Local View: This is the death of journalism
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By Roger Conrad
I love that after I write a column, liberals scream for me to be banned from writing. Evidently, the champions of free speech only defend free speech they agree with.
I used to believe that the purpose of print and television journalism was to inform the people and report the facts. Other forms of programming were meant to entertain. Under the leadership of liberal producers and network executives, it would appear that mass media have now become an extension of political parties, or at least one party.
A recent skit televised on the NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” meant to poke fun at network news coverage, implied that Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s husband might have engaged in incest with their daughter.
This is humor? Imagine instead they had done the skit but had used former President Bill Clinton. Would that have been humorous? Not bloody likely! They would have fired the producer and canceled or at least suspended the show amid the firestorm of protest from every liberal pundit on the planet. This is the norm for most network stations, but most notably the National Barack Channel (NBC) and it’s cable offshoot MSNBC.
Because Sarah Palin has scared the liberals to death and become their main target, let’s examine a few more media attempts at character assassination.
Immediately following John McCain’s naming her as his running mate, the question was posed of whether she would have time to be vice president while being a mother of five children.
Did anyone ask Obama if he would have time to be president being the father of two children? Is a father not as important to his children as a mother? Is this sexism from the very political party that supposedly is the champion of the feminist movement? And there was not a whisper of condemnation from the media.
The claim from the Democrats that Palin lacked the experience to be vice president was quickly dropped when they realized she had more experience as a government executive than any of the candidates from either party. Of course, Obama claims to have executive experience from running his campaign. Hey, I can balance my checkbook. Can I be president?
Then followed the media-manufactured “Troopergate” scandal. Let me tell you, if I am the governor of a state and my state-trooper ex-brother-in-law assaulted my nephew with a Taser and threatened my family, and the head of that trooper’s department refused to fire him, I would fire that department head.
Then compare the interview given by Sarah Palin to the one given by Barack Obama to ABC News anchor Charles Gibson. The tone of questions asked of Palin were definitely more of an interrogation than those asked of Obama.
The ABC daytime show “The View” hosted Obama, and it seemed the questions were those you would have asked a good longtime friend rather than a candidate for president. “I hear you are related to Tom Cruise?” Laughs all around. Contrast that with the tone of questioning of John McCain. The hosts yelled at him, interrupted his questions and grilled him repeatedly about his VP choice. We should contract the cast of “The View” to interrogate detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Of course, they might beg to be waterboarded instead.
Most recently, Obama has turned loose the media wing of his campaign, aka the network news, to try to blame McCain and Republicans for the failure of financial institutions. But the media somehow overlooked the fact that the Bush administration was warned about the problems with these institutions in 2002 and tried to implement strengthened regulatory oversight in 2003. The proposal was defeated along Democratic Party lines. Democrat Rep. Barney Frank said of the thrifts: “These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis.”
That’s right, folks. These are the people that are going to give us the “change we can believe in.”
Obama said: “It would be unacceptable for executives of these institutions to earn a windfall.”
Former Fannie Mae CEO James Johnson substantially underreported his compensation to the tune of some $14 million, and the company under his leadership improperly deferred some $200 million in expenses. Yet the Obama campaign hired Johnson to lead the search for his VP running mate. This guy helped bring about the nation’s current financial crisis, and Obama likes him so much he picked him up for his campaign. I suppose it helps that Johnson raised between $200,000 and $500,000 for the Obama campaign.
And, you know, you never heard a word of this on your nightly news. I suppose informing the American people of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth surrounding all candidates for president is too much to ask for these days. I guess journalism died this year.
Roger Conrad is a Marine Corps veteran who has served a tour of duty in Iraq and works for the Nebraska Department of Corrections.
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Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
You mention print and television journalism along with entertainment programming in other formats. I believe that print and television journalism can tell facts and entertain; they don't have to be separate entities. The other formats are what? Radio? VHS or DVD? I believe those formats can also be used by journalists to relay facts.
I have no opinion about Saturday Night Live except that I have never watched it so I can't agree or disagree with your statements.
I question your statement that Sarah Palin "scares people to death." Your sarcasm throughout the article turns me off to your argument. Sarah Palin doesn't scare me, but she does make me uncomfortable and as a result, I don't trust her.
In one interview Sarah Palin expressed a comment that bothered me. She was asked what she did / said when asked by McCain to be his running mate. She replied to the interviewer that she immediately said "yes." I realize that plenty of men have probably done the same thing, but did she discuss this offer with her family before saying "yes" to being the vice-presidential nominee? Any parent, mother or father, that does not consider what a tremendous impact this lifestyle change will have on the family, is not a person who thinks toward the future. That is not leadership material.
So what if "The View" gave Obana an easier interview than they did to McCain? Do you really believe that if Obama went on Glenn Beck or a Fox News Network program that he would receive the same interview as McCain? They all even out in the long run!
Finally, I am not impressed by the Bush Adninistration's handling of the country's financial problems. The one thought that keeps coming back to me is the 1980s and the other financial crisis our country was in. There was another Bush involved in that. The president's brother, Neil, was involved in a savings and loan debacle that cost the taxpayers over $1 billion. In all the entire savings and loan bailout cost the country over $300 billion. It has an all too familiar ring to it. The president at that time was Republican -- just like now.
Whatever the crisis I believe there is always plenty of blame to go around to everyone. Some people are just better at hiding their parts in the crises! "
Proud Liberal wrote on October 4, 2008 5:55 am:
You also bring up the Johnson issue and wonder why the press doesn't talk about it. I'd like to checkmate that argument with two words: "Keating Five." In case you are uninformed on that issue, which the press also has not spent much time on, I suggest you look it up online. Happy reading! "
Sealbee wrote on October 4, 2008 6:40 am:
There are other people out there that have noticed these things!
I enjoyed the read Roger... "
Comm UnSense wrote on October 4, 2008 7:39 am:
Gerard Harbison wrote on October 4, 2008 7:40 am:
russell wrote on October 4, 2008 8:01 am:
Edgar Pearlstein wrote on October 4, 2008 8:22 am:
Dont Quit Your Daytime Job wrote on October 4, 2008 8:38 am:
P.S. - Contrary to your implication that Saturday Night Live and other comedy shows only pick on the poor, abused conservative republicans, I seem to recall that they got plenty of mileage out of the stained blue dress incident. "
Wake up Roger wrote on October 4, 2008 8:53 am:
Roger is a Marine Corps veteran, so there is no doubting his support for McCain. Let me ask you this, Roger....please explain to me just exactly how McCain was a productive and contributing member of the military when he was holed up in Hanoi Hilton for five years? Think about it. He did absolutely nothing for the US when he was a POW, except force the military to commit vaulable resources in the vain attempt to find and rescue him. Look at the kind of people who join the military....usually people who have a difficult time with higher education or even disdain for it. People who have GED's and have no interest in a college education, but want a "career". McCain got out of the Naval Academy by the skin of his teeth. Palin can't be described as a genius, either. The US is in a hole and needs SMART people to get us out. Do you really want the class dummy to be in charge of getting the country out of the mess it's in?
I think deep down, people like Roger are seething over the fact that McCain chose Palin as his running mate. Yet, when questioned publicly, most Republicans think she is the second coming. Did anyone see Michelle Bachman of Minnesota on Larry King try to spin how great Palin is? I'm sure when Republicans go to bed at night, they wish there were a different name on their ticket.
Roger Conrad, you will weep heavily on November 5th. "
that ol debbil the liberal media wrote on October 4, 2008 9:56 am:
whatever wrote on October 4, 2008 10:21 am:
BigChief wrote on October 4, 2008 12:23 pm:
John McCain has written at least two books that I have not read but will before the election. Off the top of my head I cannot recall the title of McCain's books. "
Look at it like this.... wrote on October 4, 2008 6:38 pm:
I can't stand all the liberal talk shows on every radio station my transistor gets....KLIN, KFOR, KFAB.....sickening. "
Dave Steinheider wrote on October 4, 2008 7:58 pm:
You complain about the tone of the TWO interviews Sarah Palin has given to the evil liberal press and I wonder how can she face down Putin? Is she so fragile she can't handle a few tough questions?
And then you try to put the blame for the failures of eight years of Repubican rule, running the country exactly the way you wanted, on Democrats. Who is in the White House? Who had control of Congress back in 2003 or 2005? Who has been demanding government get out of the way for the last 30 years?
We are reaping what Conservative economics has sewn: complete economic meltdown.
Thanks a lot. "
davidb wrote on October 4, 2008 8:10 pm:
On a side note, if you express your opinion, you are going to get people from both sides either agreeing or disagreeing. Some will cry for censorship. If you write a book, they might check it out from the local library and never return it -- so no one else can read it.
I would encourage Mr. Conrad to keep writing. I may not agree, but the quality should improve. "
Beavis12 wrote on October 4, 2008 11:52 pm:
Josh wrote on October 5, 2008 6:50 am:
whatever wrote on October 5, 2008 9:10 am:
Eric wrote on October 5, 2008 12:01 pm:
Amen wrote on October 5, 2008 1:51 pm:
opinion not fact wrote on October 5, 2008 7:19 pm:
McCain is getting hit with being too old, being another Bush clone, being voted for based only on sympathy for being a P.O.W., not knowing anything about how the economy works, and also many more. Palin is attacked with being a politician and not a mother first, a crazy conservative christian, being able to see Russia from her backyard, dodging all media and questions, only does well of answering questions as long as she has something to read in front of her, and on and on.
These are not facts. To say otherwise is idiotic. If the media is soooo liberal and journalism is dead then you should thank your luck American stars on that hemp made flag of ours and be glad your voice is still out there for people to take from it what they will. No one agrees with everything on the same issues. That's what makes this nation great. I may be liberal, but I don't want you banned. I want you to tell real fact's. The stuff you spew is what we'd here if the Right Wingers (because they wing everything) would be saying every day if they had control of the media. Neither side is going to be honest with their control of the media, thank god for the internet. You seem smart enough to know where to get real news, so stop claiming what we can here on 'Fox' as fact's. Until then you too have the right to your opinion. "
HOO Rah wrote on October 5, 2008 11:04 pm:
Voice of Reason wrote on October 5, 2008 11:35 pm:
Amen brother!
You are totally on point. Thankfully we have to likes of Rush and Sean Hannity to out some of this leftist garbage or the mainstream public would believe all of this diatribe to be gospel fact.
Keep up the good work!
VOR "
Question wrote on October 6, 2008 12:11 am:
Ignignokt wrote on October 6, 2008 8:54 am:
Perhaps Roger should not have referenced the two media entities he presented (SNL and The View), but if you look at Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, two MSNBC anchors posing as bringers of news and facts, it is easy to see their bias. Look at Olbermann's interview with Obama. If it had been a game of baseball, Olbermann was pitching underhand. Much like 'The View', he failed to ask tough questions...questions that Obama will need to answer with not only words, but with actions if he is elected president.
Roger is correct in the sentiment that we should demand more from the people who bring us the news. More facts, more accountability, and more honesty...not more mind-numbing drivel from folks like Olbermann and Maddow who seek to inflate the ego of the man they idolize. "
Truth Seeker wrote on October 6, 2008 12:31 pm:
Neo wrote on October 6, 2008 12:52 pm:
journalismgrad wrote on October 6, 2008 1:01 pm:
And as for your qualifications for being President based on your home financial skills, just a question-- is your bank accountmore than $486 million dollars? (And could McCain raise anywhere near that amount of money without the heavy reliance on lobbyists and big industry that is his bread and butter?) "
Rxwoman wrote on October 6, 2008 8:18 pm:
So the "news" is only as "liberal" as it's owners, and last time I checked corporations, their executive, and producers, were anything but "liberal".
And one other thing, I don't remember seeing anyone "screaming" to have Rogers banned. If anything I think LJS should keep publishing him and folks like him. Only by reading his outrageous opinion can folks realize just how out there, and paranoid some of these right-wingers really are. "
Lonely Voice wrote on October 7, 2008 11:15 am:
journalismgrad wrote on October 10, 2008 11:13 am: