

Another tactic (in newspapers) is to place an ANALYSIS story on the front page. My guess is that many sheeple can't tell the difference between opinion and hard news.

I woke up to two ridiculous front-page headlines in my local paper (Duluth, Minn News-Tribune) this morning:

"Analysts say tax increases are better option than spending cuts for economic stimulus"

and

"On anniversary, many Russians regret collapse of the Soviet Union"

I'd post the content of the articles, but I presume that most of you, like me, aren't interested in going beyond the headline.

[7thson]

Another trick the media pulls is when they show a clip from a foriegn country, usually a riot, or something wacky in their governmnetal body, and label the violence or wackiness as the right-wing of that countrys government. Then immediately they would show something our congress is doing and label it the Republican or right led Republicans. Giving the impression to many nitwits - and there are many - that both are the same.

Another trick is Brokaw's FLEECING OF AMERICA which he started, I believe, after the Republicans took control of the House and Senate. He would show some government action that is wasting millions of dollars and state it was passed by Congress. Failing to mention it was passed by Congress 10/20/30 years ago whent the Dems were in charge. Then he would show something the Republicans in Congress would want to do.

Sometimes it is subtle, sometimes it smacks you right across the face.

[Calvin Locke]

You forgot to add a link to the so-called Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) NOT! group.

[YaYa123]

Thanks for reminding me of where I had seen Aaron Brown before, ABC. I think he's gained prominence because he's soft spoken, quietly authoritative, and has a pleasant, non-threatening demeanor. Why whaddaya know...I've just described Tom Daschle!!

The media seldom criticizes what Tom Daschle says, they are too busy describing how he says it.

"Style Over Substance" from both sides of the camera is a serious disservice to truth, but that's what we get.

[Polybius]

I am more than willing to take the Katie Couric Challenge. Mute the sound on the TV set, blot out the identity of the interviewee, and I can determine with 100% accuracy whether the guest is a liberal or a conservative simply by looking at the expression on Katie's face. Here is the formula:

Liberal Guest=Looks of adulation beaming from Katie's adoring eyes.

Conservative Guest=Angry glares emanating from Katie's scowling face.

In all seriousnes, that would be a good combination Political Science/Psych project for a Conservative college student to undertake.

The muted video tapes can be shown to Psych majors who are simply asked, in their opinion, judging solely by Katie's facial expressions, if Katie is showing hostility, approval or neutrality. The subject matter must also be taken into account. For example, Katie might scowl when talking to a Liberal if they are both agreeing that George Bush is ruining the country. The Psych students will know nothing else about the subect of the study so it would be a "blind" study.

A Political Science student who also knows nothing of the purpose of the study is later instructed to state, "What is Katie discussing at this point of the tape". The study now is "double blind".

After the data is collected, the identity of the interviewed guests and the topic of conversation that illicited the facial reaction can be matched up with the facial expression answers to obtain the final results.

Anyone know any college students out there willing to do this little project? Armitage?

[PJ-Comix]

In all seriousnes, that would be a good combination Political Science/Psych project for a Conservative college student to undertake.

I absolutely think this is a TERRIFIC college project. Anybody out there connected with a college or university? Please read the project proposal by Polybius.

[blackbart1]

This is good news. I sure hope that the talk radio picks up on this and pounds the issue at least a little.

[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

"Liberal Guest=Looks of adulation beaming from Katie's adoring eyes. Conservative Guest=Angry glares emanating from Katie's scowling face."

I have been saying this for many years about Couric. The worst example of Couric's hatred, was when Ronald Reagan was a guest on the show, and was talking about children with AIDS.Couric had a look of hatred on her that actually startled me. Even the Prez was noticably taken aback....DISGRACEFUL !!

[PJ-Comix]

I envy any graduate student out there who takes up your suggestion for a thesis project. Why? Because the results of such a project are sure to make such a student and his project INSTANTLY famous when the results are revealed. Sooo..... Any Freepers out there know of a college grad Poly/Sci student looking to do a project that will gain him/her instant fame/notoriety? If so, then alert them to the Polybius project proposal.

[bimbo]

My point is that the Left has hijacked the term "liberal" to describe their totally un-liberal socialist agenda.

You are 100% correct. The hijacking of the term "liberal" and the hijacking of the Democrat Party by the Marxist Left is documented in Horowitz's book, Radical Son. I support your point about using terms. In this respect, John Kennedy was a Liberal, anti-communist American; Hillary Clinton is a Marxist. Let's call things as they are.

[bimbo]

It's nice that someone recognizes that science is a Western construct.

Only through Science and Technology, Western Civilization came to be the dominant culture of the world. 400 years ago, all cultures were more or less equally dominant.

[Anamensis]

Well, this author's point was "Why should we consider scientific thought any more authoritative than, say, Cherokee mythology?"

[bimbo]

Replace conservative with "neo-con" (as in "We're for smaller government: we'll only increase spending 5%; that's less than the 7% the Dems want") and that usually 'bout sums it up.

"Neo-cons" are actually Democrats purged from that party when it was overrun by Marxists.