One party is attacking democracy, and it isn’t Democrats

In today's NY Times:

To the Editor:

In “Can the Press Stop a Trump Restoration?” (column, Dec. 11), Ross Douthat says the primary mission of the press is to provide an accurate description of reality, to be truthful and neutral. 

But being “neutral,” especially in today’s political climate, can result in inaccurate descriptions of reality and in untruths.

At present, the extreme segment of the Republican Party has an enormous influence and is an existential threat to our democracy. The extreme segment of the Democratic Party has far less influence and regardless of what you think of its ideas, does not pose the same threat to our democratic way of life. 

A false equivalency in coverage provides an untruthful and unrealistic picture of current affairs.

I’m tired of hearing from acquaintances and others that politicians and political parties are “all the same.” 

They are not. It’s dangerous for the press to be “neutral” rather than truthful and realistic.

Bruce Shames

New York

Rob's comment:

Yes, this pseudo-neutrality is called both-sideism and it's politically toxic, since it lets the vile Republican Party off the hook by falsely portraying it as a political party that's committed to democracy.

See also Pseudo-moderates and the both-sides-do-it lie and Trump claims Israel Controlled Congress and Jews Run the New York Times.