Media Bias?

NOW

In 2005, a former Republican Presidential candidate and founder of a religious political group suggests the assassination of a troublesome foreign leader. There is no connection between this person and the Republican President. The comment is made off the cuff during a religious program not considered part of the "mainstream" media.

The media has a heyday, including asking the Republican President and his staff to respond to the statements and all but implying that Robertson was an unofficial spokesman for the Republican Party and President Bush.

THEN

In 1997, a liberal, former advisor the Democratic President in office suggested assassination of a troublesome foreign leader. There is a direct connection between the person and the President, and the advice includes the procedure by which the President could order the assissination. The comments are made in an opinion piece in a large Lamestream Media periodical publication, and the person is now the host of a major Sunday morning, Lamestream Media political interview and commentary program.

Do any of you remember the big deal made about Mr. Stephanopoulos' advice to assassinate Saddam Hussein?

Robertson on Chavez (2005):

"We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."

Stephanopoulos on Saddam (1997):

"We've exhausted other efforts to stop him, and killing him certainly seems more proportionate to his crimes and discriminate in its effect than massive bombing raids that will inevitably kill innocent civilians."

Can the lack of bias be credibly denied by the media?