Why are elected Repubs permitted to get away with more than Democrats?

[kentuck]

If the Democrats were in power, and the VP was withholding documents about secret energy meetings, all hell would break loose. We recall the stink they raised about Hillary's medical reform bill she was trying to get together.

If the Democrats tried to pull this crap about hiding all the documents from years back, the Repubs would whine and the media would put pressure of the Democrats until they submitted. And if they tried to put a new archivist in to hide the present secrets, what do you think would be the reaction?

If a Democrat had run such huge deficits as the Repubs are now running, he would be nailed to a cross. If a Democrat had attempted to bring his VP to testify before a Committee, they would be ridiculed to no end. If a Democrat had attempted to hide the entire cost of the Iraq War and keep it out of budget, reporters would encircle the White House.

So, why do the Republicans escape the same scrutiny? Why are they given the benefit of the doubt and on any controversial issue, they are to be believed before their critics. When will Democrats be treated equal to the Repubs? Better yet, when will the Repubs be treated equal to the Dems?

[Cyrano]

1. "What Liberal Media?"

by Eric Alterman explains it all.

[Lefty48197]

2. They're a$$holes, and we're not.

It's that simple. Consider the fact that they spend most of their time fabricating scandals, and if you throw enough mud...

[Christ was Socialist]

3. Didn't clinton still

have like a 60% approval rating when he left office, which actually means 70% if you take away the medias hatred. Also its the dems fault, they are acting like neville fucking chamberlin. I wish they would become a party of courage and come back left. I don't buy that play the center shit anymore after clinton alienated every pragmatic socialist alive.

[stellanoir]

4. because they've been planning this coup. . .

for over 25 years. Now with control of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government, as well as the media. . they know no bounds. Nor do they feel as though they need to express or acknowledge the slightest bit of contrition.

The Dems were on the defense after Monica-gate, and tried to play by the rules. They have been duped.

I mourn our democracy regularly.

[Leilani]

5. Because the Repubs control Congress

that is where the inquiries are done.

Bush does not have to worry, because they will back him to the hilt.
And that is why they harassed Clinton.

If there was a Dem Congress, both House & Senate, things would be very different.

We need to recruit good candidates for House & Senate & support them.

[Tactical Progressive]

6. The media

They'll spend two years round-the-clock enabling the Republicans to prosecute phony sexual assault charges against a sitting President, going against public opinion and even against ratings losses to do it. They were willing to one-source any sleazy rumor against the Clintons and find a way to weave it into discussion if they didn't even have that.

They said it was the natural result of the new 24/7 cable news cycle and a voracious news culture. I even believed them enough to reluctantly excuse some of their behavior.

Until Bush, where the hypocrisy of their free ride for a corrupt, inexperienced, unqualified liar showed how stunningly dishonest their excuses for anti-Clinton animosity always were. Their Bush adoration and excuses put the lie to all of their Clinton behavior.

Tell me these aren't grist for any newsmill:

A corrupt election.
Blatant domestic security negligence leading directly to the worst attack on America in memory.
A wall of lies to start a war.

Nothing there to see. Not in American journalism.

You can't get past that. It plays out in the issues they choose to virtually ignore with nothing more than perfunctory coverage, to what stance they take on those issues while minimally and dismissively covering them, to who they talk to about those issues and what questions they pose in pursuit.

And don't think it's just because of the salaciousness or sensationalism of the charges against Clinton. Democrats hold onto that like a crutch, as if it might be the difference; as if the media hasn't really gone fully bad, they were just sucked in by sex. Sorry, no. Remember, they were trying to smear Clinton sexually during the 1992 campaign. When Mary Tillotson of CNN asked Bush Sr about his affair he told them to fuck off, in practically that language for a President. And that was it. Not another word was heard. CNN put Mary Tillotson on the CNN-Antarctic beat.

You'd think that an affair of a patrician Bush, a sitting President yet, would be more salaciously newsworthy than some hick Governor's philandering. It is in such similar news situations that you see how vast the difference in media response.

American journalism used to be one of the forces for good in America. They are now as far onto the side of the greedy assholes of this world as they can be without completely mocking themselves in everybody's eyes. To many of us they have long since crossed that line, and I have to say it took me longer than it should have to realize that.

American corporate journalism is America's most crippling enemy by far.