TIME Magazine blogger failed US citizens on buildup to Iraq War, now thinks hopeful media coverage of Obama is ‘Extreme Bias’
But it didn’t seem to bother him that TIME had a “pro-Bush/pro-war in Iraq” bias for years and did not ask tough questions, calling Bush on his lies and illegalities? Suddenly, when there is hope again in America for a chance at being a positive part of the global community of nations, it is “extreme” to report on the euphoria? Its “a disgusting failure”, when the market jumps 400 points based on a new Presidential appointee because the economy has so precipitously reflected the fear of depression that’s spreading around the US?
That’s hope, Mr. Halperin, not ‘extreme media bias’.
In a great rebuttal, Editor&Publisher’s Greg Mitchell blogs about Halperin’s sour grapes:
And who can forget Halperin’s lengthy post at his site back in February when he listed 16 things that “McCain can do” in taking on Obama that the vanquished Hillary Clinton could not. The list included “6. Allow some supporters to risk being accused of using the race card when criticizing Obama” and “11. Emphasize Barack Hussein Obama’s unusual name and exotic background through a Manchurian Candidate prism.” Since he is close to McCain’s campaign team, this was readily interpreted as direct advice and offended so many that Halperin later placed at the bottom of the post in red, Note: This is analysis of what is likely to happen, not advice or endorsement. And in that update he disingenuosly commented, “McCain has already been forced to denounce several instances of some of these efforts.” Gee, wonder who might have inspired “some of these efforts”?
It’s the old false equivalency problem. In his “disgusting” remarks at the forum, Halperin cited as the most obvious flaw the NYT’s late profiles of Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama. Why, the McCain profile was more negative! But, come of think of it, Michelle did not have an affair with Barack while he was married to another, did not steal from her own charity and barely avoid jail, did not become a drug addict, did not lie about the the circumstances of adopting a baby abroad, and so on.
And of course, there is the second half of that argument from TIME: “there are too many opinions out there”.
Personally, I believe the proliferation of blogs is essential to reclaiming democracy. The mainstream media sucked at giving Americans well-rounded, global views of our country’s actions. This next generation relies on the voices of ‘the many’ to tell the truth, since we can’t rely on the voice of corporate media.
Interestingly, Barrons feels financial blogs are ‘Coming of Age’, finding huge audiences who rely on the chutzpah of the blogger.
Barron’s quotes one of my fave bloggers, Barry Ritholtz of the Big Picture, who had the balls to call the Fed “Wall Street’s bitch” and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson as “Hank the Destroyer”!
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