Media Bias From Both Sides

For most of my career, the main complaints about media bias have come from Republicans, who believe the media is made up of nothing more than a bunch of liberals who plot every single minute throughout the work day to undermine the GOP, the military and God-Fearing Americans in general.

But the internet has opened a window to a new voice that is convinced the Mainstream Media (MSM) is wickedly biased against them, that being Liberal Democrats and especially Barack Obama.

This week's Democratic debate in Philadelphia unleashed a storm of protest and criticism on liberal blogs like dailykos, where Obama supporters joined in denouncing the press in general and especially ABC News.

"Why does ABC hate America?" wrote Elmo, one of many who felt that questions were asked about issues that shouldn't matter - issues like Rev. Wright, the "bitter" episode, Obama's flag pin and more.

"I told them I thought that last night's debate was a new low in journalism," said BonzoDogBand.

"The ghosts of Joe McCarthy were onstage," wrote Ohiodem1.

"Three times in less than a month there have been attempts by our so-called press to smear Barack Obama in a guilt-by-association with others who the right wing have attempted to paint him as an America-hating leftist.'

Several posters called for a boycott of news organizations like ABC that many argue have been unfair to Obama and his presidential campaign.

"The first place where a real boycott would work for the progressive world would be the New York Times," added john from Vermont.

"At the beginning of the next great depression the media decides to quiz people about metal flag pins?" asked Seele.

"Flush ABC down the toilet.  TOTAL BOYCOTT FOREVER."

Under the headline "Ten Million Brains Damaged," TalkingPointsMemo relayed that the ABC "debate was the most watched of the entire campaign."

"ABC is almost as Republican friendly as FOX," complained JohnW1141 on TPM.

"George Stephanopolous is just another of many, many "liberals" in the Chris Matthews tradition, who dutifully do the heavy lifting for the Republican machinery," added Memekiller.

"Yellow Journalism," said workerbee.  "Call it what it is."

Over at firedoglake.com, the anger was just as palpable on media bias against the Democrats.

"I think both of our very good candidates have been treated unfairly by the media," wrote oldgold.  "Up until tonight, Clinton has been treated more harshly. Tonight the opposite was true and, frankly, Obama did not handle it well."

"The debate proves one thing," wrote Duane V at Atrios, "the media has an agenda and it's that of corporate America as a whole, namely, unending war for unending profit."

Team Obama didn't waste much time trying to capitalize on this kind of fervor, sending out a fund raising email from Campaign Manager David Plouffe.

"Did you see the debate last night?  If you did, you saw more gotcha politics and distractions than questions about the pressing issues affecting our country," wrote Plouffe, who charged that Hillary Clinton seemed to like the old style politics.

"You can send a message that politics doesn't have to be played this way."

Like I always say, media bias is in the eye of the beholder.

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