Obama's clever campaign to constrict the flow of criticism

by Andrew Malcolm, IBD  

Among the many costs of the Barack Obama presidency is an intentional corrosion for its own political gain of public faith in so many American institutions, among them Congress, the Supreme Court and the media.

If numerous sectors of society are feuding or distrustful of each other, then a well-controlled central authority like a chief executive can more easily rule the pieces. It's classic Chicago politics, the way the mayor there controls the city's feuding neighborhood fiefdoms of Democrat pols and workers.

We're going to examine the American media today and urge some temperance and caution in the now endemic condemnation of the much-reviled MSM for the country's own self-interest.

To be honest, it has done much to earn widespread public distrust. This stems from the inherent institutional and individual arrogance of its long-time monopoly over the information flow through broadcast networks and large daily newspapers.

And from its laser focus on conflict as "news" and its do-good social agendas that instinctively turn to government intervention instead of far more effective individual responsibility and action. The traditional media's disconnection from its audience became even more starkly visible with the Internet's welcome explosion of information sources, many of them responsible.

Reporters Without Borders released its annual World Press Freedom Index the other day. Much of it was predictable. Few would be surprised that China, Syria and North Korea inhabit the bottom rungs of press freedom.

What was shocking to those of us who favor a strong, independent -- and, yes, imperfect -- media as a constitutional check on government's power was the ranking of the United States, the world's largest economy and most enduring democracy.

The U.S. during the fifth year of Obama's reign plummeted 13 spots to 46th in the world, right between -- are you ready? -- Rumania and Haiti. The group based that embarrassing ranking largely on the Obama administration's unusually determined efforts to curb dissent and plug and track down leaks. (For the five countries deemed most free, scroll to the bottom)

Not all leaks are bad. With a twinkle in his eye, a knowing politician once authorized me to leak government information with the order: "See that you suppress this widely."

Trying to gain dominance over each 24-hour news cycle, the Obama administration leaks like a sieve with the advantageous info it wants out -- a new cabinet member, EPA policy shift, some nickel-and-dime small ball gimmick Obama intends to announce to placate a segment of his base. None of this is unique to him.

Source: Investor's Business Daily, by Andrew Malcolm  »http://news.investors.com/politics-andrew-malcolm/021314-689913-obama-msm-press-freedom-u-s-ranking.htm#ixzz2tQYlZFkb

Comments:

This seems like overkill with local media’s cheerleading in full denial over our declining economy. The federal government continues to bribe State and local officials to pretend that our economy is improving, when, in fact it is stuck in place with almost 40% or our working age citizens without jobs. The U.S. Labor Force Participation rate is 62.8% and family income has been reduced by $4000 over the past few years.

There is a natural impediment to a media that reports bad economic news. The media pays its bills by selling ads and this makes it difficult for them to ever print bad news about the economy. Those who place ads want consumers to spend happily and wildly and can scarce afford to suggest that they stop spending. 

The truth is that our 315 million population is maxed out paying their bills and the fundamentals for real economic recovery are not good.

Norb Leahy Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader