"An analysis of federal records shows that the amount of money journalists contributed so far this election cycle favors Democrats by a 15:1 ratio over Republicans, with $225,563 going to Democrats, only $16,298 to Republicans." That's just part of the analysis by William Tate of the media industry's leanings when it comes to donating to political candidates, which of course proves that the media is just an extension of the left-wing! But it's not Tates' statistical analysis that's worth pondering, but his conspiracy theory that last summer, when the American public wasn't paying attention, MSNBC tried warning newsrooms that staffers' campaign contributions can be tracked, and news stories about them would be coming. Scandal!

As if to warn their colleagues in the media, MSNBC last summer ran a story on journalists' contributions to political candidates that drew a similar conclusion:

"Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left."

The timing of that article was rather curious. Dated June 25, 2007, it appeared during the middle of the summer news doldrums in a non-election year — timing that was sure to minimize its impact among the general public, while still warning newsrooms across the country that such political donations can be checked.

In case that was too subtle, MSNBC ran a sidebar story detailing cautionary tales of reporters who lost their jobs or were otherwise negatively impacted because their donations became public.

As if to warn their comrades-in-news against putting their money where their mouth is, the report also cautioned that, with the Internet, "it became easier for the blogging public to look up the donors."

[IBD]