Democracy Dies
It’s disheartening to say, but if one watches and listens critically, it becomes apparent that much of the news being reported to the American people by contemporary major media is either misleading or just plain false. The deceptions come at us nearly every day.
First, an example from yesterday of MISLEADING reporting. WCBS Radio and CNN television both ran features on the poor rate of job growth last month. And it IS true that the US economy added only138,000 jobs last month and economists were looking for 150,000 to insure continued strong growth of the economy. Sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it? But, what WCBS and CNN DIDN’T say is that the unemployment rate FELL from 4.4% in April to 4.3% in May. And, (it must have slipped their minds) unemployment at 4.3% is the LOWEST it’s been since MAY 2001! Not so bad, isn’t it. But that’s NOT the impression that MILLIONS of listeners and viewers came away with! The news that CBS and CNN CHOSE to present and the WAY they presented it was deliberately designed to mislead our citizens. And, since a large part of economic activity depends upon psychology, the slanted news could be a self fulfilling prophesy and actually HURT our economic recovery.
Next, an example from today of DOWNRIGHT FALSE reporting. Again both WCBS radio and CNN television (they wouldn’t be in cahoots now, would they?) ran features claiming that neither National Security Administration (NSA) Director Mike Rogers nor Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats would deny that President Trump obstructed justice. Sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it. However, if one goes to the transcripts (available on line) that’s NOT what they said. Mr. Mike Rogers said, VERBATIM: “To the best of my knowledge, I have NEVER been directed to do do anything I believe to be illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate, and, to the best of my recollection during that same period of service, I do not recall EVER feeling pressured to do so.” Quite a bit different from the headlines, isn’t it? And what Dan Coats said, VERBATIM was: “I don’t believe it’s appropriate for me to address that in a public session.” For both men, their actual testimony gives a completely different picture than what was reported by WCBS and CNN. Now, both WCBS and CNN had access to the transcripts. Their reporting, clearly, is nothing less than a down right lie.
Recently, and with more than a little bit of irony, the Washington Post, which has been one of the major media deceivers, has changed its logo to the following ditty:
DEMOCRACY DIES IN DARKNESS
This statement, catchy as it is, I believe is undoubtably true. But I would hasten to add a second line:
DEMOCRACY DIES FASTER FROM DECEPTION