| In Propaganda/Noise Machine During the May 28 edition of CNN's Reliable Sources, conservative blogger and nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt pointed to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh as a model of the type of media figure that could help the mainstream media get Americans' "trust back." Defending Limbaugh to Reliable Sources host Howard Kurtz, Hewitt stated that "people can't argue" with Limbaugh's "re-branding as America's anchorman." "But," Kurtz interjected, "Rush Limbaugh would make no pretense of being an objective journalist. He's a commentator." Hewitt replied, Limbaugh "also does information dissemination, which is what I do and what you do." Neither Hewitt nor Kurtz made any reference to Limbaugh's extensive record of misinformation. Here are just a few examples documented by Media Matters for America: - Limbaugh recently distorted scientific research to downplay the significance of global warming.
- Limbaugh recently touted a discredited Drudge Report story on the Democratic National Committee, even after Drudge issued an apparent retraction.
- Limbaugh claimed that Ben Domenech, washingtonpost.com's former "Red America" blogger, wasn't a plagiarist, despite Domenech having admitted to past plagiarism.
- Limbaugh falsely claimed that Rep. Dennis Kucinich's (D-OH) proposal for a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence would "[g]et rid of the Department of Defense."
- Limbaugh falsely suggested that Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer (NY) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) ignored port security before the United Arab Emirates' Dubai Ports World port controversy.
- Limbaugh falsely accused Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) of opposing National Security Agency "intercepts of the enemy."
- Additionally, Limbaugh has suggested that former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Clinton were secretly funding the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
- More recently, Limbaugh has baselessly claimed that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to President Bush contained "Democratic talking points" and "even some liberal Hollywood Jewish people talking point."
From the May 28 edition of CNN's Reliable Sources: KURTZ: To include people who have -- who have openly advertised conservative views for a job in which you're not supposed to tilt one way or the other? HEWITT: But we all know that everyone tilts one way or the other. They just hide it better or less. And my argument at this [Museum of Television & Radio] conference was that transparency means tell people what you believe so that they can correct for the lie of the green. And if you want trust back -- that was what our big thing was, how do you get trust? The most trusted journalist in America -- this might shock you -- is Rush Limbaugh. He has the highest sustained audience. And I made that argument to them. And people can't argue with his re-branding as America's anchorman. KURTZ: But Rush Limbaugh would make no pretense of being an objective journalist. He's a commentator. HEWITT: But he -- though he also does information dissemination, which is what I do and what you do.
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1 comment:
Here’s from a piece of mine today at opednews.com about Media Matters being allowed to appear on the O’Reilly Factor. The “you” addressed is Bill O’Reilly.
“So while I’m waiting to hear back from you about when Media Matters can come on your show, I’m going to ask around about what people think about Media Matters and you getting together to hash-out your riff. I figure far more knowledgeable people at places like Huffingtonpost, Alternet and Common Cause can answer whether or not they think Fox News should be fair and balanced in allowing time to people who feel that they have been unfairly accused. Then again I reckon my fellow bloggers might want to have some input in whether the mainstream media should be more balanced. Even journalists might want to touch upon professional standards and ethics. Who knows what people will have to say about the Media Matters-Bill O’Reilly affair? Some people might even see it as a David versus corporate Goliath. Anyway, we’ll hopefully find out, Mr. O’Reilly, how much the left thinks of fair and balanced coverage on mainstream media. We’ll see if the liberal/progressive movement can stand up for one of its own like Media Matters. Hopefully, you will hear their opinions as much as me.”
Here are two pieces referencing this matter:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_richard__060601_media_matters_respon.htm
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_richard__060530_will_bill_o_reilly_e.htm
Thanks,
Richard Mathis
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