Saturday, August 20, 2005

No liberal bias at Raleigh's News & Observer?

Melanie Sill, executive editor for news at the Raleigh News & Observer insists there's no liberal bias in the paper's news columns. You have her word on that.

But look at how the N&O treated two recent news stories: one involved Rev. Jerry Falwell; and the other, Sen. Robert Byrd (Dem.-W.Va.)

Falwell sent a fundraising letter to supporters in which he urged them to vote on the basis of religion, telling them: "Vote Christian in 2008."

The Anti-Defamation League issued a press release calling Falwell's comments "divisive and unAmerican." It said he should retract them.

The N&O carried the story with photo on Aug. 12 on pg. 3A.

I'm glad the N&O decided to run that story. It's important people know what Falwell did.

And about Sen. Byrd?

In March of this year, in a prepared speech delivered on the Senate floor, Byrd compared Republicans to Hitler and Nazis for attempting to change Senate filibuster rules, something Byrd himself had tried to do when his party controlled the Senate.

The Anti-Defamation League issued a press release which contained this statement:

It is hideous, outrageous and offensive for Senator Byrd to suggest that the Republican Party's tactics could in any way resemble those of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

The Senator shows a profound lack of understanding as to who Hitler was and what he and his regime represented.

Senator Byrd must repudiate his remarks immediately and apologize to the American people for showing such disrespect for this country's democratic process.

I phoned the ADL, and asked a spokeswoman when was the last time the ADL had issued a statement saying a U.S. Senator should apologize for a speech made on the Senate floor.

The spokeswoman said she couldn't remember it ever happening in the 15 years she had worked at the ADL.

So how did the N&O report Byrd's speech? What did Editor Sill and her news staff decide to tell readers?

Nothing. That's right, nothing.

And Sill says there's no liberal bias at the N&O.

I'm shaking my head. How about you?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You mean the N&O didn't report on Klagle Byrd?

Must have missed that.

But perhaps that's the point.

-AC

PS - Do you think this has anything to do with the tinge of anti-semetism the left is enjoying these days?

PPS - Isn't there some delicious irony in a ex-KKK recruiter calling someone a Nazi? Kinda like the pastry chef calling a pig fat...

Anonymous said...

The day Sill admits this is the day she finds herself looking for a new gig. Talk about the 'poison pill'.

Matt J. Duffy said...

Great point.

Short Stories said...

I'll say that much about NC - it's a great place!