We Take the Tobin Challenge

On Thursday, Democrat and Chronicle Deputy Editorial Page Editor Tom Tobin asked for examples of anti-Republican media bias.

"To date, no one has come across with actual quotations, headlines, passages from purported news stories that depict genuine favoritism."

We hereby submit today's Washington Post as an example, Mr. Tobin. Its lead headline breathlessly proclaims, "Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home."

Sounds like big-time bad stuff, doesn't it?

Yet when you read the article, it tells you:

• Palin followed the law in all expense submissions;

• Palin did not submit expenses for a significant amount of lodging and travel that she was entitled to claim;

• Palin's expense submissions for per diems and travel are substantially less than for her two predecessors in office over a similar period of time.

Most people, of course, just see the headline.

Mr. Tobin, if you'd care to give your take on this example, we will print it here in its entirety.