For decades, the liberal media were able to keep conservatives and pro-life candidates on the defensive by stacking the questions they asked, loading panels with left-wing hosts, and selectively editing footage. If nothing else, Republican presidential candidates have gotten better, and bolder, at taking on mainstream media bias. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry gave an outstanding example of how to turn back a biased question on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today. Mark Halperin – who has a long history of pro-Democrat media bias – raised the question of an undercover video showing Planned Parenthood discussing the sale of fetal body parts. “First, I’d like you to say, does Planned Parenthood do anything, provide any services that you think are valuable, and if so what are they?” Halperin began. “And second, why are you so troubled by this video?” When Perry said that Planned Parenthood – the nation’s largest abortion provider – does some good, Halperin demanded Perry get specific. “Oh, I think some of the cancer screenings, some of those types of screening are obviously good for women’s health. But when you look at the overall picture of what they do, they are, they’re in a business that people of Texas have a concern about,” he said. “And Mark, let me ask you, You looked at that video and you’re good with it?” Halperin could only stammer that the video “raises a number of issues.” Perry responded, “It does indeed. And I think you just answered the question for us. Thank you.” The way he handled Halperin made Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, another second-generation liberal, say, “Oh…nice” as Mark grimaced on camera. (Perry later smoothed things over by complimenting Halperin for framing the issue as a moral and ethical concern.) Perry’s question hit home, because it punched through the fourth wall: Journalists have political biases, too – and they deserve to be called on them. TV talking heads benefit from the appearance of objectivity, when the media share a universally left-leaning, secular, anti-life worldview. Republican candidates can be blindsided and manipulated by it – as Mitt Romney was during the 2012 debates – or they expect it and come out on top, as Rick Perry did on the Obama administration’s favorite network. The exchange begins at 2:04.
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