The emphasis the media has put on two events that occurred in September gives a clear insight into journalists' thinking and the priority they give events that involve Republicans as opposed to the priority given events that involve Democrats.
The event involving a Republican occurred in September of last year and resulted in four days of traffic jams in Fort Lee, N.J. The event involving a Democrat occurred in September 2012 and resulted in four American deaths. Yet a comparison of the energy and resulting coverage of these events can only lead one to the conclusion that Republican errors that result in traffic jams are far more consequential than Democrat neglect that ends with an ambassador and three other Americans dead in Benghazi.
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The Benghazi attack occurred on the anniversary of 9/11, a time when sports facilities around the U.S. were on enhanced alert, while it was business as usual for our embassies in the Middle East. Yet rather than ask about the obvious lack of preparation at the State Department, reporters fell hook, line, and sinker for Obama’s explanation that the deaths were the result of an unplanned demonstration to protest a cheesy video concerning Mohammed that was posted on YouTube.
Journalists were immediately deflected into pursuing the video maker. Investigating his business history, interviewing the actors in the video and discovering everything possible about his motives and his failings as a human being.
The White House and the State Department both no doubt breathed a sigh of relief, as they were able to run out the clock on the controversy until the election was behind them.
As far as I know the traffic backup on the George Washington Bridge didn’t happen to coincide with a previous transportation disaster in the area. But judging from the media response now you’d think there was.
Reporters hounded Republican Chris Christie demanding to know how much he knew, which aides participated in causing the jam, and how many traffic cones were used to block off each lane. This was followed by speculation on indictments and the affect the controversy would have on Christie’s potential presidential campaign. All questions that were noticeable for their absence in September 2012.
Christie responded with an interminable news conference where he answered every conceivable question reporters could devise. The public is still waiting for President Obama to have a similar news conference.
Now there is a daily drumbeat of congestion coverage as the media announces subpoenas of Christie aides, the New York Times invents an email that “proves” Christie knew, and other reporters follow Christie around the country as he attempts to raise money for the Republican Governors Association.
Without the determined efforts of GOP investigators in the House of Representatives and coverage from The Washington Times, the Benghazi attack and cover-up would have faded from memory. Maybe if Ambassador Stevens and the other three Americans had been killed in that traffic jam in New Jersey the mainstream media would be interested in getting to the bottom of their deaths and holding the Obama administration responsible.
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Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan. He is president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation and chairman of the League of American Voters. Mike is an in-demand speaker with Premiere. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.