Liberal Media

It's simply ridiculous for Jack Kinstlinger to suggest that he was turned off to the Tea Party movement after attending one event ("Tea party tries to sound reasonable," Readers respond, April 15). I've read many of Mr. Kinstlinger's letters in the past; he is a devout tax and spend liberal, and it's incomprehensible that he would go to a tea party rally with an open mind. Also telling is the knee-jerk liberal reaction displayed by Mr. Kinstlinger when he likens the tea party movement to the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan nation.

Letter writer Michael Baseman criticizes another reader who says that liberal media is intolerant ("We can't change Ben Carson's view," April 20). He goes on to suggest that a logical response to Dr. Carson's statements would be useless and implies that he would refuse to forgive someone who has publicly and humbly apologized. Finally, he suggests it would be a waste of time to state his opinion to someone who does not agree with him. Is this not itself the definition of intolerance?

The murder trial of Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia abortion provider, entered its fifth week today riding a peculiar media firestorm. The focus of much attention in recent days was not on Dr. Gosnell, who is charged in the death of seven babies and an adult patient who died of an overdose, but on a claim that the trial is getting modest coverage in the national media - allegedly because of a liberal bias. Whether sufficient coverage has been given to the trial we would leave for others to judge.

I am shocked and saddened that a newspaper would classify the horrific acts that this man has been accused of doing as an example of "medical malpractice, lax government regulation and dearth of decent health care" ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). Really, that's all you can say? You think that is what the "heart of the case" is here? Not the lives of the unborn? What is at the heart of the case is murder plain and simple, and none of the other things you listed concern me one whit when talking about the murder of innocent children.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The resignation of two top editors at The New York Times last week was the journalistic equivalent of bringing down a president of the United States. But the initial reaction from inside the journalism establishment does not augur well for any lessons that it should learn from this affair. The New York Times will investigate, study and examine what happened, but it is unlikely the newspaper will reach the right conclusions. The problem for the Times and for much of "mainstream journalism" is that large numbers of people no longer trust what they read (or see on the broadcast networks)

I have a bet with a friend that if President Obama wins re-election in the Electoral College but loses the popular vote, all the raging against the Electoral College in the print and broadcast media will immediately cease. Within three months, you won't hear a peep about the Electoral College system. Wanna bet? Douglas B. Hermann, Parkville

INTRIGUED by all the right-wing hoo-haw about the "liberal media," I began to wonder who these devilishly elusive people are who have such tight control over everything I read, listen to and view; who influence my life without my even being aware of it?As a lifelong news junkie absorbed in all things political, I grew more and more curious about this insidious influence that, we are warned, is more dangerous and pervasive than kudzu or killer bees.So I decided to conduct a survey, unscientific to be sure, but probably no more so than those done by pollsters who slant their questions to elicit the responses desired.

Bring back Gorby!There is no evidence that the Clinton administration abused FBI data, and a book of evidence that Agent Aldrich did.Dole is running against the liberal media. Clinton is running against the conservative media.The Bosnian Serb president pretends to step down whenever the U.S. pretends to impose sanctions.Pub Date: 7/05/96

Regarding your recent editorial on the murder trial of Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, we are not all stupid ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). Sean Hannity is a conservative and he admits it. But The Sun editorial board is liberal, and doesn't admit it. That is the main difference between the two sides: Most conservatives admit they are, and most liberals deny they are. I heard about the Gosnell case months ago, and I am sure it was not in The Sun. Fox at least tries to let both sides have a say, but MSNBC doesn't.

Recently I called a local radio talk show, not to blast President Barack Obama or ridicule Mitt Romney but to chide the conservative host and his conservative guest for their tiresome narrative about liberal bias in the "mainstream media.'" They directed me to unspecified recent studies by the Pew Research Center, a widely respected non-partisan social science and polling group that they said supported their perception of liberal media bias. The most recent Pew study does suggest that, by a large margin, the public perceives that there is bias in the media.

In regard to The Sun's editorial on Kermit Gosnell, you should be ashamed of yourselves ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). Blaming the alleged murder of seven children on the fact that women don't have access to birth control and comprehensive sex education is ludicrous. Doesn't anyone need to take responsibility for their actions anymore? Since when don't women have access to birth control? Last time I checked, condoms are available in every pharmacy. Planned Parenthood - note the word, planned - helps women with their reproductive choices.

Regarding your recent editorial on the murder trial of Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, we are not all stupid ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). Sean Hannity is a conservative and he admits it. But The Sun editorial board is liberal, and doesn't admit it. That is the main difference between the two sides: Most conservatives admit they are, and most liberals deny they are. I heard about the Gosnell case months ago, and I am sure it was not in The Sun. Fox at least tries to let both sides have a say, but MSNBC doesn't.

I would say The Sun's coverage of accused murderer Kermit Gosnell is awful but there wasn't any until recently ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). But, of course, this comes from a paper that charges $1.50 at the newsstand and can't get sports scores in after 9:30 at night. And, yes I do subscribe (since the News American folded). And, you talk about "legitimate clinics?" Oh, are those "safe abortion clinics?" Ken Hess, Pasadena Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

Alexander Hooke accuses the liberal media of being self-righteous and intolerant concerning their treatment of Dr. Ben Carson's comments on gay marriage ("Liberal Intolerance" April 9). As if one could logically argue the point to Dr. Carson that gay marriage does not equate with bestiality. Of course all is to be forgiven because Dr. Carson apologized simply for his poor choice of words in expressing his ideas. As if only he had spoken more eloquently, all would be understood. And we should just point out to Dr. Carson the error of his ways so that he might be convinced otherwise.

The Sun has indeed reached new lows by blaming the Kermit Gosnell matter on the anti-abortion lobby ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). No wonder newspapers are dying. The most shocking thing about The Sun's view is that it is not shocking at all. Sadly, this is what we've come to expect from editorial boards today. Bernard P. Codd Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

The murder trial of Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia abortion provider, entered its fifth week today riding a peculiar media firestorm. The focus of much attention in recent days was not on Dr. Gosnell, who is charged in the death of seven babies and an adult patient who died of an overdose, but on a claim that the trial is getting modest coverage in the national media - allegedly because of a liberal bias. Whether sufficient coverage has been given to the trial we would leave for others to judge.

I would say The Sun's coverage of accused murderer Kermit Gosnell is awful but there wasn't any until recently ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). But, of course, this comes from a paper that charges $1.50 at the newsstand and can't get sports scores in after 9:30 at night. And, yes I do subscribe (since the News American folded). And, you talk about "legitimate clinics?" Oh, are those "safe abortion clinics?" Ken Hess, Pasadena Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

The Sun has indeed reached new lows by blaming the Kermit Gosnell matter on the anti-abortion lobby ("Kermit Gosnell and the 'liberal media,'" April 16). No wonder newspapers are dying. The most shocking thing about The Sun's view is that it is not shocking at all. Sadly, this is what we've come to expect from editorial boards today. Bernard P. Codd Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

It was appalling to see columnist Dan Rodricks criticize Dr. Ben Carson for flirting with Republican politics ("Ben Carson's biblically based conservatism," March 31). I wish Mr. Rodricks wouldn't always look at the world through the prism of liberalism but be open-minded enough to also see things through the eyes of conservatives. What's wrong with Dr. Carson dabbling in Republican politics? Rush Limbaugh's conservative, common-sense ideas could help liberals like Mr. Rodricks to understand what made this country great.

Eric Alterman criticizes my recent commentary in The Sun on major media bias ("Liberal media bias is beyond doubt, March 18) because, he claims, I lacked "supporting evidence" in claiming his book, ""What Liberal Media? The Truth About Bias and the News," had "evidentiary problems" ("Vatz's baseless attack," March 21). He unsurprisingly quotes variously liberal sources as finding his thesis well-proved. In several e-mails to me, he recklessly analogized me to the reckless Joe McCarthy, ending with addressing me as "Joe.