Two media myths

The long-espoused myth that the liberals control the media has been very effective for conservatives, despite it being totally at odds with reality. Look at last Sunday’s New York Times Best-Seller list for nonfiction for proof that the myth lives on.

No. 1 — Culture of Corruption, a Regnery book describing “revelations” about President Barack Obama’s team of tax cheats, petty crooks, influence-peddlers and Wall Street cronies. How do people say this stuff with a straight face?

No. 3 — Mark Levin, conservative think tank author’s conservative manifesto, Liberty and Tyranny. Just what conservatives need — another manifesto.

No. 5 — Catastrophe. Dick Morris and his wife warns that we need to stop Obama “before he transforms American into a socialist state.” This from a disgraced Clinton adviser?

No. 7 — Fox TV host Bill O’Reilly’s continuing series about himself, A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. Well, he sure is bold.

Publishers Weekly lists Culture of Corruption No. 1; Liberty and Tyranny No. 8; Catastrophe No. 9; O’Reilly No. 15.

That’s books. Cable TV follows suit. Fox’s view of reality outscores MSNBC and CNN regularly in viewership.

That conservatives have successfully propagated the propaganda that liberals control media is mind-boggling. It is right up there with the other myth — that the Jews own the media. A client of mine heard that common complaint from a cab driver in New York City. He asked who the fellow had in mind. CNN and Fox, the guy responded. It’s out — Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch are closet Jews.

Visit www.RonaldGoldfarb.com