Gallup poll — Distrust in the media at high level right now

Confidence in the media to report news fairly, accurately and fully has been persistently low over the decades and rapidly getting worse. That is the assessment of a recent Gallup Poll as reported in the Washington Examiner per a story written by Paul Bedard (“Just 9% trust media ‘a great deal,’ 33% ‘ none at all,’ highest ever,” Sept. 30)

The political polarization is reflected by the partisan views of the media. Democrats believe in the media and Republicans do not.

Gallup reported the following: “For Democrats, a near record high 73% have a great deal or ‘fair’ amount of trust in the media. For Republicans, an alltime low of 10% trust radio, T.V. and newspapers. Just 3% of Republicans have a ‘great deal’ of trust.”

A further breakdown would show the following:

9 percent of the country trusts mass media a “great deal” — 31 percent a “fair amount.”

⏩ 27 percent have “not very much” trust and 33 percent “none at all” — highest ever.

And, a whopping 58 percent of Republicans have “none at all.”

With these results, we do not need Russia, China or any foreign source to divide or make America polarized — we are doing it to ourselves. We are creating a Civil War without the use of arms or munitions.

We can learn a lot from sports, however.

When I was a child, I heard Phil Rizzuto and Mel Allen broadcasting New York Yankees baseball games. The Yankees, according to the announcers, could do no wrong and their opponents, regardless of the team, were bad or not nearly as worthy as the Yankees. I was a kid, I believed it.

It was years later that I grew to understand why I was hearing so much bias or slanted coverage of the games coming from Phil and Mel. They worked for the New York Yankees. They stood to benefit if the Yankees won.

Today I see the same type of bias or slant in political news coverage in journalism, but here it is not appropriate.

The Gallup review would show that prior to the advent of cable news these disparities did not exist. Both political parties respected and trusted the media. This problem sank to a new low recently when liberal television shows express a desire to see a recovering President of the United States die or to dance on the grave of a former Black Republican presidential candidate. This was met with media si

From the start of Mr. Trump’s presidency, the Democrats have been seeking to change the outcome of the election by not having Mr. Trump as president. This has wasted valuable time and resources we will never get back as a nation.

lence. Back in the day, censure and outrage would be heard from the Bronx Zoo to the Golden Gate Bridge. Now it’s “funny,” it’s acceptable by the liberal media. This demonstrates that there is no line certain folks are not willing to cross.

Also, in sports once the winner has been declared we all accept the results and move forward or prepare for a new contest. But the Democrat loser and supporters seem to have refused to accept the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The consequence has been problematic.

From the start of Mr. Trump’s presidency, the Democrats have been seeking to change the outcome of the election by not having Mr. Trump as president. This has wasted valuable time and resources we will never get back as a nation. It has robbed the nation of its proper productivity from our government. It has proven to be both unfair and so self-righteous. Plus, with the media’s assistance to a degree, they have used COVID-19 as a political tool. Yet, Democrats feel they deserve to be elevated, promoted in government.

Most Republicans, the 90 percent who do not trust the media, would see the media playing the role of baseball’s Phil Rizzuto and Mel Allen for the Democrats.

Thus, Mr. Trump has had to defend himself for almost his entire term.

If the Democrats prevail in November, the 90 percent Republicans who do not trust the mass media today will be near totally distraught. More importantly, for our nation, the rip in our society could easily become a sizable tear.

Gary Franks served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 5th District from 1991 to 1997. He was the first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years, and is New England’s first Black Member of the House. He is host of the podcast We Speak Frankly. Follow him @GaryFranks

Gary A. Franks