One hates to beat a dead horse. Or a living one. But by coming back to media bias in the coverage of the Republican presidential campaign I’m not so much whipping a recalcitrant equine as stabling a kicking, braying ass.
The most recent debate was hosted by CBS and the National Journal, and took place in South Carolina. The demonstrated bias? Ron Paul got only 90 seconds of coverage.
Yup: ninety seconds out of the hour. CBS summarized Rep. Paul’s short contribution by calling him a “serious longshot,” judging the congressman’s minute-and-a-half as “an unqualified success.”
Yes, CBS’s post-debate coverage was mostly spin — over its own criteria. Of Rick Santorum, the network calmly stated that the also-ran “didn’t get as many questions as the more popular candidates in the polls, but when he did get a chance to talk, his remarks sounded thoughtful and measured.”
Yeah. CBS was in control of the questions and time allotments, but its prose coverage neatly states it as reportage, covering up its own very active role.
A more honest account? “Barring a bomb in the Green Room taking out most if not all of the other candidates, Rick Santorum doesn’t have a chance at the nomination. Thankfully, it’s up to us to divvy up coverage. Tough luck, Rick.”
And: “Despite your amazing ten-percent-plus support, Dr. Paul, we don’t want you saying too much. If we allowed it, you might get more popular.”
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
7 replies on “The Donkey in the Room”
Time for the Repubs to take it on the road and either go Fox or else one of the many popular conservative websites Or both.
Last thing we need is the lame left wing media slanting our choices towards one rhat Presbo beat.
This is a sign of our times. The media rules because the have the forum. Most folks are trying to make ends meet and just don’t have time to dig around to get to the bottom of what is reported in the news. Actually we shouldn’t have to “dig” to get to the bottom of a news report. I realize bias is a fact of life. However, one would think equal time in a debate is a no brainer.
Glad you noticed. Perhaps Ron Paul, Huntsman, Santorum,and Bachman could all boycott the next set of biased moderators to make the statement that their media bias is not acceptable.
I am aghast that a former House Speaker at last weeks SC debate would state on National TV that “we should send in (re Iran) covert operations (Special Forces)and kill their scientists and destroy their facilities as long as it is deniable. This is the American “Nation of Law?” The only two that opposed this were Ron Paul and Huntsman.
Are Americans awake?
What else really irked me about these debates (aside from giving Ron Paul only 90 seconds) was that there were some really important questions asked but instead of letting each candidate weigh in on them, they let a couple answer and then went on to another question. I would have liked to hear what they all had to say on the really important issues. I would also like to have Gary Johnson in the debates. As a Libertarian I pretty much agree with Ron Paul but think some of his foreign policy ideas are a little flakie and would like to see what another Libertarian had to say about them.
To Bill:
SOMETIMES, A NATION HAS TO BREAK/VIOLATE SOME LAWS TO ROTECT ITS CITIZENS.
THIS (IRAN) IS SUCH A SITUATION – IT IS A ROGUE STATE, AND THREATENS THE WORLD.
HAD THE US (OR SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRY) IN 1939 HAD THE GUTS TO KILL HITLER, PERHAPS 50+ MILLION PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. I SEE THE SAME HERE.
AND, IN MY OPINION, RON PAUL SI LIEK TOEHR POLITICIANS-WHAT IS IN IT FOR HIMSELF.
A “CONSTUTIONALIST”-TRUE THE CONSTUTION DOESN’T CALL FOR TERM LIMITS, BUT THE FOUNDING FATHERS CALLED FOR A ” CITIZENS” LEGISLATURE, NOT A CAREER POLITIICANS.
HE AHS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR WHAT?? 40 OR SO YEARS?
OH, I FORGOT, IT IS ONLY THE OTHER GUY’S REPRESENTITIVES (AND SENATORS) ARE NO GOOD.
I didn’t see Gary Johnson in the lineup.
Also, someone should tell Jay his caps lock is stuck.
I agree, Paul, but the Republicans seem willing enough to play their game, suggesting they’re fine with Ron Paul and Rick Santorum getting treated badly. Neither of them suits the party’s proclivity to accommodation. They want the votes of the Tea Party but not their desire for substantially less government.