IS THERE A LIBERAL (or CONSERVATIVE) BIAS IN THE MEDIA ...

Recently, democratic vice-presidential nominee, Joe Biden made some rather disconcerting remarks about how his running mate will be tested shortly after he is elected, so as to test the "mettle" of Obama. Normally, I would chalk this up to Joe being Joe, who is well known for verbal gaffes and brain farts (did he really think every person owned a tv in 1929 during the Great Depression). However, the remarks themselves are really quite relevant in today's time, as to say that there are quite a few organizations that don't like us here in the good 'ole US of A, and would like nothing more than an opportunity to prove it to everyone else in the world.

I listened to the entire sound byte and tried to listen objectively. The statement is, in my ever so humble opinion, true in every form. I think Joe really meant what he said. I don't think that this was a slip-up. So, where am I going with this? Well, although I don't have problem with what he said, how he said it or even if I believe that the statements made were accurate, I do believe that there was a less than objectionable sense of bias on how this was parlayed in the media.

Do I believe that there is a liberal bias in mainstream media and news outlets? No doubt about it. I believe that this topic has been covered many times in the past. Studies have been done by people much more intelligent than I and my partners here at The Free American, and they have answered this question, stating that bias (liberal and conservative) does exist in the media. However, what bothers me is the amount of swing to the liberal flag the media will lean. In a poll conducted by Zogby International, of 2008 registered voters, 64% of the respondents believe that there is a liberal bias compared to 28% believing there is a more conservative swing in the media outlets. Also, of those that were polled, 68% believe that "most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win." 49% of respondents stated that the reporters are helping Barack Obama while ony 14% said the same regarding John McCain. A further 51% said that the press was actively "trying to hurt" republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin with negative coverage. Of the media outlets that are rated nationally NBC, CNBC and CBS rate the highest in liberal media, follwed closely by the New York Times. The most conservative media outlets were the Washington Post and Fox News with Brit Hume.

Look, we all know that bias exists, although it shouldn't, when it comes to politics. The recent Biden comments fell to the wayside because the mainstream outlets didn't want to hurt their candidate and his presidential bid, bias be damned, we need change (or so they want you to believe). So, for all the reports that come out in the mainstream media, make sure that you allow yourself to make a concerted effort to try and get your news from more than one source. Failure to do that and the media will elect the president, not the people.