A rchive Date
[ 23-05-2005 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[Left goes for the low blow in election fight
By R. CORT KIRKWOOD -- Ottawa Sun
2000 Here is an undeniable truth about the news media: They permit liberals to utter demonstrably false and irresponsible statements aimed at inflaming the public, then they repeat them, often without regard to their truth.
It's been going on for years, but the aftermath of this election has proved it beyond doubt. And it's one reason millions of Americans believe liberal bias colours the news.
After the recounts began, Jesse Jackson, that voice of reason, landed in Florida to say black citizens were denied the right to vote in a "systematic plan of voter suppression." The story evolved to include the equally reckless and false charge that police erected road blocks to keep blacks from driving to the polls.
Then Paul Begala, that Democrat thug, whipped out the rhetorical blackjack to level the charge that George W. Bush voters are degenerate bigots who would gleefully murder a black man or homosexual.
The NAACP, by the way, was behind that contemptuous campaign advertisement linking Bush with the evil men who murdered James Byrd by dragging him behind a car. The murderers face the death penalty. But all that wasn't enough. Gore's goon squad got personal. A fashion writer at the Washington Post penned a vitriolic, spiteful attack on Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, ostensibly because of her appearance, particularly, her cosmetics.
But the real motive behind the literary mugging was this: Harris is a Republican who did her job by the book.
On Monday, the dangerous discourse came full circle with Jackson candidly promising a "civil rights explosion" if the courts do not rule to continue counting ballots, obviously, until Al Gore wins.
Said the good reverend, "People will not surrender to this tyranny ... People will be fighting for their right to vote and for their vote to count." And he added, "The same forces that were against the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ... seek to disenfranchise us in 2000."
Jackson's implication is clear: If Gore doesn't win, protest and riots may result. Finally, the left has come clean. Now, going to court to overturn any democratically passed decision it doesn't like isn't enough. Now, it issues ultimatums: We win, or else.
We've heard these threats before, in places such as Munich and Moscow.
But back to the media, and how the liberal punditocracy and editorial pages have reacted to the calumnies and inflammatory rhetoric from the left. They haven't reacted. And we all know why. They want Gore to win. Just imagine the outcry if some Republican hack published a malicious screed that said most Gore voters are criminals or welfare cheats.
Or if a major daily newspaper published a mean-spirited rant about a Democrat woman, say Susan Estrich. Or if a Republican operative promised "an explosion" if Bush didn't win.
The New York Times and Washington Post, and liberal newspapers across the land, would hurl editorial thunderbolts about "undermining democracy." Dan Rather would furrow a grave brow in front of an image of George W. Bush. Ted Koppel would call a town hall meeting. Bryant Gumbel would get the vapours.
But not in this case, because the media gives its left-wing friends the latitude they need to make their point. Thus has it permitted Al Gore's disciples to float ludicrous, unproven charges of voter intimidation, to level provocative prevarications about his opponent, and now, to deliver veiled threats of outright violence.
It's an outrage.
But it's entirely predictable. If the media want to know or even care why critics charge them with liberal bias, they need only review the vile accusations of the last 30 days, then note what they said in response:
Nothing.
Kirkwood writes on U.S. affairs for the Sun. Letters to the editor should be sent to oped@sunpub.com.]
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