Thursday, May 5, 2016

Associated Press Bias Showing ... Again

The Associated Press headlines an article "House Speaker Paul Ryan Refuses to Back Donald Trump." If you read the article, Ryan did no such thing. Here's the complete statement:
I'm just not ready to do that at this point. I'm not there right now. And I hope to. And I want to, but I think what is required is that we unify this party.
Trump replied that he isn't ready to support Ryan's agenda either, but hopes they can reach agreement on a policy that stops treating Americans badly.

A friendly headline would emphasize Ryan's hope, his desire. This unfriendly headline emphasizes the immediate (and likely temporary) refusal, in attempt to boost intra-party discord. A balanced, neutral headline would have indicated differences which both hope to bridge.

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We began opposing Ryan as speaker in early October of 2015. and did so again a couple of days later. We've seen little to cause us to change that evaluation subsequently.

Ryan favors amnesty for illegal immigrants. He feels compelled to pass legislation the President will sign, generally it's legislation that should not pass.

We needed a speaker who would brag about the number of popular bills he forced the President to veto. Ryan is not that person.