A profession is only as good as its
commitment to integrity and code of ethics. I didn’t major in journalism. If I
had, I would like to think that at some point in the process at least one of my
professors would have talked about the need to maintain professionalism.
If our news media outlets are to be
taken seriously, they need to live up to a certain standard of impartiality and
distinguish between what is fact and what is opinion and what is news and what
constitutes vindictiveness. Further, the Press should report on the news, not
create it.
In this election the media has
completely dropped all pretense of impartiality. During the days of the Soviet
Union, Pravda was the only source of news. Since it was controlled by the
government, it was merely another form of propaganda. No one can take a
state-controlled newspaper as a legitimate source of news. In the United States
we have always had ‘freedom of the Press’ and the right to free speech under
the First Amendment.
Free speech is the very cornerstone
of a free people. The Constitution defines government and addresses checks and
balances. Under ideal conditions the Press should serve as an unofficial check
on our leaders in government. Every person should be subjected to the same
scrutiny.
Regardless of an elected official’s
party or ideology the Press should hold them equally accountable. If the Press
begins to hold some individuals to a different standard of accountability than
another, it is no better than Soviet-controlled Pravda. I submit to you that
The Washington Post is no better than Pravda. It has recklessly disregarded
basic journalistic standards and has become nothing more than a Clinton
propaganda machine.
I am simply using the Washington Post
as an example. Unfortunately they are the rule, not the exception. Hillary
Clinton is treated as though she owns the Press. In the process, the power she
is acquiring is dangerous. The First Amendment is sacred and if it is abused,
we risk losing it. To give a single individual or group of individuals complete
support, ignoring any flaws they may have, creates a situation where that
person no longer feels accountable. If they have the Press to support that
notion, they begin to accrue dangerous levels of power. The end result? If
history teaches us anything, it’s that those who acquire too much power, are
loathe to give it up. Voluntary submission will ultimately become forced
submission.
If you have the capacity to think
for yourself, it is apparent that this is garbage journalism. I think The National
Enquirer has higher journalistic standards. This article is deplorable. Think
about it: This writer had to have pitched this idea to an editor: ‘I’m going to
find a person with mental issues, and then I’m going to describe how much they
adore Donald Trump. The obvious connection is that you would have to be insane
to support him.’ You’d think the editor would respond with outrage at such a
disgusting premise and say ‘We are The Washington Post we are above that.’
Obviously the editor must have said ‘Great idea! Go with it!’
The Post also ran another story which, if you were to believe it, Trump fell apart at
a rally and started rambling incoherently. Please watch the actual video of his
address. I found his speech to be completely coherent, logical, and even
inspiring. Of course I am insane by The Washington Post’s standards.
Finally, the Post published another article, perhaps the most reckless of all three. It
is essentially an op-ed run under the guise of legitimate news. Let me dissect
what it says/implies:
Trump is a tax evader. No he isn’t.
Does anyone go to their tax preparer during tax season and say ‘Please maximize
the amount of taxes I have to pay!’ If there was a way they could lock him up,
I’m sure they would have don it already. There is a difference between taking
advantage of tax law and tax evasion. To his credit Trump has been very calm in
discussing his repeated tax audits by the IRS. To his credit he hasn’t pointed
out that using the IRS to attack an opponent is a classic political trick.
Trump had a shaky debate
performance. Given his mic was defective, given he was interrupted over 40
times to Hillary’s 6, and given she probably had an earpiece, I’d say Trump did
extraordinarily well. Plus, his performance is a subjective measure, not a
factual statement.
Trump is dropping in the polls. The
‘polls’ are a joke and have been criticized by many as being rigged to create
the false impression Trump is actually behind when he isn’t.
He is feuding with a Latina beauty
queen. No. he is simply responding to a cheap shot by Hillary during the
debate.
His tweets imply mental instability
because he tweets at all hours. That tells me he is thinking about nothing else
other than this election. He is serious.
Other illogical assertions in the
article is that Trump is self-imploding, doesn’t really want to be President,
and is a loser. What? Am I to believe he has suddenly collapsed into a pathetic
heap foaming out the mouth and ranting like a madman? If only Hillary Clinton
were subjected to equal scrutiny. If only…
Donald Trump is essentially carrying
on a campaign under the most hostile circumstances ever faced by any American
Presidential candidate. Instead of giving up or going away quietly he continues
to speak his mind and fight on. No one can take that away from him. Has it ever
occurred to the Press he might actually be a man of courage and conviction? The
more they attack him, the more he holds his ground, the more he proves his
case.
http://politichicks.com/2016/10/mainstream-media-americas-pravda-continues/
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