RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has figured out why Americans' trust in media is at an all-time low. It's for tweets like this:
Thought that job had been filled..... https://t.co/35GUSXGhWU
— John F. Harris (@harrispolitico) October 17, 2018
This offensive statement from the head of Politico is another example of why distrust in the media is at an all-time high. pic.twitter.com/cdGiFiKo4S
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) October 17, 2018
Others agreed that perhaps Harris, the editor-in-chief of Politico, should hold himself to higher journalistic standards. Tim Graham of Newsbusters reminded Harris of his own words back in 2006.
Washington Post political editor John F. Harris, yes, the one who thinks criticizing any Clinton policy today is an annoying "distraction," did the weekly Live Talk at Newsweek's website last week, and after the usual hum of liberal questions, he grew snippy at a conservative one:
Anonymous: "There is no liberal equivalent of the Fox News Channel, or Rush Limbaugh, or the Drudge Report." My question to you is what do you think CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, etc., are--conservative mouthpieces? What makes them any better than Fox?
John F. Harris: This perception is widespread. I can understand it. But even those who think the news organizations you name are liberally biased, can not really argue that they are equivalent. There are professional standards of evidence, balance, and rhetorical restraint in Old Media that simply do not exist in New Media.
"There are professional standards of evidence, balance, and rhetorical restraint in Old Media that simply do not exist in New Media." -- John Harris, 2006. How outdated does THAT sound?" Graham asked on Twitter.
In 1976, Gallup found that 74 percent of Americans trusted the media. In 2016, it dropped to 32 percent. Republicans are especially skeptical, with just 14 percent believing what they hear.
Trump, of course, is not a white nationalist. Yet, critics condemned him for not placing full blame on the white nationalists who staged a rally in Charlottesville, VA last year. The march got violent and a young female counter protester was tragically killed. The president insisted "both sides" were to blame for the carnage. The president did eventually issue a much stronger statement condemning organizers of the white supremacist march. On the somber one-year anniversary, he again sounded off on "all types of racism and acts of violence" and urged "Peace to ALL Americans!" on Twitter. Yet, some media outlets have still accused the White House of embracing bigotry.
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