What Liberal Media? The Truth About Bias and the News

Rating:
Summary: Pointing out the elephant in the room
Review: The myth of "liberal media bias" is one of the most useful propaganda tactics that conservatives have. However, as Alterman indicates early in the book, even they know that it is false. Unless they were irrational, they would *have* to know that it is false, just as, aside from a few religious hysterics, Creationism & "Intelligent Design" proponents *have* to know that the actual scientific evidence overwhelmingly refutes their claims. However, they don't care. Their favored interpretation of their favored translation of their favored religious book says "God did it," and that's that, for them. To a totally unwarranted degree, though, they are allowed to get away with espousing things that are obviously false (of course, only a "god-hater" would say that is due to the USA's deeply-ingrained pro-Christian bias).

Alterman does an excellent job of dissecting the myth about "liberal media bias,' although it does at times get quite dry, as has been noted. Even so, it is necessary that the information be presented. Quote after quote after quote from conservatives themselves provide a mind-boggling display demonstrating the elementary reality that conservatism in practice is nothing more than a rationalization for greed, malice, and deceit. One of my favorites is from "Joseph Farah, a columnist for Worldnet," who "warned his readers in October 2002, 'The Democrats--far too many of them--are evil, pure ans simple. They have no redeeming social value. They are outright traitors themselves or apologists for treasonous behavior. They are enemies of the American people and the American way of life.'" The spin doctors who spout the "Rush is an entertainer" nonsense might try to do the same with Farah, but it is clear enough that Farah, Limbaugh, et al. are in fact thoroughly unprincipled political propagandists. Comments like Farah's are quite common from conservatives. I see plenty of that sort of thing in the supposedly "liberal" local daily newspaper. In common with the broadcast media, this newspaper displays a glaringly obvious double standard where conservatives and everybody else are concerned. Conservatives are allowed to spout inflammatory and obviously malicious bilge, whereas everybody else is supposed to be "responsible" and not say nasty things.

Certain events occurring after this book was published are relevant to the subject.

First, all the hysteria over CBS's use of documents relating to Dubya's National Guard "service" has obscured the unpleasant reality that the *content* of the documents has been verified. The supposedly biased "liberal" media has barely been able to bring itself to mention that.

Second, the Sinclair network is demanding that its stations preempt their schedules to broadcast a particularly crude piece of anti-Kerry propaganda.

Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that the conservative bias of Fox News always has been and still is painfully obvious. It is, in effect, a propaganda arm of the Republican Party.

I concluded years ago that conservatives don't just use the "liberal media bias" Big Lie because it is useful and they can get away with it. They use it because they are *infuriated* by the very existence of non-conservative opinions and actions. Their "narcissistic self-pity" drives them to treat any sort of disagreement or, heaven forfend!, opposition as a heinous affront, thereby inevitably creating a very real "us or them" situation in which this country simply is not big enough for conservatives and for self-respecting non-conservatives. I only gave the book four stars because Alterman seems too inclined to give conservatives credit for some sort of warped "sincerity." The local "liberal" daily does the same thing. Time after time after time, they whimper about the "sincere religious beliefs" of Creationists, homophobes, etc., as though religious belief could possibly justify bigotry!

All in all, though, not a perfect book, but a useful and valuable one.