Republican Views Given Way Too Much Coverage in the Media

Yes, that's the latest meme, promoted by allegedly moderate pundits Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann, highlighted by the NY Times' Public Editor. Republican arguments are lies, while Democrats generally tell the truth. So how can journalists, in good conscience, give Republican arguments equal time with Democrats' arguments, when the former are consistently false and the latter invariably true?

So far, the MSM, who are certain they are fair and balanced, are somewhat resistant to the idea. Their training has concentrated on subtle undermining of the opposition's arguments, the "still, budget experts point out that..." kind of steering. Blatantly excluding or outright attacking Republican arguments strike the old guard as reckless, just inviting attacks of bias. The new breed have no such qualms. Who worries about bias - old retired farts watching Fox News? Get with teh program - Truth to Power, my friend.

They apparently wrote a whole book on it, but if you read their seminal article on the topic, it is wholly empty of facts. Expect a lot of progress on this front, as in mainstream news items showing increasing disdain for Republican arguments coupled with wholesale acceptance of Democrats' fantasies. "Two-sides" arguments, already limited by excluding other less mainstream views, will soon morph into one-side discussions. It's an inevitable outcome of the New Triumphalism.