[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MEDIA USE ``CONSERVATIVE'' LABEL MORE OFTEN THAN ``LIBERAL''

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                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, the national media label political 
candidates and organizations ``conservative'' far more often than 
``liberal.''
  For example, during the last year, the New York Times, the Washington 
Post, and the Los Angeles Times used the word ``conservative'' almost 
twice as often as ``liberal'' in political news stories, according to 
an internet search.
  Furthermore, by margins of 3 to 1, the newspapers used the term ``far 
right'' more often than ``far left'' and ``right wing'' more frequently 
than ``left wing.''
  And the term ``extreme right'' appeared five times more often than 
``extreme left.''
  This disparity shows the media's liberal perspective. To them, 
``liberal'' is actually ``mainstream,'' and therefore not worth 
mentioning.
  But Americans describe themselves as conservative rather than liberal 
by a margin of 2 to 1.
  The national media should give Americans the facts, not use biased 
language.

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