Media’s Bias: Contrasting Coverage of Fetterman’s Stroke and McConnell’s ‘Freeze’

Media Bias: McConnell vs. Fetterman

Sen. Mitch McConnell’s ​(R., Ky.) 30-second senior moment during a⁣ press gaggle on⁣ Wednesday has drawn intense media scrutiny—including numerous think pieces ‌on how old⁢ is too old for public service.

It was‍ a different ⁣story after​ Democratic ⁤Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) struggled ‍to complete a coherent sentence for a full hour during his​ election debate last year against GOP opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Then: Fetterman’s hard-to-watch debate performance in October was widely covered as a triumph for disability rights, and concerns about his evident impairment⁢ were dismissed as ⁢”ableism.”

Fetterman debate reaction reveals stigma disabled candidates face https://t.co/OMup8sbOwn

— Robyn Powell (@RobynMPowell) ‍ October 29, 2022

“One in four Americans has a disability, but disabled politicians are rarely on the national debate stage. ⁣That made John Fetterman’s appearance a powerful moment, but public reactions were painful.” https://t.co/gAUfjC9LxB

— Anti-Racism ⁣Daily (@antiracismdaily) October 31, 2022

Recovering from a stoke can be devastating, and depression is ‍common, as I learned from speaking with stroke survivors after John Fetterman’s debate with Dr. Oz last fall:⁣ https://t.co/B5szpm0Ms3

— Benjamin ‌Ryan (@benryanwriter) February 25, 2023

When, according ‍to Fetterman, the debate debacle triggered the freshman senator’s hospitalization for depression a‍ few months later,‍ the mainstream media had new reason to celebrate him.

Now: Following McConnell’s “freeze” moment, “ableism” has been ‍notably absent from the discourse. Instead, the news has been full of words like “alarming,” “embarrassing,” and “retirement.”

Senator Mitch McConnell experienced another alarming freeze-up at ​a⁤ news⁢ conference on Wednesday in Covington, Kentucky,‍ the ⁣second such episode caught on camera in recent ‍weeks. ⁣The episode intensified questions about his future in the Senate. https://t.co/q05DVdCWjO pic.twitter.com/4fXBhhABy2

— ‍The New York⁣ Times (@nytimes) August 30, 2023

“For a proud senator who has dominated the chamber for many years, the⁢ momentary ⁢loss of lucidity is embarrassing at the very least, and could become an increasing political problem,” writes @StCollinson | Analysis https://t.co/z83uskFvgr

— CNN (@CNN) August 31, 2023

Following his ⁣second on-camera ⁢freeze, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is faced with ⁣the question of⁢ how old is too old⁤ to serve, which has been simmering in the Senate and the ​presidential race all year.https://t.co/9hZK5OuQ7W

— Axios (@axios) August 31, 2023

Gerth: Is it time for Sen. ‌Mitch McConnell to⁤ step aside? https://t.co/ke167RB4kk

— Courier Journal (@courierjournal) August 31, 2023

Double standard: Politico Playbook suggested on ⁢Thursday—under the headline “Mitch McConnell’s ⁣untenable⁣ silence”—that McConnell‍ warrants more scrutiny than the likes of ⁢Fetterman or Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) because he is a party leader. But that doesn’t explain ⁤much of the coverage of President Joe Biden.

Ageist attacks against President ​Biden reinforce outdated stereotypes—and hurt younger people, too https://t.co/I81kaN922B

— TIME (@TIME) April 8, 2021