Jake Tapper "Reports" on Antifa Attacking Journalists... On Twitter. And Without Calling Them Antifa.

John Sexton is a close friend and I don't want to hit him on this.

But as a general matter, it's time for conservatives to stop being #CheapDates for Jake Tapper.

He mentioned this on Twitter. I doubt he will feature it on, you know, his actual TV show.

He does this a lot -- if you embarrass him about his non-coverage of a major story that he's embargoing because of his lefty politics, he'll mention it on Twitter, as he did here, but he'll keep his CNN show clean of this offensive material.

His show's on now-- let me know if he gets 'round to mentioning it.

If a critic points out his blatant hypocrisy -- his bullshit posture of a Real News MAN Who Reports Without Prejudice or Favor -- he'll give you a little "Shut up, I 'covered' that on Twitter" appeasement.

But it won't the make the actual TV "news" cast.

Check the timestamps here:

Notice, by the way, that he provides three descriptors for the protesters -- "Nazi/KKK/Alt-right" -- but his descriptor for antifa is just "people protesting the Nazs/KKK/Alt-right."

He's been on a jeremiad about specifically naming the evil groups -- why does he lose his nerve with antifa?

Later in this series of tweets, he notes a letter written by antifa defends/excuses this attack, but he's careful not to id the assailant as antifa.

Over the years, I've got a lot of excuses from Jake Tapper about why major stories do not appear on his show.

The Iran Echo Chamber story? I don't trust that source, he told me, not giving any reasons for that lack of trust. When I later told him Ben Rhodes and Ned Price had confirmed the quotes attributed to them, he said something like "It was a busy news day" or whatever.

Months later the Iran Echo Chamber story was in the news again, and I again asked why he wasn't covering it. Again he told me "I don't trust that source," forgetting, it seems, that he had already offered that excuse previously and I had already rebutted it by linking Rhodes and Price affirming the quotes.

Jake Tapper's main outreach to conservatives is just making bullshit excuses for his leftist bias -- he was a former "star" Salon reporter, don't forget -- which is hailed as some kind of victory by his fanbois on the right (of which there are many-- and I specifically do not include John Sexton (of whom I am a fanboi, as you might gather from my many links to him)).

When pressed, and with no avenue of easy retreat, Tapper will mention something on Twitter, and then Noah C. Rothman will applaud his "courage" for tweeting a story late in the night.

But he's #OnTheTelevision, and the television is the new Cult of the Saints. Many people just seem to lose their shit when someone from the TV!!! "interacts" with them on twitter. It's enough to create a permanent loyalty to the Great Television Celebrity for many.

I have to admit, I know people from movies or tv, and yeah, you do kind of think "OMG, someone from TV or the movies!" I admit it. Yes, it's a major thing. Even if you try to be cool about it, it's still a thing.

But the intense cult of loyalty Tapper has instilled in his devoted suckophants merely for retweeting them (or sending a cursory DM after they effusively praise him for his "bravery") is a bit too far, isn't it?

If you want to meet the real Jake Tapper, here's how you do it:

Criticize him online for bias. Oh sure he's quite swell if you're praising him. Who wouldn't be?

But try criticizing him for his bias.

You will then meet the Real Jake Tapper -- not the Pleasant Celebrity Who Pleasantly Accepts Your Fawning Admiration -- in your DMs.

And the Real Jake Tapper isn't the one who flatters you with some small amount of Twitter Attention after you praise him.

But then, he is #OnTelevision. And therefore, adult men should continue allowing themselves to be reduced to quivering schoolgirls when such a "celebrity" as he gives them some minor attention.

posted by Ace at 04:39 PM

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