[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WHY DOES THE MEDIA INSIST UPON REPORTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AND GIVING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION 
                                CREDIT?

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, late last year, a constituent asked me ``why 
do newspapers and TV networks insist upon not reporting the 
accomplishments of the Congressional Republican majority, or if it is 
reported, the Clinton administration is given the credit?''
  I replied, some do accurately report the facts, but the national 
media, printed and electronic, with rare exceptions, tilts noticeably 
to the left.
  Mr. Speaker, many Americans, if not most Americans, prefer fair, 
objective reporting. All too often, again, with rare exceptions, double 
standards are applied to the detriment of conservative Republicans.
  An example of this double-standard mentality is the recently-revealed 
Jesse Jackson saga. Had a nationally known conservative Republican 
religionist fathered a child out of wedlock, a universal firestorm 
would have likely erupted and, in lieu of a three-day story, it would 
have endured for several weeks with front page dissemination.
  Ironically, Mr. Speaker, African American reporters have been more 
critical of Mr. Jackson than have many nonblack reporters.
  This is an appropriate time, as we begin a new year, it seems to me, 
for the media to scrap the double standard it has nurtured for so long 
and embrace a single standard of reporting. If conservative Republicans 
are taken to the woodshed by the media, then so should liberal 
Democrats.
  The Jesse Jackson case involves not insignificant amounts of money 
changing hands to the benefit of the mother of Reverend Jackson's 
child. If the father of this child, in my opinion, were a conservative 
Republican, media sleuths likely would be developing a money trail to 
determine the source of these funds. Is such a trail being pursued in 
the Jackson case? Unlikely.
  When this story broke, I heard it said time and again that this story 
will be summarily dismissed, because Jesse Jackson is too powerful, and 
no one wants to annoy Reverend Jackson.
  While I am attempting to annoy no one, Mr. Speaker, I, however, am 
employing the national media to submit to a New Year's resolution that, 
henceforth, conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats be 
objectively fed from the same journalistic spoon and the Jesse Jackson 
case is one of several that can serve as a springboard for this 
purpose.
  My criticism of double standard reporting, Mr. Speaker, is directed 
to the mainstream media, or what is commonly known as the big markets. 
I am the beneficiary of fair and objective reporting by the media in my 
congressional district. But fairness and objective political reporting 
need to be practiced more fully at the national level. If my activities 
can be reported fairly and objectively within the boundaries of my 
congressional district, why can it not be done nationally?
  I hope this will be forthcoming. Should I hold my breath? I fear that 
would be ill-advised. Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, I will patiently wait and 
hope.

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