Charles Blow to the Glenn Greenwalds of the world (and the rest of American "journalism"):
This is not an honest man. This is not a trustworthy man. The fact that people believe he’s honest is a result of a failed media that aims its sincerest critique at Clinton’s deficiencies with the truth, but applies an entertainment standard to Trump that corrects falsehoods but doesn’t castigate him for them.
There is no reasonable explanation or salable excuse for the media’s behavior this presidential cycle. History will look back at this period and it will not be kind to the Fourth Estate. We will all have to one day ask ourselves, “Where was I on Trump and the truth?” Far too many of us will be found wanting.
It is one of the most important lessons of our age that media which is used to getting away with lies will lie about everything and a media that lies serves itself and the wealthy, not democracy.
ReplyDeleteThe "more speech" slogan has proved to be a lie, itself. When billionaires own the media they drown out the tiny little voices speaking that "more speech" with more, bigger, louder and more audacious lies.
And it isn't merely the gutter press that does it, all of them do, the New York Times, NPR, PBS, etc.
As it turns out the media has to be forced to serve democracy or it will destroy it.
Freedom of the press is a responsibility first, a right second.
ReplyDeleteReverse those two, and you destroy the right altogether.