In a less-than-landmark study certain to surprise no one, George Mason University's Center for Media and Public Affairs has determined that -- drumroll, please -- comedians are fond of mocking politicians.And then:
"Sex scandals and terrorists come and go," noted Robert Lichter, the George Mason professor who authored the study. "But politics is the gift that keeps on giving to comedians."Missing in all this comedy is any mention of the Scaife money supporting the work of the Center for Media and Public Affairs. Mediamatters reports that from 1992 to 2009 Scaife controlled foundations (Carthage and Sarah Scaife, to be precise) have granted $1.647 million to the CMPA.
But wait, there's more.
Robert Lichter, while he's president of the CMPA, he's also the president of the CMPA's related organization, the Statistical Assessment Service - itself the beneficiary of Scaife money. Media matters reporting that between 2003 and 2008, Carthage and Sarah Scaife foundations granted $1.15 million to it.
And so (drum roll, please) Scaife money's been used to support the research of two organizations that Professor Lichter is president of and yet (drum roll should be getting louder here) when his newspaper cites that research not one penny of that money is mentioned (cymbal crash!).
The tribbing (or circle-jerking, if you prefer) continues at the Tribune-Review.
