The Associated Press and Mitt Romney

The conservative blogosphere got a lot of mileage yesterday out of this video of an AP reporter arguing with Mitt Romney.  The matter itself (the degree to which lobbyists are involved in the Romney campaign as compared to the McCain campaign chief who is a lobbyist) was silly but it’s remarkable to see how argumentative the AP reporter is. 

(It’s worth watching to the end to see a little old lady tell off the reporter as “rude and ugly.”)

More interesting than just a dust-up with a pushy reporter, is that a little surfing reveals that this same reporter, Glen Johnson, actually has a long history of distorted coverage of the Mitt Romney campaign. 

Johnson wrote the article suggesting that Romney’s campaign was selectively using Mormon businesses, which ran on the day of the Iowa caucuses. Johnson has also written some over-the-top arguments that Romney’s campaign has been dishonest (as opposed to other candidates) and he manufactured the controversy over whether George Romney marched with MLK.  (Another AP reporter wrote  a bitter and dismissive news analysis why Romney won the Michigan primary but is still the “least credible” candidiate.)

Conservatives take it as a badge of honor that the media is biased against them.  For whatever comfort that’s worth, Romney can take pride in another gold that the Associated Press (and the rest of media it influences) does not care for him at all.

The substance of the arguments may be arguable but not the track record of indiviudal reporters. Thank goodness for those blogs to be able to connect the dots.

UPDATE:  Amazingly, watch the video again and see who is really mad.  Then see how CNN and ABC headline their coverage:

CNN: Romney loses cool with reporter
ABC: Riled! Angry Romney Rips Reporter

(Possibly) Related posts:

1. What could Mitt Romney be up to?