Media

Two conventions, two speeches, two examples of media hypocrisy

by Joe Concha, opinion - 08/02/16 10:02 AM ET

Two conventions, two speeches.

First the Republican version, then the Democratic side.

{mosads}On the GOP stage, you have a grieving mother, Pat Smith, angry with Hillary Clinton over her handling and explanation to her over the 2012 Benghazi terror attack that left her son dead along with three other Americans.

At the Democratic event, there’s a grieving father, Khizr Khan, angry with Donald Trump over his immigration proposal that includes enhanced vetting and screening of those coming to the U.S. from Muslim countries.

After Smith’s remarks, the reaction — particularly from the left — is one of outrage.

Here’s what MSNBC’s Steve Benen said of Smith’s remarks in writing for Rachel Maddow’s blog on July 19:

Benen’s lead: “I’ve been watching major-party conventions for a long time,” he wrote “This was probably the lowest point a party has reached in my lifetime,” adding shortly after, “It was a spectacle so offensive, it was hard to even comprehend.”

Benen’s close: “Imagine if the Democratic National Convention invited several people, including grieving family members, to spread obvious falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the Republican administrations? Democrats would be seen as fanatics lacking in the seriousness of purpose necessary to govern.”

Fast forward ten days later to the Democratic National Committee’s convention in Philadelphia and Benen’s reaction to Khan’s speech:

Benen’s lead: “The timing was almost certainly coincidental, and yet, somehow perfect. Last night, Donald Trump campaigned in Iowa, where he assured voters he’s right about bringing back torture and blocking refugees fleeing terrorist violence. And right around the time those remarks were uttered, a 1,000 miles to the east, the exact opposite message was emanating from the floor of the Democratic National Convention.”

Benen’s close: “Americans heard from quite a few high-profile speakers at the two major-party conventions, but when it comes to sheer emotional weight and resonance, no one topped Khizr Khan.”

If that isn’t the most blatant illustration of how two similar stories can be presented in two entirely different ways when seen through a blindly partisan lens, I don’t know what is.

There are plenty of examples of the sheer, almost sad, hypocrisy in this case — simply Google away. But CNN’s Josh Rogin (also a Washington Post columnist) gets the easy nod for runner-up:

Rogin Tweet on July 19 at the RNC:

I feel for Pat Smith, but the RNC and Trump are using her and her son’s death for politics and that’s wrong.

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 19, 2016

Rogin Tweet on July 31 after the DNC, complete with dramatic photo:

Ghazala Khan: Trump criticized my silence. He knows nothing about true sacrifice. https://t.co/O8w7M2gD9h @PostOpinions

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 31, 2016

As for overall reaction, here’s an eye-popping stat via the conservative Media Research Center on network coverage of the Smith and Khan speeches:

As of Monday evening, the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS and NBC have dedicated 55 minutes and 13 seconds of airtime to stories around the Khan speech. In contrast, Smith’s RNC speech has received just 70 seconds of total airtime of coverage.

We’ve seen this movie before more than a decade ago in 2005. Cindy Sheehan — who, like Khan, lost her son in Iraq — camped outside President George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanding a meeting with the then-commander in chief. Her protest lasted a full month and gained national attention, with prominent media members even dispatched to Crawford for interviews.

Three years later in 2008, Sheehan spoke at the Democratic National Convention, blasting Bush as a war criminal responsible for the death of her son.

These parents all have every right to grieve, to mourn, to vent. But when “journalists” like the hopelessly biased Steve Benen and Josh Rogin slam one party for featuring one and cheer another for offering the same exact stage, it tells you why almost nobody respects or trusts the media anymore.

Concha is a media reporter for The Hill.

The views expressed by Contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

Tags Cindy Sheehan Democratic Party Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Khizr Khan Republican Party