Why Is the New York Times So Weird About Bernie's Accent?

[Uncle Joe]

There are many problems with the New York Times’ approach to politics coverage (though there aren’t nearly as many problems as there are with the opinion section). It tends to cast centrist ideas as “pragmatic,” as if there’s no ideology behind centrism. It frets about civility, under the guise of hard news. It covered Alan Dershowitz not being invited to parties like four different times. Above all else, it reflects a liberal elite consensus about politics, what’s possible, and who should be taken Seriously.

(snip)

One of the ways that this expresses itself is very peculiar. There have now been at least five separate instances of the Times, including four straight-news articles by two different writers and one opinion piece, writing out the way Sanders says certain words in his Brooklyn accent, as if a Brooklyn accent is most peculiar to the paper for New York City. (All emphasis ours.)

(snip)

I wonder if perhaps the intent of this isn’t just to lightly rib a fellow New Yorker for sounding like a New Yorker, but to cast his “rants” against millionaires and billionaires as strange, or otherwise generally silly, and therefore not worth listening to. After all, those millionaires and billionaires almost certainly read the Times.

Perhaps the message is: Don’t worry, guys. It’s just some fuckin’ weird old “Brooklyn” guy talking about millionaires—you can ignore him, because he doesn’t sound like Frasier Crane.


https://splinternews.com/why-is-the-new-york-times-so-weird-about-bernies-accent-1833969241

[WeekiWater]

1. The NYT is overall a great outlet.

Sad to see them outlined like this.

Such a minor quibble that it's impressive someone tracks and writes about it.

Easy to cherry pick. Then you look at the big picture and realize splinternews is selling garbage to a small crowd.

https://www.google.com/search?q=new+york+times+bernie+sanders&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS545US545&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiE2dbsqsjhAhWjxVkKHS0MAnIQ_AUIDigB&biw=1904&bih=928

[elleng]

3. Right, splinter my FOOT!

NO thanks.

[Loki Liesmith]

2. Over analyzing things

Bringing up his accent is just adding color to a story.

[WeekiWater]

4. Weird? Try this one.

"Every time I consider doing something bad, like hard drugs, or not paying the meter, I hear a heavy Brooklyn accent echoing in my head, talking about the shrinking middle class. It’s my Daddy, Bernie Sanders, telling me to rethink my actions."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128748026

Or how about this one.

"And it isn't just the message that's altered, the same holds true for the accent." Uncle Joe talking about Hillary Clinton.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/12511419514#post9

[NastyRiffraff]

5. Yeah, those are bizarre

Especially the first one. "Daddy"?????