Late yesterday, CBN News' Erick Stakelbeck reported that Media Matters' attacks on wingnut Christian outlets are no accident. To hear Stakelbeck tell it, David Brock's organization is anti-Christian at its core.
Media Matters is a non-profit liberal watchdog group that has the ear of not only the mainstream media, but also the Obama administration.
As part of its strategy, Media Matters frequently targets Christian organizations in an effort to counter what it views as pro-Christian "bias in news reporting and analysis by the American media."
"It is common for news and commentary by the press to present viewpoints that tend to overly promote...a conservative, Christian-influenced ideology," the group said in its application for non-profit status with the IRS.
Stakelbeck interviewed the Daily Caller's Vince Coglianese, who has recently put Media Matters in his crosshairs. He claims that this statement is proof positive that Media Matters is anti-Christian. But the Daily Caller's own reporting inadvertently reveals CBN's bias. Coglianese obtained the
actual IRS application, which states in full:
Media Matters for America (MMA) believes that news reporting and analysis by the American media, with its eye on profit margin and preservation of the status quo, has become biased. It is common for news and commentary by the press to present viewpoints that tend to overly promote corporate interests, the rights of the wealthy, and a conservative, Christian-influenced ideology.
Notice which part Stakelbeck left out in his piece. Do I hear a dog whistle?
Moreover, Stakelbeck's hand-wringing is a bit disingenuous, considering Media Matters is one of the few organizations that regularly calls out his boss, Pat Robertson, on his more outrageous statements. See for yourself. Seen in this light, Stakelbeck's story is a classic case of what happens when a little sunshine gets thrown on the fringe.