[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MEDIA SHOW DOUBLE STANDARD ON SUPREME COURT NOMINEES

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                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2010

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, the national media have shown a 
clear double standard in their coverage of Supreme Court nominees, 
according to recent studies by the Media Research Center (MRC).
  MRC found that when President Bush nominated John Roberts and Samuel 
Alito to the Supreme Court in 2005, the national media repeatedly 
described both men as ``very conservative.''
  In contrast, when President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 
and Elena Kagan this year, the media rarely described them as ``very 
liberal.''
  MRC also found that the television networks gave far more coverage to 
opponents of Roberts and Alito compared to opponents of Sotomayor and 
Kagan.
  The national media should report the facts, not practice a double 
standard.

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