This Is the New York Times Admitting That They’re a Left Wing Newspaper
FILE -- The New York Times building in New York, Aug. 8, 2013. Robust digital growth powered The New York Times Company to one of its strongest quarters in recent years, as rising digital advertising revenue and new online subscriptions offset continued declines in print advertising. (Jabin Botsford/The New York Times)
Today the New York Times decided to dedicate their letters-to-the-editor section entirely to Trump supporters. A group of people that, by my reading, range from enthusiastic supporters to those skeptical of the President’s behavior but none-the-less supportive of his agenda.
But more interesting than the letters is the explanation from the Times for why they did this.
Here it is, emphasis mine:
The Times editorial board has been sharply critical of the Trump presidency, on grounds of policy and personal conduct. Not all readers have been persuaded. In the spirit of open debate, and in hopes of helping readers who agree with us better understand the views of those who don’t, we wanted to let Mr. Trump’s supporters make their best case for him as the first year of his presidency approaches its close. Tomorrow we’ll present some letters from readers who voted for Mr. Trump but are now disillusioned, and from those reacting to today’s letters and our decision to provide Trump voters this platform.
The Times should be applauded for making an effort to promote understanding among those with disparate views of Trump. That said, the second set of bolded words indicate to us that the Times doesn’t normally consider itself a publication for Trump supporters.
They say they’ve made a “decision to provide Trump voters this platform.” Which means, in their minds, Trump voters don’t always have access to their platform.
A startling admission for a newspaper which, historically, has denied accusations of left wing bias and postured itself as a dispassionate source for news.
“All the news that’s fit to print,” is the papers famous motto.
Maybe it should say all the news for left wing readers that’s fit to print?
Yes, I realize that we’re talking about the opinion pages here. And it’s no big secret that the Times editorials and opinion contributors skew overwhelmingly to the left. But, clearly, the Times sees Trump’s supporters as something apart from their typical readership.
That not in sync with their supposed mission to serve the public as a whole. As evidenced by the first set of bolded words, which states that the Times is publishing Trump supporters to help serve the readers that agree with them.
It’s like the Times editors believe they’re taking their liberal readers on a tour of the zoo where Trump supporters are on display.
