This page was last updated on July 24, 2004.

The Times put on a creative demonstration of partisanship in this piece.

A “boot” found it hypocritical, double-dealing, and duplicitous for General Assembly members to vote against gambling expansion (HB 2330) but to vote for using the proceeds to reduce local government school property taxes (SB 100).  The Times would have us believe that if you oppose a tax, you should abdicate your responsibility to see the government spends the tax revenue “appropriately.”  In other words, only those legislators who vote in favor of a tax should have any say in how its revenue is spent.  Logically, that also means government school board members who vote against a tax increase that passes should have no say on the budget.  That’s an interesting – and ridiculous – position.

Despite the fact the Times supports a ridiculous position, let’s look at the deception used to praise Democrats and criticize Republicans.

The boot said, “In the Senate, 18 Republicans - and no Democrats - pulled this stunt.”  The Times failed to mention it would have been impossible for any Senate Democrats to “pull this stunt” because Democrats unanimously voted for the “one-armed bandits.”

Regarding the House, the boot reported, “only four Democrats shamed themselves.”  Once again the Times failed to mention a relevant fact.  Only five Democrats could have “shamed themselves” because only five voted against gambling expansion!  It would have been equally correct to write, “80% of Democrats who voted against gambling expansion shamed themselves by voting for SB 100.”  Of course, the latter wording would not have helped the Times’ spin goal.

What is clever is that the Times cited accurate facts – albeit out of context – and did not lie, yet managed to convey a distorted view.  This is an excellent example of the media bias bombarding us everyday.

The corresponding “salute” commending legislators who voted against both bills was self-serving and was intended solely to give the impression of balance.

These pieces are examples of why we need to research everything we hear, read, and see, whether it is labeled as news or opinion.

© 2004 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.