What Liberal Media?

Here's the latest from U.S. News & World Report's Washington Whispers:

Last year's loosey-goosey boycott by Republican leaders of CNN, which they viewed as too lefty, is spreading to Democrats and Fox News Channel. Dems are acting on info from former Clinton pollster Mark Penn that Fox not only has a richly Republican audience but that moderate voters they're trying to woo might not watch it. Penn doesn't want his side to just ignore Fox interview requests; they should also spend their political advertising dollars elsewhere. "If you want to talk to your base," he tells Whispers, "then go on CNN or public radio." Penn's sweeping poll of voter characteristics is part of the New Democratic Network's project aimed at identifying swing voters and turning them Democratic. Dems and independents like CNN, Penn says, not Fox. They also like the West Wing and the Simpsons, good targets for ad dollars. Fox political director Marty Ryan said his viewers are rich, smart, and account for more audience than CNN and MSNBC combined. "They'll be missing out," he scoffs, "on a real strong political audience."

Did you catch that? A Democratic pollster told Democrats: "If you want to talk to your base, go on CNN or NPR."

Exactly.