During a commencement speech at the University of Michigan today the President urged fans of Glenn Beck to give the Huffington Post a try. He also implored readers of The New York Times to give the WSJ a shot. The NYT and WSJ are natural crossovers. But what about Beck and Huffington?
Although I don’t watch Glenn Beck, I’m well aware of his show and its frenetic format. I’m also very familiar with the Huffington Post (just look at the sidebar).
Arianna Huffington: Bias you can bank on.
The difference in my mind between the two, besides the fact that Mr. Beck hosts an hour long show on FOX and the Huffington Post passes as a bonafide full service news outlet, is that Glenn Beck doesn’t even attempt to hide his anger and, yes to a degree, paranoia of the opposition. That is much different than Ms. Huffington’s organization. The Huffington Post feigns objectivity, but never fails to skew a story toward the Democrats. If a story can’t be spun in the favor of the left, The Huffington Post often ignores the story altogether.
Ms. Huffington’s website has begun issuing certain loyal users the title “Superuser”. Superuser’s are the cream of the crop, the devotees of Ms. Huffington’s army of believers,without whom The Huffington Post would not have White House press credentials. Quite frankly, their daily comments at the end of opinion and news articles are as hateful as anything that has come out of the right.
Here are some examples of comments made today by some of these folks on The Huffinton Post. Remember, these are the people The Huffington Post honors on their website:
On immigration reform:
Republicans are the biggest employers of illegal immigrants in America. Republicans don’t believe in the minimum wage or giving rights to workers… that’s why they love exploiting these people who simply want a better life for themselves and their families. It’s ironic that Republicans are trying to bite the hands that pick their tomatoes.
Immigration and hatred of Republicans:
Not only do I want ILLEGAL immigration stopped, I want the leadership of the republican party deported too!!!! I don’t like the democrats either, I’m ANTI-INCUMBENT, but I really HATE the republicans.
If Paylin was a real Christian she would plead for mercy for this young man. We all realize he isn’t a threat to society or to PAYlin either for that matter. We would all be better served if she practiced better security on her devices and understood a college prank when she saw one. This was not international spy activity. This was invasive spare time amateur hacking. Community service and fine is all he deserves. PAYlin should for once take the high road,drop her self centered conceit, and understand somethings are more important than camera mugging for more cash.
Once again Palin shows the nation that she is still the “Dumbest Woman in America”....
comparing hacking of private email to the ‘B& E’ of the DNC, a national political organization,during Watergate…. her perpetrator was not a political operative, he was a stupid kid!!!!!Either Palin is over-the-top stupid, or she is example #1 of “extreme” narcissistic disorder…
My guess…Both!
These examples are just samples of the thousands and thousands of comments made on The Huffington Post each day. The point is, leftist attacks on the right in the public forum are as hateful and uninformed as whatever the “teabaggers” are accused of on a daily basis in the media. The above shows it cuts both ways.
What about Glenn Beck you ask?
The Glenn Beck story is a little different. Mr. Beck, a recovering alcoholic, is more of a showman than Ms. Huffington, and possibly P.T. Barnum, for that matter. While the Huffington Post misrepresents the truth by omitting or distorting facts, Glenn Beck does it in a loud and proud manner. Some of his comments about the President have been over the top. In addition, Mr. Beck’s brand of “news” has found its audience and has largely maxed out. This works for both Mr. Beck and FOX News, by the way, who are making a mint off Mr. Beck’s commentary. An interesting aside is that The Huffington Post, and the left in general, had nary a word to say when Mr. Beck was on CNN. His show hasn’t changed much, just his brand affiliation.
In the end, in an attempt to “open minds” , the President asked moderate Democrats to switch to a moderately conservative newspaper. He also asked far-right-wingers to try on the looniest-of-left-wing websites. It would have been interesting if the President had asked Huff Po users to give good ole’ Glenn Beck a whirl. I’d pay to read the comments on The Huffington Post after that. However, as with all things, the President was playing politics. He wouldn’t dare ask his base to watch a “wing-nut” like Glenn Beck. A politician’s notion of fairness inevitably favors voters on their side of the aisle, just the way it works. Asking Beckers’ to read Ms. Huffington is a safe move.
If more than two people actually take the President’s advice, I’ll eat my hat.
Related posts:
- Glenn Beck: A Shock to the System?
- No More Comments on The Huffington Post Website For Me
- AOL’s Huffington Post Pickle, How to Handle Arianna’s Cyber-Extremists
John Romano is the publisher and editor of Yes, But However!, a musician, a former political correspondent for BBC Radio London, and a serial web entrepreneur. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/yesbuthowever or John Romano on Google+John Romano article archive.
