“Why should I trust you? You’re a reporter.”
Posted By Russ Emerson on September 29, 2008 at 11:12 pm
We already know the media are in the tank for Obama. Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit:
A READER AT A MAJOR NEWSROOM EMAILS: “Off the record, every suspicion you have about MSM being in the tank for O is true. We have a team of 4 people going thru dumpsters in Alaska and 4 in arizona. Not a single one looking into Acorn, Ayers or Freddiemae. Editor refuses to publish anything that would jeopardize election for O, and betting you dollars to donuts same is true at NYT, others. People cheer when CNN or NBC run another Palin-mocking but raising any reasonable inquiry into obama is derided or flat out ignored. The fix is in, and its working.” I asked permission to reprint without attribution and it was granted.
The abrogation of their responsibilities by the fourth estate does more than shock the sensibilities, it shatters any pretense they may have towards objectivity or even credibility.
Think back with me a few years. On the eve of the 2000 election, Fox News — the allegedly right-wing Fox News — broke the story of candidate Bush’s 1976 DUI.
Would CNN or any of the broadcast networks do the same if Obama’s transgressions were the story?
The answer is obviously a resounding “no.”
On the plus side, that obviousness does lead those who are interested enough in the political news process to apply the appropriate skepticism. I stopped trusting most journalism a long time ago.
On the down side, most people aren’t interested enough, and swallow whatever they’re fed, even poison, if it comes with a spoonful of sugar.
(Via the Anchoress.)
The title of this post comes from a Tom Clancy novel, I think it was Clear and Present Danger
. (I wish I knew where my copy was — I have all the Jack Ryan novels in hardback… somewhere.) The son of a spec-ops sergeant has an unwanted encounter with a journalist, and pointedly refuses to believe that said reporter will do what he promises he will do. That has stuck with me like very few passages from novels have.I just wish I was sure which book it was. I guess now I have to re-read them all.
“The Sum of All Fears”. The kid’s dad was Zimmer, the guy who died in Ryan’s arms in “Danger”. Ryan promised Zimmer he’d make sure his family was taken care of financially, and followed through, set the widow up in business, scholarships for the kids, even bought Christmas presents for them. And for his troubles, one of his political rivals tried to frame him with adultery, feeding the gossip through the aforementioned reporter. But of course, that was fiction. No real reporter would be so unwise to run rumors in the press without checking them out first.
(Sarcasm. Yeah, I do it.)
Ah, you are correct, sir. I remember it all the more clearly now. Thank you.
It was actually Executive Orders. Zimmer’s son said this to a reporter who’s on-air partner had manipulated an interview to make President Ryan look bad. That reporter then went on the air with an apology and resignation, exposing the manipulation (proving that the book was a work of fiction, if not fantasy).
OK, I remember the passage… just not where it’s found.
Yup, I’ll confirm it — “Executive Orders.” It’s at the end of Chapter 44, or page 956 of my paperback edition.
Oh, and it’s “Why should I trust you? You’re reporters.” Laurence Zimmer was talking to Bob Holtzman of the Washington Post and John Plumber of NBC News.
Damn, too bad that’s just fantasy now.
J.
The personalities of TLC’s innovative show “Sister Wives” now being looked over by Utah law enforcement officials for potential felony bigamy, Kody Brown, plus his 4 wives rising publicity on the TLC show started to attract the attention and suspicion in the agents, basically, authorities reportedly started studying the Brown family members prior to when their tv series even premiered last Sunday.