by Erick Stakelbeck, CBN News Terrorism Analyst | April 22, 2012 | CBN.com
WASHINGTON -- An influential organization with ties to the White House came under fire recently for attacking Christian news outlets.
Now, CBN News has obtained a document showing that the very foundation of the group known as Media Matters for America is built on anti-Christian bias.
Faith Groups in Crosshairs
Media Matters is a non-profit liberal watchdog group that has the ear of not only the mainstream media, but also the Obama administration.
As part of its strategy, Media Matters frequently targets Christian organizations in an effort to counter what it views as pro-Christian "bias in news reporting and analysis by the American media."
"It is common for news and commentary by the press to present viewpoints that tend to overly promote...a conservative, Christian-influenced ideology," the group said in its application for non-profit status with the IRS.
Vince Coglianese, a reporter with The Dailer Caller, has investigated the Media Matters' attacks on Christian organizations.
"Media Matters, in its application to the IRS--outright, in the very first paragraph--declares it's going to be an anti-Christian organization," he said.
"Interestingly, though, in their public mission statement Media Matters makes no mention of the fact that it intends to target the Christian ideology," Coglianese noted.
Media Matters did not respond to CBN News' requests for comment on this story or the document.
David Brog, executive director of Christians United for Israel, believes the Media Matters' targeting of Christians is connected to its anti-Israel views.
"They want to take on what they see as a Christian-influenced media and Christian-influenced policy, and no better place to start than with the issue of Israel and with attacking U.S. support of Israel," Brog told CBN News.
'Israel Firsters'
Until recently, the man at the center of Media Matters' anti-Israel campaigns was M.J. Rosenberg.
Rosenberg served as the group's senior foreign policy fellow before stepping aside amid controversy over his anti-Israel writings, including heated criticism from well-known Democrats like attorney Alan Dershowitz.
Rosenberg routinely uses the label, "Israel Firsters," implying that American supporters put the interests of Israel above the United States. It's a charge commonly made by Neo-Nazis and anti-Semitic groups.
"We don't see any condemnation of his hate language coming from Media Matters, and we've yet to notice any shift in editorial policies," Brog said. "For all we know, they've said goodbye to the man but not the message."
"I call upon all my friends on the left who love Israel, who hate anti-Semitism, to speak up," he admonished. "Your silence is deafening. You're letting your compatriots get away with the vilest of accusations."
Meanwhile, Media Matters' new Middle East expert, Walid Zafar, appears to be following in Rosenberg's footsteps.
He recently blasted DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for pulling out of a fundraiser hosted by an American Muslim whose name is on the federal terrorist watch list.
Faith Groups in Crosshairs
Media Matters is a non-profit liberal watchdog group that has the ear of not only the mainstream media, but also the Obama administration.
As part of its strategy, Media Matters frequently targets Christian organizations in an effort to counter what it views as pro-Christian "bias in news reporting and analysis by the American media."
"It is common for news and commentary by the press to present viewpoints that tend to overly promote...a conservative, Christian-influenced ideology," the group said in its application for non-profit status with the IRS.
Vince Coglianese, a reporter with The Dailer Caller, has investigated the Media Matters' attacks on Christian organizations.
"Media Matters, in its application to the IRS--outright, in the very first paragraph--declares it's going to be an anti-Christian organization," he said.
"Interestingly, though, in their public mission statement Media Matters makes no mention of the fact that it intends to target the Christian ideology," Coglianese noted.
Media Matters did not respond to CBN News' requests for comment on this story or the document.
David Brog, executive director of Christians United for Israel, believes the Media Matters' targeting of Christians is connected to its anti-Israel views.
"They want to take on what they see as a Christian-influenced media and Christian-influenced policy, and no better place to start than with the issue of Israel and with attacking U.S. support of Israel," Brog told CBN News.
'Israel Firsters'
Until recently, the man at the center of Media Matters' anti-Israel campaigns was M.J. Rosenberg.
Rosenberg served as the group's senior foreign policy fellow before stepping aside amid controversy over his anti-Israel writings, including heated criticism from well-known Democrats like attorney Alan Dershowitz.
Rosenberg routinely uses the label, "Israel Firsters," implying that American supporters put the interests of Israel above the United States. It's a charge commonly made by Neo-Nazis and anti-Semitic groups.
"We don't see any condemnation of his hate language coming from Media Matters, and we've yet to notice any shift in editorial policies," Brog said. "For all we know, they've said goodbye to the man but not the message."
"I call upon all my friends on the left who love Israel, who hate anti-Semitism, to speak up," he admonished. "Your silence is deafening. You're letting your compatriots get away with the vilest of accusations."
Meanwhile, Media Matters' new Middle East expert, Walid Zafar, appears to be following in Rosenberg's footsteps.
He recently blasted DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for pulling out of a fundraiser hosted by an American Muslim whose name is on the federal terrorist watch list.
Source: Media Matters' Anti-Christian Agenda Exposed
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