Violence against anyone in the name of politics should be always condemned. That includes the current spate of intimidation and violence directed against the media covering the demonstrations in Egypt. True freedom of the press is required if democracy is to take root in the Arab world.
Having said that, however, it’s clear the liberal media suffered some “blow back” resulting from their less-than-balanced reporting of the anti-Mubarak demonstrations. It became increasingly obvious the U.S. media supported the anti-Mubarak (AM) factions from the very start. Their supportive reportage minimized early incidents of violence, down-played the destruction of priceless Egyptian artifacts, excused home robberies and grocery store looting by AM factions. As a matter of fact, the media and AM factions developed a symbiotic relationship. The AM’s got plenty of media coverage so they could prance in front of TV cameras. In return, the media got ready access and interviews to help boost ratings. It was the media’s newest reality show called “Cairo Shore”.
That explains the numerous protest signs written in perfect English flaunted by smiling AM protesters wearing Yankee baseball caps preening for CNN. It would have been like the Rodney King rioters holding up “Can’t we all get along?” signs done in Arabic to impress Al Jazeera TV. Improbable at best. While not supporting AM’s overtly, the media certainly encouraged anti-government protesters indirectly by providing such extensive, breathless and sympathetic coverage.
Pro-Mubarak factions (PM’s), however, were nowhere to be found until five days into the revolt. No PM’s were interviewed, covered or quoted for a whole week. Mubarak ran Egypt for 30 years yet the media could not find anyone in Cairo who supported him or the government. When the media finally did mention PM factions, the coverage was pointedly negative. PM’s were tagged as “thugs”, “goons”, “paid government stooges”. It never occurred to anyone in the liberal media that there might actually be people in Egypt that – heaven forbid – support or approve of the Mubarak government.
Everything PM’s did was wrong while everything AM’s did was right. On 2/4/11 Fox News reported an assassination attempt on Egypt’s new VP; two body guards were actually killed. Since this was likely perpetrated by an extreme AM group, however, the media and the Obama Administration have studiously avoided the subject. Why?
The media’s anti-government bias is also clearly exemplified by its ill-conceived attempt to rehabilitate the image of The Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is banned in Egypt for good reason: it tried to assassinate President Abdel Nasser; was officially accused of assassinating President Anwar Sadat; conducted numerous terrorist attacks in Egypt; openly opposes the Egypt-Israeli Peace Accord; wants to impose Sharia Law and; has ties to Al Qaeda. And yet, despite all these obvious red flags waiving high in the wind, the media now portrays the Brotherhood as a bunch of poor, misunderstood Boy Scouts. But those Brotherhood guys know about real “blow-back” so the media and Obama should be very careful.
Mark these words: The liberal U.S. media will give The Muslim Brotherhood more sympathetic coverage than it ever gave the Tea Party.
In short, the media took sides instead of doing proper, neutral reporting. As a result, PM’s perceive the media as anti-government and anti- Egypt. This explains – but does not excuse – their hostility and violence towards the media. That sentiment might also be adopted by the Egyptian military which will not bode well for America’s influence in that region for many years to come.
H. Michael Hervey
Chairman
Conservative Party USA
I hope your plans are made to attend the 
