Politics over Facts ( comparing media spin )

[Nie Trink Wasser]

a few friends of mine keep trying to convince me that the "coporate imperialistic government" is "pulling veil over my eyes" with their propaganda. It's disappointing to hear, especially after I spent most of my high-school and college time brainwashed the same way.

For the most part the irony of such comments to me is at least amusing. Sort of like Michael Moore accusing others of "fiction" in an effort for establish himself as "nonfiction".

Who is casting the real veil over the publics eyes ?

I believe it's the leftist media. Control of public opinion lately is looking more and more like an approaching fascist Germany.......even more so than the Bush administration is accused of being.

I mean if you're going to make-believe that Bush is "controlling our minds", couldnt you at least take some time to make-believe the opposite ? That the leftist media is "controlling our minds" ? Forcing an opinion and moral on us that isnt based on facts ?

When the pentagon reports something, it's up for debate. When a report is disproven....its that simple...disproven. But if the leftist media reports something to be true ( using vague language like "may" and "could be" (http://media.guardian.co.uk/iraqandthemedia/story/0,12823,922316,00.html) ) , people like me are upbraided for simply disagreeing.

Im being told that I should be becoming more angry at the governement for their propaganda..........but the more I learn to respect my own opinion, the more angry I become at foolish public opinion that isnt based on facts.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,82211,00.html
....if you read The New York Times today, you might think Iraq was winning. The front page of the "Times" was full of ominous headlines. "Iraqis Repel Copters; One Goes Down." "GIs Regroup After Setback --Two Prisoners on Iraqi TV." "Hussein Rallies Iraqi Defenders." "The Goal Is Baghdad, but at What Cost?" All these headlines were on just one page. Unbelievable.

Contrast that to page one of the The Boston Globe, also a very liberal newspaper. "Coalition nearing Baghdad." "War plan on course." "Hunt for banned weapons." "Strategy aims at heart of Hussein's rule." Quite a difference. The Globe giving straight and honest war coverage.

[Michael Redman]

"war plan on course" is honest? I don't know about that. Seems like a judgment call to me. I don't think the US media is trying to control perceptions to reinforce a bias, I think they're just trying to create sensation to gain ratings.

On a related note, I keep hearing how the US public is getting a narrow, controlled version of the facts, while the rest of the world, or the arab world, or whoever, is getting the "truth". However, when I compare sources such as al jazeera, cnn, bbc, and other US and international sources, I see almost no difference in facts reported, just in the spin that they give. No one source, of course, is going to give you a complete picture, but foreign sources are no more in possession of, or willing to disclose, the truth.

At least, that's the way it looks from here.

[Tmy]

Im sick of hearing about the so called "propaganda" from Al Jeezer and every other non US news source. As if the US is above propaganda. Our news is as biased as any other. They fall in line or get shamed or threaten (See Bill Oriellys attack on the NY Times).

You know what I watch. RTP (Portuguese News). Heres a news network from a counyty thats not a part of, but is backing the war on terror. They have no reason to be bias. I dont think they are promoting "propaganda" when they show the captured troops. Just give me the facts. I'll decide whats what.

[UnrepentantSinner]

I saw the same crap on Feaux News this morning discussing the Manhattan "die in."

MSNBC is my MVP for objectivity... so far...

If you guys want some interesting non-American perspective, check out C-SPAN in the evening. The last few days they've been running news from various sources.