Sex scandals and media bias

There is a fair amount of comment going around about how the BBC were playing down the fact that New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer was a Democrat politician. Certainly the news reports I heard mentioned this fact only in passing. Many people have claimed that when a Republican is found doing something illegal or immoral then then party is mentioned more prominently. Of course this is hard to prove as all cases are different, but I have found something on the US ABC news website that may be of interest.

This is a slideshow of US political sex scandals from the recent past. It comprises 13 politicians - 12 elected and 1 appointed. Of the elected politicians, seven are Republicans, five are Democrats.

Oddly, of the Democrats listed, only one of five is identified as a Democrat - that's 20%, whilst of the Republicans, six of seven are identified as Republicans - that's 86%. Furthermore, the one unelected official is explicitly identified as a political appointee of President Bush, so whilst his party allegiances are not mentioned it's pretty clear who's at fault.

Here's the list:
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer - No party mentioned - Democrat
Rep. Mark Foley - Identified as Republican
Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham - Identified as Republican
Sen. David Vitter - Identified as Republican
Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobia - Identified as appointed by George Bush
President Clinton - No party mentioned - Democrat
Gov. James E. McGreevey - No party mentioned - Democrat
Sen. Larry Craig - Identified as Republican
Mayor James E. West - No party mentioned - Republican
Rep. Bob Livingston - Identified as Republican
Rep. Daniel Crane - Identified as Republican
Rep. Gerry E. Studds - Identified as Democrat
Rep. Wilbur D. Mills - No party mention - Democrat


Coincidence? I think not.




Thanks to Ace of Spades for the spot.