During a typically right-leaning roundtable discussion on ABC‘s This Week (3/17/13), George Will said this about the big Conservative Political Action Conference:
First, here’s the New York Times headline on the CPAC conference: “GOP Divisions Fester at Conservative Retreat.” Festering an infected wound, it’s awful. I guarantee, if there were a liberal conclave comparable to this, and there were vigorous debates going on there, the New York Times headline would be, “Healthy Diversity Flourishes at Liberal Conclave.”
While one could argue what event would qualify as a liberal/left alternative to CPAC, it’s safe to say that none of them get as much media attention as CPAC.
But there are such conferences. In D.C., the liberal Campaign for America’s Future organizes one. Back in 2006, when it was called “Take Back America,” this was the New York Times headline (6/14/06):
Clinton and Kerry Show Democratic Divide on Troop Withdrawal
And here’s another headline (6/8/10) about the same conference (though it had changed its name):
Pushing a Liberal Agenda, With Democrats as Target
To be fair to Will, his other point–that political media needlessly portray ideological conflict within parties or movements as some kind of problem–has some merit.
But the idea that one headline about a lavishly over-covered conservative conference that features appearances by Sarah Palin and Donald Trump is evidence of liberal media bias–that’s just a reminder that there’s just not much of a case to be made here.
RNC Chairman Reince Preibus himself called the conference an “autopsy” of the election. So if George is looking for the source of negative terminology related to CPAC, he needs look no further than its puppeteer.
In my RSS feed version of this article, where I am treated to one sentence before clicking through to read the whole article here on fair.org, it says “George Will offers imaginary headline to prove his point about liberal media bias. Real headlines, unfortunately, don’t back up his case.”
When I came to read the full article here, I saw no reference to the NYTimes headline being imaginary. That is probably because it wasn’t imaginary: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/us/politics/conservatives-take-up-question-of-change-at-retreat.html?_r=0
I notice that the same short blurb as quoted above is still on the front page of your blog.
Yes, that one isn’t imaginary – the other is. The “Healthy diversity” one. The point is that he is calling out liberal media bias by using made up version of an existing headline and that, apparently, real headlines by liberal media covering liberal events aren’t like that. They’re plainly not, but also the choice of words isn’t as negative as in the one about CPAC.
Stu Chuang Matthews
” I guarantee, if there were a liberal conclave comparable to this, and there were vigorous debates going on there, the New York Times headline would be, “Healthy Diversity Flourishes at Liberal Conclave.”
So what part of “Healthy Diversity Flourishes at Liberal Conclave” is real? Do you have a link that show this headline? Is there an article that you can show us that does have that headline? If not, then that would qualify as “theoretical”. And since George Offered that, I think it is pretty clear the article is right.
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George has always been willing blame the imaginary bogey man of the so called “Liberal press” for everything, including his own major gaffs that he did all on his own. Further, had that been a real headline about a “Liberal” or supposed “Left leaning” bunch, it would have hailed as truth and accuracy for all time. This man is the epitome of ‘Black/White’ Mini-true reporting hypocrisy. If his buddies were to snuff out a thousand american children it would be glorious and sung to the heavens in praise. If the “other side” saved those same thousand children, it would condemned as the most treasonable and heinous act against humanity. The man has lied and turned the truth upside down so often, nothing he says resembles the truth except by pure accident.
CaseInDot and Padremellyrn, thanks for clearing that up. To me it looked like the imaginary headline referred to the “Fester” article, but now I see it is referring to the “Flourishes” article.
George Will has the best vocabulary of any political hack out there.People listen to his bullsh-t because it sounds just so impressive and authoritative,Fact is,he’s no more informed or intelligent than any number of partisan talking heads.Him and Rush are two sides of the same coin.
Geo. Will is nothing but a political right-wing hack. Disgusting ABC hasn’t gotten rid of him by now. Guess they don’t know any so-called liberals but proves they don’t want to hear the truth.
George Will’s CONSERVATIVE bias is well known. As a matter of fact, he seems to become move even farther to the right as he ages. Right now, he can’t get much further to the right unless he puts on a white robe and dances around a burning cross. I always thought Mr. Will was a very intelligent man but now I am beginning to wonder.
Networks Nation, possibly.
I meant Netroots Nation.
This is the same George Will 20 years ago was wondering what all this talk about “infrastructure” was all about. To him roads, bridges, dams, schools, libraries etc were just not part of it if it even exists. In effect a deconstruction of society and civilization into islands. I suppose he is secretly telling us only the elites like himself have any structure and the rest of us just should live in separate islands expecting no help, no loans, no services. A true Ayn Rand version of utopia.
No one headline would ever prove liberal media bias.That it exists massively would only take a few minutes of perusing headlines at any minute,on any day,any month or year in at least the last ten years to make it easy.We on the right have Fox ,and that is about it for TV.Radio we are better served by our opinion makers.In print,id say it was 80-20 lib split.
Now remove the to the wall Reich Wing GOP machine called “Fox News” and then you see no Liberals there, just Cons siding with Republicans and Progressives, Liberals and others are totally left out. Ever ask any actual Liberals about that? Read FAIR and you see that the “Liberal Bias” is a myth created and sustained by the CMSM. But the myth makers continue like yourself Michael-e. Reality still disagrees and contradicts you. You are welcome to give examples. Do you ever listen to Democracy Now or watch Young Turks? Now that is Liberal.
Nightgaunt Do I watch Democracy now?Every single day.I watch Bill from Mars, and listen to a whole host of “liberal” shows.I wonder do you listen to Rush?I worked for Clinton and understand all too well the duplicity on the left.That is why I watch.To be amazed every day at the aplomb of their lies.
John the liberal bias that is in the press does not reflect the will of the people as it were.Hence the massive success of FOX over them.I read where in out of the ten top journalism schools- only one professor called him self a conservative.That is ONE if you missed the point.THAT is your answer.Who is feeding these minds of mush this pablum?Why a 99% liberal(self espoused)teaching staff.Turning out and churning out people who believe this way.This country in its attitudes is still very conservative.So where is the reflection in these top schools?How about we have an equal opportunity hiring for conservative profs?Look,Even the voters who voted this bunch in again are against almost all of Obamas policies.They like the man …not the message.Or even the job he is doing.Again this is why FOX continues to grow.And grow and grow.As far as examples of media bias it is so far over the top we could go chapter and verse on any newspaper.How bout this one.What did this president say his healthcare would cost?What is the cost now expected to be?Ok this is either a massive lie or a mistake.Yet where is the press asking the simple question….”is this the road we want to travel now that the numbers are beginning to reflect exactly what those on the right said would happen ,if this passed?”And remember at the time we were called crazy.Why is the president planning his next vacation (probable cost over ten million)while he again returns to the taxocrat troff for so called shared sacrifice?Where is the press that should crucify him for such largess?Go to friggin camp David you boob.It was built for YOU!But no you want Hawaii or a round of golf with tiger woods.At MY expense!!!!Today Beck played about 45 minutes of Joe Biden tapes from live situations asking the simple question….is he drunk?For a man who says he never drinks he damn well looked drunk and sounded it.This is the clown….the numnuts….the laughing fool- who sits an inch from power.That is why we conservatives pray everyday for obamas health.Where is the press realizing this is a story?Why did the DHS buy 1.7 BILLION rounds of ammo?More bullets than our military used in 24 years of war?Also 2700 armed armored mine sweeping vehicle for use in the good ol USA?WHERE IS THE PRESS?As Obama speaks under a massive poster of ARafat(remember he made them remove Jesus)Promising the Palestinians money ….WHERE IS THE PRESS?As Pelosi says the sequestration will cost 140 million jobs twice (we only have 114 total)WHERE IS THE PRESS to ask…are you drunk too?I could go on all day.THANK GOD for any counterbalance to the drive by media
Michael e. You are funny. “Massive success”. Now that’s hilarious. Both parties lie. It’s just that the right is much more destructive to living things with their lies. You know, little things, lie WARS that kill thousands of our people and theirs and only fought for egos. Bush, Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld should be in The Hague right now for their war crimes trials.
John Im sure plenty of blame can go around.But we are here…right now….with a man who is presiding over the complete destruction of this country.He actually said last week the we are not in a fiscal crisis.And that moron Baynard parroted him.This country IS GOING TO COLLAPSE.We are in a non sustainable spending borrowing and money printing spiral that will tank us all.So if you want to talk past wars,spending ,gay marriage and anything else im open to it.But in the end it is all beside the point.There are some few(very few) people in the republican party who get it.Rand Paul gets it.And a growing host of others.NO ONE on the left gets it that I can see.And the press is not telling the passengers to head for the deck.We are ALL being treated like poor irish flotsam.And the captain right now is Obama.Forget Bush and his ilk and their mistakes.That is just smoke and mirrors my friend.They are all fishing or playing golf.Forget Clinton,or Reagan.The past is the past.Captain Obama is Driving this ship of state hell bent into an iceberg like a blind man -.While telling us we can’t sink.For christ sake STOP providing cover for these idiots.
Thanks for the updates. I’m doing a lot of research on this topic for an article I’m writing so info like this pays off.