Just when you thought the New York Times could not be any more partisan, biased and hypocritical, they go and pull a stunt that would make Janeane Garofalo blush.
The central character in this latest Times brouhaha (without the haha) is a radical leftist by the name of Van Jones. Jones was President Obama’s “green jobs czar” until he resigned in the middle of the night, just after midnight on Saturday. If you only got your news from the Times, you’d have every right to ask: Who’s Van Jones – and why did he resign?
Well, he’s the presidential adviser who (before he became a czar) said Republicans were assholes. But that, as things turned out, was a 1 one on the political Richter Scale. Then there were the comments about how white polluters and environmentalists are steering poison into black communities. Another ripple. And his public support for Mumia Abu-Jamal,who is on death row for the murder of a Philadelphia police officer. More ripples. But what caused a major quake was the revelation that Jones signed a petition a few years ago that called for an investigation to determine if the attacks on 9/11 were an inside job. Specifically, the “9/11 Truthers,” as they’ve been called, want to know if George W. Bush and the neo-cons in his administration willfully allowed the 9/11 attacks to happen so they could use the deaths of more than three thousand of their fellow Americans as a pretext to go to war.
Anyone who truly believes this, is not only suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome but is also a full-fledged psycho. It really is that simple.
But the fact that an adviser to the president signed such a screwball petition drew only yawns from the so-called mainstream media. Not surprisingly, Fox ran with the story, and so did talk radio – after the Gateway Pundit blog broke the news last Thursday. And when the story got traction in the conservative media, Van Jones morphed from loudmouth radical to cowering weasel and said the petition didn’t reflect his views, then or now. Really? Then why did he sign the damn thing?
The fact is until he resigned the New York Times ran exactly zero words about the controversy. Zero! But this didn’t stop the Times from reporting the following in its Sunday (Sept. 6) paper:
“In a victory for Republicans and the Obama administration’s conservative critics, Van Jones resigned as the White House’s environmental jobs ‘czar’ on Saturday.
Controversy over Mr. Jones’s past comments and affiliations has slowly escalated over several weeks, erupting on Friday with calls for his resignation.”
As Clay Waters of the Media Research Center elegantly put it: “An ‘escalation’ utterly ignored by the Times and almost all the mainstream media.”
Before he quit, NBC Nightly News didn’t cover the “escalating controversy” and neither did ABC World News Tonight. On Friday night, the CBS Evening News had a story about the Jones controversy and on Saturday morning the Washington Post ran a piece on page 3. And that pretty much was it as far as the MSM was concerned.
Now, let’s go back a month.
When the so-called “Birthers” – a fringe group of right-wingers (many of whom have criticized me for calling them that) were screaming about how Barack Obama was not born in the United States and therefore was not our legitimate president, the New York Times was outraged and demanded that prominent Republicans denounce these screwballs. But the Times never called on Democrats, prominent or otherwise, to denounce Van Jones. The “Birthers” are bad. The “9/11 Truthers” are worse.
News editors have always argued that news judgment is subjective – and that they alone have to make decisions on what gets into the paper and what doesn’t. Okay. So what should we make of their news judgment in the matter of Van Jones?
Well, one possibility is that the editors at the New York Times just didn’t think the story was all that important – nothing more than “a phony story whipped up by crazy, vicious right-wingers,” as a friend of mine who no longer can stand to read the Times put it, “and they weren’t going to fall for it.” Maybe the editors got together and said something like, “What’s the big deal about an adviser to the President of the Untied States signing a petition that questions whether George W. Bush was somehow involved in the 9/11 attacks?” If that’s what happened, then every hard news editor at the Times should resign and go into a line of work where journalistic skills are not required.
But then there’s always that other possibility: that they were covering for a president they’ve been rooting for since the day he announced his candidacy, a president they tried to turn into a Messiah, a president who is simply too historically important to fail.
I don’t know which it is. And just between us: I don’t really care! What’s important is that an important adviser to the President of the United States had to resign even though the New York Times (and much of the MSM that takes its cues from the Times) tried to keep the mess off our radar screen. Arrogant journalists probably figured, News is what WE say News is. That may have been true once, but not anymore.
So let’s just call this latest round of bias and hypocrisy, one more self-inflicted mainstream media wound – one of many that sooner or later will finish them off. And that’s the “inside job” they should really be worrying about.
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Dear Mr. Goldberg:”For What’s It’s Worth” Thank you for your analogies. You are insightful and thought provoking. That said I want for nothing. While all the roosters and hens are in the barnyard participating in poultry activities, you sir, have maintained your edge and dignity. I’m sure you’ve been cannon fodder for some rags + hacks, but you never seem to loose your wits or integrity.
I think the reason for the media free for all is the number of media outlets. Compare it to the watered down pitching in MLB due to expansion. We went from 3 local + network feeds to several. Teletype was AP + UPI. I always liked Mr. Cosell”s hook “Tell it Like it Is”, bad toup and all. Never thought you had to sell your soul for a scoop. Guess you actually have to owne a soul to be able to sell one.
Same goes for radio. Top 40 jocks are wearing pancake and hollering about politics. I like some of their passion,but find most of them over the top and theatrical. Going for and falling far short of ,Orson Wells,”War of the Worlds”live broadcast. The independent 25yr old filmmaker and a convincing actress scooped the media complex on Acorn. I Loved It! It’s like the old bait and switch and 3 card montie spawned.
How about the “Late Nite Debacle”. Yea like an affair with a staffer is a new concept. Ethics are involved, but two consenting adults having an affair, Stop The Presses. What about the producer? Maybe we should all fire off a resume to ,Worldwide Pants, before they hire Polanski, provided we aren’t required to “Take One For The Team”. Best Regards, Anthony Ferreira
Mr Goldberg was on Oreilly last week, and talked negatively of an unnamed Fox host who he claimed told lies and pretended to be a journalist and how bad this was. Well Bernie, why are you so infatic that commentators state whether they are a journalist or not?? There are millions of them that work for the Main Stream media, who tell lie after lie every day, they are the people who are suppposed to get the real story for the people, but in their failure the rise of conservative commentators seems to be the only ones in media who are looking for the truth and the crooked ties between Obama and his cohorts. I dont see any journalist at CBS,NBC ABS reporting the Obama ties, so give me a break with your comments
THAT WELL CHOREOGRAPHED SCENE BETWEEN GOLDBERG AND O’REILLY WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. NOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS HAVE SHOWN THEIR DISLIKE OF FOX
POX, BERNIE SAYS A FEW DISINGENUOUS THROW-BECK-UNDER-THE-BUS COMMENTS, THEN PARRYS THROUGH IN TIME TO TELL O’REILLY THAT HE IS NOT LIKE THAT. BILL FEIGNS SURPRISE, BECAUSE IT’S JUST LIKE “EDITORIALS”, “EARTH DAY”, AND “PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT”,SO WHY ARE PEOPLE UPSET. THIS RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE BODY LANGUAGE “EXPERT” WHO TELLS O’REILLY WHAT PEOPLE REALLY MEAN, ROUGHLY TRANSLATED: DEMOCRATS, BAD. REPUBLICANS GOOD. THEN REASSURES BILL THAT HE NEVER USES BAD BODY LANGUAGE. WOW, I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING. DO THOSE STEAMING PILES OF FODDER EVER STOP? EARTH DAY, AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, DO NOT CALL THE PRESIDENT A RACIST, DO NOT ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO SUBBORN TREASON BY OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT, DO NOT RACE BAIT, AND DO NOT USE LIES AND INNUENDO TO FRIGHTEN THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE FOX NEWS, RUSH, AND DOBBS TO DO THAT FOR US! YOU CAN ONLY LISTEN TO NEGATIVE HATE SPEECH FOR SO LONG, THEN YOU TUNE IT OUT! CYA ALL YOU CAN BECAUSE THE MAJORITY HAS HAD IT WITH PIN HEADS LIKE YOU, LOOFAH BOY!
I was shocked to hear you bash O’Reilly and Fox News. The only reason many of us even know who you are is because of Fox News. Guess you don’t like anybody.
What happened to the reporting of the NYT? I remember as a young french girl when we entertained NYT reporters and others in our home. My older sister dated one of them . They were our heroes and better than the French newspapers related what had happened since D-Day. They listened to my father who shared with them what life had been under the German occupation (we had a camp across from where we lived) to the average person,. The nightly bombings ,the shortages , the constant fear . Little did I know that years later, living in Manhattan ,I would be reading read the newspaper every week end and working closely for a then famous man, Bernard Baruch. We would do the crossword puzzles together. Where did this, one time the best newspaper, lose its way?…
The MIA media.
Bernard:
Thanks to you, I’ve been able to refute the liberals I see every Saturday morning at the local coffee shop. An ex-Marine who claims to be an independent said George W. didn’t “volunteer” for Viet Nam.
It’s also a pleasure to read so many thoughtful comments. Apparently the liberals who search blogs to attack conservatives haven’t discovered you yet. Or… the arguments posted are so irrefutable, they are left speechless.
Bravo to you.
Again, to all you who have those special sensations running up and down your leg or legs whenever you see or hear Barrack Obama; IT’S NOT about the color of his skin, IT’S ABOUT THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER!!!!!
LISTEN to what he says, listen to what he doesn’t say, hold him accountable, keep him honest, who DOES he surround himself with, who HAS he surrounded himself with?
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL (Listen up MSNBC),
PRETEND
HE
IS
white
and a moderate!!!!
If he were applying for any federal job requiring a security clearanc such as a military officer, an agent for Secret Service, CIA, FBI or any job with the Justice Department, could he, even with all his education, obtain a Secret clearance? I think not!
Could he obtain a Top Secret or Crypto clearance? Absolutely not!!!!
On the subject of Van Jones, I give you the former mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown:
“The only question I have about Van Jones’ resignation as the White House green czar is why didn’t they call me before they hired him. You would think that, as part of the vetting process, they would have called the mayor of the city where he was from.
I would have said, “Yeah, I know a lot about him. He’s really a pain in the ass. When he ran Bay Area PoliceWatch, he slanted every case to make the cops look as bad as possible. And while he might be talented enough, he’s totally and completely unreliable.”"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/13/RV7219LAC6.DTL#ixzz0RLBuhKPS
Bernie, I’m just thinking about how they wanted to pass this healthcare bill in August and there wasn’t even a bill yet. I think they want to pass a bill and figure out the details later and this is so dishonest. We deserve better representation. I am so afraid they will add 300 pages to this bill at 3:00 in the morning just like the cap and trade bill. It’s not just about our money anymore; it’s a matter of life and death, our health and our freedom. Can you explain why access to all our financial information and private medical records will be in this bill? What about our right to privacy?
Bernie, I’m trying to think of a way to improve our healthcare without a big government takeover. I’m just hearing that this healthcare bill will add over 50 new government agencies. Tell me it isn’t so. And it’s suppose to save us money? Why don’t we just use the low income people’s tax rebate and buy them some health insurance? Thanks for all your comments on O’Reilly. I really enjoy the show when you are on it.
PS When are you going to discuss the billions we are giving Brazil for off shore drilling while we won’t explore for our own oil?
Hi Bernie. oops I meant to sign off as Rosalie Dill. 9sign off mispelled. Rosalie Dill
Hi Bernie, Love listening to you. You are so right. I will never again refer to MSNBC,CNN,ABC,CBS as the “mainstream media”. If you flip back and forth between FOX and the others, it`s like polar opposites. It`s either one is either really lying or telling the truth. But it is clear that FOX News just makes common sense, but the others ,I cannot understand, do they actually believe what they say to be the truth. But it`s all in the lanuage. One I hate the most is Obama`s “overseas contingency operations”. Contingency meaning, a possible or unforseen or accidental occurence. No, call it what it is, A WAR on Terror. Our soldiers are not putting their lives on the line for a possible accidental occurence! How do people get away with that ridiculous lanuage? Why is the CIA going to be prosecuted for three cases of waterboarding of terrorists hell bent on destroying us? Does Obama think AlQaeda to be more of a threat than our own CIA. It`s insanity. Sincerely, Rosa;ie Dill
Bernie,
How about “Left Behind” media. Take it any way you want.
I think ABC,NBC & CBS should be called by their rightful name, in the words of the Great Rush Limbaugh they are the “State Run Media”.
Hey White Bitch: Mrs. Pelosi, is that you?
Hello Bernie – Please keep O’Reilly honest. Thanks for doing such a good job on your reporting.
As a senior citizen, I am appalled with the dictates of Obama’s czars, his ignoring
our constitution, and with every other socialistic aspect of his presidency. I now
live in Fairview but grew up in SC. I well remember how we changed the face of
politics many years ago, by electing a senator by a write in vote. Is it possible
to do that now? Keep up the good work.
There has to be something more to this widespread media silence. Is it possible there is a darker conspiracy to be discovered? It seems like there is a consensus that if they ignore all the stories that Fox or talk radio talk about, it will marginalize Fox and give all the rest of them more power. I can’t imagine that dead fish Rahm hasn’t had conversations about this.
The word Czar is not found any where in the Constitution.
Barry Soetoro aka Obama is trying to re-write the Constitution by decree creating another branch of the Federal Government with no accountability or oversight by Congress.
I would like to know how these 37 Czars are being paid without legislation from Congress.
IMHO-This is not only unconstitutional but an impeachable offense by the Kenyan. May the impeachment proceedings begin.
BTW-Until I see Barry’s Birth Certificate and College records, I refuse to believe he is a natural born citizen. If that makes me a birther then I am proud to be one.
Thanks Bernie
Reading your website is becoming one of my more enjoyable things to do
For several years, my friends and I have been refusing to use the term “Mainstream Media”, abbreviated MSM, of course. We call those congenital liars BFM…short for “Big F…ing Media”, just as we formerly (and in disgust) called John F. Kerry JFK, which we have shortened to his middle initial, F. We call him, simply, “F—ing” and we all know who we are talking about. Not that anybody talks about the new senior senator from Ma. any more:-)
Two Minutes Hate Media
They are lost
I suggest changing the wording describing other news media to read: Similar to the one now in use:
*THE VAIN SCHEME MEDIA*
New name for Main Stream Media.
Rejected Media.
Has Been Media
You are the lowest 3rd generation trailer park trash, cracker ass cracker, racist, bigot fat ugly ass honky on the face of this earth. Its sad that the retarded ass trailer park trash that listens to you and the Bill O’Reilly’s, Glenn Beck and the rest of them are creating a world of hate that will lead to a serious race war in this country that will make you the sorriest bastard in the universe., Your mother will probably be killed first and then your kids.
White bitch is truly in need of psychiatric treatment. Very ill. Please seek help.
No us white people are because we are the ones that are spreading the hate in this country for as long as its been in existence.
Actually the people you listen to on a regular basis needs psychiatric treatment. Glenn Beck, Bernard Goldberg, all of FOX news employees, all of them! If you really look into and do research on one topic that they discuss you will find discrpancies in the stories. They misinform and have people believing this stuff. You wouldn’t buy swamp land from Florida would you? No. Use the same analysis. If you can’t find anything to discredit a story that they report, you seek help.
Reply to white bitch. Huh? That’s a long string of hate-filled names. Who’s creating a world of hate?
My point exactly! It’s a shame that I had to resort to signing this blog as White Bitch and then spew the names that I did in order to get the attention from people like you to see how ridiculous it is to treat those who are not white like myself and you to notice what creates a world of hate. Get my drift?
What is your point? That you can hate the most! Well you win and it might be past time to ask your self why you have no argument but must turn to name calling!
Perhaps it is because you know deep down that you drank the cool-aid and are ashamed!
My point is that I don’t hate anyone, what I hate is the uninformed people who are causing a mass of uneasiness and unrest in this counrty and dividing it in a way that can be detrimental. My argument is for those of you who are not engaging in a civil debate regarding the issues, should look for specific legislation in the bills and focus on what’s really important for people in this country, not including the INSURANCE CEO’s who are making trillions of dollars ON the death of others. THAT IS MY POINT. Don’t use the fact that we have a very intelligent black man who is president of this country and we as white people should either accept it, or NOT ACCEPT IT BUT AT LEAST NOT CAUSE A RACE WAR IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL LEADING TO AND I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN TO DIE UNNECESSARILY BECAUSE SOME OF US WHITE PEOPLE ARE RACISTS.
I LOVE it!!! “My point is that I don’t hate anyone, what I hate is the uninformed people….” she doesn’t hate anyone….. LOL
By the way, have you ever looked at the hate speech that comes out of the left wing. The hate that comes out of the fringes of the right wing can’t even match that hate that comes from the ordinary left wing….
God loves you anyway. Have a blessed day. Try to clean up your language, really try.
I know God loves me and you have a blessed day as well. Tell the people who are carrying the hate signs, the guns and spewing hate towards our President to clean up their language. Really try.
So, what’s your point?
My point is to do your research and not be a follower. If you can’t read and understand what is in a bill or policy, ask someone who is neutral and can explain it to you in laymans terms. None of this is about Obama’s policies, it because he is an African-American President and some of us white (some ) people just can’t handle this. I can. Anything is better than a government who spies on you and defies the constitution that guarantees us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not somebody listening to my everyday phone calls or watching my every move. Make your legacy in life something to be remember by that your family or children and grandchildren will be proud of. Make a difference in this world that is not negative or ugly. That’s my point!!!
This isn’t about race (as White bitch whines) it’s about content; the content of policies, bills, the content of intentions, and the content of this man’s character. To say that any criticism of Barack Obama’s policies is racist, is itself stupid and racist. The man was elected president!
You were obviously dropped on your head as an infant…you definitely need a shunt
CALL IT “LEFT OUT MEDIA”.
THEY LEAVE OUT HALF THE NEWS
CREED OF JOURNALISM
This creed was written by Walter Williams (1864-1935), the man who founded the world’s first school of journalism at the University of Missouri and perhaps contributed more toward the promotion of professional journalism than any other person of his time.
I believe in the profession of Journalism.
I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of lesser service than the public service is a betrayal of this trust.
I believe that clear thinking, clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true. I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.
I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one’s own pocket book is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another’s instructions or another’s dividends.
I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.
I believe that the journalism which succeeds the best-and best deserves success-fears God and honors man; is stoutly independent; unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power; constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of the privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance, and as far as law, an honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship, is a journalism of humanity, of and for today’s world.
New York Times, NBC, MSNBC, etc., etc., are no longer Journalists. I call them the ParrotExpress.
Selective journalism is the order of the day. Is there one single journalism professor in this country willing to stand up and call the media out for its lack of ethics. Maybe we should start paying taxes selectively or reporting to work selectively. How long would the rest of us survive in this job market if we did our jobs this way. Aren’t most media companies publicly held? The stock holders should raise hell with the media giants the way they did with the banks. Example: Ken Lewis at Bank of America. Please write and speak out more about this issue Bernie. You have a much greater platform that we in the blogosphere.
Boy, oh boy. They are ALMOST as bad as you are trying to make us believe that Lenny Dykstra was a financial genius. Pot meet kettle.
Bernie ….. as a fellow provocative columnist I measure my day by how early each AM I am “called names” by those who don’t share my points of view. The longest I’ve gone lately is 9:15 AM.
Keep up the great work BG.
Bernie,
I’ve watched you for years on ‘Real Sports’… Never knew you were in the same camp with Loonies like Rush and Bill O.. Well, no one is perfect; you just don’t seem to get it, though. These are the same people who believe that the ‘Holocaust’ is an exaggeration by the media to create sympathy for the Jewish people. The Jews, they say, are working with the blacks and the liberals to destroy the American way of life. So, you are buying what they are selling- all this right wing mumbo-jumbo. Wow, I actually feel sorry for you. I used to believe that you actually possessed some semblance of intelligence. My condolences…
If you only look to extremist of any argument to score points you are not getting it!
I do not believe everyone on left believes—
that the government looked the other way so 9-11 could happen
that the government is spraying DDT on poor people so they will die
I am sure you get my point, by the way Van Jones picked to create Green Jobs by Obama Adminstration does believe these things and has said so in speeches and by signing a petition.
I know that everyone who is a Democrat or voted for Obama does believe these things so please do not speak in absolutes.
Tom, I would like to invite you into the real world – the world of issues, facts and consequences.
Your left wing-nut conspiracy theories are no different than the right wing-nuts looking for black helicopters, convinced they are so important that the government has to be watching everything they do every minute of the day. Your dribble is, well just that – dribble. Nothing based in fact or real world issues.
If Rush or Bill O. had ever downplayed the Holocaust in anyway, you can be sure the that they would have been called out along time ago. Forget the conspiracy garbage and look at some real world issues for a change.
Admittedly, you did come close on one point and didn’t know it. Because the liberal agenda WILL destory the American way of life. If Healthcare reforms happens as being proposed, it will bankrupt this country.
To quote Margaret Thatcher, “The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other peoples money”.
The national debt is not sustainable at current levels, and with the additional burden of $880 billion or $1.6 trillion (depending on the plan), it will be the tilting point. And to give you a couple of facts you are probably not aware of: President “W” was a fiscal idiot and President Bubba (while a liar in his own right (did you know he was disbarred as a lawyer for prejury)) did give us our last balanced budget.
The only two choises we have to solve the debt is going to be hyper-inflation or bankruptcy if the stupidity continues. This is the legacy we are leaving our children and grandchildren.
The government has its place in society…the military, civil planning and infrastructure, rule of law.
But, if you believe the government can run healthcare more efficiently than the private sector…well, keep drinking the kool-aid – while your looking for UFO’s and how ‘whitey’ did you everbody wrong.
From “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, William Shirer wrote—– a prosperous nation was split up and bankrupted overnight. Sounds like America now. I am an independent conservative. I am not a mobster, racist, home-grown terrorist and i an not crazy (the voices in my head told me that). But I have the right to believe as I wish, speak against the President if I do not believe in what he says or does and the right to vote out of office the left-wing politicians that can be bought off by big businesses or act like the mice following the Pied Piper if it harms this great nation to leave them in public office. I truly believe that the majority of left-wing radicals have low moral standards who break all ten of the Commandants put down by God because they believe they are so popular they can and do get away with it.
I don’t listen to Rush so I can’t speak to your criticism of him but I do listen to Bill O. You obviously don’t. Otherwise you would get your facts straight. Listen to the man if you want to criticize him – not some pieced together clip from a competing news source. That’s just good advice for both Left and Right.
Howdy Bernard
We love hearing you on Bill’s show, where in NC are you ? We live in Thurmond, NC and would hate to hear you live next door and did not know it. When some say just vote them out next time do you think we will ever have a fair vote again ? I do not think so, ACORN will see to that, my two cents worth.
Don Duff
This president has continually surrounded himself with folks of dubious character, honesty and experience. The beat keeps going on.