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
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