Put this in the “studies that prove the obvious” category: A Media Research Center report finds that the traditional press first ignored the Tea Party movement and is maligning it now that it can’t be ignored.

The Washington Times pulls some anecdotes from the study:

  • ABC, CBS and NBC aired 61 stories or segments on the anti-spending movement over a 12-month period, and most of that coverage is recent. “The networks virtually refused to recognize the tea party in 2009 (19 stories), with the level of coverage increasing only after Scott Brown’s election in Massachusetts” in January, the report said, referring to the Republican’s win of the Senate seat long held by Edward M. Kennedy.

  • Overall, 44 percent of the networks’ reports on the tea party suggested the movement reflected a fringe movement or a dangerous quality. “Signs and images at last weekend’s big tea party march in Washington and at other recent events have featured racial and other violent themes,” NBC anchorman Brian Williams said in a September report.

  • Coverage of the movement pales in comparison with coverage of “protests serving liberal objectives,” the report said. For instance, the Nation of Islam’s “Million Man March” in 1995 garnered 21 evening news stories on the day of the march ? more than the tea party demonstrations received in all of 2009.

It appears part of that “fringe movement” and “dangerous quality” is flag poles.