Kerry's war medals and the "liberal media"

[underpants]

Here is a comparison for you.

The criticism that is trying to be mounted about the first Purple Heart Kerry was awarded with reminds me of the "liberal media" big lie.

Kerry was a Lt. (I think- I don't know Navy rankings very well) so he couldn't award himself medals his superiors do that. At least the unit commander (Captain in the Army) would have to file the correct forms and reports for this to happen and I believe that commander's commander would have to approve it. Could Kerry have petitioned for it? Sure much in the same way that reporters lobby for their articles (in their language) to be published.

The oft quoted survey pointing to how overwhelmingly liberal reporters are is a favorite of the right wing, even on their own national 24 hour TV network. There are two problems with this survey that they cite. First, that survey was done in the late 60's which they conveniently forget to mention. Yes there probably were a lot of young liberals in the newspaper business at the cub reporter or just above it level, so maybe that number (~65%?) is accurate. Secondly, reporters don't decide what goes to print. Editors decide that and the publishers review every edition and tell the editors what they like and don't like. Editors and publishers have always been considerably conservative whether politically or in their reluctance to go to the extreme edge of reporting. See "All the President's Men" for an example of Ben Bradley and his editors reluctance and skepticism. Joe Conason in his fantastic book "Big Lies" states that the publishers especially have always been on the conservative side politically (big money and all).

So the image they are trying to paint of Kerry awarding himself medals is very akin to the impression that they like to give that anything and everything some idological young liberal reporters types is printed as is. Both don't pass the common sense test.

[IronLionZion]

1. Whenever I challenge a right-winger to

point out the liberal-ness of the media they can't do it. They'll usually point out some story about soldiers dying in Iraq as if that's liberal.

Then I challenge them to point out how Bush is the big war hero and that Kerry was a traitor but they can't do that either. They'll say something about being "anti-USA" by being against the Vietnam War.

[DaveSZ]

2. .

When I'm in an argument with a neocon, I usually win.

It's not because I'm a great debater, it's because all they have against me is the latest ditohead talking points and I have the truth.

:)

[Snellius]

3. As a perfect example, check out the front page of today's NY Times

Kerry's Antiwar Past Is a Delicate Issue in His Campaign

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/politics/campaign/24VET.html?hp

[underpants]

4. Uh-huh

Sounds like the old gray lady is carrying some water for Rove.

[July]

5. Big-time today.

Among articles about Kerry and Bush appears one under the heading Election Predictions (that's the category of news) with a headline saying something like Bush Will Win in Close Race. The entire piece is Gillespie offering his propaganda about not being worried about Kerry. No similar "predictions" from the Democratic side. How this qualifies as news I don not understand.

[nodictators]

6. This IS the Big Lie in action

Hitler explained in Mein Kampf how the Big Lie works. It's all about repetition. Even if they don't understand it, the people think there must be something to it, because the Big Lie is repeated relentlessly.

In this case, Herr Russert on Meet the Press began the attack on Kerry. There were (nitpicking, actually) questions about Kerry's first Purple Heart. Maybe Kerry's shrapnel wound wasn't deep enough, or something. It doesn't really matter about legitimacy with the Big Lie. Just keep repeating it.

So, ABC-TV's World News Tonight jumped on board the Big Lie train. They claimed, earlier this week, that Bush had provided all of his military records, 300 pages, but Kerry hadn't.

So, where are Bush's records? Heh-heh! You'll have to look and look. Did Bush ever get asked about the flight medical that he "didn't complete." Heh-heh! Do his records so why he stopped flying? Heh-heh!

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe, Kerry's hometown paper (owned by the NY Times) jumped in on the attack. More repetion. Heil Hitler! The Big Lie goes forward.

We'll see if it oontinues next week.

[underpants]

9. I have to admit that I didn't know the Globe was owned by the Times

Yes this is the BIG LIE in action. Good points.

[Brooklyn-Mecca]

7. Kerry...

I like the man even more for protesting the war in Vietnam.

[underpants]

8. Yes AFTER he fought in it

That gives much greater creedence to what he had to say.

Welcome to DU:hi:

[Hubert Flottz]

10. Why don't they want to talk about the War pResident's medals?

A quarter of a million bucks to teach it to fly and it goes home to it's mommy! FTA!

[underpants]

11. Was he ever actually citationed?

I don't know if that is the right word but I don't know if W ever received a medal for defending Texas from the VietCong....hell I received a medal almost everytime I went to the field (AAM's and ARCOM's) but then I was a kickass soldier........according to the Army.

[opihimoimoi]

12. Bush got no medals Bush got no medals, so what do they do??

Lie cheat steal, etc including making fun of Kerry who does have medals. This is sick.

[ComerPerro]

15. Give it time. Bush will get medals

By November, they might find some "newly discovered evidence" of Bush serving honorably and heroicly, and recieving high honors and medals.

[opihimoimoi]

17. LOL, yes, you could be right. They will come up with something

for the shrub to pin on his chest. Hope its a lie detector set.

[Hubert Flottz]

18. I got my roadguard ribbon and KP badge!

Kerry IS PISSED and talking about Bush being AWOL on CNN! I LOVE IT!

[Sparkly]

13. Just heard Bob Franken

showing a clip of Karen Hughes bashing Kerry, showing Bush on the campaign trail bashing Kerry, showing Cheney and saying how he's going to be bashing Kerry....

Not a word on what Kerry's been saying about Bush on the war, the economy, the march this weekend, or anything else...

Why am I still watching CNN!?!

[maggrwaggr]

14. you are watching CNN to make a list of their crimes

so we can bust them.

Write them down. Post them here.

[opihimoimoi]

16. Yup, the lies add up. Soon the Credibility Gap will over power the brain

washing.

The Pubs got nothing else but to go neg they having an absense of Positiveness.

[onecitizen]

19. While you all were.......

checking out CNN I had MSNBC on where they had some Joe Blow on there who said: John Kerry was involved in war crimes while there and he scared the other soldiers cause he shot at everything that moved! I swear to God. The news host, tried to make it alright and said something about we don't know that that is true at all. But the ol' man kept saying bad things about Kerry. Kerry should sue them. It was blatant slander.

[Canadian_moderate]

20. CNN biased?

Call me an extremist moderate (;o), but I personally think that, overall, CNN has been quite fair to the dems so far.

The fact that right-wingers are calling CNN the commie news network explains how they see it. I think CNN is just giving a voice to both sides and allowing the public to make up their own minds, as newschannels should do. Otherwisse, it just becomes another source of propaganda.

With the exception of maybe a few folks, I have the impression that most of the CNN staff are democrats.

[maggrwaggr]

21. well you're either not watching the same CNN we are, or

you don't belong on this board.

Watch Wolf Blitzer sometime and see if that doesn't change your mind.

You are being lied to.

If you don't realize it, you need to get yourself educated.

[KittyWampus]

22. Blitzer, Crowley, Schneider, Woodruff Are DEMOCRATS?

damn... just, damn.