Media Matters documents daily, and to the letter, the Knee Pad Media's atrocities. I recommend to everyone at least a weekly review of their site. It's full of hard hitting and undeniable evidence of the media's bias towards the powerful and against the interests of average Americans.
I've already written about the number of Republicans versus Democrats who have appeared on Knee Pad Teevee during discussions of Obama's stimulus plan. Thinkprogress now has a follow up on it's original chart, and the 2 Republican appearances for every 1 Democrat ratio has continued this week.
Jamison Foster, over at Media Matters, suggests why Knee Pad Teevee favors the tried-and-failed Republican economic policies…..
At this point, it becomes impossible to ignore the elephant in the room: Television anchors like Charles Gibson are not going to qualify for food stamps anytime soon. But they would certainly benefit greatly from some tax cut provisions that wouldn't do nearly as much to stimulate the economy. Link
Mrs. Reverend and I have been discussing this very point. I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to economic policy discussions, virtually all of the Knee Pad Teevee Anchors need to recuse themselves from participation…you know, like judges do when there's a potential conflict of interest.
All of the KPMTV anchors make multiple millions each year. Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman, small audience attractors in actuality, make $5 million and $7 million per year respectively. Bryan Williams, Gharlie Gibson, Katie Couric, Bob Schieffer and others make even more.
Which party's economic recovery plan benefits those millionaire Knee Padders the most? Kind of rhetorical, I know….but it's important to comprehend this point…..millionaires, whether in the Knee Pad Media industry or not, stand to benefit from Republican tax cutting policies the most. Yes, millionaires pay more taxes because they "earn" more money than average Americans and, therefore, would get to keep more of those taxes in their own pockets if Bush's tax cuts are made permanent or Obama cuts taxes even more. How can we expect those millionaire Knee Padders to do anything OTHER than favor Republican economic policies?
Even filthier-rich Knee Pad Media Producers structure those 2-1 Republican-to-Democrat appearances and then millionaire anchors, like David Gregory, slant and focus the questioning to favor GOP policies, which, in reality, favors themselves. Simply a poor, near-under-the-bridge-existing millionaire, who only makes ONE million per year will have to give up $90,000 per year if Bush's wrecking-ball tax cuts are not made permanent.
We already know from the late Tim Russert and the new Meet the Press moderator, David Gregory, that multi-millionaire KPMTV "news" anchors do not see it as their job to find out which side of the political aisle is lying or misinforming. "That's not our job", Gregory said.
Apparently, what is their job is advancing their own personal causes at the expense of fairness and forthrightness. Kind of ironic that the fourth column of media, those allegedly "protecting" us from the powerful, have turned into the very powerful we need protected from.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Rev,
Once again you have made the usual assumption-as the income level rises the more right wing a person becomes. I would suggest that you study the actual demographics concerning voting patterns and individuals perception of their allegiance to the liberal or conservative causes. Also to lump all people together by income and not factor in their profession and other factors creates faulty conclusions.
I admire your passion but your hatred for those more prosperous than you can result in statements that lack the facts to support your rants.
It's honestly not about their prosperity….could care less….it's about the dishonesty. And it's not hatred, it's contempt, disgust.
I remember meeting with a financial advisor last year and after we were finished discussing investments we strayed to politics and I said I was voting for a Democrat because I had had it with Bush and the Republicans. She gave me a horrified look and said "your taxes will go up!" I gave her what I think was an astonished look and said "So — It is not all about me." Really — how much money do you need as long as you have enough? I guess that's the problem — how much is enough? Some people's enough is more than another's enough. Or maybe it is that whomever dies with the most dollar bills or toys wins.
Rev, you make broad brushstroke accusations of people that you don't even know. I am a conservative Christian and I would be willing to bet that you couldn't find one person that found me disgusting, dishonest full of hatred and contempt. I think you may be projecting again.
Mary there is never enough money, because there are always things that need to be done. The more you save in taxes the more you can give away. Money doenst have to be a tool of the selfish. Most often in America it is especially in government. Also it is a proven fact that Conservatives give way more than Libs. Compare, Joe Biden made $3M the past couple of years and gave away $9H to charity, while Dick Cheny has given 70% of his income to charity for the past 10 years and George Bush give 35% to charity per their tax returns. I personally would rather give my money to charities like my local hunger bank or homeless shelter or to help familiees in need, than to give it to our govt who will waste 35% to 45% on things other than where we really need the immediate attention.
Averagejoe5 — Many charitable donations are self-serving in some way so I think you have to look at the where and why of the list charitable donations and I agree with you that I would rather donate to local charities that I know something about than have someone donate for me. However, large donations made to lower tax brackets that end up building Presidential Libraries or other monuments or donated in order to influence a interest of the donor in my opinion are not donations at all. Granted just my opinion.
On another note my ex-sister in law, my 3 neices, and their entire extended family are conservative Christian and you could not find better human beings in this world. We remain close even though my brother long ago allowed his demons to ruin his life and his family. That said I recently attended my neice's wedding and was disturbed by the number of times she vowed to submit, follow and respect her husband. Never was it said she had to love her husband. He, however, had to love his wife — that's it nadda. I do not understand. Obviously her mother did not obey those vows because she is no longer married to my brother and that is a good thing. But I do not understand some of the beliefs they hold and I can tell you that my sister in law is the only one in the family — that I can see — who has ever questioned anything she was told in her church or in life. Why do so many conservative Christians seem not to question? Why do they take so much on faith — not just the existence of God?
average….I'm sure you're a fine person. I don't hate you, nor do I hold you in contempt.
Just a bit of perspective here. My blog post concerned itself with the demonstrated bias of teevee media…..and I construct an argument that media anchors are all rich and have a reason to be biased towards Republican policies. That's it.
While it's true I hold multi-millionaire media mouthpieces in contempt because of they're brazenness in bias….and without disclosure…..I don't hate them, because I don't know them personally. Legitimate hate, if there is such a thing, requires a personal relationship….IMHO.
mary's comment, on the other hand, is prescient, especially if you look at the Beacon's feature story today which details strife and division within a family over religious beliefs.
mary's correct to ask the question about conservative Chrsitians. Gullibility is homo sapiens biggest weakness.
Just because David Duke holds blacks and Jews in contempt doesn't mean he hates them, either, Reverend.
Maybe mary can do some research and find out why so many gays get divorced once they're allowed to marry.
I have a fifth cousin–salt of the earth–and when she married another woman I was shocked to learn my cousin wasn't going to be allowed to wear overalls and flannel shirts, as per their vows. Only the partner could.
Why didn't anyone question that?
Seriously? I mean….SERIOUSLY?
Perhaps, you, larry….should research intolerance in the U.S.
Heteros are over 50% divorce rates, rights to privacy guarantee the pursuit of happiness, …..despite that, you want to squabble over…..WHAT?
Here's the number one rule…..if we are to criticize and point fingers….it should only be done towards the powerful….not the powerless.
It's the way of Jesus.
The five richest members of Congress are all Democrats.
And did the Rev just include Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann as members of the Conservative media, biased against poor beleaguered President Obama ? I guess up is down now.
What's next, Rev ? Dogs are really cats ? Tax increases make people more wealthy (oh wait, you already said that) ? Hollywood favors the GOP ?
Obama is proposing to spend $1.1 trillion (counting the interest) in taxpayer dollars. What would be very alarming is if there WASN'T any media pushback against that, especially with the billions of waste in the bill.
And I suppose it never once occurred to you that Media Matters is itself biased to favor the left.
No one from the right has ventured forth to disprove anything from Media Matters. Wonder why that is?
Was it very alarming to you then, when media stood by silently while W. doubled the debt ? Where was the "pushback" then?
What we've witnessed the last three weeks is a resurrected-from-the-dead media believing it's 1993, and an even more corrupt and lying bunch of anti-American GOP'ers who will do and say anything to hurt a very popular president.
Suffering from ADD, Rev ?
It was very alarming to me when Bush added so much federal debt. I've only mentioned that maybe a thousand times. However, the media sure wasn't silent about it.
I already discredited the left wing contentions about more GOP appearances than Dem appearances on TV the last time you wrote about it. I'm sorry if your memory doesn't go back a week, but it's on your blog. Look it up.
Sooo, you ARE accusing Matthews and Olbermann of being right-wing shils. I love how your extremism destroys your own alleged point. It's like Adolph Hitler writing a thesis called "I Love The Jews." Everybody immediately sees right through it.
Only Reverend and Rachel are left now, King.