The media and Democrats have been accused of consistently downplaying the threat of Islamic terrorism, while selectively highlighting incidents of white supremacy to further a political agenda.
According to a report by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), between 2015 and 2018, there was a significant gap in the media’s coverage of terrorist attacks. During this period, Islamic extremists carried out 78 attacks in the United States, killing 107 people and wounding over 500 others. Meanwhile, white supremacists were responsible for only three attacks, resulting in four fatalities and 24 injuries.
Despite these facts, the media devoted significantly more coverage to the three white supremacist incidents, often sensationalizing the events and using language that overstated the threat posed by white nationalism.
In contrast, the report found that the media and Democrats were much more muted in their response to the Islamic terrorist attacks. Many of these incidents received limited, if any, coverage, and even then, the language used was often vague and avoided references to Islamic terrorism.
The report also notes that Democrats and the media have a history of using the term “terrorism” to describe acts of political violence committed by left-wing groups, while avoiding the term when used to describe attacks carried out by Islamic extremists.
The IPT’s findings suggest that there is a clear double standard at play here, with Islamic terrorism being downplayed or glossed over, while white supremacy is highlighted as a major threat. This selective reporting has serious implications for public perception and policy-making, as it can lead to a lack of understanding and preparedness for actual threats, rather than the fictional or inflated ones.
The report concludes that this dichotomy in coverage serves to further polarize society, create unrealistic fears, and distract from the real threats facing the United States. By ignoring the threat of Islamic terrorism and amplifying the threat of white supremacy, the media and Democrats may be playing into the hands of those who seek to divide and exploit these perceived differences.
Ultimately, the IPT’s report suggests that a more nuanced and fact-based approach to covering terrorism is necessary to promote a more informed public and to develop effective counter-terrorism strategies.