Harrop: ‘Liberal media’ is not always liberal’s friend

Advocating for a stronger Obamacare or plans for expanding Medicare are all liberal positions. Some are more radical than others, but liberal is not synonymous with radical. Importantly, politicians who can make their liberal ideas sound mainstream are the ones who win general elections.

The villain here is conformism more than bias. Always hovering over reporters is The Story that keeps the herd running along the same track. In a mostly friendly “60 Minutes” interview, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked about the conflicts within the House Democratic Caucus.

“It looks as if it — you’re — it’s fractured,” Lesley Stahl said in reference to The Story. She talked of conflicts “between the moderates and the progressives” and “wings” in the party, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on one side.

“That’s like five people,” Pelosi responded. “No,” Stahl came back, “the progressive group is more than five.”

A frustrated Pelosi felt obliged to note, “I’m a progressive.”

For decades, “San Francisco liberal” was practically Pelosi’s first name. Now all of a sudden, she has to defend herself and other Democrats as liberals — all because a handful of new representatives elected in super-safe Democratic districts have redefined them for a docile media.

Radical

Suppose Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were to lead even 10 radicals. Ten out of 235 House Democrats is hardly a schism. Some 43 of the new Democratic members won in Republican districts.

Not long ago, the Affordable Care Act was considered radical. A preference to merely strengthen it should not be cause for eviction from the progressive home. A liberal media obsessed with social media lends skewed importance to those who are good at it.

How many democratic socialists are there in the caucus? Two.

The Republican-biased media is, of course, happy to pass on The Story that the far-left now runs the Democratic Party. Nearly every poll shows Democrats are most energized about nominating whoever could most easily defeat Donald Trump.

Face it. Conflict draws readers, which is why reporters of all political bents like to put strife at the center of their stories. Sometimes they accurately portray reality. But very often, they blatantly exploit emotions.

Braver members of the “liberal media” should loudly question the received wisdom, starting with who qualifies as a liberal. As for the others, perhaps it’s time to retire some of the stories they keep repeating to themselves.