The So-Called "Liberal" Media

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By Rowan Wolf (about the author) Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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OK, not sure why folks are screaming about this but ... is anyone else ticked off about the so-called "liberal" media? You know, otherwise known as the corporate media? The media that were "lap dogs" during the Bush administration - except late in the game when public pressure forced them to ask some questions about ... say ... the lies that took the United States into Iraq?

During those eight long years of neo-conservative Republican lock step, we saw nothing but Republicans and "consensus. Democrats attempting to raise issues, and follow irregularities were silenced. Given the tenor of the Republican party their actions were not surprising. But the media colluded.

Democrats had to hold unapproved "interviews" in the basement of the House. None of the "liberal" media thought that was worth covering. Democratic voices of alarm and resistance just weren't "newsworthy." Press conferences where the "liberal" media either didn't show up, or didn't bother to report.

Now, the Bush administration is history - except for the ongoing train wreck that continues to unfold. But has the "liberal" media changed?

Hardly.

Why do we see wall-to-wall coverage of Republican obstructionism? Why are the Republican talking points the news leader?

Is it because we have a "liberal" media? I sincerely doubt it.

The bull being thrown by the Republicans would be meaningless if the corporate media wasn't turning into a meme for the public.

Now I strongly believe that contrary voices should be heard. However, we are way passed that. The deliberate silencing of contrary voices (democratic, progressive, and just those wanting the truth) during the last eight years, and the current deliberate trumpeting of contrary voices (neo-conservative, Republican lock-step) sends a clear message of where that "liberal" media really stands.

Ironically, Obama provides the credibility for bending over backwards to "include" and "listen to" the Republicans. He meets privately with the intellectual leaders of the neo-conservative movement. He meets with the Republican leadership BEFORE he meets with the Democratic leadership. He gives the nod to including "tax cuts" in the stimulus package that are pork in order to get "bipartisan" buy-in to the stimulus package. Yes, tax credits can be pork - as they were throughout the Bush administration when tax cuts primarily benefited big business and the top 1% of tax payers. The inclusion of similar measures to gather "bipartisan" support are more than a little concession. Regardless, Obama's efforts have increased the "newsworthiness" of the Republican talking points.

I doubt that the corporate media would be less of a trumpet of the neo-con talking points if Obama wasn't taking this approach, but it legitimates the almost autistic focus of the corporate media.

It is time to send the Republicans to the basement for a while, until they realize that "working together" does not mean "their way or no way."

www/uncommonthought.com/mtblog/

Rowan Wolf is an activist and sociologist living in Oregon. She is the founder and principle author of Uncommon Thought Journal, and a Senior Editor for more...)

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