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 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.
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 |
2/28/2008 |
N |
|
3/1/2008 |
E |
|
3/3/2008 |
N |
|
3/15/2008 |
N |
|
3/15/2008 |
N |
|
3/17/2008 |
N |
|
3/18/2008 |
E |
|
3/18/2008 |
N |
|
3/18/2008 |
E |
|
3/18/2008 |
N |
|
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 |
|
3/19/2008 |
N |
|
3/19/2008 |
N |
|
3/19/2008 |
N |
|
Tackling a Sensitive Topic at a Sensitive Moment, for Disparate Audiences |
3/19/2008 |
N |
3/20/2008 |
N |
|
3/20/2008 |
N |
|
3/21/2008 |
E |
|
3/21/2008 |
E |
|
3/21/2008 |
N |
|
3/22/2008 |
E |
|
3/22/2008 |
E |
|
3/22/2008 |
N |
|
3/22/2008 |
N |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
N |
|
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 |
|
3/24/2008 |
N |
|
3/24/2008 |
N |
|
3/25/2008 |
E |
|
3/26/2008 |
N |
|
3/28/2008 |
E |
|
3/29/2008 |
N |
|
3/29/2008 |
N |
|
3/30/2008 |
E |
|
3/31/2008 |
N |
|
4/1/2008 |
N |
|
4/4/2008 |
E |
|
4/4/2008 |
N |
|
4/8/2008 |
E |
|
4/8/2008 |
E |
|
4/9/2008 |
N |
|
4/12/2008 |
N |
|
4/13/2008 |
N |
|
4/13/2008 |
N |
|
4/13/2008 |
E |
|
4/14/2008 |
N |
|
4/14/2008 |
N |
|
4/15/2008 |
E |
|
4/16/2008 |
N |
|
4/17/2008 |
E |
|
4/17/2008 |
N |
|
4/18/2008 |
E |
|
4/18/2008 |
N |
|
4/18/2008 |
N |
|
4/18/2008 |
N |
|
4/20/2008 |
E |
|
4/20/2008 |
E |
|
4/20/2008 |
N |
|
4/21/2008 |
N |
|
4/22/2008 |
N |
|
4/22/2008 |
N |
|
4/23/2008 |
N |
|
4/23/2008 |
N |
|
4/24/2008 |
E |
|
4/24/2008 |
N |
|
4/25/2008 |
E |
|
4/25/2008 |
E |
|
4/26/2008 |
E |
|
4/26/2008 |
N |
|
4/28/2008 |
N |
|
4/29/2008 |
E |
|
4/29/2008 |
E |
|
4/29/2008 |
E |
|
4/29/2008 |
E |
|
4/29/2008 |
E |
|
4/29/2008 |
N |
|
4/29/2008 |
N |
|
4/29/2008 |
N |
|
4/30/2008 |
E |
|
4/30/2008 |
E |
|
4/30/2008 |
N |
Washington Post Hagee coverage
Headline |
Date |
News or editorial |
2/28/2008 |
N |
|
2/29/2008 |
N |
|
3/7/2008 |
N |
|
3/11/2008 |
E |
|
3/28/2008 |
E |
New York Times Wright coverage
Headline |
Date |
News or editorial |
3/1/2008 |
N |
|
3/14/2008 |
N |
|
3/15/2008 |
N |
|
With Race Likely to Continue After Pennsylvania, Democrats Court Other States |
3/16/2008 |
N |
3/17/2008 |
N |
|
3/17/2008 |
E |
|
3/18/2008 |
N |
|
3/19/2008 |
N |
|
3/19/2008 |
N |
|
3/19/2008 |
N |
|
3/19/2008 |
E |
|
3/20/2008 |
E |
|
3/20/2008 |
E |
|
3/20/2008 |
N |
|
3/20/2008 |
N |
|
Groups Respond to Obama's Call for National Discussion About Race |
3/20/2008 |
N |
3/21/2008 |
N |
|
First a Tense Talk With Clinton, Then Richardson Backs Obama |
3/22/2008 |
N |
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
N |
|
3/23/2008 |
E |
|
3/23/2008 |
N |
|
3/23/2008 |
N |
|
3/24/2008 |
N |
|
3/24/2008 |
N |
|
3/25/2008 |
E |
|
3/25/2008 |
E |
|
3/26/2008 |
N |
|
3/26/2008 |
N |
|
3/29/2008 |
N |
|
3/30/2008 |
E |
|
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 |
4/6/2008 |
N |
|
4/7/2008 |
N |
|
4/7/2008 |
N |
|
4/8/2008 |
E |
|
4/10/2008 |
N |
|
4/11/2008 |
N |
|
4/14/2008 |
N |
|
4/14/2008 |
N |
|
4/14/2008 |
E |
|
4/14/2008 |
N |
|
4/16/2008 |
E |
|
4/17/2008 |
E |
|
4/17/2008 |
N |
|
Former Friends Weigh Into Debate, and the Former Amity Drains Out |
4/17/2008 |
N |
4/18/2008 |
E |
|
4/19/2008 |
N |
|
4/20/2008 |
E |
|
4/23/2008 |
N |
|
4/24/2008 |
N |
|
4/24/2008 |
N |
|
4/26/2008 |
E |
|
4/26/2008 |
N |
|
4/26/2008 |
E |
|
4/27/2008 |
E |
|
4/28/2008 |
N |
|
4/28/2008 |
N |
|
Not Speaking for Obama, Pastor Speaks for Himself, at Length |
4/29/2008 |
N |
4/29/2008 |
N |
|
4/29/2008 |
E |
|
4/30/2008 |
N |
|
4/30/2008 |
N |
|
4/30/2008 |
E |
New York Times Hagee coverage
Headline |
Date |
News or editorial |
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 |
|
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)