RiteOn Blog

TODAY'S yellow press is -- MEDIA BIAS

Running Interference or Mediacrisy?
By VA Guest Editor EKG
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John Roberts of CNN opened the South Carolina Republican Debate on January 19, 2012, by asking former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, about an upcoming ABC interview with Mr. Gingrich's ex-wife regarding her and Mr. Gingrich's divorce13 years ago. In his response, Mr. Gingrich stated he was fed up with the "majority" media clearing the way for the reelection of President Obama.

Is Mr. Gingrich's criticism valid?

The media attack on Mr. Gingrich bears an eerie resemblance to 2004 when Barack Obama was running for the first (and only time) for the U. S. Senate, and The Chicago Tribune forced open the Republican nominee's sealed divorce records. This resulted in a sex scandal causing Mr. Obama's opponent to withdraw. At the late date, the Republicans fielded Alan Keyes who was not a resident of Illinois and was easily defeated.  

In 2008, when then-candidate Obama was running against former First Lady and Senator, Hillary Clinton, for the Democratic nomination, CBS along with other media outlets quickly exposed as fraudulent Senator Clinton's claim to have come under sniper fire in Bosnia. This same media, however, accepted Senator Obama's allegation that he had not heard 20 years worth of his pastor's anti-American sermons. Concurrently, investigations by The New York Times, CNN, and other news organizations concluded Mr. Obama did not have a close relationship with former domestic terrorist Bill Ayers even though they served together on two nonprofit boards and Mr. Ayers and his wife (former terrorist) Bernadine Dohrn hosted a gathering at their home where Alice Palmer introduced Barack Obama as her chosen successor in the Illinois State Senate. Nor was the media curious about Senator Obama's purchase of a home with the help of Tony Rezko, now a convicted felon.

During the 2000 election, the media attempted to disparage George Bush's intelligence by focusing on his SAT's and college transcripts. But Mr. Obama, whom they promote as brilliant, has never released his SAT scores, his college or law school transcripts, and the media show no inclination to pursue the subject.

In 2008, The New York Times ran a front page story that alleged an affair between Mr. Obama's opponent, John McCain, and a  lobbyist. The accusation turned out to be false. This same newspaper also ran a story critical of Senator McCain's wife. 

Not long after Representative Michele Bachmann announced her campaign for the presidency, Fox News's Chris Wallace asked her on camera, "are you a flake". Representative Bachmann handled the sexist statement with grace and viewers launched a firestorm of criticism at Mr. Wallace (liberal commentator Mike Wallace's son) forcing him to apologize. But can anyone imagine Mr. Wallace asking the same question of Secretary Hillary Clinton or First Lady Michelle Obama? Mr. Wallace likewise drew fire from Mr. Gingrich in the first Republican debate by asking what Mr. Gingrich termed a "gotcha" question.

When Governor Rick Perry of Texas soared to the lead in the GOP race, Politico broke a story that Mr. Perry had a hunting lodge at the entrance of which was a rock with a racially disparaging name painted on it. Apparently it did not matter that the parcel on the Brazos River had been called by that name well before Perry's father began hunting there. Nor was it important that the Perrys had painted over the sign.Contrast that to the disinterest shown by Politico and others when Michelle Obama claimed she had never been proud of America and/or that America is a "mean" country.

Once Representative Bachmann and Governor Perry dropped in the polls, former Governor Mitt Romney started being pilloried  (and, stupidly, by his opponents) for practicing capitalism in America and for not releasing tax returns that suggest he not only is successful but his income comes from capital gains which is taxed at only 15%. But in 2004 when then-Democratic candidate, John Kerry's wife paid only 12.3% of her gross income and 27.4% of her AGI only the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal saw fit to report it. (Mrs. Kerry files separately from the senator which in itself could have been a story).

During the week before the South Carolina debate, in addition to assailing Mr. Romney's practice of blatant capitalism, ABC reported verbatim a political attack flyer that quoted a Pittsburgh Press article (from 1990) claiming Mr. Santorum's wife had had an affair with an abortion doctor more than two decades ago. (Mr. and Mrs. Santorum have been married for 21 years). But only four years ago, the media justified their not reporting John Edwards's then-current affair with a staffer by claiming reluctance to report unsavory subjects as news.

When businessman Herman Cain led the Republican field, the media extensively covered accusations of three women who claimed sexual harassment by Mr. Cain, one that supposedly happened over 20 years ago, the media made no mention that the attorney filing one of the harassment suits was the same attorney who used a similar tactic to derail Meg Whitman's campaign for governor of California in 2010. Further in 1994 when Paula Jones sued Democratic president, Bill Clinton, for sexual harassment in 1991 (only three years before), the media questioned why Ms. Jones had not come forward sooner and quickly linked her to a Conservative legal group. When Kathleen Willey accused President Clinton of sexual harassment in the White House during his presidency, the media helpfully printed a note from Mrs. Willey written after the incident suggesting by inference that Ms. Willey continued to seek the president's assistance finding a job. (Mrs. Willey's husband had committed suicide and she needed additional income).

One of Mr. Cain's accusors claimed she and Mr. Cain conducted a 13 year affair (one that presumably went on while Mr. Cain was being treated for Stage IV colon cancer), but when Gennifer Flowers claimed (with supporting tapes) that she and Mr. Clinton were lovers, CBS's Sixty Minutes gave Mr.and Mrs. Clinton an opportunity to refute Ms. Flowers.

Once Mr. Cain no longer posed a problem for President Obama's reelection, he and the harassment suits no longer were news. Why not? If these accusations had credence and were newsworthy when Mr. Cain was a candidate, why should we not be informed of what happened? Have the suits been dropped? Or did Mr. Cain pay off the women? Why did this "news" story simply go away?

Bachmann, Perry, Cain, Romney, Santorum, Gingrich. Do these examples show a double standard or are they, as Mr. Gingrich claims, a clearing of the field for President Obama. Are the media running interference for the President?
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RiteOn Guest Editor EKG publishes frequently in the RiteOn.org blog but also writes for many other publications.

COMMENTARY ON THE NH PRIMARY

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY  by Chuck MacNab

One can speculate about the results of yesterday's New Hampshire Primary election. Here are a few thoughts about it.

1. Despite the commentary provided by media talking heads, many of whom are assigned to promote a cause chosen by media owners, Romney won the NH Primary election with a clear victory ...not by a margin many sought to downplay because it didn't fit with the expectations of their assigned view.

2. The one-two outcome of the election provides Ron Paul and his supporters with an argument that they should be included on the ticket or at least be given a substantial position of power in a Republican Administration. We'll see what negotiations produce. Depending to some extent on the outcome of Primary elections yet to be decided, Ron Paul could create a third Party campaign that would likely allow Obama to defeat any Republican that opposes him. A repeat of the Busch #1-Clinton election.

3. If the New Hampshire Primary is an indicator and if the Republican Party is not better organized than it is right now, Ron Paul appears to have enough support among hard core followers and conservatives to turn the threat a third Party campaign into a reality. The Republican Party, especially at the lower levels, is overburdened with politically uninformed long time activists who have gotten lazy and are mainly interested in protecting their "turf." Too many feel that the equity they have built up by "staying interested" entitles them to continue to force "old hat" and the status quo on independent voters. This could prove to be a mistake. Too many will elect the dullest among them for local leadership activities and the more active ones, bnesides having a near obsession with collecting meaningless titles, will relentlessly engage in gossip wars to protect anything perceived to be their "turf." Most have no background or interest in intelligent compromise and most of their interests evolve around social issues...that is until it comes down to their personal bank accounts. Too many Republicans are only interested in associating with those who agree with them.  When it comes to a number of issues in their Party, the Democrat's have given up leadership to the radicals and this is why many people believe Ron Paul is really a closet Democrat, particularly in foreign policy areas!

4. In our opinion, the Republican Party could substantially nullify a third Party appeal by changing some of its platform and by engaging in a broad campaign that shows exactly what wholesale abandonment of our world-wide interests would mean to each American. Stop assuming that most Americans understand what the results of what abandonment will really mean in practical terms and do something to explain it. There is certainly much modification of policy due, especially those policies related to the Obama Administration. In the case of the last three years, Obama has been engaging in a Ron Paul-like policy of withdrawal while wasting vast amounts of resources and making huge mistakes in doing it. As the losses of overseas interests become illustrated by a warped media why wouldn't Americans be sick of such policies? Why wouldn't large numbers of Americans be attracted to someone who comes along and hypothetically says, " Let's just quit and leave the rest of the world to its own devices." America's foreign interests have never been popular and have been used as a political whipping boy since the earliest days. Everything from the Louisianna purchase (a deal with France), the purchase of Alaska (a deal with Russia) to early negotiations for oil exploration in the 30's has been criticized as "folly" by politicians seeking to "play" on voter attitudes.

Though obscure and currently unpopular, the fact is that over the last 100 years or so, a winning set of worldwide ventures, both public and private, has provided  Americans with the best standard of living of anyone on the planet. So let's not be confused about that. Whoever we elect as a leader of the country should be a person who knows that the second best poker hand is the worst one to hold.

SOPA Legislation

   

 Chinese style internet censorship being proposed in Congress

Here's a link (bottom of the page) to a New York Times article that comments on a piece of legislation that will probably be passed soon by Congress. It's known as the SOPA Bill (Stop Online Piracy Act). This could be the most dangerous attack on First Amendment rights that we have ever seen and could seriously limit citizen use of the internet as a useful personal communications tool. Many see the Bill as a way for the government to censor free speech and free communications on the internet by using Chinese style government  control.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

... The debate has highlighted how little Congress knows about the Internet they are proposing to re-tool. In a piece often cited on the Web, the computer culture journalist Joshua Kopstein watched the debate in Congress in which members bragged about their online ignorance, and he wrote an open letter on the technology Web site Motherboard titled, "Dear Congress, It's No Longer O.K. to Not Know How the Internet Works."

Here's the link to the NY TImes article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/business/media/the-danger-of-an-attack-on-piracy-online.html?ref=business

TESTIMONY ABOUT OBAMACARE DEATH PANELS

 

IF YOU'RE OVER 70... YOU'RE NOT A PERSON... YOU'RE A "UNIT"

Sorry to intrude on the New Year atmosphere... but....

Please go to the following link to a sound file because it offers knowledgeable testimony of the existence of "death panels" that are in the process of being created by Obamacare legislation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKnI0MOgx0

 

This is the same sort of thinking that the Nazis engaged in.... Possibly worse.

This legislation turns so-called "government health care administrators" into surrogates of an SS Officer who made the "selections" when people got off the trains at the death camps. Some lived, some died... And it was strictly HIS arbitrary decision. Through this legislation, Obama has declared people over age 70 to be "units" and has set up "death panels" to arbitrarily and administratively prevent neurosurgeons and other  doctors from treating them....except for "comfort care" (care that prevents their lives from being saved and just comforts them while they proceed to die in front of you.... Why not just trot them over to the Vet and give 'em a big ole injection to end it quickly???). Obamacare policies will result in getting rid of the "units."

If this doesn't prove conclusively that we need to get rid of Obamacare and defeat Obama this November.... Nothing does!!! Please distribute this sound file to your list and ask them to distribute it also.

This sound file was recorded from Mark Levin's radio program some time earlier this month, I believe. It deserves wide circulation.
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Here are a couple of other links that connect to the same sound file:

(In case one above has been removed)

http://tpartyus2010.ning.com/video/neurosurgeon-calls-mark-levin-about-obamacare 

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1711294/pg1 

 

RESEARCH ORIGIN NOTES: (WLS Chicago, Nov. 24, 2011) "...Mark Levin gets an excellent call from a neurosurgeon who gives an inside look on what exactly Obamacare will do. For example, instead of patients, some people over a certain age will be considered, "units," as they try to dehumanize patients and the care they receive."

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

TO YOU AND YOURS