A Media Matters for America review found that since February 27, the date that televangelist John Hagee endorsed Sen. John McCain for president, The New York Times and The Washington Post combined have published more than 12 times as many articles mentioning Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. and Sen. Barack Obama as they have mentioning Hagee and McCain.
Wash. Post and NY Times published more than 12 times as many articles mentioning Obama and Wright as they did mentioning McCain and Hagee
Written by Andrew Ironside, Brian Levy, Andrew Walzer & Mark Bochkis
Published
A Media Matters for America Nexis search* found that since February 27, the date that televangelist John Hagee endorsed Sen. John McCain for president, The New York Times and The Washington Post combined have published more than 12 times as many articles mentioning Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. and Sen. Barack Obama as they have mentioning Hagee and McCain. The Post published 53 articles during that period that mentioned Wright and Obama, compared with three articles mentioning Hagee and McCain. The Times published 46 articles since February 27 mentioning Wright and Obama, compared with five articles mentioning Hagee and McCain.
Additionally, during the same period, the Post published 40 editorials or opinion pieces that included Wright and Obama while publishing two editorials or opinion pieces that mentioned McCain and Hagee. The Times published 22 editorials or opinion pieces that included Wright and Obama, compared with two editorials or opinion pieces that mentioned McCain and Hagee.
Media Matters has documented (here, here, here, here, and here) other examples of the disparity between the media's extensive coverage of controversial comments made by Wright and other supporters of Obama and their coverage of controversial comments made by Hagee and other supporters of McCain.
Washington Post Wright coverage
Headline
Date
News or editorial
Obama Rebuffs Challenges on His Israel Stance
2/28/2008
N
A Double Standard on 'Reject and Denounce'
3/1/2008
E
'Soft' Press Sharpens Its Focus on Obama
3/3/2008
N
Outspoken Minister Out Of Obama Campaign
3/15/2008
N
UCC Is Happily Riding Obama's Coattails
3/15/2008
N
White Male Vote Especially Critical
3/17/2008
N
3/18/2008
E
3/18/2008
N
3/18/2008
E
Congregation Defends Obama's Ex-Pastor
3/18/2008
N
Wall Street Crisis Forces Candidates to Shift Their Focus
3/18/2008
N
3/19/2008
E
Invited to Wrestle in a Racial Mud Pit, Obama Soars Above It
3/19/2008
E
3/19/2008
E
3/19/2008
E
Internet Congregation Responds in Many Voices
3/19/2008
N
Obama Urges U.S.: 'Move Beyond Our Old Racial Wounds'
3/19/2008
N
Obama, Trying to Bridge America's Racial Divide
3/19/2008
N
Tackling a Sensitive Topic at a Sensitive Moment, for Disparate Audiences
3/19/2008
N
A Complex Speech, Boiled Down to Simple Politics
3/20/2008
N
Will the Answer Outlive Questions?
3/20/2008
N
3/21/2008
E
3/21/2008
E
Ferraro Objects to Obama Speech
3/21/2008
N
More Ministers Like Obama's Should Speak Their Piece
3/22/2008
E
Why Obama Stands With His Church
3/22/2008
E
Obama Finds Pulpit in Center of Racial Divide
3/22/2008
N
Richardson Throws Support to Obama
3/22/2008
N
He's Preaching to A Choir I've Left
3/23/2008
E
3/23/2008
E
Obama's Promise -- And Its Limits
3/23/2008
E
Okay, Barack. Now Show 'Em Your White Side.
3/23/2008
E
The Real Value Of Obama's Speech
3/23/2008
E
When The Post Was Late to Church
3/23/2008
E
A Failure to See Shades of Gray in The Black Church
3/23/2008
N
In Parts of Pa., Racial Divide Colors Election
3/23/2008
N
8 Questions That Will Shape Where the Race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination Goes From Here
3/23/2008
N
3/24/2008
N
Thoughts About Race, From Beyond the Pulpit
3/24/2008
N
Unequal Perspectives on Racial Equality
3/24/2008
N
3/25/2008
E
3/26/2008
N
3/28/2008
E
Clinton Resists Calls To Drop Out
3/29/2008
N
3/29/2008
N
3/30/2008
E
3/31/2008
N
4/1/2008
N
4/4/2008
E
The Other Side of the Mountaintop
4/4/2008
N
4/8/2008
E
4/8/2008
E
Un-an-tici-pat-ed: adj. Lacking Foresight in Hindsight
4/9/2008
N
Tavis Smiley Will Cut Ties With Joyner Radio Show
4/12/2008
N
'Bitter' Is a Hard Pill For Obama to Swallow
4/13/2008
N
On Economy, Obama Blends His Messages
4/13/2008
N
4/13/2008
E
Megyn Kelly, Fox News's Fast-Rising Anchor
4/14/2008
N
4/14/2008
N
4/15/2008
E
Democrats Willing to Let Battle Continue
4/16/2008
N
What Pennsylvania Voters Are Saying
4/17/2008
E
4/17/2008
N
4/18/2008
E
Former '60s Radical Is Now Considered Mainstream in Chicago
4/18/2008
N
Obama Looks To Turn Debate Into a Victory
4/18/2008
N
Performance By ABC's Moderators Is a Matter of Debate
4/18/2008
N
4/20/2008
E
4/20/2008
E
Obama Tries to Hold Off Favored Clinton in Pa.
4/20/2008
N
Sharp Edge, Lethal Aim: Chris Rock Brings the Pain to D.C.
4/21/2008
N
In This Forgotten Town, Obama Can Forget About It
4/22/2008
N
8 Questions About The Pennsylvania Primary
4/22/2008
N
Decisive Win Can't Forestall A Daunting Task
4/23/2008
N
Obama's Gloves Are Off -- And May Need to Stay Off
4/23/2008
N
The Democrats' Worst Nightmare
4/24/2008
E
Republicans Broadcast Strategy With New Ads
4/24/2008
N
4/25/2008
E
4/25/2008
E
Farrakhan's Pennsylvania Admirer
4/26/2008
E
4/26/2008
N
Reverend's Words Stir Debate on His Creed
4/28/2008
N
4/29/2008
E
4/29/2008
E
4/29/2008
E
4/29/2008
E
4/29/2008
E
As Minister Repeats Comments, Obama Tries to Quiet Fray
4/29/2008
N
Preaching to the Choir, Feeding the Fire
4/29/2008
N
Still More Lamentations From Jeremiah
4/29/2008
N
4/30/2008
E
4/30/2008
E
Obama Calls Minister's Comments 'Outrageous'
4/30/2008
N
Washington Post Hagee coverage
Headline
Date
News or editorial
2/28/2008
N
Catholic Groups Angry at McCain Over Endorsement
2/29/2008
N
3/7/2008
N
3/11/2008
E
When The Post Was Late to Church
3/28/2008
E
New York Times Wright coverage
Headline
Date
News or editorial
Obama Walks a Difficult Path As He Courts Jewish Voters
3/1/2008
N
Pastor's Words Still Draw Fire
3/14/2008
N
Obama Denounces Statements of His Pastor as 'Inflammatory'
3/15/2008
N
With Race Likely to Continue After Pennsylvania, Democrats Court Other States
3/16/2008
N
Pastor Defends His Predecessor at Obama's Chicago Church
3/17/2008
N
Generation Obama? Perhaps Not.
3/17/2008
E
On Defensive, Obama Plans Talk on Race
3/18/2008
N
Obama Urges U.S. to Grapple With Race Issue
3/19/2008
N
A Candidate Chooses Reconciliation Over Rancor
3/19/2008
N
In Chicago, More Talk About Race After Speech
3/19/2008
N
Mr. Obama's Profile in Courage
3/19/2008
E
3/20/2008
E
3/20/2008
E
Clinton Facing Narrower Path To Nomination
3/20/2008
N
Obama Works to Shift Campaign Back to Domestic Issues
3/20/2008
N
Groups Respond to Obama's Call for National Discussion About Race
3/20/2008
N
Clinton Treats Obama Pastor With Extreme Caution
3/21/2008
N
First a Tense Talk With Clinton, Then Richardson Backs Obama
3/22/2008
N
3/23/2008
E
Obama Talk Fuels Easter Sermons
3/23/2008
N
3/23/2008
E
What Politicians Say When They Talk About Race
3/23/2008
N
Obama Adviser Steps Up His Criticism of Bill Clinton
3/23/2008
N
A Present for McCain As the Other Side Fights
3/24/2008
N
Before a Game, Clear Memories Of Darker Days
3/24/2008
N
3/25/2008
E
With a Powerful Speech, Obama Offers a Challenge
3/25/2008
E
Obamas' Tax Returns Show Donation Spike
3/26/2008
N
Clinton Criticizes Obama Over His Pastor
3/26/2008
N
Obama Communicates, Even Without Words
3/29/2008
N
3/30/2008
E
Hillary's St. Patrick's Day Massacre
3/30/2008
E
3/31/2008
N
Like the Candidates, TV's Political Pundits Show Signs of Diversity
4/2/2008
N
4/4/2008
E
Obama's Support Softens in Poll, Suggesting a Peak Has Passed
4/4/2008
N
Change Makes A Call on Levittown
4/6/2008
N
A New Star as Campaign Programs Shuffle: The News
4/7/2008
N
In Superdelegate Count, Tough Math for Clinton
4/7/2008
N
4/8/2008
E
'Idol' Pulls Telethon Off, But Candidates Miss Cut
4/10/2008
N
4/11/2008
N
Firing Barbs, But Looking Like a Saint
4/14/2008
N
First Question for Clinton: Be Aggressive or Lay Off?
4/14/2008
N
4/14/2008
E
Democrats Wrangle Over Words and Beliefs
4/14/2008
N
4/16/2008
E
4/17/2008
E
Clinton Uses Sharp Attacks in Tense Debate
4/17/2008
N
Former Friends Weigh Into Debate, and the Former Amity Drains Out
4/17/2008
N
4/18/2008
E
Clinton Impugns Obama's Toughness
4/19/2008
N
Shoddy! Tawdry! A Televised Train Wreck!
4/20/2008
E
Clinton Clearly Outduels Obama in Pennsylvania
4/23/2008
N
For Obama, a Struggle to Win Over Key Blocs
4/24/2008
N
North Carolina G.O.P. to Run Ad Using Obama's Ex-Pastor
4/24/2008
N
4/26/2008
E
G.O.P. Now Sees Obama as Liability for Ticket
4/26/2008
N
Heading Toward The Danger Zone
4/26/2008
E
Desperately Seeking Street Cred
4/27/2008
E
Former Pastor of Obama Says He Isn't Divisive
4/28/2008
N
McCain Criticizes Remarks by Obama's Former Pastor
4/28/2008
N
Not Speaking for Obama, Pastor Speaks for Himself, at Length
4/29/2008
N
Obama Adds to Distance From Pastor and Opinions
4/29/2008
N
4/29/2008
E
An Angry Obama Renounces Ties to His Ex-Pastor
4/30/2008
N
In His Own Words, Then and Now
4/30/2008
N
4/30/2008
E
New York Times Hagee coverage
Headline
Date
News or editorial
Clinton Questions Role of Obama in a Crisis
3/1/2008
N
McCain Grows Testy on Question About '04 and Kerry Partnership
3/8/2008
N
3/9/2008
E
3/23/2008
N
For McCain, Little Talk of a Controversial Endorsement
4/8/2008
N
McCain Goes Where Few Republicans Dare, Deep in Democrats' Territory
4/26/2008
N
4/30/2008
E
* SEARCH TERMS: (barack w/2 obama) and (jeremiah w/2 wright) and publication(Washington Post); (john w/2 mccain) and (john w/2 hagee) and publication(Washington Post); (barack w/2 obama) and (jeremiah w/2 wright) and publication(New York Times); (john w/2 mccain) and (john w/2 hagee) and publication(New York Times)