Frist Loses CR Support, Flip-Flops on Stem Cell Debate

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Frist Loses Christian Right Support, Flip-Flops on Stem Cell Debate

That WOULD be the headline you'd see IF the media truly were Liberal and we lived in Flintstone's world.

Instead:

CNN: Frist backs increased federal stem cell funding

NYT: Veering From Bush, Frist Backs Funding for Stem Cell Research

MSNBC: Frist breaks with Bush on stem cell research

Wash Times: Frist Breaks With Bush on Stem-Cell Bill

Fox: Frist Backs More Ebryonic Stem Cell Research

[bryanthompson]

Notice that 3 of the 5 of those word it as "Frist breaks from Bush" because they do all they can to show a divide in the republican party. I think it's more important (to them) that they show how divided the reps are than portraying him as a flip-flopper. Since almost every single newspaper in the country gets their news from the NYT and Wash Times, the market will be saturated with such headlines.

So, you are wrong, this is an example of the lib media, it's just a different tactic.

Prove me wrong, show me a few headlines where they've worded a democrat breaking with their party.

[techweenie]

Washington Times? Bryan, you're pretty far out there on that one. Nobody outside of Drudge and the truly loony right gets its stuff from the rev. Moon's newspaper.

[tobster1911]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
Notice that 3 of the 5 of those word it as "Frist breaks from Bush" because they do all they can to show a divide in the republican party.

That is what I noticed as well. Interesting that they fail to mention (here on this BBS not the articles) that Frist first approached Bush about this before he went public. Also there does not appear, from the articles, to be much "break" between them. Politics or agreeing to disagree?

[cowtown]

Are we reading the same headlines Shaun?

CNN: Frist backs increased federal stem cell funding

Factual and to the point. Non-biased.

NYT: Veering From Bush, Frist Backs Funding for Stem Cell Research

Frist is VEERING, indeed CAREENING away from the lonely, unpopular Bush. What could possibly be next...will Bush try to starve his dog? Biased left.

MSNBC: Frist breaks with Bush on stem cell research

Frist BREAKS away from Bush, who is obviously heading down the wrong tracks. Biased left.

Wash Times: Frist Breaks With Bush on Stem-Cell Bill

Ditto MSNBC. Huge dissention in the ranks! The Repubs are falling off a cliff!

Fox: Frist Backs More Ebryonic Stem Cell Research

Wow. The most objective, factual statement is from Fox. Huh.

[techweenie]

I don't get how any of these is a big litmus test.

Frist is expected to be 'with' Bush on this issue. when he's not, he's 'breaking with' or 'veering away.'

And guess what? The big story is not that the research gets more support. It's that Frist is breaking ranks.

Now if somebody said Frist 'put science over politics,' that would be biased.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

You guys are a hoot!

If Frist isn't breaking away, what is he doing? Do you consider his change in position and its ramifications within his own party as well as potential run for the WH not to be news? Is he tip-toeing away from bush?

the Right is getting very soft on language, your feelings easily hurt and it's disappointing from a party who so self-righteously hammered the last one for witticisms. I know Reagan wouldn't stand for this. Your own guy says he's plain spoken, says what he means. But then last throes is being redefined as nearly indefinite and the war on terror is now the cuddly struggle against violent extremists; I certainly don't need to detail the "being part of a leak" changed to "convicted of a crime" deal.

[tobster1911]

WTF?!?!

How did this go from You saying this proves that the media is not left leaning, to somehow Bush and Repub's are bad?

I never saw anyone excusing/defending Frist's position on the issue. What I saw was people pointing out that, in fact, the headlines you presented ARE trying to put a spin on the news by focusing on a sideline issue. Apparently you see this as a challenge and so are trying to change the argument to a more stale one.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by tobster1911
WTF?!?!

How did this go from You saying this proves that the media is not left leaning, to somehow Bush and Repub's are bad?

I never saw anyone excusing/defending Frist's position on the issue. What I saw was people pointing out that, in fact, the headlines you presented ARE trying to put a spin on the news by focusing on a sideline issue. Apparently you see this as a challenge and so are trying to change the argument to a more stale one.

Just answer the first three questions. thanks.

[cowtown]

Well, personally I'm right there with you on the "last throes" and "part of a leak" stuff. I think those were mistakes and weasly behavior. But you were originally asking about the liberal media.

You left out the second part of the NYT headline, which I just saw at Starbucks. I don't remember it word-for-word, but it was something hopeful, along the lines of "Possible intra-party split within the GOP?"

This is an unanswerable question you've raised, because no one in the world can be the fair arbiter when it's answered. You're coming at it from the left, and I'm from the right. So the headlines are interesting, but they're just going to be interpreted differently depending on the audience. I'm sure we can agree on that (maybe?).

[tobster1911]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
You guys are a hoot!

If Frist isn't breaking away, what is he doing? Do you consider his change in position and its ramifications within his own party as well as potential run for the WH not to be news? Is he tip-toeing away from bush?

1. Original thinking. Something you claim is impossible for Repubs
2. Sure it is news. Your thread was not about the ramifications of this position. It was about the press not being liberal.
3. Possibly, although the rest of the articles would make that debatable. He walked out with Bush after all. Again YOUR thread was not about his political position. It was about how the press presents the news. Which in this case was about his vote on stem cell research.

Happy now?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by cowtown
Well, personally I'm right there with you on the "last throes" and "part of a leak" stuff. I think those were mistakes and weasly behavior. But you were originally asking about the liberal media.

You left out the second part of the NYT headline, which I just saw at Starbucks. I don't remember it word-for-word, but it was something hopeful, along the lines of "Possible intra-party split within the GOP?"

This is an unanswerable question you've raised, because no one in the world can be the fair arbiter when it's answered. You're coming at it from the left, and I'm from the right. So the headlines are interesting, but they're just going to be interpreted differently depending on the audience. I'm sure we can agree on that (maybe?).

Agreed!

I didn't see the tag on the NYT, or other tags for that matter. it was just the headline that I was after, which is what catches your eye. the text can say anything, and usually does.

[tobster1911]

hmmmm......must have gotten tired.......

I answered the questions.....now what.....when do I get my gold star?

Oh, I am still waiting for my question to be answered.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by tobster1911
hmmmm......must have gotten tired.......

I answered the questions.....now what.....when do I get my gold star?

Oh, I am still waiting for my question to be answered.

Waiting. What's that like?

[jyl]

There are two interesting things about this story.

The first is that Frist is considering support for stem cell research.

The second is that this is different from Bush's position.

The "breaking from Bush" part of the headline conveys the second interesting thing. Would you have the news headlines convey only the first thing, and gloss over the second thing?

Don't tell me that the "breaking away" language indicates a biased, liberal media. Here is the language used by the conservatives' own favorite right-wing news channel, FOX:

On the "Latest Headlings" list:

http://www.foxnews.com/

"Frist Splits From Bush on Stem Cell Research"

And, if you follow the link:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164029,00.html

"Friday, July 29, 2005

WASHINGTON — Breaking with President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (search) on Friday threw his support behind legislation to expand federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research so long as it stays "within ethical bounds."

"It's not just a matter of faith, it's a matter of science," Frist, R-Tenn., said on the floor of the Senate."

I have helpfully bold-faced the offensive distorted liberal language in FOX's copy.

Give it up, guys.

[bryanthompson]

I maintain that you would not have seen this story headlined in this way if it were a democrat breaking with his democrat ranks. It just doesn't happen. Every opportunity to show a divide in the republican party is taken.

[jyl]

Even by FOX, eh?

You do have a point, which is that the Democrats don't have the same lock-step party discipline, and anyway they are not in power, which makes similar actions by Democrats less interesting.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
I maintain that you would not have seen this story headlined in this way if it were a democrat breaking with his democrat ranks. It just doesn't happen. Every opportunity to show a divide in the republican party is taken.

Bryan, there are and will continue to be stories of Democrats breaking from the party. Just go back 30 days or so when Dean said something outrageous and a ton of Democrats disassociated themselves from him and what he said.

And John is right. Democrats are all about a melting pot of ideas with free form diversity added into the mix. The Republicans are all about if you aren't with us, you are against us. Breaking from the party line is unthinkable. In fact, Frist waited until now to break ranks, whereas his staffers say that he wanted to take an opposing stand during the election, but it would have cost bush dearly.

I guess selling out your personal beliefs and integrity for the greater good of the Party can be justified. I just expect more from our leadership, errr, followership.