Bias 24/7

Although I just addressed media bias, today's example's too outrageous to ignore. As first reported by Powerline, ABC's brazenly inventing news, not reporting it, as demonstrated by this website note:

Jan. 19, 2005 — For a possible Inauguration Day story on ABC News, we are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war casualties scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20. If you know of a funeral and whether the family might be willing to talk to ABC News, please fill out the form below:

The request was later removed, but Captain Ed preserved a copy. Powerline's Hindrocket is appalled:

Note that only the families of Iraqi war dead need apply. If a soldier died in Afghanistan, or aiding tsunami victims in Indonesia or Sri Lanka, or in a training exercise, never mind. That isn't the "balance" ABC is looking for.

Every time I think the MSM have stooped as low as they can go, they surprise me.

Instapundit agrees, and prints a soldier's email:

Major John Tammes emails from Bagram:

Perhaps all of us serving in the armed forces should send a statement to ABC saying something along the lines of “in case I should be killed in action, you are hereby requested to come nowhere near my funeral, and also requested to not make political hay out of it either.” I guess I am not at risk, since getting killed in Afghanistan is not quite the “balance” they are looking for.

Anyone interested in establishing an industry-wide "pattern or practice" of pumping Democrats while plastering Republicans should bookmark this one.

More:

I'm 'shocked, shocked' at RightPundit's evidence of bias on taxpayer-funded National Public Radio.

Still More:

Day by Day's reaction, published January 26th: