The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes

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Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes

By Jeffrey Lord on 9.15.09 @ 6:08AM

Pattern of deceit from JFK to ACORN ; Goldwater, Levin books ignored.

Tom Brokaw.

With the passing of Walter Cronkite, Mr. Brokaw is considered perhaps the new "dean" of journalism. As such the former NBC News anchor is periodically summoned forth to assess the current world, an occasion that presented itself recently on the venerable NBC Sunday newser Meet the Press.

Sitting cheek by jowl with New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, Brokaw joined him to riff on the Internet and the state of journalism today, an opportunity occasioned by the resignation of Van Jones, he of the Truther brigades (and much more) and the Obama White House. Mr. Jones' resignation was prompted by a virtual parade of videos and documents in which Jones, in his own words and deeds, presented himself as an overripe Marxist with a tendency to the nutty paranoia of the extreme left. This material was discovered by Fox commentator Glenn Beck, doubtless with an assist from citizens who had scanned the Internet, easily unearthing Jones' ravings. One in particular was Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit.

The Meet the Press conversation with moderator David Gregory included the section below (from the transcript of the broadcast). It was prompted by the discussion of Mr. Jones' resignation:

MR. BROKAW: Well, I've -- one of the things I've been saying to audiences is this question comes up a lot, and a lot of people will repeat back to me and take it as face value something that they read on the Internet. And my line to them is you have to vet information. You have to test it the same way you do when you buy an automobile or when you go and buy a new flat-screen television. You read the Consumer Reports, you have an idea of what it's worth and what the lasting value of it is. You have to do the same thing with information because there is so much disinformation out there that it's frightening, frankly, in a free society that depends on information to make informed decisions. And this is across the board, by the way. It's not just one side of the political spectrum or the other. It is across the board, David, and it's something that we all have to address and it requires society and political and cultural leaders to stand up and say, "this is crazy." We just can't function that way.

Now, this is remarkable. Truly.

How to address the substance here? Perhaps a "letter to Tom Brokaw" format is most appropriate.

Dear Mr. Brokaw:

Recently you appeared on Meet the Press, discussing the issues of the day along with New York Times columnist Tom Friedman.

May I be candid?

You said that it was critical for people to "vet information… because there is so much disinformation out there that it's frightening, frankly, in a free society that depends on information to make informed decisions." Mr. Friedman then chimed in that the Internet is "an open sewer of untreated, unfiltered information."

With respect, I'd like to recount some history -- old and new -- with what is called these days the "Old Media," which is to say the three networks of ABC, CBS and your own home, NBC, and newspapers such as Mr. Friedman's, the New York Times (and the Washington Post, the newsmagazines etc) The stories below, while notable, are only the tip of this particular iceberg. They address the issue you have raised, that a free society "depends on information to make informed decisions."

* The President of the United States is known by the press who covers him -- but not the public - to be, how shall I say, a womanizer. He is having, among his flings, a toss with a woman who is also the mistress of Chicago Mafia boss Sam Giancana. This at the same time the president's brother, his former campaign manager, is Attorney General of the United States. Which is to say the head of the department of the executive branch charged with investigating the Mafia. Reporting from the Old Media? Zero. Zip. Mum's the word. Not an ounce of curiosity about anything or anybody that would lead to a mindboggling tangle of scandal, conflict-of-interest and serious misjudgment by the two most prominent government officials of the day.. The American people are in fact never informed of any of this until all but the mistress are long dead, in spite of the fact that the President's interests and his family's Chicago connections were well known by those who covered him. How and why could such a gross violation of basic journalism happen? As the late Teddy White, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Making of the President series, put it, JFK's "cultivation of the press colored all the reporting that came from the Kennedy campaign." Not to mention the Kennedy presidency that followed.

* In 1963 CBS executive Fred Friendly and CBS commentator Eric Sevareid convince Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater to sit for a two-hour interview for a proposed CBS documentary called "The Conservative Revival." Goldwater, wary that CBS was possessed of something he called "liberal bias," hesitated. But persuaded that Friendly and Sevareid were, in Goldwater's words, "gentlemen and men of their word," he went ahead with the interview. The result? A show called "Thunder on the Right," which focused on the John Birch Society, the Minutemen and, as Goldwater later delicately noted, other "far-right activists." Which is to say, crazies. A thoughtful profile of the likes of William F. Buckley, Jr. this show was not. Goldwater appeared on screen only briefly, just long enough to link him with the Birchers, a group with which he had not only no connection but had actively opposed. Said a burned Goldwater afterwards: "In view of their conduct, I would never again accept the word of Friendly or Sevareid."

* The year after JFK's murder, a beautiful young woman named Mary Meyer, the wife separated from CIA official Cord Meyer, is found shot to death along a canal towpath in Georgetown. She is the sister-in-law of JFK's close friend Ben Bradlee, then the Washington bureau chief of Newsweek, later famous as the executive editor of the Washington Post during Watergate. In the middle of this tragedy, Mr. Bradlee discovers an official from the CIA in his murdered sister-in-law's home rummaging through her belongings. It happens a second time. Then Mr. Bradlee discovers the object sought by the CIA -- Ms. Meyer's secret diary. The diary tells the startling tale of 20-30 get-togethers for sex with Bradlee's friend President Kennedy, where the two had occasion to smoke marijuana in between trysts. In the White House. Mr. Bradlee is stunned his buddy the president was sleeping with his own sister-in-law. He had no idea. Fair enough. But his reaction once he knew? To do his best to see that this explosive news story never sees the light of day, with the diary destroyed. In fact, the story does surface -- years later when a source who had seen the diary tips off the National Enquirer -- the National Enquirer! -- and Mr. Bradlee 'fesses up, very disturbed the story is out. He admits that, well, yes -- the story is true. Every word of it. Coverage at the time any of this actually happened -- which is to say the eve of the 1964 Johnson-Goldwater election? A point, you surely would agree, when Americans needed information to make what, in your words, would have been an "informed decision" on the Kennedy-Johnson administration record and also that of the Democratic candidate for Senator from New York -- Robert Kennedy. Zero. Why? The story was in Bradlee's hands -- the hands of the Washington bureau chief for one of the most influential newsmagazines of the day -- and, said he later: "I never for a minute considered reporting the discovery of the diary and its contents.

* On the verge of being nominated for president on the Republican ticket, Senator Barry Goldwater is, says CBS journalist Daniel Schorr, heading to Germany for a vacation after the GOP Convention. Germany? Why Germany? The trip was, said reporter Schorr, "a move by Senator Goldwater to link up" with the far right-wing of German politics. Meaning, of course, the Nazis. Goldwater would not only be consorting with these Nazis, he was scheduled to stay at Berchtesgaden, the infamous country estate of Adolf Hitler. In fact, Goldwater had no such plans. None. Zero. Zip. But it was a vivid story that successfully added a few brush strokes to the portrait the media and his opponents sought to create (as in the CBS "Thunder on the Right" documentary) that Barry Goldwater was a far-right wing extremist, a nut case. Said a still angry Goldwater decades later of the attempt to paint him as a Hitler-loving Nazi-sympathizer (Goldwater was a Major General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a World War Two veteran): "The CBS broadcast was false, and Schorr's was the most irresponsible reporting I've witnessed in my life. The New York Times followed with an untrue account of its own."

Page: 1 2 3 >

topics:
The Internet, Media Bias, Tom Brokaw

About the Author

Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (288) | Leave a comment

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 6:25AM

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Rich in NH| 9.15.09 @ 6:55AM

Well said, Mr. Lord, extremely well said. Thank you for putting this together.

BeenThere| 9.18.09 @ 9:36AM

You hit the nail on the head! I attended (and graduated) from Jour. School (I won't say where--,but rank in top 4) and was literally told that those in the media were the "elite, the intellectuals" and we had the duty to "explain" the news to all the idiots, the unreasoned, the irrational masses, because they were too dumb to fugure it out from themselves...fair, ethical and unbiased was not allowed in discussions or thesis.

luke| 11.9.09 @ 8:37PM

The examples of the "old media" missing stories, suppressing stories, or skewing issues are apt. However this does defeat the notion that the internet is a "cesspool" of unfiltered info of which readers should be wary. Clearly the internet is a haven for unsubstantiated rumor mongering, from the right or the left. No one can dispute this. But of course there are worthy stories on the internet and worthy reportage. There is just no mechanism as yet to sift through all the crap.

I also take strong issue with some of the examples involving Presidents' personal lives. Moral policing is a no-win approach for the right

David| 11.20.09 @ 3:14PM

Just like walking from my house to the drug store, there is a mechanism by which you filter out the B.S. and avoid stepping in puddles - common sence and a good idea of right and wrong. - Thanks

David| 11.20.09 @ 3:14PM

Just like walking from my house to the drug store, there is a mechanism by which you filter out the B.S. and avoid stepping in puddles - common sence and a good idea of right and wrong. - Thanks

LaneyB| 9.15.09 @ 6:56AM

Wow. The most succinct dissection of the Old Media ever written. As they crumble the voice of the people emerges in a thousand town halls which is what the internet has become.

Darin| 9.15.09 @ 7:14AM

Is it any wonder liberals want to destroy talk radio and control/censure the Internet?

Bram| 9.15.09 @ 7:19AM

I carefully vet anything I hear or read from the mainstream media.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 3:36PM

We should all start calling it the "Fringe Media", because that's what it really has been for a long time.

Linda Graves| 9.15.09 @ 7:24AM

This is a great article. Thank you so much for researching and writing it.

truthBtold| 9.15.09 @ 7:25AM

A great read, but I am afraid the ears it is meant for have been struck deaf by ego and narcissism. Also, don't forget AmericanThinker.com as one of the outstanding conservative blog sites. Great stuff there, too.

Randall Hoven| 9.15.09 @ 7:32AM

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

This is by far the best piece ever written on "mainstream" media, liberal bias, and what the internet is doing. And one giant bitch-slap to Brokaw et al.

(Although I do recommend my own Media Dishonesty Matters as a companion piece: http://www.americanthinker.com.....ters.html.)

drudge ette obama| 9.15.09 @ 7:32AM

Don't expect Brokaw to be influenced or affected by this compilation of over 50 years. Where there is a void, something will rush in. And somethng has.

Brokaw is an old progressive liberal from his early days in Atlanta. He likes the old media the way it is and has been. If he ever had a shoe-leather beat, it's beaten out a long time ago.

Personally, I was enthralled reading this. Thanks. It is worthy of forwarding to everyone I can think of. And I will do it via the Internet, the New News Media's delivery system.

SC Mike| 9.15.09 @ 7:34AM

Mega dittoes!

Citing the cover-ups from the 1960s cleaned out some cobwebs in this old noggin and got me all upset anew. Thank you.

Mattled| 9.15.09 @ 7:40AM

I heard yesterday (and read this morning) that the next protest should be held in front of local and national media outlets. It was mentioned CNN in Atlanta would be a good place.

Might I add Cox also HQ'd in Atlanta. They are the biggest contributors to Dem candidates in the state but "make a sport out of avoiding paying taxes" to quote senior Cox officials.

I'm not sure of the impact these ideas being floated around would have, but Mr. Lord, we need a plan.

Lock CNN, MSNBC and network on the cable boxes so they are never "surfed"? It may be here already, but there is data being collected off set top boxes for audience.

Go after local affiliates to get to networks? I've suggested several times that a couple hundred protesting an ABC affiliate (Cox's station in Atlanta?) would have more impact than two thousand in Manhattan in front of ABC.

An O&O would be even better---a local owned and operated network affiliate---like Birmingham, AL has an NBC owned and operated.

drudge ette obama| 9.15.09 @ 8:02AM

Mattled, sit tight. No sense even recognizing CNN, COX or the others by wearing your shoes out o hard concrete.

The Old Media owes the people nothing. They are for profit ventures. They have every right to be liberally biased, just like McDonalds has the right to serve french fries. There is no constitutional obligation that the press be impartial.

That said, you have the freedom to withhold your attention from the Cox Enterprises' product, the NY Times' product, and any so-called news show that comes on the t.v.

Your mark is made by your choices. Don't buy and don't read (except the free content on the internet, if you must).

What's the result? Well, the Atlanta Journal has just shrunk its size and looks more like USA Today. And the daily issue has just had a price increase to $1. No one is buying it. Cox is about to close down the Atlanta Journal's downtown building - it's a dump, anyway. After the Journal killed its competition in the 1980s - a local Gwinnett paper which was great - by buying it and closing it down, it's downward spiral has been interesting to watch.

Where do you think Cynthia Tucker will go to next? She's dragged the Atlanta paper down with her editorial wackiness. AirAmerica.

If we had to pay for t.v., like the British must do, it would be the ultimate deathknell for the old media.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 3:48PM

"There is no constitutional obligation that the press be impartial."

Well, that may be true, but it sure rankles me that they have all the protection which the Constitution gives them, and then they pull this trick of trying to run the country to match their secret agends, instead of reporting the news ttuthfully.

The Constitution was created by statesmen of immense stature who had expectations that those following would uphold their high values.

And now, we are surrounded by the slime of the world, from the media to our slothful and arrogant politicians -- lying, twisting, burying, pushing their own private interests.

Makes me sick to my stomach.

TennesseeVolunteer4| 9.15.09 @ 8:16AM

A heroic piece, Mr. Lord. You dismembered them one piece at a time.
Will you get an interview with Lefty Lauer on the Today show?

St. Thor| 9.15.09 @ 8:20AM

Brokaw was a pompous, arrogant twit in his Yankton, SD high school debate days in the middle "50s. Its nice to see some things never change.

James Gedroic| 9.15.09 @ 8:24AM

Let us add another name to the list of people that must continued to be heard. Take a bow Jeffery Lord.
Jim G

Bill Lawrence| 9.15.09 @ 8:28AM

Great article.

Someone who always seems to undeservedly get left off the list of influential new media pioneers is Jim Robinson of FreeRepublic.com.

warlord| 9.15.09 @ 8:32AM

What a great summation of the media's leftist malpractice over the last 50 years...you could also add in the collective amnesia the media had over the killing fields in Cambodia and Vietnam in the 1975-78 time-frame...it did not fit the media's template that there would be no bloodletting when the Americans left

Michael L. Hauschild| 9.15.09 @ 8:34AM

Thank you Mr. Lord, your article verifies that you are never too old too learn. I was somewhat aware of the revelations you detail but the true extent of the media’s involvement was startling.
A similar microcosm of viewer enlightenment needs to occur at Fox and I feel the present day O’Reilly should not be included in your praise. I watch “The no spin zone” fairly regularly but last night was the final straw. His topic was the march and his bias was staggering, absolutely no trace of “fair and balanced” whatsoever.
He led his talking points with frame after frame of the fringe elements displaying distasteful banners and signs. He showed a clip of participants heckling a “public option now” banner carrier with a "professional" sign (as were all the other controversial signs). His commentary constantly underestimated the crowd, designated the marchers as following “Marching Orders,” and was derogatory in tone suggesting that many would view the event as “racist.” The guest, Brit Hume, was aware of the tone he was setting and tried to truly portray the event in scope and tone. If it had not been for the sound track and visual with O’Rielly’s continence one would have guessed that the counterpoint with Hume was conducted by Paul Begala.
Misrepresenting facts must be the “balance” to the truthful revelations being manifested by Glenn Beck. Methinks he is hearing footsteps.

Edward KImmel| 10.5.09 @ 6:32PM

Regarding the "Public Option Now" sign that I carried to the September 12, 2009 rally, sometimes referred to as a "March on Washington." The sign is not a "professional" sign. I made it with a Hewlet Packard "all in one" printer-copier-fax machine, pvc pipe and clear contact paper. It is 42 sheets of 8.5x11" copy paper taped together. It says "paid for by Moveon.Org because that was the picture I downloaded from their site to print it. I used magic marker to contradict that by saying it was "printed and hand assembed by Edward Kimmel, a volunteer."

sheila| 12.3.09 @ 4:32PM

ED,

The sign's message was right on point...you are a very smart and brave man...keep up the good work. You tube video was great!!

"you are the best attorney in the world"

sheila.....

Benson| 11.30.09 @ 9:50AM

I never cared for O'Rielley not I truly dislike him. He's not an interviewer in fact the person who's on with him is lucky to even answer a question or finish a thought before they can answer he asks another question or gives his own view. His much touted interview with Obama was ridiculous. He ask pointed questions and then accepted any answer Obama gave him with out any follow up. It was a pretend interview with no substance. He is a pretend celeb with no substance.

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.15.09 @ 8:36AM

Excellent job. OOORAH!

P. Aaron| 9.15.09 @ 8:40AM

Even though he's changed quite a bit since Charles Johnson's Little Green Footballs' expose' of the 60 Minutes/Dan Rather TANG Memos also desrves mention as a blockbuster that knocked a hole in the wall at CBS News.

WRTolkas| 9.15.09 @ 8:57AM

Dear Mr. Lord,

Explosive! This is a truly remarkable and condemning editorial. Keep up the excellent work.

"When you meet the Almighty, only truth will do." George Washington

Regards,

WRTolkas

Cris Worth| 9.15.09 @ 9:01AM

The liberal press also ignored the stealing of the 1960 Presidential election. Right in your face evidence existed in November 1960 the ballot box was stuffed in Illinois and Texas costing Nixon the Electoral College victory. In addition because of funny voting patterns in some Southern precincts Nixon won the popular vote as well. The 1961 inauguration of banditos JFK/LBJ began the days of woe with the liberal press leading us by the hand into our current abyss.

Chester A.| 9.15.09 @ 9:03AM

Rush Limbaugh played an audio montage of Mr Brokaw and either Harry Smith or Charlie Rose lamenting the fact they knew very little of Barack Obama. On and on they went, 'Ya know, we don't know much about him.'
And Mr Brokaw wants to talk about vetting information?? Mr Brokaw's idea of "vetting" is what information shall we release based on our ideology.
Problem is, Mr Brokaw, the American people are much smarter than you care to believe. I mean, look at the ratings.
And Mr Freidman--China's got it right? Have you written another global warming (hoax) article from your palatial mansion lately?

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 9:13AM

Tom Brokaw’s World Explodes | KyleSmithOnline.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

Tom Brokaw’s World Explodes | KyleSmithOnline.com KyleSmithOnline.com “There’s little point in writing if you can’t annoy somebody.”- Kingsley Amis Home About Search About Me Kyle Smith (Twitter: @rkylesmith) is a film critic…

R Martin| 9.15.09 @ 9:18AM

A typically thorough piece of work from Mr. Lord which does not require amplification. Still, I cannot help myself, because one of my favorite examples is not included.

In June 1960 the Democrat presidential nominee was far from decided. JFK had won the Wisconsin primary with West Virginia to follow just before the national convention in Los Angeles. Robert Novak describes these events in his book, The Prince of Darkness. Novak, a junior reporter with the Wall Street Journal at the time, was sent to WV to cover the campaign. He reported to his editor that Papa Joe Kennedy was spreading money all over the state in an open vote buying effort. The Journal sent its two top reporters, one from New York, one from DC to verify Novak's report. Those reporters confirmed the story, but the Journal did not publish it because, "It is not the function of the WSJ to pick the Democrat nominee." Novak says the details were buried for 46 years. JFK won in WV and captured the nomination in LA.

So, Papa Joe, acting like the ACORN of his day, prevailed and we've been saddled with the odious Kennedys ever since.

Kay | 9.15.09 @ 9:41AM

Mr Lord,
I am so grateful for this article, and others you have written as well .
I would add Bernie Goldberg to this list.
I'm afraid I agree with Mr. Hauschild's evaluation of Bill OReilly. For someone who relentlessly tracked Jesse Jackson's empire, and exposed him
as the shyster he is, he has been very timid on dealing with Obama from the beginning.

Mike M| 9.15.09 @ 9:44AM

Excellent piece...unfortuately, Tom Brokaw doesn't know how to read.

1FreeMan| 9.15.09 @ 9:47AM

Tom Brokaw is scum, always has been.

He has lied to the camera and tried to reshape politics since the day he started. He is a has-been and has been "outed" as a political plant.

Fedorka| 9.15.09 @ 9:50AM

Yeah sure, new dean of journalism

Gardis - CT| 9.15.09 @ 9:52AM

Mr. Lord, that was without a doubt, one of the most terrific articles on media bias I've ever read. You nailed it totally. Brokaw's face has to turn purple when he reads this. What is he going to say? I WISH you could have been on Meet the dePressed and said this to both those liberals right to their faces.

I love Ann Coulter, but her brand of witty sarcasm doesn't cut it. Liberals scoff at her and scorn her. This piece cites fact after fact after unimpeachable fact. Great job.

Benson| 11.30.09 @ 10:00AM

Sorry to disagree but who care what liberals think about Coulter. She brilliantly and wittily lays the truth bare (with facts) in a very short space. We need all the conservative writers chipping away at the liberal bias. If liberal scoffing and scorn are a reason to be silent then all conservatives better shut up.

Steve| 9.15.09 @ 9:52AM

One small quibble, Mr. Lord, concerning an otherwise excellent piece..........you lament that Mssrs. Brokaw, Friedman, et. al. are *really bright guys*.

They are not. They are go with flow stooges whose talent consists of knowing whose arse to kiss in order to climb the MSM ladder. It is a severe error to think that these people are bright. They ahve never had an original thought in their lives. They are dim.

Now, I will accept that Rahm Emmanuel is bright; that is one of the things that makes him dangerous. But Browkaw? Puh-leeeeese.

Hoppy| 9.18.09 @ 10:39PM

So true! The only real talent the big three anchors have shown me in my lifetime is the ability to read aloud as well as high school freshmen once did.

Klabautermann| 9.15.09 @ 9:53AM

Lord's article only touched the tip of the iceberg that is media bias. The media has formed the mess that is the modern world. There are volumns of information on media bias. Brokaw says "you have to vet information," because " there is so much disinformation out there." The American people are increasingly vetting the information they receive from the MSM. They are finding the MSM wanting and the are voting with their pocketbooks. This is inevitable. The MSN is sinking. People are finding more reliable info in that "open sewer of untreated, unfiltered information." This has consequences as the unappointed Obama adminstration vetting Czar, Glen Beck, has shown. Brokaw says "we all have to address" this problem. These powerful people will not go down without a fight. Government will come to their rescue.
A word of caution. Do not abandon MSM completely. The advantage we sewer swimmers have is that we hear both sides of an argument. These MSM gurus are becoming more and more delusional because they only hear their own inbred thoughts.

Question_Assumptions| 9.15.09 @ 9:56AM

You forgot Juanita Broaddrick, the interview that Brokaw's network sat on until after the congress voted on Clinton's impeachment and then stopped their own cable networks from showing again. Brokaw doesn't get it that the reason why people trust talk radio and the internet more than the networks is that the networks have lost that trust through their own abuse of it.

james| 9.15.09 @ 9:56AM

Well done. The frightening thing about all this is that the incidents covered here are such a small fraction of the total. Like the lies of the Clintons back in the day, they are too numerous to keep track of. Let's see, how about... the Tet Offensive? Remember that one? Millions dead. And....

Just Stunned| 9.15.09 @ 10:17AM

Made the 13 hr bus ride to the march in DC - All of Pennsylvania Ave packed from the WH to the Cap spilling out around the side of the Cap, plus heavy crowds all the way down the Mall to the Wash Mon. Saw one Fox Sat truck for the remote w/Glenn and two seemingly abandoned CNN buses - the first light blue one promoting an energy tax for prosperity tour! "Promoting Cap & Tax" Wow! NOTHING ELSE - NOTHING. I guess the local media had a fender bender on the freeway to cover. I've seen 3 media vans outside a regional dog show before but nothing for 2 million people swarming the down town of our nations capital! This runs DEEP, words fail here. . .

Beaker1214| 9.15.09 @ 10:18AM

Now THIS ... is the type of far-reaching, investigative, thoughtful article I have been missing for years. THIS ... is journalism.

Bruce| 9.15.09 @ 10:18AM

Great review of the "Old Media". I too would suggest the addition of noteworthy contributions made by Bernie Goldberg. His views are especially stinging since he was an insider in the media.

Robert Rosencrans| 9.15.09 @ 10:21AM

Excellent analysis! Not only has this media bias not stopped, it hasn't even slowed down. Tax cheats running the U.S. Treasury, Tax cheat running the House Ways and Means Committee, President Obama gives a speech full of lies to the American public and it's characterized by pompous aholes in the MSM like Tom Brokaw as energizing the Obama base. Apparently there's too much work involved in revealing the lies to the public. This is why the MSM is going bankrupt and papers are going out of business. The American public is tired of being lied to by pompous aholes like Tom Brokaw.

Seejay| 9.15.09 @ 10:23AM

Maybe a new day has arrived.
Maybe the time has come for us to shed this whole notion of expecting others to "inform us."
In a simpler time, it was workable, but today with all the money and influence involved, it's nearly impossible to avoid a conflict of interest while "informing people...."
Maybe the next step in human evolution will be a reaction to this type of "news." A re-dedication to the Independent Spirit, and the shedding of the dependancy, that comes along with the luxury, of allowing others to "inform us."

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 10:34AM

Tuesday morning news with coffee « Nebraska Redneck links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…with the AFL-CIO, again. “ So far, Obama has certainly been good to labor.” Ya think?! Short takes, because I’m running out of time: The American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes. Glenn Reynolds – Instapundit – has more reports and photos from 9/12 Tea Parties in D.C. and around the country. Reid Delays Senate Business for Specter Fundraiser. N…

WRJonas| 9.15.09 @ 10:38AM

Great essay and terrific comments page.
I think L Brett Bosells site Newsbusters is also doing hand to hand combat with liberal media liars every day.

Paul| 9.15.09 @ 10:43AM

Another lesson in MSM vs. Bloggers - the CBS story about President Bush's Air National Guard Service. It was created by the dinosaur media and ripped to shreds by the blogosphere in just a few hours.

That episode should have taught the large news organizations a lesson. The blogger "pile-on" for that story included people who fixed typrwriters, served in the TANG, develop fonts for word processing programs, etc. They gave their expertise for free. CBS' paid experts were ignored or came up short.

punkdolphin21| 9.15.09 @ 10:47AM

The big reason the MSM is losing audience is that even the liberals don't trust it. They are being deprived of "news" that they want to hear. They want to know what they are really up against. The ones on politicians payrolls my want the spin and hype, but the liberals know they can't win if they don't get these reality checks and their information is bad.

Jobe| 9.15.09 @ 10:47AM

So, let me get this straight. According to Brokaw, the internet is not to be trusted as a source of information because the information is not vetted. Hhmmm. And we are supposed to believe that the pabulum fed to us by the formerly mainstream media IS vetted? The Saturday morning cartoons are better researched and vetted than the network news and the newspaper reports that I see.

Anthony| 9.15.09 @ 10:51AM

The elitist leftist (redundant) media continue to demonstrate their unhinged and warped world views for all of us to observe, in utter disbelief. Brokaw, like many of his collegues, has a remarkable disorder that borders on the dysfunctional. Brokaw finds nothing disconcerting that Thomas Friedman's distain for the internet comes from a man who professes a fondness for totalitarianism in the form of a "benign" dictator. Gee, what those great Chinese dictators are capable of accomplishing when the people are properly subjugated.
In addition, Brokaw and others continue to make silk purses out of pig ears with their obsessive adulation over Dan Rather, as they circle the wagons around Rather's own disgraceful and equally irrational obsession with George Bush's national guard service. Yet the same Rather finds nothing to investigate over Obama's murky and hidden past.
But we save the best for last, as Maureen Dowd's psychological state continues to deteriorate, such that she is now experiencing auditory hallucinations in the form of hearing Congressman Joe Wilson utter the word "boy" when refering to Obama.
If our country wasn't in such grave danger from these people, it would be fun to watch their mass psychosis destroy them.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:03PM

"Yet the same Rather finds nothing to investigate over Obama's murky and hidden past."

Luckily for us all, Obama's past learnings are leaking out every day from his own mouth. It won't be long before Beck and the rest will make up a montage of his Ex Cathedra spoutings and build the case which topples his regime.

L. Banks| 9.15.09 @ 10:52AM

Thanks for the great article. The press and its ability to cover up or not speak the truth dates way back. I was in school at the time JFK was President and when Mary Pinchot was murdered. She was the daughter of a progressive father and a mother who wrote for "The Nation" and "The New Republic". According to her first husband Cord Meyer who was connected with the CIA and her adult sons, Mary was given LSD from Timothy Leary a director at Harvard University and she and JFK used it also. In an interview in 2001 her son stated his father who also died the same year as Mary stated the people who killed his mother were "The same sons of bitches that killed John F. Kennedy."

jack| 9.15.09 @ 10:52AM

you forgot the complete cover up by national media of the looting of Fannie and Freddie by Democrats for personal and political wealth. It is the biggest scandal in US history and to date the public has not been told the truth. No one is in prison. Two senators who took bribes from Countrywide were given a warning about being more careful in future when taking money from people. Huh? WTF? The complete Countrywide 6 has been given a pass. No mention of the incompetence and corruption of Barney Frank.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:10PM

"No mention of the incompetence and corruption of Barney Frank. "

The very miscreant who was at the center of the Mortgage Debacle has set himself up as a key player in the "Saving of the Economy".

Yet, no one in the Fringe Media has done a truthful report on him. They report on the Greedy Wall Street Thieves, but Wall Street would not have been able to do their dirty work without the availability of all those subprime mortgages.

Bad mortgages, demanded by Barney Frank and pushed by ACORN, were the root cause of our current economic troubles, yet no one has really done of good job of tying it all together.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 11:09AM

Five Decades of Media Fail – Documented : Pursuing Holiness links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Radical Islamists Wars and Rumors of Wars « PSA: Seat Savers Are Jerks | Home | » Five Decades of Media Fail – Documented September 15, 2009 by Laura | Trackback URI This is a must-read: In other words, across five decades of American journalistic history, the instinct of many Old Media institutions — specifically including NBC and the New York Times — has been to…

Dai Alanye| 9.15.09 @ 11:16AM

Fine article, Mr Lord. It was good to learn the Goldwater incidents.

As for O'Reilly's recent inability to criticize Obama, this can be explained by his hope of getting another interview with the Messiah. Covering for BO in the meantime is a solid strategy.

We must always remember that the foremost individual O'Reilly is "looking out for" is O'Reilly.

tj| 9.15.09 @ 11:17AM

Here is a case of Congressional Malpractice...
Rangel is now the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and a man of immense importance in Washington. Nonetheless, he has been busy of late revising and amending the record, backing and filling, using buckets of Wite-Out as he discovers or remembers properties he has owned in New York, New Jersey, Florida, the Dominican Republic and God only knows where else -- and has forgotten or neglected to fully report on the required forms, not to mention the income from them. Oops!

Rangel recently even discovered bank accounts that no one in the world, apparently including him, knew he had. One was with the Congressional Federal Credit Union; another was with Merrill Lynch -- each valued between $250,000 and $500,000. He somehow neglected to mention these accounts on his congressional disclosure forms, which means, if you can believe it, that when he signed the forms, he did not notice that maybe $1 million was missing. Someone ought to check the lighting in his office.

The dim bulb could also have accounted for why Rangel did not notice that he was soliciting contributions for the curiously named Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service on the congressional letterhead of the very same Charles B. Rangel. It may also account for why he failed to report dividend income from various investments in addition to what he made by selling a townhouse in Harlem. The place went for $410,000 in 2004, and had been rented -- or not -- to various people, who paid rent or didn't -- since Rangel reported no income for years at a time. This is what he did, too, with the rent he earned on his Dominican Republic villa. Again, nada.

There is something wrong with Charlie Rangel.

robins111| 9.15.09 @ 11:47AM

Jeffery, an absolutely stunning dissection of the “old media” this is a print & save article for sure.

Constitution First| 9.15.09 @ 11:52AM

I do not think it is to harsh to characterize the inactions of Dead Media as Media Malfeasance.
It is not simply dereliction, it is intentional harm. Die, they must.

Eva Damato| 9.15.09 @ 11:58AM

I can't add anything more to this superb accounting other than to say: Bravo!

The Observer| 9.15.09 @ 12:03PM

Question_Assumptions,

Very good point. I would point out that when Dateline did get around to running the Juanita Broaddrick story, Brokaw did nothing that night on NBC News to alert viewers of the Dateline story coming up on the heels of the nbc nightly news.

Interestingly, Brokaw always mentioned Dateline on his nbc news sign off. But on this night that the story ran about our president, Clinton, being a rapist, Brokaw failed to mention anything about the upcoming Dateline programming. I watched Dateline religiously, and I noticed that night that Brokaw couldn't bring himself to mention the show, just a Ben Bradlee couldn't mention any story that would put JFK (or any other d-RATfor that matter) in a negative light.

The gatekeepers of the supercultural seven (abc,seeBS, nbc, WashPost, NYSlimes, Newsweak, and Time) have lost their monopoly on setting and shaping the agenda (massaging the truth). That is why the detestably biased Brokaw had his little snit.

saddened| 9.15.09 @ 12:12PM

Brokaw relied on his "broadcasters voice." He was simply a megaphone for the agenda-writers below.

It is unimportant what Brokaw thinks or says.

Marko| 9.15.09 @ 12:19PM

If Fox, Rush, and the internet had existed in the past, Joe McCarthy would now be hailed as a national hero. Instead, he got the MSM treatment you've described and they destroyed him. I'm going to enjoy watching the MSM crash and burn.

Bad Billy| 9.15.09 @ 12:24PM

You ripped him a new one! Bravo!

Martin Wakefield| 9.15.09 @ 12:25PM

I'm sending this to my very liberal Brother in Law, Bruce, in hopes he will read it. I'm willing to read an equally informative liberal article from him if he can find one.

Dr. Garamoni| 9.15.09 @ 12:26PM

Awesome autopsy!

The cause of death of the MSM:

blatantly biased bombastic bullshit.

El Dia Octavo| 9.15.09 @ 12:27PM

Thank you, sir, for an outstanding expose' of mainstream media. Mr. Lord, your writing is superb and your message profoundly important. Please know that your hard work and effort is valued by your readers. Truly valued.

Doctor Right| 9.15.09 @ 12:35PM

Great article, but really, why bother?

Anyone with a brain who can think objectively knows that the "Old Media" is completely in-the-tank for Obama, and completely full of shit. They have lost whatever shred of credibility they still had prior to the 2008 election, and have become nothing but transparent cheerleaders for socialism.

In short, they are scum.

But it doesn't matter, because their audience continues to dwindle daily, and they fail to recognize why this is happening. As an example, a recent article in "BALTIMORE" magazine describing the financial woes of the wretched, left-wing "Baltimore Sun" discusses all the potential reasons that readership of "The Sun" has declined except the obvious: The paper sucks! It is nothing but left-wing agitprop that parrots a predictable line on political issues day after day after day.

The left-wing media will ultimately be the authors of their own complete demise, and they know it. That's why they're pressuring Obama to re-enact old, Stalinist policies like the bizarrely named "Fairness Doctrine" - to protect their sorry asses from Chapter 11. In return for Don OBama's protection, they have agreed to not say anything bad about him for the next 8 years.

For my part, I haven't watched "old media" network news in almost 20 years, and I don't read newspapers. The internet, that "sewer" that Tom Friedman (another asshole) bemoans, is a far better source of news than Mr. Friedman's beloved old, gray whore.

Gallomimia| 9.15.09 @ 12:39PM

Bram| 9.15.09 @ 7:19AM

I carefully vet anything I hear or read from the mainstream media.
----endquote

I carefully vet anything I hear or read, from any source, ever.

Roxanna| 9.15.09 @ 12:40PM

All information we receive should be vetted, whether it's from the internet or the Old Media. Brokaw and Friedman, and their ilk, are just going to keep clinging to their illusions, thinking that if they keep saying something long enough and loud enough, it will become truth.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 12:42PM

Quick Read Tuesday « SCHotline Mobile links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

"Insider politics from across the State of South Carolina" Home SCHotlineWorthy Quick Read Tuesday U.S. NEWS & POLITICS Economist | The promised bland American Spectator | Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes American Thinker | Community service is not what made America great Reuters | U.S. Senate denies funds for poverty group FOXNews | ACORN Story Grows But Mainstream…

JonR| 9.15.09 @ 12:48PM

Very, very well done and researched. Hopefully, this will be a lesson for all of us to use our own heads and common sense when determining the validity of a news story.

Teflon93| 9.15.09 @ 1:06PM

We are witnessing the collapse of the Left Wing Media. This will move in the following phases:

1. The Emperor Has No Clothes--collapsing media credibility will erode their ability to function as a gatekeeper. We are seeing this now; the Left Wing Media can no longer kill unpleasant stories by ignoring them.

2. Tonight We're Gonna Party Like It's 1929---initally, the Left Wing Media will seem relieved to not have to lie about their allegiance to the Autocrat Hive-Mind. This will lead to excesses of outright partisanship, resulting in further erosion of ratings and credibility. This is what is happening now with Air America, MSNBC, Newsweek, and The New York Times.

3. Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? --- unable to sustain an audience, the Left Wing Media will shrink considerably, the remainder becoming formally a subsidiary of the Autocrat Party.

Don't mourn them. These obsolete dolts have done a lot more damage to our nation than the buggy whip salesmen Henry Ford drove out of business.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:22PM

"This is what is happening now with Air America, MSNBC, Newsweek, and The New York Times."

How prophetic -- Air America listed first, and they were the first to go bankrupt. Are the others soon to follow?

I wonder how the NYT feels about being listed in the same company as MSNBC, Newsweek, and Air America?

ernie1241| 9.15.09 @ 1:14PM

Excellent article. Nobody who carefully reviews the media in our country can plausibly deny its profound liberal bias. What I would like to see happen is for a highly-rated program such as "60 Minutes" to turn over one segment each week to somebody like Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity or Michelle Malkin or even a representative of the Birch Society -- and give them a chance to present their stories. Will that ever happen? Not likely I suppose, but it would certainly be informative and produce the kind of principled debate that we need in our country.

jon| 9.15.09 @ 1:21PM

It's ok, America.

You can wake up now.

steponbugs| 9.15.09 @ 1:24PM

Mr. Lord, your surgical evisceration of the old media was breathtaking...the summation of 50 years' of journalistic incompetence and bias is the most powerful argument for the rise of the "alternative" media, and explains why the "establishment" media is irrelevant to most thinking Americans. Bravo!

JerseyJ| 9.15.09 @ 1:27PM

Mr. Hauschild ... "I feel the present day O’Reilly should not be included in your praise. I watch “The no spin zone” fairly regularly but last night was the final straw. His topic was the march and his bias was staggering, absolutely no trace of “fair and balanced” whatsoever."

I have to agree with you sir, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it. Mr. O'Reilly has been permanently banned from my watching agenda. He's a weak conservative or worse, leaning dangerously the wrong way. Time after time I see him defending that which is opposed to the core principles of our Republic. From global warming to defending the vague promises of our teleprompter-in-chief because, as he's always quick to point out, "there is no Obama bill". I used to think it was him playing devil's advocate, but it clearly runs deeper. Success has gone to his head I fear. The draw of the limosine liberal is strong.

I'm convinced he's only a conservative because there's too much competition amongst the liberal media.

Same goes for Ms. Van Susteren. After watching her fail to debunk a guest spouting 47M uninsured (thanks Mr. Levin) and actually agreeing that something must be done for this huge number of Americans, she's been tuned out.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:28PM

Bill and Greta both suffer from Lacka-Follow-Up.

Their guests give them so many chances to shoot a great followup question, and they blow the chance. They leave dozens of loose non-facts lying around at the end of an interview, I scream at the TV, "Follow up! Ask the question!"

They are rotten interviewers.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 1:36PM

Media Malpractice, Deceit, Bias | Second Reagan Revolution links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…MSNBC Calls Veterans, Senior Citizens, Hockey Moms and Business Owners Hooligans Liberals Love to Write Conservatism’s Obituary Bully boy Rahm puts screws on media execs Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes By Jeffrey Lord on 9.15.09 @ 6:08AM Tom Brokaw. With the passing of Walter Cronkite, Mr. Brokaw is considered perhaps the new “dean” of journalism. As such the former…

Oldefarte| 9.15.09 @ 1:39PM

This is a beautifully written article; and, more importantly, COMPLETE TRUTH. The MSM is nothing but lies, bull-excrement and propaganda; and the sad part is that the American public buys their garbage hok, line and sinker [the proof----the election of Obama]!!!!!!!!!

Ken (Old Texican)| 9.15.09 @ 1:48PM

Mr. Lord, again, thank you.

You might consider a follow up article...or series...about WHERE the imploding MSM is going to go for funding when we at TEAM AMERICA help their advertisers find different mediums to advertise their wares.

How will The government fund them? Are we talking the BBC, or are we talking PRAVDA?

SoCon| 9.15.09 @ 2:03PM

O'Reilly repeatedly stated on his Monday, 9/14 show that the 9/12 crowd numbered 75,000. That's ridiculous--the crowd was metered at 450,000 to 500,000; and that number didn't include the huge crowds that came later.

O'Reilly just wants more interviews with Obama's people. Whore.

Anthony| 9.15.09 @ 2:09PM

I had not previously heard about the Mary Meyer's episode. Wow!! when they say the Kennedy men were lady killers, it appears they were a close second only to Ted Bundy, albeit it took all three Kennedy brothers and the next Kennedy generation to get from Marilyn Monroe to Martha Moxley.
All the while, as Ben Bradlee snoozed, over at the NY Times, its Executive Editor, Walter Duranty, could not be reached for comment. Fine foot steps for Brokaw to follow, don't you think? I wonder if Maureen Dowd hears the voice of Marilyn when her Prozac perscription runs out? I bet Marilyn doesn't call Jack "boy".

Missy| 9.15.09 @ 2:12PM

Don't forget about all of those interred in Chicago's cemeteries who voted for JFK in 1960 and cost Nixon the presidency. Nascent ACORN and the Kennedys--who would have thought it?

Al Franken's stolen election strategy goes way back in the democrat's playbook.

Pete Martinez| 9.15.09 @ 2:21PM

“NEWSpaper” is a false statement because NEWS is missing from the papers. That was why we bought them (in the past) and have now stopped buying them. They do not include NEWS, much less investigative journalism. The very easy and very simple way for NEWSpapers (and TV NEWS) to recover is to report NEWS. Instead, they will ride the old grey mare into the ground as they tell us to spend our last two dollars betting she will win the race. I don't think so. Neither does the vast majority of our population. Every day we walk by newspaper stands and chuckle ... but don't buy ... as we pull out our Smart Phones during lunch and read the many sources you cite. Thank you for an excellent job of reporting REAL NEWS.

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 2:22PM

The MSM's record of malpractice is both longer, more sinister and profoundly more damaging than Jeffrey Lord - whose primary complaint seemingly regards what he believes to be a lack of titillating sex-gossip vis a vis Democrat figures - alleges. To whit:

• The NY Times uncovered that the Bush administration was spying on American citizens without warrants, in violation of the law – a clear and unmitigated felony. Make that felonies. “Perhaps thousands” of them. Instead of exposing this abuse – these crimes, this violation of the Constitution – the NY Times, at Bush’s request, *sat on the story for a year*:
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/16program.html?hp&ex=1134795600&en=c7596fe0d4798785&ei=5094&partner=homepage
• Extreme deference to powerful political figures, esp the president, whether he Democrat or Republican. Scott McClellan himself called the media “"too deferential" to the Bush White House and its ludicrous claims of mushroom clouds and WMD, saying “the "liberal media" didn't live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served.” He called “the news media 'complicit enablers' in the White House's 'carefully orchestrated campaign to shape and manipulate sources of public approval' in the march to the Iraq war in 2002 and 2003."
h**p://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10649_Page2.html
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/washington/28mcclellan.html
• The MSM reprinting of pro-war government claims that were “allowed to stand unchallenged”, even at such “Liberal” organs as the NY Times:
• h**p://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/international/middleeast/26FTE_NOTE.html?ex=1400990400&en=94c17fcffad92ca9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND
• The Washington Post systematically burying anti-war views in the run-up to the Iraq War:
h**p://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58127-2004Aug11?language=printer
• The near-universal use of Pentagon-controlled operatives masquerading as “independent analysts” to regurgitate the pro-government, pro-war claims with no challenge whatoever:
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/us/20generals.html?_r=1&hp&oref;=login
• The near unanimous chorus of beltway establishment “journalists” to shield our most powerful elites from accountability for war crimes and other felonies:
h**p://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011402931.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
• The MSM in general unquestioningly passing on government claims that Iraq and Saddam Hussein were responsible for the anthrax attacks in the run-up to the Iraq War
• The NY Times “reporting” (i.e. unquestioningly and uncritically passing on the gov’t claim that)in Sept 02 (again in the lead-up to the Iraq War) "Iraq has stepped up its quest for nuclear weapons and has embarked on a worldwide hunt for materials to make an atomic bomb”
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/world/threats-responses-iraqis-us-says-hussein-intensifies-quest-for-bomb-parts.html

(change “h**p” to “http” to make the links viable)

Odd behavior, don’t you think, for a “Liberal” Media? To function as a megaphone for the pro-war claims of a neoconservative government? To sit on stories that reflect unfavorably on them, instead of pursuing the truth about gov’t crimes and demaning investigations? Perhaps it’s time for you people to recognize that the “Liberalism” of the media is, if not entirely a canard, greatly exaggerated aspect of it and a comparatively benign one. The MSM’s prime objective is NOT to advance a “Liberal” agenda and thwart “Conservative” ones. The MSM’s prime objective is to protect this country’s financial and political elites, to shield them from accountability and to advance THEIR agenda at OUR expense – because *it is the MSM’s own agenda*. The MSM is owned in large part by the same corporations that almost literally own our country’s leaders, who profit from our country’s wars. These corporations dump millions into the coffers of our most powerful politicians. Our media stars rely on access to those politicians to maintain and enhance their own stardom and wealth. To maintain that access they massage the egos of our political elites, they carry their water, they repeat their claims, they become – in the words of Scott McLellan - 'complicit enablers' in the worst government abuses. Ask yourself: In what way did the MSM thwart the Bush agenda? Where was the opposition in the Liberal Media to the Iraq War? To the torture regime? Wby did the NYT sit on the domestic spying scandal instead of exposing this extreme lawbreaking at the highest levels of our government?

The answer is obvious. Tbe “Liberal Media vs Conservative Patriots” narrative is comforting, simple and fun. It has good guys and bad guys. But it doesn’t reflect reality. The conflict isn’t between Conservatives and The Liberal Media, it’s the American People vs the political-financial elites and their propaganda wing, the MSM.

Mattled| 9.15.09 @ 2:29PM

Drudge-Ette,
Well aware of AJC and their travails. The hypocrisy that comes out of CNN and the Cox 's is well worth noting though.

Can't wait to see the AJC (and Cynthia Tucker) go away for good.

Keep getting to friends, relatives and other folks to cancel, stop watching network (and CNN MSNBC) -----can we get someone to infiltrate PBS/NPR to get them de-funded?

Moyers makes around what 400k? For what? Spreading lies around on our dime?

Big J| 9.15.09 @ 2:29PM

In related news, Charlie Gibson tries to explain why neither he nor his network have covered the ACORN scandal AT ALL:j

Gibson (followed by a truly eerie laugh): "Honestly, I didn't know anything about it."

Are you kidding me?

The Census bureau has kicked them out of the census.

The Senate has passed an amendment disqualifying them for any taxpayer funding whatsoever, while they are being investigated in 14 states for voter registration fraud (83-7, by the way).

There have been 3 videos released and shown often (on Fox only), clearly showing ACORN tax and housing "experts" assisting a pimp and prostitute in their "venture" - setting up a brothel house containing underage illegal immigrants, and laying out a plan to avoid paying taxes.

And Charlie Gibson "didn't know about it"?

Sorry, just don't buy it.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:33PM

"The Senate has passed an amendment disqualifying them for any taxpayer funding whatsoever, while they are being investigated in 14 states for voter registration fraud (83-7, by the way). "

Watch that funding change in the bill, as it travels through the system. I believe Congress has a way of "losing" that amendment later on in the process. My guess is that the vote was done to quiet the masses, and the funding will show up again, as if by magic.

Will the Fringe Media report it? Not likely.

Spotted REptile| 9.15.09 @ 2:31PM

Tom Brokaw is a Bilderberger. Enough said. He's been bought a long time ago.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 2:35PM

Media: It Took 50 Years to Destroy Trust in Establishment Media | DBKP - Death By 100 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…say, the field of medicine, practitioners of this kind of thing would lose their license to practice, sued for and surely convicted of malpractice. –Jeffrey Lord, “ Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes ” * Big News Media Sells a Defective Product * Less People Willing to Settle for Less News * In the Absence of Trustworthy News from Traditional Sources, People Look…

Ken (Old Texican)| 9.15.09 @ 2:37PM

Michael
I'm sorry, guys. The trigger is obviously not "robust enough" yet. Lots of sign ups. Thanks for the heads up, Michael. www.myteamusa.org
Mailing address:
Team America
21175 Tomball Parkway suite 108
Houston, TX 77070

Sue| 9.15.09 @ 2:42PM

To Toddard: love your post; thanks; to Warlord and Hauschild, my points exactly.

I made the mistake of putting 75 cents in the newsstand in Washington, D. C. after the march; I suddenly realized that it was Sunday instead of Saturday and had to put in another 75 cents. All I wanted was to read the biased reporting of the march in the Washington Post.

Of course, the first word should have told me to save my $1.50 - "LASHING" OUT.

It went into the garbage.

Sue| 9.15.09 @ 2:47PM

Does anyone recognize the hypocrisy in the comments made by one reporter about the "angry, old, white men" who surrounded Joe Wilson during the Obama speech?

What exactly are Brokaw, Scheiffer, Gibson, Rather, Williams, and their ilk? Old, white men, not angry? They sure would be if they weren't promoted because of "quotas" and "affirmative action" and the "diversity gods." My, my, what have they done to "survive" all of that? Sold out.

Pathetic. All of them.

Sue| 9.15.09 @ 2:49PM

SoCon and JerseyJ: I agree with your comments. I was thinking the very same things last night. He should have used his own best "Harvard" business school judgement and stated how many he thought there was! I guess they didn't teach him to think for himself!

MPR| 9.15.09 @ 2:53PM

ACORN has been criminalizing the way in which the government and housing programs are supposed to work. ACORN has flexed it's muscles and made the possibility of Obama as president, almost in control of our census and commited fraud in about every way possible. Discuss it at www.speakoutforfreedom.com

Ruth| 9.15.09 @ 2:54PM

Mr. Lord
Thanks so much for the enlightening article. I am married to a "liberal" man and he is constantly telling me that my black-hearted conservative icons lie and practice deceit. I am now better armed for the battle. The only good part about all this is that my husband thinks that voting is stupid. I just smile and go to the polls and vote for conservatives. What he doesn't know...

appalachian hills in argentina| 9.15.09 @ 3:00PM

its interesting how leading up to the war in iraq not a single coverage on those who had an alternative view. it was unamerican to be against the war and the so-called liberal press made sure about this. blackwater, halliburton raped iraq without any peep from the liberal media. the liberal media who would not even show caskets of dead soldiers coming from iraq.

Sgt. Mom| 9.15.09 @ 3:04PM

And lest one of the offenders WRT the story of the sliming of Barry Goldwater be omitted from these comments, let me remind you that Daniel Schorr is still - god help us all - a lugubrious presence on NPR, as a very senior commentator.

appalachian hills of argentina| 9.15.09 @ 3:04PM

MPR wrote
"ACORN has flexed it's muscles and made the possibility of Obama as president"

- wow i'm amazed at the credit being given to ACORN here. just accept it republics, bushy screwed it so much that even conservatives voted for obama. with or without ACORN. so next time your party tries to uplift an ignorant baffoon with an ego the size of alaska, be afraid...be very afraid. that is more scary than whatever scare tactics are being drummed up today by the right-wing opportunists.

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:39PM

I was wondering how long it take for a far out Liberal to show up and start an off-topic, anti Bush diatribe.

Anthony| 9.15.09 @ 3:04PM

Big J, This was the same smug and sanctimonious Charlie Gibson who sniffed at Gov. Palin when she could not articulate the nuiances of the many Bush Doctrines.
Memo to Gov. Palin: When you're next blindsided by the MSM just say," Gee, I didn't know anthing about it, then pause, smile, and say, ONLY KIDDING, just doing my Charlie Gibson imitation. Or you can say, wait a second, Maureen Dowd is channeling me, gotta get back to you on that.
Liberalism is indeed a disorder.

appalachian hills of Argentina| 9.15.09 @ 3:12PM

Anthony,

and the fact that Palin doesn't know the bush doctrine and she is running for VP (heartbeat away from the presidency) does not bother you even a bit? wow. talking about looking the other way. no wonder this country elected and reelected an ignorant knucklehead. only in america! hope it doesn't happen ever again!

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:49PM

Palin knew all about the Bush Doctrines. The problem was that Gibson's question didn't specify which doctrine he was inquiring about. As she struggled to decipher the internt of his question, he gave her in infamous "Couric Blank Stare", intended to put your subject off balance.

Palin was missing one important interviewing trick -- ask a telling question ["Which one are are asking about?"] and stare back without flinching -- make dead air and see how long Couric can take it.

Benson| 11.30.09 @ 10:14AM

That and try to find the parts of the interview left on the editing floor.

Tom| 9.15.09 @ 3:14PM

Michael Hauschild has a pretty good assessment of O'Reilly last night. He spoke to the fringe and not the substance of the Washington conservative protest. Brit was very pragmatic about it. I'll only grant Bill a pass if he was purposely taking the other view to portray a fair and balanced view.
That said, we are living in pivotal times and I am enjoying it. I loved this article.

Johnno| 9.15.09 @ 3:19PM

Yeah, and elected a Marxist knucklehead in 2008 who thinks there are 57 states. Hope it doesn't happen again!

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 3:26PM

"This was the same smug and sanctimonious Charlie Gibson who sniffed at Gov. Palin when she could not articulate the nuiances of the many Bush Doctrines."

Uh no. What she couldn't do was comprehend what "Bush Doctrine" means. Her answer was "Duuuh you mean his world view?" She didn't know what people mean generally by "the Bush Doctrine", or even what Palin defenders *now* mean when they use the "but there are many Bush Doctrines" dodge. She was dumbfounded.

Sarah Palin's appeal is personality-based, like so much of the politics of the Fox News Right.

Flel| 9.15.09 @ 3:29PM

Lest we forget the NYT story on John McCain's alleged affair. Wasn't that a piece of work. Such timing and not an ounce of truth to be found. Those two panelists should have been scolded on the spot for spouting such garbage. You couldn't pay me to watch any of the formerly big 3 networks just like I will never buy a car from govt motors.

birmingham| 9.15.09 @ 3:34PM

From Dai Alanye: We must always remember that the foremost individual O'Reilly is "looking out for" is O'Reilly.

I can't tolerate watching his smug face anymore. He is definitely angling for another interview with Obozo so wont' say anything bad about him at all.

birmingham| 9.15.09 @ 3:37PM

So glad that I now recognize the troll on this site, S.L. Toddard, so I can skip right over his Obama cheerleading and Bush hating pieces. Big time saver!

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 3:38PM

"Lest we forget the NYT story on John McCain's alleged affair. Wasn't that a piece of work"

Lest we also forget:

h**p://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/16program.html?hp&ex=1134795600&en=c7596fe0d4798785&ei=5094&partner=homepage

• Extreme deference to powerful political figures, esp the president, whether he Democrat or Republican. Scott McClellan himself called the media “"too deferential" to the Bush White House and its ludicrous claims of mushroom clouds and WMD, saying “the "liberal media" didn't live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served.” He called “the news media 'complicit enablers' in the White House's 'carefully orchestrated campaign to shape and manipulate sources of public approval' in the march to the Iraq war in 2002 and 2003."

h**p://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10649_Page2.html
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/washington/28mcclellan.html

• The MSM reprinting of pro-war government claims that were “allowed to stand unchallenged”, even at such “Liberal” organs as the NY Times:

h**p://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/international/middleeast/26FTE_NOTE.html?ex=1400990400&en=94c17fcffad92ca9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND

• The Washington Post systematically burying anti-war views in the run-up to the Iraq War:

h**p://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58127-2004Aug11?language=printer

• The near-universal use of Pentagon-controlled operatives masquerading as “independent analysts” to regurgitate the pro-government, pro-war claims with no challenge whatoever:

h**p://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/us/20generals.html?_r=1&hp&oref;=login

• The near unanimous chorus of beltway establishment “journalists” to shield our most powerful elites from accountability for war crimes and other felonies:

h**p://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011402931.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

• The MSM in general unquestioningly passing on unsubstantiated claims that Iraq and Saddam Hussein were responsible for the anthrax attacks in the run-up to the Iraq War

http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/abc.html

• The NY Times “reporting” (i.e. unquestioningly and uncritically passing on the gov’t claim that)in Sept 02 (again in the lead-up to the Iraq War) "Iraq has stepped up its quest for nuclear weapons and has embarked on a worldwide hunt for materials to make an atomic bomb”

h**p://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/world/threats-responses-iraqis-us-says-hussein-intensifies-quest-for-bomb-parts.html

(change “h**p” to “http” to make the links viable)

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 4:55PM

Well the Bush-haters have taken over this blog, and so further discussion of Lord's amazing piece is becoming useless.

Thanks, Lord, for an amazing, in-depth, well-researched, truthful piece.

I will look for your stuff in the future. The World needs more people like you.

Alan Keyte| 9.15.09 @ 3:39PM

Awesome. This article is the truth. Ours national news has been hijacked for a long time and many people need to see this article. Thank God for Fox network and their team, Drudge and the newcomers. It's funny how when the lights go on - the cockroaches run! Let's turn the lights on full blast!

Nobama| 9.15.09 @ 3:40PM

Turddard's a bore. Utterly ignorable.

Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 3:46PM

S.L. Toddard...

The point, with which we should all be able to agreee, is a simple one. Give us the actual facts - and then we can debate, have opinions etc. Without the actual facts, the rest becomes nonsense. As the saying goes, we are all entitled to our opinions - but not our own facts.

John L Jordan| 9.15.09 @ 3:47PM

The article presents important facts that have, for 50 years, been ignored by people who bask in public acclaim. My question is this: What do we do about the millions of anonymous Federal Bureaucrats (AFL-CIO affliates all) whose livelihood is derived from Leftist Liberalism? Mr. Obama panders to these "union workers". They are the core of his base. They expect him to preserve their salaries, insurance, and pensions. Does anyone really believe the Federal Bureaucracy won't do whatever it takes to keep what they've got? Will lethal force be out of the question as the Bureaucrats make sure We The People don't fail in our "duty" to support our "government"? The stakes in this game are huge. What I saw, up close and personal, in Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 12th 2009 was the irreducible might of Almighty God being quietly reflected through the Soul of His people: all races and creeds, young and old, from every nation under the sun, gathered peacefully to stand for what is right. Things will probably get worse before they get better. Remember Valley Forge. The ravening Media along with the Bureaucratic Czars and their fawning acolytes will seem to be even more terrible. Eventually they will fall by the wayside. Goodbye and good riddance to the evil oppressor.

p.s. 3 words from a hand-made protest poster seen at the 9-12 event: "Czar Strangled Banner"

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 3:50PM

"Turddard's a bore. Utterly ignorable."

Ignorable? I thought we were all very concerned with Media Malpractice. I've just laid out a devastating account of that malpractice in action in the most serious, damaging cases, with citations. Isn't that something you're concerned about - that the MSM worked to conceal government lawbreaking? That it hired Pentagon operatives to opine on the war and presented them as "independent analysts"? That they buried anti-war arguments that could have saved thousands of ours soldiers' lives and hundreds of thousands of civilians lives?

Or is it okay when the "Liberal" Media protects Republican politicans, but not when it protects Democrat ones? Is that the argument here? I mean besides Jeffrey Lord's complaint that they don't report enough on titillating sex-gossip.

Brad Nailer| 9.15.09 @ 3:56PM

Whoa, here. Brokaw said nothing about traditional journalism (in the article, at least), yet his eye is being blackened with 40 year old tales. For Chrissake, use "Rathergate" is you want to discredit old line media.

Still, what is so shocking about having concern for those who take they what read on the internet at face value, or asserting that there is reason to vet the sources you read. Remember you're encompassing bloggers, independent news organizations, old line media online, axe grinders of every stripe, and that's not counting the social networking crowd. Anyone can post anything they want and call it news. Like a line from the song "Funky Western Civilization"; "Two people say they're Jesus, one of them must be wrong."

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 3:57PM

"The point, with which we should all be able to agreee, is a simple one. Give us the actual facts - and then we can debate, have opinions etc. Without the actual facts, the rest becomes nonsense. As the saying goes, we are all entitled to our opinions - but not our own facts."

Which I did, certainly to no less extent than you. Have you ever written about the Pentagon analyst scandal? What are your thoughts about MSM organs presenting Pentagon operatives as "independent analysts"? Or about the Post burying anti-war arguments that criticized and questioned aspects of the gov't's case for war that have now been debunked? Was it "Liberal" motives that led the NY Times to sit on the illegal domestic spying scandal, wherein the NSA and other agencies spied on American citizens without warrants in clear violation of FISA?

Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 4:12PM

SL..

"The near-universal use of Pentagon-controlled operatives masquerading as “independent analysts” to regurgitate the pro-government, pro-war claims with no challenge whatoever"

Short on time here...but your points are well taken. The problem is that when a media organ spends decades deliberately not telling the truth for political reasons, their credibility is damaged.

The point above is an important one. I can tell you that when I appear on Fox News I am clearly identified as an "ex-Reagan WH aide"...which is to say there is no doubt whatsoever about my background. I never see Democrats on Fox unidentified either. But there are media organs out there aplenty who do this kind of thing and its wrong. If I'm praising something Reagan did, you need to know I worked for him. If I'm criticizing the same thing, you need to know I am an opponent. One innumerable points on this is when, say, a health issue comes up. Lots of Old Media will go to an offshoot of the Center for the Public Interest (PIRG) and simply get their opinion and run it. Never saying this is a liberal interest group with Ralph Nader ties. I would expect the same from a story quoting the Heritage Foundation. I do believe this is called "fair and balanced." They report - accurately - and we decide.

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 4:13PM

"The point, with which we should all be able to agreee, is a simple one. Give us the actual facts - and then we can debate, have opinions etc. Without the actual facts, the rest becomes nonsense"

Mr. Lord - I misunderstood you, obviously. You were speaking of the MSM, not me. I was wrong, and I sincerely apologize for misreading your post.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 4:30PM

FOX: Analyzes ACORN Corruption, How to Break the Law and Start a Child Sex Slavery R links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Morning Joe notices Acorn… Nice Deb: James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 4:33PM

Andrew Breitbart on Van Jones and Media’s Inaction Reporting His Radicalism, America links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Big Hollywood: Revolution Anyone? NewsBusters: Jones Resigns Over What? and NYTs’ Friedman Was Big Fan of Green Job Czar Jones in Oct 2007 Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Power Line: Lights Out for Van Jones VotingFemale Speaks!: Van Jones – Obama Will Miss His Racist Radical Communist Pal; Obama? Your Crap just gets deeper Fire Andrea Mitchell!:…

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 4:35PM

First Baltimore, Now Washington DC: More ACORN Child Prostitution Support & Tax Frau links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

First Baltimore, Now Washington DC: More ACORN Child Prostitution Support & Tax Fraud Exposed (video) « Frugal Café Blog Zone Frugal Café Blog Zone Where it’s chic to be cheap… Conservative social & political…

Jeffrey Lord| 9.15.09 @ 4:36PM

SL...

No problem. When one does political commentary all manner of things can come back. I actually think we agree here. If the tree is green, we can argue as to why or what for. If you think the tree is green and I think its orange, rational conversation will not ensue. What we are all in desperate need of is an objective source saying the tree is actually a purple lamp post. That person will be on drugs, and we will both agree. See? This is easy.

Marc Jeric| 9.15.09 @ 4:36PM

MSM and Brokaw are so convinced of their rightousness in their communist sympathies that the word "censorship" of anything negative regarding their far-left convictions seems quite normal and necessary.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 4:37PM

Thrown Under the ACORN Bus: Two Employees in ACORN Child Prostitution Ring Exposé Fi links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…of ACORN James O’Keefe, Andrew Breitbart Presents Big Government: Complete ACORN Baltimore Child Prostitution Investigation Transcript Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Andrew Breitbart Presents Big Government: Exposing ACORN: Introducing James O’Keefe The Freedom Post: GLENN BECK: “YOU WILL SEE BY THE END OF THE WEEK THAT PEOPLE WILL…

What About Mr. Savage?| 9.15.09 @ 5:08PM

Great article, but you left out one piece of the puzzel. Mr. Savage has been banned from Britain because of his political beliefs. There has been a media blackout on this story by the American press, INCLUDING FOX AND TALK RADIO. I don't like Savage- in fact I think he is a rotten jerk- but if his free speech isn't protected, nobody's speech is safe. This is where the road to biased news reporting leads: the death of the first amendment.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 5:09PM

Belmont Club » A whole new world links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Rosenbaum Edgelings Ed Driscoll Archive Store Press Advertising News Tips for PJM Search Belmont Club September 15th, 2009 2:09 pm A whole new world The “dean” of news anchors, Tom Brokow, argues that information filtering is more necessary than ever because the Internet is so full of unsupported facts that it needs responsible people — presumably like him — to separate the wheat…

Dart| 9.15.09 @ 5:12PM

Again, the true open sewer of misinformation is the MSM. This is the MSM that has ignored the march on Washington on 912; a massive march of well over one million people who oppose the Marxist in the White House.

Mattled| 9.15.09 @ 5:18PM

Mr. Lord,

Same thing goes for Tax Policy Center being non-partisan. When I (used to) hear Levi, or whatever his name is, say that according to TPC, a non-partisan group-----I would immediately e-mail CNN and instruct them that it IS a partisan amalgamation of Brookings and Urban.

They really do take their viewers for chumps.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 5:35PM

Bring Your Sunscreen… James & Hannah Go to Califonia to Sting ACORN with Pimp/Ho Und links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Morning Joe notices Acorn… Nice Deb: James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

Teflon93| 9.15.09 @ 5:48PM

Ahh, the Media Doesn't Matters crowd has taken time off from claiming white black to weigh in with their silliness.

In 1992, 43% of Americans voted for Bill Clinton. 89% of journalists did, according to Pew.

In 1996, 49% of Americans voted for Bill Clinton. 92% of journalists did, according to Pew.

Every study of journalist ideology conducted bears out the overwhelming number of liberals in media out of all proportion to the rest of society.

And the MM troll appears (hmm, wonder why his style seems familiar?) to put "liberal" in scare quotes.

Notice that he has nothing to refute the specifics Mr. Lord has presented. No, his case is attacking the Left Wing Media for being INSUFFICIENTLY Left Wing for his taste.

By which he means that recycling Democrat talking points is not sufficient. The Left Wing Media should be actively fomenting socialist revolution---like the BBC does.

Matt Lauer, you should be ashamed of yourself!

Up the Proletariat!

Teflon93| 9.15.09 @ 5:53PM

And were Tom Brokaw so "corporatist" in his leanings, why would the DEMOCRATS try unsuccessfully to recruit him for Vice President?

Wouldn't the Republicans love to have a "Big Business lickspittle" type as articulate as Brokaw on the ticket?

These Media Doesn't Matters people simply will not be satisfied with one's leftist credentials until they are caught performing abortions while singing the "Internationale"....

brownimom| 9.15.09 @ 6:10PM

Noticeably absent from the honorable mentions in this article is the site worldnetdaily.com, who was actually one of the first to report on Van Jones but I guess even so-called conservatives discriminate against other conservatives. This inside the beltway mentality also applies to some of you at The American Spectator, National Review, and Human Events, all of you often seem afraid of being linked to genuine grassroots conservatives, you know until the tea parties and Rally on D.C. A huge exception to this rule is the honorable RS McCain. who clearly doesn't care one whit what anyone thinks of him.

Janice| 9.15.09 @ 6:18PM

WND is a cutting edge conservative site and deserves our gratitude.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 6:37PM

Media Bias - How Much and Where? links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…credibility and bias has been mentioned a lot lately...here's a good read; American Spectator Article by Jeffery Lord Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes __________________ With O'bama sCare can Directive 10-289 be far away? « Previous Thread | Next Thread » Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email…

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 6:37PM

"I actually think we agree here"

We do, but I think you do your argument a disservice by focusing on the Liberal aspect of the MSM's malpractice. A bigger problem, in my opinion, is that the MSM now *represents* those powers that Thomas Jefferson envisioned it would keep in check. I am not sure where you stood in the lead-up to the Iraq War, and though I believe now and believed at the time it was a mistake, I believe sensible persons, given the information made available by the MSM, could rationally and in good faith have favored war (though I believe they would have been wrong to do so even if all the gov't claims had proved true). But if the MSM had done its job and served as a check on gov't power by investigating and being critical of gov't claims rather than acting as a megaphone for them we would have all been better off - including your party. Imagine, for instance, if in the lead-up to the war the MSM had devoted sufficient resources to more critically examining the casus belli rather than merely acting as stenographers for the White House press secretary. If they had given ample voice to anti-war arguments rather than marginalizing them. I think it can be argued that if they had acted thusly - which is to say, performed their proper role as a check on gov't power - there could have been a more clear-headed debate on the merits of the war, those claims that were later proved false might have been done so sooner and the Bush Adminstration - assuming they were acting in good faith - might have been dissuaded from launching the Iraq War. I doubt I need to explain how that would have enhanced the GOP's chances last election - without the albatross of Iraq around the GOP's neck they might still be in the White House now. I write this as an Old Right-style conservative, by the way - one who is happy that McCain is not in office, but one who would rather have McCain in office than the loss of blood and treasure we have lost and will continue to lose in Iraq.

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 6:42PM

"Tom Brokaw so "corporatist" in his leanings, why would the DEMOCRATS try unsuccessfully to recruit him for Vice President?"

Because the idea that the Democrats are *less* beholden to corporate interests is a myth.

See: Schumer, Chuck

JohnD5| 9.29.09 @ 5:06PM

Thanks.

"Because the idea that the Democrats are *less* beholden to corporate interests is a myth. "

You got back in my good graces with that comment.

rich| 9.15.09 @ 7:01PM

That kicked ass! Best article I've read on the bias of the "established media". BRAVO!

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 7:03PM

"Notice that he has nothing to refute the specifics Mr. Lord has presented."

Because I do not disagree with the specifics, I disagree with the conclusion. Or, rather, I disagree with his diagnosis as being contemporaneously applicable. I agree with his earlier examples entirely, esp vis a vis the wretched treatment of Barry Goldwater, a true American hero and one of the last great Conservatives to hold higher office (though I would be fine if the MSM kept the private lives of politicians of either party off their radar). That most of the MSM are liberals is true. But the liberalism of the MSM is no longer its defining
(and discrediting) feature - now it is defined by its utter servility to power, which trumps its liberalism every time. One need look no further than the MSM's record during Bush's first term for proof of that fact - the Bush administration spoke, the MSM dutifully scribbled down what they said and passed it on uncritically. The Bush administration made claims - the MSM repeated them without questioning them. The Bush administration was caught violating our laws (FISA, to be specific) - the MSM silenced the story. The Bush administration has been alleged to have committed acts of torture - the MSM in one voice demands no investigations take place.

The liberalism of the MSM is a side-show now. They are now an extension of the very people and organizations they are supposed to keep honest. That was true during the Bush administration, and it is true now during the Obama administration.

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 7:25PM

ABC’s Anchor Charlie Gibson, Chuckling: What ACORN Child Prostitution/Tax Fraud Scan links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Adventure To San Bernardino and James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 8:03PM

AmSpec « Sister Toldjah links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

AmSpec « Sister Toldjah All about life, liberty and the pursuit of hopeiness. Home About Contact Site Policy Media Retro “Fanmail” Endorsements AmSpec Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes 0 Ras. Reports Election 2010: Nevada Senate Race 0 CNN Malaysian woman, 107, fears hubby No. 22 will leave her 0 PPP Christie continues to lead in NJ 0 WSJ Government Medicine vs.

DaveS| 9.15.09 @ 8:18PM

Making Brokaw the heir to Cronkite is no great honor - Cronkite was a defeatist. Brokaw is in denial over the current mood. Clown, masquerading as a thoughtful and critical self-disinterested voice. Bull crap. The 'old' media is dying and the unfiltered media is a market media - unencumbered by GE, Disney and the comfortable and racist Left.

Drew| 9.15.09 @ 8:24PM

The content of the "letter" is a good start but the tone is way too polite. Why preface the damning details "With respect"?

Why proffer respect where sheer contempt is deserved?

The Old Media have seriously misinformed the American Public both by suppressing negative news about their fellow liberals and doing smear jobs on conservatives. (The counterpoint to the whitewash of Edwards was the fabrication out of whole cloth of an affair between McCain and one of his campaign workers by the NYT aka Grey Lady as in can never be washed clean of grime. Think of the optics. The National Enquirer broke the Edwards' news story while the NYT wrote a shabby pack of sensationalist lies). And the repackaging of Ted Kennedy from a cowardly lowlife of no moral character, millionaire avoider of taxes while shoveling tax monies to gain Democrat votes as some "man of the people" was truly disgusting.

The result of Old Media cy-ops (psychological warfare) has been installation of a President who had nothing to recommend him who has done more damage to the body politic in 8 months than any other President has managed in 8 years.

Time to take off the velvet gloves and gentlemanly airs when dealing with people who fight dirty with brass knuckles knocking in conservatives' teeth. Let's stop whistling "With respect" through our missing incisors.

Shannon Bell| 9.15.09 @ 8:37PM

I agree with Randel Hoven's comment above that it was an apropos bitch slap to Brokaw. The only problem it was an intellectual bitch slap and not an actual bitch slap. I think I just like typing "bitch slap". Great piece.

KarlinPhoenix| 9.15.09 @ 8:49PM

Mr. Lord,
Thank you for your interesting perspective on the MSM and their misleading of America.

Drew| 9.15.09 @ 8:57PM

SL Toddard is living in a glass house throwing stones by holding Sarah Palin up to ridicule. Is he aware his VP is JOE BIDEN who opens his mouth only to change feet?

And why all the concern about alleged incompetence a heartbeat away from the Presidency when Dems are very comfortable with a complete know-nothing as the actual heartbeat?

Sarah Palin at least knows how many states there are in the USA.

S.L. Toddard| 9.15.09 @ 9:29PM

Couric: And when it comes to establishing your worldview, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?

Palin: I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media.

Couric: What, specifically?

Palin: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.

!!!!!!

Perhaps I was wrong! She reads "all of them" - you know, every newspaper in the world. She reads 'em all. You betcha!

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 9:55PM

New Paltz Journal » Blog Archive » New media? links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…has to say about anything. The late Richard John Neuhaus did more with a single paragraph than Friedman has done or will do in everything he writes his whole life. Jeffrey Lord’s piece on Brokaw was the other one I read today, and its enough of a job that Lord probably slapped his hands together with satisfaction after he’d finished it. This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009…

UpChuck.Liberals| 9.15.09 @ 10:33PM

S.L. Toddard

Just so I'm straight on your comments. You feel that Palin is uninformed because she read the Mainstream Medias newspapers and by inference got her information from the big (and shrinking fast) 3 networks.

I guess that explains it all doesn't it?

Pingback| 9.15.09 @ 10:38PM

Media Malpractice « Unclemeat links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Mark Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto has now sold one million copies, according to its publisher, Threshold Editions. – CNS Related : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes – American Spectator (A long one but worth yer time) Related : NYT Still Awol On Acorn Related : Charlie Gibson Hadn’t Heard Anything About It Posted in Stupidity | Leave a Comment…

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 1:29AM

Ed Driscoll » Live From San Bernardino, It’s Saturday Night ACORN! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…in the near future to work on her line readings. Update: Michelle Malkin writes that the New York Times could have had a scoop on the ACORN story last year, but backed off for partisan reasons. That never happens in the legacy media! Meanwhile, Dan Riehl asks, what if Tresa Kaelke wasn’t joking about her background? Filed under: Hollywood, Interrupted, Liberal Fascism, Muggeridge's Law Comment PJM Home…

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 7:00AM

House of Eratosthenes links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

House of Eratosthenes Recent Media Malpractice “The Whole Thing is Becoming Undone” Words Matter Fables for Adults A Note to His Bedwetting Liberal Friends The More We Know, the Less We Like It Being a Liberal Means Everyone Else Has to Clean…

janranch| 9.16.09 @ 9:00AM

I can see this country in flames. The anger is so way over the top and the average american showed a good side at the tea party on the mall--but there is also a very UGLY side that I'm afraid will be seen shortly. Obama keeps sticking his finger in the eyes of the outraged he will see the result. Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dowd, Harry Reid and their ilk and the MSM all are contributing to the American outrage. Go on Obama do a TV blitz and see your numbers tank.

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 9:14AM

Conservative Media Scoops Mainstream Media links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…of a show that gets 22 minutes to cover all the major news of the day, there’s plenty of fluff. Usually, a good third of the show is filled with fluffy human interest stories. Second, as Jeffrey Lord notes in a tangentially related piece, there’s a pretty long history of the mainstream media gatekeepers keeping a lid on stories harmful to Democrats while running with rumors harmful to…

appalachian hills of Argentina| 9.16.09 @ 9:22AM

@johnno said

"Yeah, and elected a Marxist knucklehead in 2008 who thinks there are 57 states. Hope it doesn't happen again!" - really obama thinks there are 57 states? have you heard of misspoke? you should if you were following bush for the last 8 years - he misspoke about the WMDs in iraq, he misspoke when he said "Brownie you're doing a heck of a job" he misspoke when he said "we have a non-voluntary army", . once again, look at your own backyard first. here's more:

"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program."
- George W. Bushs (no wonder the teabaggers were saying something similar!)

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
- George W. Bush

"I also believe that some of the decisions I've made up to now have affected our standing in parts of the world. I remember in the debates, somebody asked me about Europe. And I said, well, they wanted us to join the International Criminal Court, and I chose.. I said, that's not the right posture for the United States of America, or some saying I should have negotiated with Arafat for the four years I was president.. obviously, prior to his death."
- George W. Bush (when did Arafat die?)

"It's an important concept for our fellow citizens to understand, that no one in need will ever be forced to choose a faith-based provider. That's an important concept for people to understand. What that means is if you're the Methodist church and you sponsor an alcohol treatment center, they can't say only Methodists, only Methodists who drink too much can come to our program. "All Drunks Are Welcome" is what the sign ought to say."
- George W. Bush

"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table."
- George W. Bush

"It's important to reach out to moderate Arab nations, like Jordan and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait."
- George W. Bush, 2000

"Uhh Gosh, I.. don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those, uhh, exaggerations."
- George W. Bush, 10/13/2004

"So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you."
- George W. Bush, 3/13/2002

"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- George W. Bush, 9/13/2001

"[Saddam] built up a massive war machine while neglecting the basic needs of his own people."
- George W. Bush

"I don't know what you're talking about, about international law. I've got to consult my lawyer."
- George W. Bush

"...there are no longer torture chambers or rape rooms or mass graves in Iraq."
- George W. Bush

"So I don't worry about, and people shouldn't worry about a draft... I think we're in good shape, I really do. And, if not, we'll -- I'll address the nation. But I don't see any need to right now."
- George W. Bush

When the heat got on, they left the battlefield - that is unacceptable."
- George W. Bush complains about Iraqi security forces, the proud Vietnam veteran that he is... no wait.

"I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust"
- George W. Bush

"Of course we're after Iraq.. eh.. Saddam Hussein.. I mean bin Laden."
- George W. Bush

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking of new ways to harm our country and our people.. and neither do we."
- George W. Bush

"This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and Al Qaeda."
- George W. Bush flip flopping

"I call upon all nations to to everything they can to stop these terrorist killings. Thank you. Now watch this drive."
- George W. Bush, playing golf and "working" at the same time

"There's a lot of people in the world who don't believe that people whose skin color may not be the same as ours can be free and self govern.
I reject that. I reject that strongly. I believe that people who practice the Muslim faith can self-govern. I believe that people whose skins aren't necessarily.. are a different color than white can self-govern."
- George W. Bush

This is an impressive crowd, the have and the have mores. Some people call you the elite, I call you my base.
- George W. Bush

"It's time to restore honor and dignity to the White House."
- George W. Bush

"The California crunch really is the result of not enough power-generating plants and then not enough power to power the power of generating plants."
- George W. Bush

"We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free."
- George W. Bush

"I don't think our troops should be used for what's called nation building."
- George W. Bush, 2000

"We will be changing the regime of Iraq for the good of the iraqi people."
- George W. Bush

"I'm not so sure the role of the United States is going around the world saying this is the way its gotta be."
- George W. Bush, 2000

"In the first war of the 21st century, you're defending your fellow citizens against ruthless enemies. And by your sacrifice, you're making our country more secure."
- George W. Bush to U.S troops, March 18th 2004

"I think if you're gonna make an accusation in the course of a presidential campaign, you out to back it up with facts."
- George W. Bush

"We know that he has had contacts with terrorist networks like Al Qaeda."
- George W. Bush on Saddam

"Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised."
- George W. Bush, March 17, 2003

"Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons."
- George W. Bush, United Nations Address, September 12, 2002

"I hope one day I can clone another Dick Cheney. Then I won't have to do anything."
- George W. Bush

"You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test"
- George W. Bush

from depresident.com

appalachian hills of Argentina| 9.16.09 @ 9:30AM

@birmingham said:
"So glad that I now recognize the troll on this site, S.L. Toddard, so I can skip right over his Obama cheerleading and Bush hating pieces. Big time saver!"

- sure. just stay with FOX news, hannity, rush, glenn beck, o'reilly,mark levin - so when you get involved in debate you get surprised and just resort to shouting and name calling. don't stay an ignorant idiot. Try to use that brain that God gave you!

Jack8590| 9.16.09 @ 9:34AM

Nice try, but off the mark. While I agree with the half premise that the MSM is off the mark, I would not look to the likes of Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh for my news, or more specifucally, "the truth." They are intellectual lightweights serving a corporate master who's greatest desire is to sell advertising. I do agree that the Drudge Report is a little more unbiased and straightforward.

appalachian hills of Argentina| 9.16.09 @ 9:43AM

@John L. Jordan wrote

"What I saw, up close and personal, in Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 12th 2009 was the irreducible might of Almighty God being quietly reflected through the Soul of His people:"
- true. and don't forget the almighty freedomworks of Dick Armey INSPIRED and CREATED THE SIGNS for a lot of them.

" all races and creeds, young and old, from every nation under the sun, gathered peacefully to stand for what is right."
- "ALL RACES? are you serious? all races. that rally was so white it looked like the biggest ku klux klan rally. just look at the signs portraying obama as a monkey, as a slave, etc.

"Things will probably get worse before they get better. Remember Valley Forge. The ravening Media along with the Bureaucratic Czars and their fawning acolytes will seem to be even more terrible. Eventually they will fall by the wayside. Goodbye and good riddance to the evil oppressor."
- very poetic. when you say evil oppressor are you referring to the U.S. military industrial complex that we need to be worried about according to REPUBLICAN president Dwight Eisenhower?

Jack8590| 9.16.09 @ 10:35AM

Tenn Vol -
Even Bush thinks Sarah is unqualified.....if she had a brain, we might get excited about her. For now give it a rest. We long for a Buckley and all we get is Palin....sad.

gene| 9.16.09 @ 10:40AM

Since there isn't a statute of limitation for the murder of Mary Meyers, why aren't the surviving players in the Presidential-sex-drugs-CIA-murder scandal being pursued by the likes of FBI task forces and crusading 60 Minutes-like reporters? It's the biggest news story since before Watergate. Hmmm, it must be that the media "filterers" don't think it is... ready, yet?

Cicero| 9.16.09 @ 11:38AM

The letter to Brokaw is good but necessarily omits dozens, if not hundreds of similarly egregious defalcations of the so called "watchdog [seriously] media." Even so, since the letter is going to Brokaw, it should have been prefaced with, "I know that your condescending arrogance will cause you to dismiss every point in this message as the work of a reactionary rube who couldn't possibly understand the complexity and sophistication of the modern profession of journalism, but..."

Because you know that's exactly how Brokaw will regard it.

Skip MacLure| 9.16.09 @ 11:51AM

David Dawson, this is indeed the world's and history's greatest tool for meaningful research.
There is wagon loads of drivel out there... however as has been stated elsewhere truth has a light and ring all it's own. Simple fact checking and cross referencing will filter most all of it. The beauty of this venue is as you indicated the multiplicity of available sources..... I tell my kids you have the world at your fingertips...BTW check out Michelle Malkin's take on the Media story...I had forgotten about the lame- streams using incendiary charges to blow up GM vehicles....another fine example of Journalistic integrity.

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 12:21PM

Revealing His True Nature - Spectator.org | Online Trends links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Democrats, liberals and leftists; and the unity to show RINOs the door. – C. Kenna Amos Jr. Princeton, West Virginia IF IT’S BROKAW FIX IT Re: Jeffrey Lord’s Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes: Great story. I’ll keep this one to share with my students and my children. — Shannon Clark Katy, Texas THANK YOU, Mr. Lord. You are simply invaluable to conservative…

Nobama| 9.16.09 @ 1:10PM

Obama & Co. have lost the debate on healthcare and now Obama's presidency is going down in flames. Obama is already a failed president at only 8 months in office--why else start screeching about racism?

Liberals are losers.

Liberals lost and America won.

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 3:04PM

ACORN’s House of Cards Teetering… Announces Suspending Services to New Clients Becau links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Adventure To San Bernardino and James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

CaptKirk| 9.16.09 @ 4:38PM

Unfortunately, it appears Mr. Lord didn't have the room to mention in this excellent article, that when the media got all excited over the title of the book Ortega handed Obama, and that overnight it made the number two slot on the NY Times list, they mentioned nothing about Mark Levin's book being number one on that same list. Levin's book is still on the list, I bet the Frenchman's isn't.

BB| 9.16.09 @ 4:42PM

Excellent!Well done. I could add Stanley Kurtz
of the National Review!!

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 5:00PM

The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World … « Noya Khobor links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…(Goldwater was a Major General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a World War Two veteran): “The CBS broadcast was false, … View original here: The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World … Tags: a-still-angry, and-financial, cbs, force, goldwater, major, major-general, midday-trading, still-angry, the-attempt, the-holy, World This entry was posted on…

Tulsa Jack| 9.16.09 @ 5:03PM

Great article! Brokaw is a perfect example of the truth that the opposite of knowledge is ignorance, but the opposite of wisdom is folly. Ignorant people may be wise and do good, but fools are blind and arrogant, and educated fools like Brokaw and Obama are dangerous because they have a wider scope for bringing ruin. Sound principles and integrity of character are more important to health, prosperity, and happiness than mere knowledge or rhetorical ability. Brokaw and Obama are semi-smart fools who fail the wisdom test. Good night, Tom.

Caquelin| 9.16.09 @ 6:17PM

This was an excellent article which explains much to me. I am an attorney and am embroiled in a controversy with a very vitriolic, furious man on the other side.
Your comment regarding the media reaction to Buckley's book "The reaction from liberals of the day was utter fury," is precisely the reaction I evoked from the attorney on the other side.

Iowa recently decided that same sex couples have the egalitarian right to marry. Varnum decision. I note that Iowa's Annulment laws allow a couple who never consummate the marriage to have an annulment -- far preferable to a divorce.

Since all lesbians who are married can always apply for (and receive) an annulment, egalitarian dogma says that all heteros should be allowed to have an annulment, also.

The reaction to a simple motion to grant a hetero couple an annulment (or divorce, choice left up to the judge) was and is one of fury! I have been called a gay basher, though I never said anything derogatory about gays or lesbians. I have been told I don't deserve a license to practice law and so on.

It is not over, so I can't comment to the press, and I don't really want any press even though this is surely not a jury trial matter.

What have I put my finger on which makes them squirm so much?

Is it the underscore of the fact that the Varnum decision may grant them the right to go and get a State paper which says they are married, but they can never consummate that marriage which is the ultimate State 'stamp of approval' of the marriage union?

By the way, I have never to this date heard a rational response to my motion other than "it is the most abominable thing to come out of a law office I have ever seen."

There is something to this idea which will be tested in court some day. Iowa had same-sex divorce before it had same-sex marriage. We will soon have same-sex annulment, then the heteros will try to be placed on equal footing.

By the way, the Webster Dictionary from 1888 should be accurate as far as the definition of 'impotent' (qualification for annulment). It says, "(Law) Wanting the power of procreation; unable to copulate; also, sometimes, sterile; barren."

You see, by definition, all gays and lesbian couples are 'impotent' as to each other.

Louis Rousseau Caquelin

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 7:45PM

ACORN “Pimp/Ho” Exposé: James and Hannah Interviewed by Hannity, Discuss How They Ca links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Adventure To San Bernardino and James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 10:57PM

organczar links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…at The American Spectator. I wonder how many layers of hide this took off? Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World ImplodesBy Jeffrey Lord on… 9.15.09 @ 6:08AM http://spectator.org/archives/2009/09/15/media-malpractice-tom-brokaws/ Read More The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Source: spectator.org With the passing of Walter Cronkite, Mr. Brokaw is…

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 11:05PM

Latte Links (9/16) | Caffeinated Thoughts links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…to media by parents Big Hollywood: Mainstream Media Fears Where Stories They Ignore May Lead by John Nolte William Jacobson: NY Times Needs To Hire Amateurs The American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes by Jeffrey Lord American Thinker: Obama Is Redefining the American Presidency by Lee Cary Big Hollywood: Daily Gut: Signs by Greg Gutfeld Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX): Message to Feds:…

Pingback| 9.16.09 @ 11:40PM

The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World … « work4real.net links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…the attempt to paint him as a Hitler-loving Nazi-sympathizer (Goldwater was a Major General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a World War Two veteran): “The CBS broadcast was false, … Read the rest here Related arguments: a-still-angry, after-the-13th, cbs, force, force-reserve, goldwater, holy, misguided, paint-him, writer-looks No Comments » Leave a comment Name Mail (will not be…

Pingback| 9.17.09 @ 1:44AM

O’Keefe and Giles… Exposing ACORN Child Prostitution & Tax Fraud in SAN DIEGO! Yet M links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Adventure To San Bernardino and James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

Jon Olav Tholo Tholo| 9.17.09 @ 4:22AM

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Pingback| 9.17.09 @ 7:51AM

Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes | Chicago Daily Observer links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…The views represented do not necessarily represent those of the Chicago Daily Observer.] What's particularly interesting is that the stories not reported about JFK were in the early 1960s, the effort to not report the story about President Clinton was in 1998, the story on John Edwards was hushed through the time it counted most, in the election cycle of 2008 when he was a serious presidential candidate, and the

Pingback| 9.17.09 @ 10:04AM

Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's Worl links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Philip Klein amspec American Spectator 110 Show more Shortened Links Linking to the spectator.org page http://tr.im/yO7c http://bit.ly/3FwoOc info 2 tweets Tweet The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes spectator.org/archives/2009/09/15/media-malpractice-tom-brokaws – view page – cached With the passing of Walter Cronkite, Mr. Brokaw is considered perhaps…

Pingback| 9.17.09 @ 10:27AM

San Diego and ACORN… Illegal Smuggling of Girls Over Mexican Border, More Child Pros links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Adventure To San Bernardino and James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

Belinda G.| 9.17.09 @ 11:35AM

One tiny correction-- Rielle Hunter was Edward's mistress, who then went on the payroll. True, she'd approached him about the videos, (when she met him in a bar), but the hook-up happened first. He wasn't just hitting on some staffer, he was diverting donated campaign funds to keep his sweetie around him.

Pingback| 9.17.09 @ 12:04PM

Bill O’Reilly: Scoop of the Year… ACORN’s Corruption Now Full-Blown Political Scanda links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Adventure To San Bernardino and James And Hannah Take Their Pimp/Ho Act To New York… Chris Muir, Big Government: ACORN Corrupt? Count On It. Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes Chris Field, Townhall.com:

kerry| 9.17.09 @ 2:16PM

BO (Bill O'Reilly) is "definitely watching out forrrrr......BO (Bill O'Reilly and/or Barack Obama)"
I, too was very dismayed and put off by his tone and coverage of the 9/12 march, of which I was a part of. He definitely focused on the fringe elements, of which I cringe. I understand he is trying to be balanced in his views, but his arrogance and denigration of his viewing audience is going to cost him viewers. He is, as far as I am concerned, part of the Old Media that he so frequently dismisses! It is all about him, and he will become irrelevant if he continues to ignore or belittle his audience. He also discounted, without a serious debate or discussion, the concerns many Americans have that Obama has not shown a REAL birth certificate, only a registration of birth. He stooped to name calling, calling people "loons" and "kooks" because they are concerned about a President who has never released any college records, etc. ....demarginalizing people with legitamite concerns is wrong and is no different than the left wing shouting "racist"....
Lastly, the world could be falling down but tonight and every night he will have a stripper on or a college bikini scene that will merit serious discussion. It is almost unbearable to watch him drool over these women the way he does. Ann Coulter called him a womanizer a month or to ago to his face and I loved it! And I am not a "femi-nazi" !

Bill Larson| 9.17.09 @ 2:43PM

What a wonderful article, an overdue but very accurate portrait of the leftist news media that the Hitlers and Stalins of history would have given the highest medals, had they been active in that earlier time!

James Orleans| 9.17.09 @ 3:16PM

Funny how Fox is defended as the last bastion of fair journalism when they so obviously did everything they could to derail Ron Paul's presidential campaign...after mentioning the treatment of Barry Goldwater no less. If you're supposedly airing the dirty laundry of the press, the story of Ron Paul and FOX should be highlighted on your list. Why am I not surprised you didn't mention it?

Bob Morgenstern| 9.17.09 @ 3:48PM

Dear Mr. Lord:

Thanks for hitting it on the head. Just read "Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes", and haven't stopped printing out copies and e-mailing it to friends. Couple of facts in there that you brought to the forefront for me. The list is long with the likes of Mr. Brokaw in the "Elite Media". Mr. Charles Gibson's response regarding the ACORN scandal, is scandalous in itself. How can one of the so called Major Newscasters in America just chuckle and answers in amazement, and states that he hasn't heard of the ACORN tapes when he is recently asked by a reporter to respond to tapes. Who is he kidding. That's news, not the obscure Bush Doctrine that Mr. Gibson pelted Sarah Palin with. That was one of the most condescending interviews I have ever seen.

Keep it coming. America is finally waking up from its coma of apathy.

Yours truly,
Bob Morgenstern

mike zupsic| 9.17.09 @ 5:29PM

Thank you for this open letter. I stopped listening to Brokaw when during the Atlanta Olympics, he definateively pronounced an innocent man guilty solely on the basis that the FBI found 10 penny nails in his garage. I thought, doesn't this moron know that every garage in America has a jar of 10 penny nails. And of course, Richard Jewell was not only innocent, but a hero. Freidman's rant on the show was remarkable. Almost like he was astounded people wouldn't follow his circle and would seek the truth elsewhere.

Allan Erickson| 9.17.09 @ 8:02PM

Great piece Jeffrey. Thanks very much! A couple follow up thoughts:

1. Old Media joined the Far Left to BBQ Sarah Palin week after week starting August 2008, and it continues to this day, aided by Pulizter winners like David Letterman, but Obama got a pass for associating with thugs, and terrorists, and black nationalists and radicals and criminals----glaring case of bias, only confronted by Fox and alternative media (bloggers), and talk radio.

I've been a journalist for years, and only got into blogging a year ago. I put my work out to a select audience of top-drawer people to insure accuracy, and if there is anything questionable, I hear about it in a heart-beat. Citizens, in the main, can be trusted to triple check for accuracy. There are exceptions, e.g., Daily Kos and their ilk, but you will find, I believe, trustworthy Americans working as citizen journalists doing a far better job than the Old Media by diligently embracing accuracy, fairness, balance, thorough treatment and objectivity.

'Professional' journalists, like 'professional' politicians, are on the way out, because, quite frankly, they squandered the public trust, and consequently, have none. Credibility lost: R.I.P.

Pingback| 9.17.09 @ 8:05PM

HUGE ARTICLE ABOUT MEDIA BIAS/MALPRACTICE « GOODNESS WORLD LIFE BLOG links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

BLOG GOODNESS WORLD LIFE BLOG The Greatest Good, for the Greatest Number Home About Allan Erickson HUGE ARTICLE ABOUT MEDIA BIAS/MALPRACTICE . MUST READ http://spectator.org/archives/2009/09/15/media-malpractice-tom-brokaws/ This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 12:04 am and is filed under 1. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can…

Louis Brandon| 9.18.09 @ 8:09AM

An exceptional article right up until the point where you say "his support of the nutty "Truther" movement that claims President Bush had a role in the 9/11 attacks." Your whole premise of your article is about truth and the willingness to have an open and frank discussion about events, none more important to our current state that 9/11. Just because it points to a conservative leader doesn't make it sacrosanct. There is more evidence that Neocons were involved or had foreknowledge of 9/11 than anything Kennedy did (any Kennedy.) The forensic evidence (Bldg 7 collapse especially) and the presence of thermite residue on all the steel are al lbut ignored not ionly by "Old Media" but by conservative groups. No one wants to have to deal with such a revelation (I mean the truth.)

Hoppy| 9.18.09 @ 11:07PM

Somewhere there is a graduate student struggling to make Cees as he works the night shift, or perhaps a truck driver determined to deliver the load through a five hundred mile blizzard in time to keep the factory from closing, or a guy who teaches kayaking at a summer camp, someone who's an expert on repairing automatic transmissions, or has a knack for harvesting wheat faster than anyone else. Any of them would be likely to have a better grip on what makes good public policy and combine it with justice, civility and practicality than the inhabitants of the Towers of Power in DC.. Unfortunately, the Chicago Machine cannot accomodate everyone, so it is doubtful you'll ever meet or hear of one of them of them. You see, they're a little to be busy trying to accomplish things, and can't afford to hang around the social club.

Pingback| 9.20.09 @ 10:02AM

MUST-READ: The definitive catalog of left-wing media bias « Wintery Knight Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…SS feed Admin Commentary Events Humor Mentoring News Podcasts Polemics Videos Older » 09/20/2009 • 10:00 AM MUST-READ: The definitive catalog of left-wing media bias This American Spectator essay is required reading. (H/T ECM) It is basically a list of the most egregious examples of media bias in recent memory. I am not old enough to remember some of these, especially the JFK ones. So this was…

Pingback| 9.20.09 @ 4:13PM

MUST-READ: The definitive catalog of left-wing media bias | Health-Fitness|Medicine|W links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…About pictures Sitemap Youdao Xian Guo Zhua Xia Google My Yahoo! newsgator Bloglines iNezha MUST-READ: The definitive catalog of left-wing media bias September 20th, 2009 | Tags: This American Spectator essay is required reading. (H/T ECM) It is basically a list of the most egregious examples of media bias in recent memory. I am not old enough to remember some of these, especially the JFK ones. So this was…

Pingback| 9.21.09 @ 10:57AM

BizzyBlog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…openly hostile to breaking news that discredit’s leftist causes or candidates. It used to be that they could bury bad news on their own. As the American Spectator’s Jeffrey Lord recounted last week, there’s a history going back almost 50 years of establishment media cover-ups of news that would hurt Democratic presidents. The New Media Age eventually changed that. Since legitimate…

Pingback| 9.22.09 @ 2:13AM

Breitbart on ACORN: Big Media Would Have Worked to Kill Story, Attack O’Keefe and Gi links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…openly hostile to breaking news that discredit’s leftist causes or candidates. It used to be that they could bury bad news on their own. As the American Spectator’s Jeffrey Lord recounted last week, there’s a history going back almost 50 years of establishment media cover-ups of news that would hurt Democratic presidents. The New Media Age eventually changed that. Since legitimate…

SanFransicko Pete| 9.27.09 @ 11:05PM

The Truther Movement is indeed nutty and Pop Mechanics consulted the experts to thoroughly debunk the most persistent claims of this wildly bizarre, paranoid segment of Bush Derangement Syndrome. By the way, Mr. Lord, a superb article from a fine, fair mind.

Pingback| 9.28.09 @ 10:37AM

Violated Trust: Price Paid When Major News Sites Secretly Revise or Remove Their Web links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Dirt” on Glenn Beck The Conservative Pup: ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Abandon All Pretense Of Journalism Another Black Conservative: Leno lampoons ACORN Jeffery Lord, American Spectator: Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw’s World Implodes and The Real Van Jones Scandal: Why Glenn Beck Is Right Just Americans Making Ethical Statements Weblog: WH Green Czar Van Johnson linked to Group attacking FOX News and Glenn…

Pingback| 9.28.09 @ 6:07PM

Tom Brokaw links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Tuesday NEW HAVEN - - Award-winning television journalist Tom Brokaw is giving a lecture at Yale University today on the future of journalism. The event is free, ... Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes Perhaps a "letter to Tom Brokaw" format is most appropriate. Recently you appeared on Meet the Press, discussing the issues of the day along with New York ... For…

Pingback| 9.30.09 @ 10:26AM

IrateNation.com|Irate Nation links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…a wonderful history on how the bias has led to media malpractice and kept the truth about Democrats from the public, see the article by Jeffrey Lord at the link below. The American Spectator : Media Malpractice: Tom Brokaw's World Implodes The bottom line: If you rely on the mainstream media for most of your news and information, youre as nutty as an acorn. ______________ An author and columnist, Mr.…

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