PrintNovember 16, 2010
The mainstream media trickle down effect
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, everyone is NOT entitled to their own truth."
I realize the following conjecture is neither groundbreaking nor a recent development. For years now, many have warned of, and written extensively about, the demise of the "free press" in America. Obviously, there is no shortage of evidence pointing to the blatant liberal bias of the media on a national level. Similarly, there is a preponderance of left-leaning media outlets throughout the country on a local level. Rare indeed is a city newspaper that supports a conservative, or even centrist, perspective instead of foisting their strident liberal viewpoint upon readers through a misleading "objective" format.
But as of late, the rhetoric has elevated way beyond mere political polemics. It appears as if a blatant disregard for the facts is no longer relegated to a handful of the most rabid ideologues, but rather has become the SOP for most everyone in media who support the progressive/Obama agenda.
That is certainly the case here in Upstate New York, and is ignobly displayed in the following excerpt from an op-ed, titled Lame-Duck Dreams: Seize the chance to accomplish more, Congress, published by the Syracuse Post-Standard Editorial Board, November 12, 2010.
The lame-duck session of Congress due to begin Monday could be more productive than many lackluster post-election periods. With Republicans poised to take over the House in January and enlarge their Senate contingent, the calculus of governing will change. Republicans could tie the Obama administration in knots, and already promise to try to repeal or "de-fund" the massive health care overhaul. The influx of tea party ideologues challenges both parties on such matters as deficits, taxes and entitlement spending. In short, the time to act on worthwhile "leftover" pieces of Obama's agenda is now, if ever.This session of Congress already has achieved much, including health care reform, the economic stimulus, new financial regulations, student loan reform. Other urgent business - on climate change, campaign disclosure, immigration - face an uncertain fate in the next session.Bush-era tax cuts, sold as a way to curb spending and spur economic growth, did neither, while costing the federal government hundreds of billions of dollars before 2008, when the economy fell apart. Congress would never have approved the cuts without this year's "sunset" provision. A fragile economy makes it unwise to let all the cuts expire Dec. 31. But making them permanent would mean a staggering $4 trillion in lost revenue over the next decade. A short-term extension is justifiable - though ending the breaks now for top earners could start reducing the deficit. If this Congress can't muster the political will to act, the next session will have a real mess on its hands.
Reading like the remaining to-do-list of the suddenly desperate Obama administration, this wish list for the last session of a Democratically controlled Congress, besides being bereft of the truth, makes about as much practical sense as having the queen of liberal arrogance, Nancy Pelosi, remain the speaker for their now (and for the foreseeable future) minority party. That is to say, none at all.
The most mind-blowing aspect of this leftist pap is that it comes directly on the heels of the historic rejection of the Democratic Party platform in both Congress and State Houses across the land. This debilitating defeat occurred precisely because liberal democrats, supported whole-heartedly by the "mainstream" media, pushed through their socialist agenda, like the one described above, against the will of a majority of reasonable, tax-paying, and voting Americans.
Apparently, the Post-Standard Editorial Board, like most others in the MSM, has a hard time separating their ideology from this reality. Or perhaps they are no longer concerned with reality; furthering their agenda regardless of the plain truth is all that matters anymore. One would think that at some point the unequivocal and steadfast reasoning behind their abysmal election results should serve as a wakeup call. But not for this delusional bunch.
You see media elitists, the majority of reasonable, tax-paying, and voting Americans are neither hopelessly bigoted nor ignorant. We are well-educated, hard-working, and fair-minded. We are moderate to conservative in our politics, our social ideals, and our daily lives. We will only tolerate the encroachment of deleterious behavior from individuals, organizations, or governments to a certain (if not well-defined) limit.
After that, we will, in a legal, constitutional, and honorable manner stand our ground and allow no more. That, my condescending friends, is exactly what happened November 2, 2010, and any attempt to explain it away using your convoluted logic, without the backing of factual evidence, will only lead to your further demise.
