Since when is it okay for "news" people to openly editorialize?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

It's one thing for "editorialist" talk radio personalities like (cough) Rush, Hannity, or Randi Rhodes for that matter, to do it. It's expected, and there's no pretense to objectivity.

But I'm talking about things like Chris Matthews calling people who don't like Bush "whackjobs" or talking about Bush deserving (maybe, cough cough) to be on Mt. Rushmore. Or Paula Zahn saying "eww" remarking about the funeral today. Or any number of Wolf Blitzerisms.

Is this ever since Fox News? Or does it date to a little before that?

[Mythsaje]

1. Maybe people should take a break from protesting the Bush regime

and start protesting the TV news channels. THAT might be a bit harder for them to ignore.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. It started in the 90s. Don't you remember that four square screen

of pundits they would put up on the debate shows so you could see one person respond to a question while the other three made faces? Barbara Olson was one of the regulars back then. It's like the political spinners became professionals.

I will tell you that when Liberals made political statements, the conservatives would scream louder than we are now. So, we should follow their leads.

Except, I would go a step further and suggest we find out the motivation behind each pundit. For example, some are married to Republicans, like Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell. Some have expensive mortgages and may have taken Abramoff money, like Russert and possibly even Chris Matthews. Once you realize what their dirty little secret is, it sort of diminishes them and their opinion.

[fishwax]

3. when they're defending right-wing positions, of course

it's an extension of the IOKIYAR system of ethics. (It's OK, if you're a republican.)

[CTyankee]

4. What prompted Paula to say "Eww"?

I didn't see that, but then I don't watch much TV.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Her "comment" on Rev. Lowery's words at the King funeral today.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=353069

[Just Me]

5. Since "news" converted to RW views per the corporacrats.

Is that "news" to you? :shrug:

[Marr]

6. I'm not sure... but I believe it started after Fox News.

I don't recall that sort of open editorializing by self-proclaimed "journalists" before that. The bias in television news used to be almost completely about which stories were *not* covered, and the range of debate. You know, with constant pro-corporate commentary in the form of "experts" from think tanks.

That's all still around of course, and worse than ever. But you're right- cable news "journalists" like Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn do openly editorialize nowadays. The media is a joke in this country.