When I heard last night the news that DeLay’s conspiracy indictment had been thrown out, I considerd that to be pretty big news.
Just think, a much-maligned conservative Republican leader who is being attacked by a press-hungry, political enemy prosecutor has a major, trumped-up charge against him dismissed. That seems pretty significant—perhaps worthy of a headline.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the front-page headlines on this story from Washington’s two major newspapers.
Washington Times: “DeLay’s Conspiracy Charge Rejected”
Washington Post: “DeLay’s Felony Charge Is Upheld”
What a difference a bias makes.
Oh, in case you’re wondering about that Old Gray Lady up in New York, she had this headline: “Judge Lets Stand 2 of 3 Charges Faced By DeLay”
The Baltimore Sun was even less forthright than the NY Times: “Charges Against DeLay Stand”
USA Today was equivocal: “Trial, Poll New Mixed for DeLay”
The Los Angeles Times had this on their front page: Nothing.
The Houston Chronicle said of the Texan leader: “DeLay Fails to Get Case Tossed Out”
The Dallas Morning News also had little love for DeLay: “Key DeLay Counts Stand”
