Press manipulating
American public
To the editor:
Do you want to know what is really happening in the news?
Then don’t depend solely upon the major network TV newscasts or many of the daily newspapers. Check out the more balanced news services like foxnews.com and cnsnews.com and conservative newspapers like The Washington Times on the Internet or tune in the conservative radio talk show hosts to hear "the other side."
This past week, the major media really tipped their hand as they tried to destroy the reputation of President George W. Bush’s choice for U.S. Attorney General, Sen. John Ashcroft. A man of integrity with an impeccable record, Senator Ashcroft was portrayed by the media as a racist, an achronistic, religious extremist. As dozens of liberal organizations threw out lies, accusations and distortions, the liberal major media faithfully spewed them out, unconcerned about whether they were based upon fact or whether or not they were destroying the reputation of a good, decent man.
For example, Senator Ashcroft was accused of being a racist because he had refused to confirm Ronnie White, an African-American judge appointed by President Clinton. Investigation showed that Senator Ashcroft’s opposition had nothing to do with race and everything to do with Judge White’s vote to reverse the death penalty for a convicted killer who had murdered his wife and three police officers in cold blood.
Senator Ashcroft was joined by 79 law enforcement officials and 55 Republican senators who also believed Judge White to be "soft on crime" and, therefore, unfit for the office.
In truth, Senator Ashcroft confirmed 26 out of the 28 African-American federal judges appointed by President Clinton. When he was governor of Missouri, he was one of the first governors to sign Martin Luther King Day into law, created a George Washington Carver award to encourage academic excellence among blacks and fought to save Lincoln University, which was founded by African-American soldiers. His wife works at Howard University, a black university in Washington, DC. Did you hear these facts reported?
Because of Senator Ashcroft’s pro-life beliefs, his ability to enforce the law was called into question by the media. Since when can’t an American hold conscientious personal beliefs without being "demonized" for them? Isn’t this a free country?
Along the same line, Senator Ashcroft was labeled "anachronistic" because of his strong religious beliefs (wasn’t religious freedom the reason our country was founded?) and also for not drinking (what do they want, a drunken U.S. Attorney General?).
It would be almost funny if it weren’t so scary. The media did the same thing with Robert Bork when he was nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987 and for Clarence Thomas in 1991. Recently, they tried to discredit Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris.
If it is someone who holds their views, however, the treatment is entirely different. They must like Jesse Jackson because as of the Jan. 18 5:40 p.m. computer update of USA Today and even later that evening, the day’s breaking story about Jackson’s adultery and out-of-wedlock paternity was missing from the front page of the paper.
TV news did report it at 5 and 6 p.m., but referred to Jackson’s illegitimate child as a "love child" (talk about a euphemism!) and chose mainly man-on-the-street interviewees who trivialized the situation with "Well, that’s life" or "He’s human."
As President George W. Bush was being inaugurated our 43rd president Jan. 20, Channel 6 anchor Peter Jennings observed, "Many in the country are saying, ‘Who would have thunk it?’ " Can you imagine a less professional or respectful comment?
As a former newspaper reporter, I am horrified and outraged at this blatant, "in-your-face" press bias where they tell us what they want us to hear and withhold what they don’t. I feel that we should hold the media responsible by calling or writing to the TV stations or newspapers when we discern them misusing their power and manipulating us in this way.
Delaware Township

