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Answer from Konstantin Toropin, CNN journalist:
Yes, of course Donald Trump is treated differently than Hillary Clinton by the press. Before you go and demand my Illuminati membership card back, let me explain.
This article makes the following argument: the press is being super aggressive in attacking Trump's lies, offensive remarks, etc. The implied corollary is that the press is thus less critical of Clinton. On the whole, that is true, once again underscoring my initial answer of two different kinds of coverage. Why?
Well, to start, they are running two very different kinds of campaigns that are impossible to cover in the same way. Clinton is running a typical political campaign where she says the right things, does the right things, and for the most part, tries to come off as appealing and inoffensive as possible. Conversely, Trump is almost certainly going out of his way to be provocative, controversial and even offensive in an attempt to demonstrate to all that he is non-traditional. You can't cover these two people in the same way even if you tried.
Take the case of fact checking. Do both candidates make false statements? Sure. Are they both called on it? Yes. However, the kinds of lies they tell and how they do it are completely different. A lot of Clinton's controversies revolve around unproven things: deleted emails, closed door deals, special interest influences. Thus, when she says, "I am not beholden to special interests," smart people in the media (and elsewhere) suspect that's a lie but we can't call her on it because there is no proof to the contrary. However, when Donald Trump goes on national TV several times and says Obama is the literal founder of ISIS, we know for a fact that is untrue. So, he gets called out.
Now, does this mean the press is more critical of Trump? Yes, as a result of his own actions, Donald Trump has drawn far more criticism than Hillary. Does this mean everyone from MSNBC is getting a sub-cabinet appointment after Clinton wins? No. being critical of one idea or thought does not automatically mean you are in favor of the opposite. Similarly, critical coverage of one candidate does not mean you are shilling for the other. All it means is that one candidate is saying or doing something that warrants criticism.
And on that note… if Trump were to stop making veiled assassination claims, citing conspiracy theories, or claiming election fraud before the election is actually held, then the press would have nothing to critique and the disparity would subside. After all, the press is reactive, we don't make up stories, we report what is in front of us. Stop giving us something to report and we go looking elsewhere.
Now, that all said, I do want to note that bias exists and it's a good thing. As this Vox article notes:
If anything, the press tilts toward deficit hawkery in its economics and a (deserved) skepticism of governmental competence and honesty in its instincts.
…it prizes diversity, tolerance, pluralism. Within newsrooms, these ideas aren't seen as political opinions but as fundamental values. There is no "other side" worth reporting when it comes to racial equality, no argument that needs to be respected when it comes to religious intolerance or anti-LGBTQ bigotry.
As a result, ideas that espouse intolerance, hatred, and bigotry get hit particularly hard by the media. That's how it should be. The press is not supposed to be a tool to legitimize outdated or inaccurate ideas (like nonsense about birth certificates). The press isn't a megaphone—its a filter. Good journalism isn't about being a stenographer for news events but about placing them in a context, and sometimes that context is that a politician's beliefs are outdated, inaccurate and have no place in a free society.
Is the press treating Donald Trump differently than Hillary Clinton? originally appeared on Quora—the knowledge-sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:
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- Donald Trump: Is Donald Trump successful? If so, why?
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