Halperin demonstrates how not to report on Obama’s school speech “controversy”

[babylonsister]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200909040008

Halperin demonstrates how not to report on Obama’s school speech “controversy”

September 04, 2009 1:12 pm ET by Matt Gertz


Is there any accusation that could be made about President Obama that Beltway reporters wouldn’t be willing to credulously report? Is there anything that would make them frame their reporting of those accusations around the premise that the charges are ridiculous? Today, Time’s Mark Halperin suggests there is not.

Under the headline “Student Speech Courts Controversy,” Halperin writes: “Critics accuse the president of imposing a political agenda on children during next week’s address.” That is how he has decided to frame the conservative movement’s bizarre, unhinged attack on the President of the United States for his terrifying plan to… tell the nation’s students that it’s important to stay in school and work hard. It’s a “Controversy”! The president has “critics”! Are their criticisms legitimate? Who knows! There’s a link to an AP article on the “controversy” if you actually want some of those dreadful details.

It’s worth noting that in claiming their criticisms hinge on fears that Obama is planning to “impos{e} a political agenda on children,” Halperin is significantly soft-peddling the lunatic whack-a-doo tin-foil conspiracy nut nature of conservatives’ complaints. They aren’t saying Obama will teach kids about the importance of universal health care or stopping global warming – they’re accusing the president of engaging in Maoist indoctrination in an attempt to create his own Hitler Youth.

There is something wrong with these people. As long as Beltway reporters like Halperin keep treating their complaints as valid, they will maintain a hold on our discourse that prevents serious discussion of actual issues. And no, reporting that “critics” say that Obama is planning to indoctrinate students but the Obama administration denies it does not suffice. Resorting to “he said/she said” journalism when one side’s claims are blatantly ridiculous is just pathetic.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Ugh! What a tool! nt

[spanone]

2. there is no accusation that is beyond the msm reporting as credible opposition

so how do you refute totally fabricated lies with the truth? if the media doesn't discern between truth and fantasy, there is little hope.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I hope the White House follows up after the speech

asking republicans and right wing radio if they oppose what was in his speech. For Christ's sake they haven't even heard it yet.

CONSERVATIVES AND RIGHT WING RADIO OPPOSED TO STUDENTS STRIVING TO WORK HARD IN SCHOOL AND GET GOOD GRADES. That should be the headline next week.

[Taverner]

4. Halperin was Dole's speechwriter. Nuff said.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Matt Gertz has hit that nail on the head.

That's a huge problem within our country at the moment. There's no reason to treat outlandish, easily proven wrong wackos as anything but the wackos they are. That's not news, it's reality TV at its worst. :(

[BlueIdaho]

6. This is the face of the modern republican party.

Veins bulging, spittle flecked, intolerantly shrieking about communism, fascism, Hitler, death panels, and secret mind control. All this rage because we have a popularly elected Democratic black President. I hope America will be reminded over and over again just what they have become - radical extremists.

[Toasterlad]

7. There's a Significan Portion of This Country Terrified of Having Their Children See a Black Man

in a position of power.

Obviously, this is not ALL about race: these same douchey RWs would not be happy if it were Clinton set to address their young...but I don't beleive there would be nearly as much hysteria as there is now.

You would HOPE that these people would at least be teaching their children to respect the OFFICE, if not the MAN. If I'd had children when Bush was president, and he wanted to address school children, I certainly wouldn't have prohibited my kids from watching it. I'd certainly want to know what he said so I could correct any errors he may have passed along, but I'd definitely let them see it.