SHORT SHELF LIFE
Remark, what remark?
"The controversy over House Majority Leader Harry Reid's crack about President Obama's lack of a "Negro dialect" is apparently over, at least according to the broadcast networks. Although the story only broke Saturday afternoon, the last network news story aired Tuesday night on ABC's 'Nightline,'" points out Rich Noyes, research director of the Media Research Center.
An analysis from the watchdog group revealed that the networks ran 37 assorted items on Mr. Reid's "Negro" remark, including interviews and panel discussions in that time span, heavily skewed in Mr. Reid's favor: 71 percent of interview guests, sound bites or quoted sources were supportive of the Democrat, 29 percent were critical.
"It's an excellent case study in how the liberal media aid in Democratic scandal control. Over four days, the networks morphed the story from one of an embarrassing racial gaffe by the Senate's top Democrat into one about Republican over-reach in going after Reid - with some journalists even crediting the senator with keen insight on race relations," Mr. Noyes observes.
They wax rhapsodic, too.
"This is the Mormon from Searchlight, Nevada with an ear of tin - and a heart of gold," said PBS anchor Judy Woodruff earlier this week. |
