Journalistic Hypocrisy

None of the non-cable news networks gave more than cursory coverage to the arrest of the Philadephia man, and Democratic supporter, who issued death threats to Eric Cantor, the GOP House Whip.  This is after leading the news nightt after night with illusory threats to Democratic politicians who supported the government seizure our health care industry. 

NBC on Monday night squeezed in a few seconds for the arrest of “a Philadelphia man for threatening the life of the number two Republican in the House of Representatives, Eric Cantor of Virginia.”

Yet after the networks led last week with less-immediate threats against Democrats, they weren’t so interested in a real case of a death threat against a Republican as neither CBS nor ABC aired a word about the arrest and NBC’s Brian Williams gave it short-shrift after leading last Wednesday with Democrats as the victims: “It's getting ugly as anger over health care reform erupts into some over-the-top rhetoric, including threats now against members of Congress.”

CBS:

last week started with “threats of violence against Democrats who voted for health care reform” as Nancy Cordes relayed how “Democrats complain Sarah Palin is also using violent words and imagery.” On Monday, the CBS Evening News devoted a full story to fretting over a “loophole” which insurance companies may use to delay providing coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions and Katie Couric spent half a minute on how the New York Yankees are “the best-paid team in all of sports,” with the NBA “the highest-paid league” followed by cricket’s Indian Premier League.

Oddly enough the ABC, Washington DC affiliate reported the arrest, their nightly news reported

Diane Sawyer began with “homegrown hate, extremists from a Midwestern, Christian militia under arrest.” Five days earlier, a dire Sawyer warned “opposition to health care turns menacing,” asserting “angry opponents of the [health] bill unleashed threatening phone calls, scathing words, even bricks thrown through windows.”

My guess is that this doesn't fit the narrative that is being constructed.  Last summer, Democrats labels the Tea Party movement as being violent, racists, Nazi's...so of course that is what they are trying to do again.