Hi Peter, how appropriate that I got the following article in an email today that compliments your post. Can we maybe say "Karma". Probably not the right word but I'm sure most will understand what I'm trying to say. Anyway this article perfectly explains the double standard in practice with the MSM. Bill Bumpas - OneNewsNow - 3/6/2012 4:25:00 AM A conservative media watchdog sees a double-standard in the way the mainstream media is handling the latest controversy surrounding talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Last week, Georgetown student Sandra Fluke complained before Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill that her school does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan -- and that contraception can cost a woman more than $3,000 during law school.
Offering on-air comments on the law student's remarks, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh called Fluke a "prostitute" and "sl**" for advocating expanded access to birth control. Fluke, he said, "wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."
The radio host has since apologized for what he calls his "insulting word choices."
Limbaugh's disparaging remarks about Fluke have created a media firestorm. But Dan Gainor with the Media Research Center wonders where the outrage is over comedian Bill Maher.
"He's got an HBO program, he appears on CNN, [and] he appears on MSNBC. He gave a million dollars to Barack Obama's Super PAC," notes Gainor. "He's dropped words we can't even [repeat] ... calling women that. And I don't see any controversy about that at all, because the media pick and choose which controversies to hype and which ones not to." Numerous advertisers have dropped their sponsorship of Limbaugh's show and even President Obama called Fluke on the phone to express his support.
"How many advertisers dropped when Ed Schultz called Laura Ingram that? Did Barack Obama call Lara Ingram on the phone and express his concern?" Gainor asks. "Where were the comments when Bill Maher called Sara Palin worse words? Did Barack Obama call her? Did the mainstream media make a big thing about it? No."
Gainor tells OneNewsNow it is all about media control and setting an agenda for an election year.
Different paths
A commentary on Yahoo! News contrasts how Limbaugh and Maher have handled similar mistakes, noting that while Limbaugh has apologized, Maher has chosen a different path.
On Friday the liberal comedian rationalized his insults, stating that Limbaugh is responsible to his advertisers -- but because he airs on a pay-for-view cable network, Maher can say what he wants.
The commentator observes: "Limbaugh managed to swallow his pride and showed himself to be a man and a gentleman by doing so. Maher, by making excuses, showed himself to be something else entirely."
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