# PBS, politics, current events ... potential for bias? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 7, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166 "2012-05-07T14:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/1 "2012-05-07T14:30:14Z")
Not Liberal bias; just plain old bias in favor of Democrats … The other day I looked at the schedule of my local PBS affiliate for the current events or political programming. The names that were prominent were Tavis Smiley, Charley Rose and Bill Moyer. Then I went to the wiki on the PBS News Hour and found that “The program’s senior correspondents are Gwen Ifill, Ray Suarez, Margaret Warner, Jeffrey Brown, and Judy Woodruff.” I’m somewhat familiar with all except Brown and I wondered whether any of them regularly pull the R lever rather than the D. I don’t think so. Am I missing any shows or people that might suggest that PBS really does provide “strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature” as it was designed to do? I’m sure there are some R’s among the Nightly Business Report people and I used to watch McLaughlin Group which was always pretty balanced. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/2 "2012-05-07T15:08:46Z")
Think of it as a balance for all the republicans who populate the [Sunday morning news shows.](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/fair-study-republicans-sunday-shows.php) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/3 "2012-05-07T16:40:44Z")
Potential for bias? How on earth would you even measure that? Are you planning on applying for the the precrime division or the brain police? Even if I did accept that this amounts to anything more than “They don’t massage the facts the way I like them to”, do you have any evidence that the journalists in question don’t vote for republicans? I would have imagined David Brooks too intelligent to pull the lever for any Rs in the last 10 years, but he’s still the conservative commentator on the News Hour. Short version: It’s their reporting that matters, and it’s their reporting that you can measure. When your argument resorts to trying to weed out journalists whose thoughts or actions outside of their job aren’t fair+balanced enough, I’m just going assume that the question of PBS’s neutrality has been settled wrt their reporting of the news. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/4 "2012-05-07T16:57:11Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Not Liberal bias; just plain old bias in favor of Democrats … What would be the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/5 "2012-05-07T17:45:06Z")
And why _would_ anyone with a strict adherence to objectivity and balance ever vote for the Republicans, in the current political climate? When one party looks with scorn on the fact-based community, it’s only natural for the fact-based community to shun them in turn. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/6 "2012-05-07T18:31:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And why _would_ anyone with a strict adherence to objectivity and balance ever vote for the Republicans, in the current political climate? When one party looks with scorn on the fact-based community, it’s only natural for the fact-based community to shun them in turn. This. “Balance” and “fairness” are **not** the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/7 "2012-05-07T22:20:16Z")
This is not about elections. It’s a rant against PBS and Democrats. Moving to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/8 "2012-05-07T22:44:32Z")
No worries, we gave Big Bird his address. He will be dealt with appropriately. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/9 "2012-05-07T23:03:50Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Then I went to the wiki on the PBS News Hour and found that “The program’s senior correspondents are Gwen Ifill, Ray Suarez, Margaret Warner, Jeffrey Brown, and Judy Woodruff.” > > I’m somewhat familiar with all except Brown and I wondered whether any of them regularly pull the R lever rather than the D. I don’t think so. So, you’re proof is that you “don’t think so”? Ifill is black, so statistically, she’s probably a Democrat. As for the others… I can’t say I know either way, and I watch them all routinely on PBS. But those guys are news reporters, not commentators. They seem to do a very good job to me, and I don’t generally see any bias at all. The PBS NewsHour is the best news show on American TV. They will almost always have someone representing both sides of the issues, and their 15 minute (or so) analysis on Fridays with Shields and Brooks is quite good. Both represented their respective sides without being blindingly partisan. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/10 "2012-05-07T23:28:39Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Not Liberal bias; just plain old bias in favor of Democrats … > > The other day I looked at the schedule of my local PBS affiliate for the current events or political programming. The names that were prominent were Tavis Smiley, Charley Rose and Bill Moyer. Then I went to the wiki on the PBS News Hour and found that “The program’s senior correspondents are Gwen Ifill, Ray Suarez, Margaret Warner, Jeffrey Brown, and Judy Woodruff.” > > I’m somewhat familiar with all except Brown and I wondered whether any of them regularly pull the R lever rather than the D. I don’t think so. > > Am I missing any shows or people that might suggest that PBS really does provide “strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature” as it was designed to do? > > I’m sure there are some R’s among the Nightly Business Report people and I used to watch McLaughlin Group which was always pretty balanced. Because then nobody would take the Republicans seriously on those shows as everybody would know they just got on the basis of political affirmative action. Republicans just need to try harder to succeed on their own merits, and not look to the government and PBS for handouts and set-asides. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/11 "2012-05-07T23:33:47Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > … Shields and Brooks is quite good. Both represented their respective sides without being blindingly partisan. Never miss it. I used to think Brooks has the better suits, as befits an apologist for the ruling class. But I’ve come to realize that Mark is a born-again frump, and no matter who dresses him or how expensively, he will always wear a suit that looks like he just slept in it. And may the Goddess bless him and keep him next to Her bountiful bosom all the days of his life. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/12 "2012-05-07T23:52:51Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Never miss it. I used to think Brooks has the better suits, as befits an apologist for the ruling class. But I’ve come to realize that Mark is a born-again frump, and no matter who dresses him or how expensively, he will always wear a suit that looks like he just slept in it. And may the Goddess bless him and keep him next to Her bountiful bosom all the days of his life. I DVR the show every day. I do like the Shields and Brooks part on Fridays. Brooks is one of the few responsible, conservative commentators left. Or should that be right? Anyway, he probably gets his suits from his brothers. They’re Jewish, too. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/13 "2012-05-08T11:41:47Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > This is not about elections. It’s a rant against PBS and Democrats. > > Moving to the Pit. A “rant” … you’ve gotta be fucking kidding me? Tell me honestly that if someone else had started this you would have moved it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/14 "2012-05-08T11:48:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > So, you’re proof is that you “don’t think so”? Ifill is black, so statistically, she’s probably a Democrat. As for the others… I can’t say I know either way, and I watch them all routinely on PBS. But those guys are news reporters, not commentators. They seem to do a very good job to me, and I don’t generally see any bias at all. > > The PBS NewsHour is the best news show on American TV. They will almost always have someone representing both sides of the issues, and their 15 minute (or so) analysis on Fridays with Shields and Brooks is quite good. Both represented their respective sides without being blindingly partisan. Suarez, Moyer, Woodruf… definitely Dems. By your own thought process…Smiley too. I’d be willing to bet on the others but no one can prove anything. I think you focused too much on PBSNH in your “analysis”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/15 "2012-05-08T11:57:46Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Think of it as a balance for all the republicans who populate the [Sunday morning news shows.](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/fair-study-republicans-sunday-shows.php) As that study points out, it was done in the middle of the R primary. What show controlled by Ds wouldn’t want to ask the rightest of the right lots of pointed questions? Who hosts those shows these days? I don’t watch them much anymore but the last I remember Amanpour, Gregory, Sheiffer, Stephanopolis and Blitzer come to mind in addition to the R on Fox. Of course I can’t prove anything. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/16 "2012-05-08T12:12:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > [@What\_the](#): > > > > Not Liberal bias; just plain old bias in favor of Democrats … > > What would be the difference? Well, it’s not like Democrats are actually liberal. > [@elucidator](#): > > No worries, we gave Big Bird his address. He will be dealt with appropriately. Hopefully, he’ll learn his place in the pecking order. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/17 "2012-05-08T12:26:58Z")
> [@what the .... ?!?!](#): > > a “rant” … You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me? > > Tell me honestly that if someone else had started this you would have moved it. CROSSES HERE!!! Getchur brand new cypress crosses here!!! Good for self-crucifixion and martyr complexes!!! CROSSES HERE!!! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/18 "2012-05-08T13:04:38Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Republicans just need to try harder to succeed on their own merits, and not look to the government and PBS for handouts and set-asides. All those nasty rumors about you I’ve been spreading behind your back? I take at least a third of them back now. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/19 "2012-05-08T13:17:25Z")
ThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasThereisnosuchthingasliberalmediabiasDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealDoesn’thappenIsn’trealNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/20 "2012-05-08T13:33:46Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Tell me honestly that if someone else had started this you would have moved it. That’s because you’re a very _special_ boy who is loved \*very \*\*very \*_very_ much! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166.md?page=2)