Why Does Corporate Media Still Ignore the Race-Based Resentment of Tea Partiers?

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Posted by billmon at 9:44 am
July 22, 2010

Why Does Corporate Media Still Ignore the Race-Based Resentment of Tea Partiers?
Posted by billmon on @ 9:44 am


This post first appeared on Daily Kos.

Proving once again that no power on earth can force the “newspaper of record” to recognize what it is determined to ignore, the New York Times has released the results of a major survey of the teabagger movement. The paper’s considered judgement:

Their fierce animosity toward Washington, and the president in particular, is rooted in deep pessimism about the direction of the country and the conviction that the policies of the Obama administration are disproportionately directed at helping the poor rather than the middle class or the rich.

The original headline on the web version of the story:

Poll Finds Tea Party Anger Rooted in Issues of Class

But, that particular piece of misinformation has since been flushed down the memory hole, to be replaced by the more anodyne (though still dubious) heading:

Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More Educated

Which, if true, would be a terrible indictment of our national diploma mills and matchbook cover mechanical academies, but more likely is another example of the now-familiar tendency of teabaggers to claim things (diplomas, in this case) that are not, in the strict technical sense of the word, true — in this or any other universe.

But the original headline actually did a much better job of capturing the Times’s deliberate cluelessness about the wellspring of all that teabagger rage, which appears to have a hell of a lot more to do with the particular, um, complexion of the alleged recipients of the Obama Administration’s generosity — as well as the guy allegedly giving it — than it does with their place on the socioeconomic ladder:

“I do believe we are responsible for the widow and the orphan,” said Richard Gilbert, a 72 year old retired teacher. “But I think there is a welfare class that lives for having children and receiving payment from the government for having those children. They have no incentive to do any better because they have been conditioned into it.”

Gee, I wonder who he might be talking about? Some of the “widows and orphans,” it appears, need to move to the back of the bus. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/07/22/why-does-corporate-media-still-ignore-the-race-based-resentment-of-tea-partiers/

[alc]

1. this is why I think there is something to the journolist criticism.

I don't want journalists & editors running things by each other and discussing issues with each other. Even if their intent is get additional information (I think it is) and not collude on stories (a ridiculous accusation for professional journalists) they are likely to be influenced at least a little on the "important" aspects of a store and even the tone. And when they all are hearing the same experts and academics it's likely that they will report very similar things. I want them doing their own research and finding their own experts and only running their ideas by their co-workers and editors, not other organizations.

And if all the other editors are going one way with a story, it's less likely that one will be willing to take a risk with a different view (possibly loose access to a source or be alone in angering some group).

I am NOT saying there is ANY intent to mislead, collude, or agree upon stories.

[customerserviceguy]

2. Outside of here

and other progressive boards and forums, there isn't a vast perception that it's race based.

Outside of a few crude signs, and some taunts from the fringe of the tea party, it pretty much looks like the same people who opposed Bill Clinton, and that wasn't race based.

[marmar]

3. The fringe? Mark Williams was one of its leaders.

nt

[customerserviceguy]

5. I guess he didn't last too long as a leader

of a movement that's only about a year old.

I see the tea partiers trying very hard to stay on message through Election Day. I think it will be much more difficult for them to do that once they have a few of their kind in office. They'll be a lightning rod for "guess what this politician said today!" journalists.

[OHdem10]

4. The Media Narrative--Republicans will take over the House and

possibly the senate in the next election.

There, they cannot be questioning or criticizing
Republicans--after all they must help them win.
Tea Partiers are Republicans.