George W. Bush’s former White House press secretary says his folder on media bias is “bulging” with examples.
“There’s no question about it. The press is an inherent bias towards conflict. In many ways, their first, worst bias,” Ari Fleischer told The Hill. “But once they’re done with the juicy conflict, they have an ideological bias. Particularly on social issues, which makes it a lot easier to be a Democrat dealing with the press than a Republican.”
Fletcher pointed to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ trip to the U.S.-Mexico border as an example, citing the Washington Post’s coverage.
“[The story] doesn’t say ‘illegal immigration’ though,” he said. “It conflates it to immigration. [The story cites] four people, all critical of what Sessions did, and does not include one quote of anyone praising what Sessions did.”
Fleischer also cited Dan Rather’s coverage of the Mexico City policy, which bans U.S. funding to international family planning groups if they provide abortion services.
“Here’s how Dan Rather covered it,” Fleischer said. “‘Today with the stroke of a pen, President Clinton delivered on his campaign promise to undo regulations of the Reagan-Bush years.’ Eight years later, Dan Rather: ‘This was President Bush’s first day in the office, and he did something to quickly please the right flank in his party.’
“So with Republicans, its partisanship, its conservatism, it’s right-wing,” Fleischer said. “With Democrats, it’s honoring a promise.”
