It has been two weeks since the release of Americans United for Life’s exposé of Planned Parenthood and a week since their press conference on Capitol Hill featuring Reps. Renee Ellmers, Randy Hultgren, and Chris Smith. Still, the mainstream media continue to largely ignore the report, which has received considerable coverage from conservative, Christian, and pro-life media outlets. Politico, The Hill, and U.S. News and World Report are about the only mainstream media sources to have even mentioned the exposé. The fact that Planned Parenthood has not even posted their response on their website is evidence that they are confident that their allies in the mainstream media will cover for them.
In contrast, the mainstream media has spilled enormous quantities of ink critically covering the presidential candidate pledges offered by various conservative groups. The Atlantic, The New Republic, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, CNN.com, and Reuters are among the media outlets which have negatively covered the Susan B. Anthony List’s “Pro-Life Citizens Pledge” and the Family Leader’s 14 Point Marriage Vow.
This situation is unfortunate. In the face of credible accusations of criminal misconduct against Planned Parenthood, it appears that the top priority of the mainstream media is keeping Americans safe from presidential candidate pledges.
— Michael J. New is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama and a fellow at the Witherspoon Institute.
If you're interested in drumming up interest in the report, you might think to post a link.
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Can't say it's gripping stuff. Most of it is previously reported scandals from the 90s and early 2000s, and a retread of the Live Action stings. No one's covering that because none of it is news.
They say they found PP reporting that it receives far more government funds than the federal government gives out, which might be something. Or not, if the difference is just local/state grants.
Anyway, after a quick scan it seems like the sort of report that will make good reading for people inclined to see PP defunded anyway, and bore everyone else.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe liberal MSM is doing what it always does when liberals behave badly. With fingers placed in its ears and a blindfold secured over its eyes, the MSM loudly chants "na na na na na" while burying its head as far in the sand as it can. After the worst has passed, the MSM reminds us that it determines what information the American people need to know. Obviously, criminal activity traced to a taxpayer-funded, non-profit organization that receives a huge tax break from Uncle Sam is not news the American people need to know.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Politico, The Hill, and U.S. News and World Report are about the only mainstream media sources to have even mentioned the exposé"
Heck, Daily Kos (mainstream?) mentioned it. Of course, it's probably not the coverage you'd prefer, but they did mention it.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe question is rhetorical, right? As in, meant to remind everyone that media outlets are PR agents for Progressive statism. Sure, there are some exceptions (NRO!) but only enough to prove the rule.
Stop being surprised when Progressives protect their Progressive cronies. Stop expecting them to be honest. It will never happen. Work around them.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNO surprise. The pledge of the Main Stream Media should be "In abortion we trust." That is their religion. And the fact that Planned Parenthood endorses sexualizing underage girls and accepting underage prostitutes as clients (as demonstrated in several stings) means nothing to most reporters who are, after all, almost uniformly "progressive" - er, I meant liberal. I guess the exploitation of young girls is part of "women's lib" or something like that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhen PP refers to its abortion mills as "health care clinics" you realize that they know that, in the long run, they are losing the public relations war. You don't hear too many people saying, "Oh, I think I'll go to Planned Parenthood to have them look at that nasty cut."
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"This situation is unfortunate. In the face of credible accusations of criminal misconduct against Planned Parenthood, it appears that the top priority of the mainstream media is keeping Americans safe from presidential candidate pledges."
The mainstream media is only concerned about protecting Americans from potential pro-life presidential candidate pledges. The same media has shown no interest whatsoever in an actual pro-abortion candidate who promised, as his first priority, to forever secure government funding for the organization.
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Ahem. It should be "Where ARE the Media?", assistant professor New. Heh. Just teasing - a little.
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