New York Times: Hey, Liberals, Do You Think We're Biased Enough? Or Could We Do More?

This question involves the liberal media's long-running whine to itself: Why do we neutrally (ahem) report the words of both liberals and conservatives, without noting that one of them is plainly false and the other is plainly true? Why, O why, are we so neutral and objective we cannot even declare the conservatives lies to be lies and the liberal truths to be truths?

Yes, this gnaws at them.

So, the New York Times public editor asked if the newspaper should stop being so dad-burned impartial.

And you'll never guess what liberals, like Oliver Willis of Media Matters and Occupy MacDonald's, said!

Here's an example offered by the NYT public editor. It's about Obama's claim to have "saved or created" 3 million jobs.

Just kidding, of course.

One example mentioned recently by a reader: As cited in an Adam Liptak article on the Supreme Court, a court spokeswoman said Clarence Thomas had “misunderstood” a financial disclosure form when he failed to report his wife’s earnings from the Heritage Foundation. The reader thought it not likely that Mr. Thomas “misunderstood,” and instead that he simply chose not to report the information.

This is that whole Politifact conceit, seeking to drive the debate rather than report the facts. There are two facts in this paragraph: Thomas did not report his earnings, and he claims this to have been the result of a "misunderstanding."

What else is there to say?

By the way, if you want an easy lay-up for media bias, listen to how they introduce statements. You will hear and read that Democrats say or believe this or that. On the other hand, Republicans merely claim.

It happens a lot. When a Democrat says something the public doesn't agree with necessarily, at least the public can be contented that the Democrat actually believes it, according to the media.

But the Republicans? They merely claim to believe things. They never actually believe them. So they may be trying to snooker you with a claim that even they know is bullshit.

So they actually are doing this already, stealthily, dishonestly.

One wonders why they shouldn't just drop the mask already.

No Seriously: You guys are just too impartial, too scrupulous about only stating what you have verified as fact.

Via @jeffquinton

posted by Ace at 07:23 PM

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