Why We Vote
The Register Star has brought together a group of people from all over the Rock River Valley to serve on our Election 2008 Voters’ Panel. These men and women are Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Green party members. Some are high school students. Some are retired. And some fall in between those two age groups. They all share this: The upcoming election is important and voters do have voices. They’ll share them in this blog.

The Liberal Media?????

March 15th, 2008 at 01:46pm Jon Murray

As I’ve participated in political discussions recently my conservative friends talk about the “Liberal Media”…you know what…I don’t get it.  Do the conservatives really think there is a liberal conspiracy in the media?  As I watch, listen and read the media I have to say that the most well balanced reporting comes from CNN, MSNBC, NPR and the RR Star.  The most biased media would be Fox (which I refuse to watch) and of course the hateful and mean spirited Rush Limbaugh.  CNN always has opposing viewpoints; does anyone think that Chris Matthews isn’t tough on everyone; NPR (my favorite radio) is always careful to give considerate and respectful to all perspectives; I read columnists in the RR Star that I would never agree with.  I have a sense that those who complain about the liberal media are desperate to justify their positions and therefore they resort to blaming the media for the shortcomings in their arguments.   My suggestion…stop blaming the media, stop listening to Rush, stop watching Fox and perhaps you’ll start to see why we liberals believe the way we do.

Jon Murray

Jon Murray

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized

6 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Samal  |  March 17th, 2008 at 5:20 am

    Yea, I’m sure Matthews gets chills and tears from McCain, or perhaps it is only from Jesus himself:

    Last night during MSNBC’s Potomac Primary coverage, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann were discussing Barack Obama’s speech. Matthews — who, in the past, has both cried over an Obama speech and compared him to Jesus — described exactly what happens to him when Obama speaks:

    I have to tell you, you know, it’s part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama’s speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/13/chris-matthews-i-felt-t_n_86449.html

  • 2. Samal  |  March 19th, 2008 at 1:43 am

    You are clear in your opinions, but they are obviously outside the mainstream of America.

    A Sacred Heart University Poll found significantly declining percentages of Americans saying they believe all or most of media news reporting. In the current national poll, just 19.6% of those surveyed could say they believe all or most news media reporting. This is down from 27.4% in 2003. Just under one-quarter, 23.9%, in 2007 said they believe little or none of reporting while 55.3% suggested they believe some media news reporting.

    ….The perception is growing among Americans that the news media attempts to influence public opinion — from 79.3% strongly or somewhat agreeing in 2003 to 87.6% in 2007.

    And, 86.0% agreed (strongly or somewhat) that the news media attempts to influence public policies — up from 76.7% in 2003….

    By four-to-one margins, Americans surveyed see The New York Times (41.9% to 11.8%) and National Public Radio (40.3% to 11.2%) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative.

    By a three-to-one margin, Americans see news media journalists and broadcasters (45.4% to 15.7%) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative.

    And, by a two-to-one margin, Americans see CNN (44.9% to 18.4%) and MSNBC (38.8% to 15.8%) as mostly or somewhat liberal over mostly or somewhat conservative.

    Just Fox News was seen as mostly and somewhat conservative (48.7%) over mostly or somewhat liberal (22.3%).

    The most trusted national TV news organizations, for accurate reporting, in declining order included: Fox News (27.0%), CNN (14.6%), and NBC News (10.90%). These were followed by ABC News (7.0%), local news (6.9%), CBS News (6.8%) MSNBC (4.0%), PBS News (3.0%), CNBC (0.6%) and CBN (0.5%).

    In 2003, CNN led Fox News on “trust most for accurate reporting” 23.8% to 14.6%.
    http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/20786_americans_slam_news_media_on_believability.cfm?searchterm=media

    This was the sixth poll in a year with the same findings.

    Then there is this:

    Only 6 percent of the national press corps describe themselves as “conservative” in a population that includes reporters, editors and producers from major television and radio networks, daily newspapers, news wires and online sources.

    Those who consider themselves “very conservative” amount to just 2 percent, according to a wide-ranging survey of 585 journalists and news executives released yesterday by the Project for Excellence in Journalism.
    In contrast, 36 percent of the overall population generally consider themselves conservative.

    There are more conservatives in broadcast than print — 10 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Among online journalists the figure was 8 percent.

    The majority of nationally ranked journalists — 53 percent — described themselves as moderate, 24 percent were liberal and 8 percent “very liberal.”
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/NATION/418533987/1002

  • 3. Samal  |  March 20th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    The list of examples goes on, but the bottom line is that in the early days of their scandals, Vitter and Craig were labeled as Republicans on every broadcast news program — 100% — that mentioned their wrongdoing. For Democrat Spitzer, four out of five news programs (80%) have skipped his label. On NBC’s Today and Nightly News through Wednesday night, reporters never once acknowledged that Spitzer was a Democrat.http://newsbusters.org/blogs/rich-noyes/2008/03/13/while-no-d-eliot-spitzer-vitter-craig-always-tagged-gop

    What was that you were saying about the media?

  • 4. Jon Murray  |  March 21st, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Thanks for reinforcing my perception that right wing reactionarys have a misguided perception of the liberal media conspiracy.

  • 5. Samal  |  March 21st, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    I’m sorry that the presentation of the facts burst your ideological bubble but that is no reason to resort to hurling invectives.

    The reaction you have shown demonstrates not only that you are outside the mainstream of opinion but that you are completely at the ideological extreme unwilling to accept the facts, preferring to dismiss information with name calling designed to shut down debate.

    I guess that answers the question of Why You Vote! Its clear you won’t let the facts get in your way.

  • 6. Jon Murray  |  March 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 am

    Samal…Your question “what was that you were saying about the media?” was taken as a challenge and was somewhat offensive in it’s tone. I’ve appreciated your reading my blogs and your responses but it doesn’t mean you’ve convinced me…. I must of really raised your ire with my statements about the liberal media. You use statistics (I question the term “facts” which leaves no room for disagreement) but I still stand by what I said - I don’t believe there is a liberal bias. I follow the media closely and I’m relatively intelligent, educated and well read and I think my opinion has merit. As for being “out of the mainstream”… first of all I don’t really care if I am or not (although I am acquainted with and aware of many people who feel as I do), but what matters to me is that what I believe is true in my heart and in my mind. I am who I am and what I believe is a result of my faith, my upbringing, my occupation, my education and my life experiences.
    Keep writing - I do appreciate the dialogue.

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