Here, in my view, is a simple example of media bias.
You are likely aware that the Senate voted on the Ryan budget, which lost 40 to 57 with several Republicans joining all Democrats in voting no. If you know this, it’s because you watched the news or read a newspaper and noticed the headlines – they were everywhere.
This vote was arranged in order to get all Senators on the record regarding the Ryan budget. Democrats were anxious to have the vote because they knew the measure would lose and they knew that blue state Republicans would vote with the Dems. Republicans went along because they believed that the vote would help them despite the certain loss. They also went along because part of the deal was that there would also be a vote on the Obama budget.
The Obama budget was defeated 97 to 0. No Democrats voted for it, not even blue state Democrats. There were no main stream media headlines announcing this – Google it. Only the blogs and right wing media reported the second vote.
That’s bias. Our media have taken sides. The Forth Estate is as dysfunctional as our politics.
Here is an interesting column from David Brooks describing how British politics and media are functional while ours are not.
Britain Is Working
By David Brooks
NYT, May 23, 2011
Brooks describes how politics is supposed to work; it’s worth a read. I took away two key points:
· Main stream media should be setting the American political agenda, not cable TV or talk radio.
· We have stopped talking to each other, even inside government. Brooks wrote:
If the quintessential American pol is standing in his sandbox screaming affirmations to members of his own tribe, the quintessential British pol is standing across a table arguing face to face with his opponents.
American leaders are saying that anyone who will do what is necessary to win a government office should not be allowed to serve. We had best start paying attention.
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