The modern American press is so apprehensive about being called biased (and lose access to Important People), that it treats every view as being equally valid, and doesn't call out self-evident contradictions and hypocritical positions. Rather than explore what people are saying (GOP or Dem), they simply parrot what people are saying, nod sagely no matter how ridiculous it was, and move onto the next blurb.
'I realize that the GOP’s up-is-downism puts news reporters in an awkward position. It would seem tendentious to point out Republican hypocrisy on deficits and Medicare and stimulus every time it comes up, because these days it comes up almost every time a Republican leader opens his mouth. But we’re not supposed to be stenographers. As long as the media let an entire political party invent a new reality every day, it will keep on doing it. Every day.'
Examples included.
Reshared post from +George Wiman
"This isn’t just cognitive dissonance. It’s irresponsible reporting."
Embedded Link
Fiscal Cliff Fictions: Let’s All Agree to Pretend the GOP Isn’t Full of It | TIME.com
It’s really amazing to see political reporters dutifully passing along Republican complaints that President Obama’s opening offer in the fiscal cliff talks is just a recycled version of his old plan, …
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"Mainstream media outlets don’t want to look partisan"
Seriously? I'd say it's a little too late for that…..by about four years.
Basically. The press was supposed to act as watchdogs, calling out politicians for lies or subversiveness in policy. Instead, there is a thinly veiled effort to maintain impartiality while subtly acting as advocates for a particular cause. Both of these are a far cry from what we need: an active force that calls out lies and makes them obvious to the American public.