Double standard? Media provided extensive coverage of MoveOn ad, but
 
Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:38:04 -0400

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<p><b>Double standard? Media provided extensive coverage of MoveOn ad, but
largely ignore Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" controversy </b></p>
<p><a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200710010010?src=item200710010010">http://mediamatters.org/items/200710010010</a></p>

<p>Numerous major media outlets that covered
the controversy surrounding a September 10 <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://cdn.moveon.org/pac/content/pac/pdfs/PetraeusNYTad.pdf" title="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://cdn.moveon.org/pac/content/pac/pdfs/PetraeusNYTad.pdf
http://cdn.moveon.org/pac/content/pac/pdfs/PetraeusNYTad.pdf">ad</a> placed by MoveOn.org
in <i>The New York Times --</i> headlined "General Petraeus or
General Betray Us?" -- nonetheless have yet to cover the bipartisan outcry
over remarks made by <a href="http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/rushlimbaugh?src=item200710010010" title="http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/rushlimbaugh">Rush Limbaugh</a> during
the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, in which he
characterized service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as
"phony soldiers." Notwithstanding numerous denunciations of
Limbaugh&#39;s remarks by members of Congress from both parties, the <i>Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall
Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today</i>, ABC&#39;s <i>World News,</i> the <i>CBS Evening News,</i> NBC&#39;s <i>Nightly News</i>, and CNN programs have all ignored Limbaugh&#39;s
remarks and the ensuing denunciations, despite having covered -- in some cases extensively -- the MoveOn.org ad
controversy. In addition, there was
no mention of Limbaugh&#39;s "phony soldiers" comments or the bipartisan criticism
of them on the September 30 editions of <i>This
Week, Meet the Press, Face the Nation</i>, or <i>Fox News Sunday.</i> </p>

<p>From September 10-13, there were eight articles and an op-ed in <i>The Washington Post</i>, four <i>New York Times</i> articles,
two articles and one op-ed in the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>, one <i>Wall
  Street
Journal</i> op-ed, and one <i>USA
Today</i> article about the
MoveOn.org ad and the ensuing controversy. In addition, the MoveOn.org ad was frequently discussed on CNN&#39;s
<i>Newsroom</i> and <i>The Situation Room</i>, and was reported on
the September 10 editions of ABC&#39;s <i>World
News</i> and <i>Nightline,</i> the
September 11 and 12 editions of ABC&#39;s <i>Good
Morning America,</i> the September 13 edition of NBC&#39;s <i>Nightly News,</i> and the September 16
editions of ABC&#39;s <i>This Week,</i> NBC&#39;s
<i>Meet the Press,</i> CBS&#39; <i>Face the Nation</i>, and Fox Broadcasting Co.&#39;s <i>Fox
News Sunday.</i> However, as of 12 p.m. ET October 1, the same newspapers and
television news programs had not reported Limbaugh&#39;s comments and the ensuing
condemnation of his remarks.</p>

<p>Following Limbaugh&#39;s September 26 comments, Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jan
Schakowsky (D-IL) made speeches on the House floor responding to Limbaugh; Sen.
Jim Webb (D-VA) commented on the September 27 edition of MSNBC&#39;s <i>Countdown with Keith Olbermann</i>; and Reps.
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Patrick J. Murphy (D-PA) issued statements
denouncing Limbaugh&#39;s comments, as <i>Media
Matters</i> <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280001?f=h_top" title="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280001?f=h_top">documented</a>. In addition, Sen. <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/kerry-blasts-limbaugh-over-phony-soldiers-remark-2007-09-28.html" title="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/kerry-blasts-limbaugh-over-phony-soldiers-remark-2007-09-28.html">John Kerry</a> (D-MA) and
Howard Dean, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/09/rush_limbaugh_o.php" title="http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/09/rush_limbaugh_o.php">chairman</a> of the
Democratic National Committee, criticized Limbaugh&#39;s comments. But Democrats were not alone in criticizing Limbaugh: </p>



<ul><li>Sen.
     Norm Coleman (R-MN) <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://www.startribune.com/blogs/bigquestion/?p=885">stated</a>,
     "Limbaugh&#39;s suggestion that those who have served their country and
     express their opinions are &#39;phony soldiers&#39; is wrong. There needs to be a
     level of civility and honest debate in this country about issues as
     important as this. Labeling an active duty General a traitor, or calling a
     soldier a phony for having a different opinion does not rise to the level
     of discourse we hold ourselves to in this country." </li></ul>



<ul><li>The
     campaign of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/28/romney-criticizes-limbaug_n_66363.html">released</a> a
     statement to the blog Huffington Post: "Governor Romney would disagree
     with the negative characterization of those men and women who serve with
     honor and distinction in the United States Military. There may be
     disagreements with individual opinions, but no one would ever dispute the
     fact that those members of the military who disagree with the war have
     earned the right to express that opinion." The Romney campaign also
     reportedly <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/view.bg?articleid=1034890">said</a>, "Rush&#39;s
     comments were unfortunate. People should be free to express their opinion
     and no one has earned the right to express that opinion more than these
     soldiers." </li></ul>



<ul><li>Sen.
     John McCain (R-AZ) reportedly <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/09/re_phony_soliders.html">said</a>, "Any
     American who risks his or her life to defend us has earned the respect and
     gratitude of every American citizen, irrespective of their views on this
     war. If Mr. Limbaugh made the remark he is reported to have made, it
     reflects very poorly on him and not the objects of his offensive comment.
     I expect most Americans, whatever their political views, will have the
     same reaction. He would be well advised to retract it and apologize."</li></ul>

<p>As <i>Media
Matters for America</i> <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280011?f=h_top">documented</a>, on the September 28 broadcast
of his nationally syndicated radio program, Limbaugh defended his original
"phony soldiers" <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709270010?f=h_top">statement</a>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280010?f=h_latest">asserting</a> that he had been taken out of
context and that he was referring to just one "phony soldier," Jesse
MacBeth, who pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs for falsely claiming to be an injured Iraq war
veteran. However, as the blog <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/28/limbaugh-outrage-amplified-troop-and-dems-responses/">Crooks and Liars</a> and <i><a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280011?src=item200710010010">Media Matters</a></i>
noted, in the same broadcast, Limbaugh expanded the group of "phony
soldiers" to include Vietnam veteran <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710010010&http://www.house.gov/murtha/">Rep. John P. Murtha</a>
(D-PA) and Pvt. <a href="https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=w070730&amp;s=editorial080207">Scott Thomas Beauchamp</a>,
who is currently serving in Iraq.</p><br /><table width="100%" style="background: #e8e8e8; 
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