Tired of Bread and Circuses
Memo to the Media and Pundocracy
Whether its Obama-Mania, a tearful Hillary, or John Edwards’ hair cuts, please stop the juvenile and fact free speculative coverage.
For the last 20 years, the media has come under intense criticism for the horse race nature of campaign coverage – who’s up and who’s down – in total disregard of the issues or the substance of policy.
But now, we’ve entered a whole new realm, where celebrity and the most bizarre events displace substantive coverage. Some pundits have explicitly equated the campaign coverage to high school psychodrama – who’s cool and who’s a geek.
The media circus conveniently (perhaps intentionally?) dodges the need to cover the ugly facts.
You know, things like the illegal “unitary executive” Bush regime, the quagmire of a war we’re now in, the fundamentalist denial of science, the collapse of the middle class, the skyrocketing cost and lack of health care for all.
The campaign coverage should be asking whether all of this unconstitutional and un-american imperial Bush overreach is going to be reformed – or replicated – by the next President in power.
Whether George Bush is someone you’d like to drink a beer with, whether Hillary is a bitch, or if Obama is a rock star are irrelevant to whether they should be President.
Seems like the last 7 years of the Bush administration hasn’t taught you anything. One would have thought you’d have learned that lesson by now.
It is now abundantly clear that the complete collapse of media objectivity and accountability has allowed the Bush Administration to conduct a war of choice based on lies. Had the media been playing anything but a cheer leading role and stenographer of Republican talking points, the war and many other disasters could not have occurred.
Much of the media coverage is not only irrelevant and diversionary, it has destroyed the institution’s credibility – what else explains the fact that folks go to internet blogs and Comedy Central’s John Stewart and Steve Colbert for news and political analysis?
If media as an institution doesn’t care about the future of the country, at least do the right thing to protect your own profits and credibility.
Its no secret that newspaper circulation, advertising revenues, and profits are down. Similarly, TV ratings are down. You are losing market share to other venues.
Think there’s no relationship between this and the vapid fact free coverage that has no bearing on people’s lives?
So please, stop this cynical, shallow, mindless personality contest coverage. Please.
Bill, thanks so much for this article. I wish the media would actually pay attention. I’d give anything to have them ask the candidates hard questions about their stances on the issues. I want to see Hillary asked about why she’s accepting money from the Carlyle Group. I want someone to ask Obama how he can support the liquification of coal and still say we need to reduce global warming. I want someone to ask John Edwards if he still has the positive vision for America that he had in 2004 and why we’re not hearing that any more.
I don’t care if Obama’s a rock star. I don’t want one for president. (If I did I’d be trying to talk Bon Jovi into running.) I don’t care if Hillary cries. (Unless she plans on making a habit of it when under pressure. Not so good for a president…) I don’t care about Edwards’ haircuts. He earned the money and can spend it any way he pleases. (I admit I’m floored that some barber tried to charge someone $400 for a haircut.)
I want someone with that “vision thing,” but I want more than pretty dreams for America. I want to know how we’re going to get there. I want to know that it’s backed up by specific plans that will allow me to leave a better country, a better world for my kids and grandkids.
So, all of you media folks, please pull your heads out!
Thanks, Bill!
Bill,
You seem to be under the delusion that your opinions are facts. You aren’t calling for media objectivity and accountability, but for the media to pump out propaganda that fits your worldview.
Dear ThomasReid:
There are solid facts that back up every one of my assertions.
Pew Trust and other media monitoring organizations have issued reports that quantify the coverage and criticize the coverage for exactly the reasons I stated.
There are national political pundits that write for the nation’s largest weekly magazines who have equated campaign dynamics to high school popularity contests.
The Boston Globe ran a wonderful series of stories, most recently about 20 questions they asked each candidate on executive power – including Bush signing statements and the Bush theory of the “unitary executive”. Numerous books have been written on that topic (John Yu). The Washington Post ran a series on the radical Bush/Cheney view of executive power.
These are all facts on teh record, not my person opinions.
And the fact is that virtually NONE of the substance of these and many other issues is being analyzed in the campaign cvoerage. But it is also a fact that millions of words have been written about Hillary crying or John Edwards’ hair cuts or Hillary’s cleavage.
And that my friend is lousy journalism, whatever you political ideology.
Bill: You are so right. It seems like media coverage we get is a half-inch deep and ten miles wide — the same shallow pool of sensationalist crap, over & over again. For example, with heavy voter interest on “change” in Washington, why is it that we haven’t heard about the fact that Hillary’s campaign manager (Terry McCauliffe) led the charge to circumvent McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill? I think that is a very critical indicator that Hillary will give us more of the same corrupt, money-linked, unethical behavior that we’ve seen with Bush/Cheney. Instead we hear 500 times how HIllary got all choked up. Please.
What I don’t understand about your logic of having Dems bash Bush/Cheney while they position themselves to be their party’s candidate is they are not going to run against Bush…ever. So who cares about him. Talk about real issues that affect people. Rehashing what happened ver the past 7 years does nothing but remind folks that politicians are politicians. Makes the skeptical realize that anyone of these candidates can become another Bush with the wrong reaction to an event. Tell me why you will be a great president and compare yourself to the other candidates – not history. And if your chosen compare yourself to the Republican candidate. The two term limit eliminates Bush from discussion. Whether we liked it or not – we all know the history and can judge your plans and credentials on our own view of history.
Dear Richl –
You miss my point. I am not arguing for Democratic attacks on Bush.
I am arguing for press scrutiny of the postions of teh candidates with respect to policies that Bush abused.
For example: do the Democratic candidates agree with Bush’s doctrine of pre-emtptive war? Will they repeal it?
DO they support Bush’s National Security Strategy that has justified a unilaterla adn militaristic US foreign policy(it is a formal document)? Would they repeal it?
For an example of the excellennt jouralism I see, check out this Bosteon Globe candidae survey on executive power – Bush has implemented a radical theory of executive power to keep docuemths secret, ignore Congress, spy on americans, torture, rendition, et al
See: Candidates on executive power: a full spectrum
They assess use of signing statements
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/22/candidates_on_executive_power_a_full_spectrum/
Bill (AKA nohesitation),
Did you read my comment? I didn’t disagree with your opinion that news coverage lacks substance. What I said was that you weren’t calling for media objectivity and accountability, but rather for the media to pump out propaganda that fits your worldview.
For example you said the media needs to cover the facts, “You know, things like the illegal “unitary executive” Bush regime, the quagmire of a war we’re now in, the fundamentalist denial of science, the collapse of the middle class, the skyrocketing cost and lack of health care for all. ”
Those aren’t facts; those are your opinions about the Bush administration, Iraq and the state of science, the middle class and healthcare in the U.S.
But I agree there is a problem, for example:
“NBC’s Brian Williams said today it’s difficult to cover the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama objectively. “I interviewed Lee Cowan, our reporter who covers Obama, while we were out yesterday and posted the interview on the Web,” explained Williams. Lee says it’s hard to stay objective covering this guy. Courageous for Lee to say, to be honest.”
ThomasReid
I read and responded to your comment – did you read my reply?
The “unitary executive” claim is a “fact”. Bush legal advisers have written memoranda about it and it has been repudiated by legal scholars as illegal. In response, major elements of this legal theory have been withdrawn (i.e. see the Yu and Bybee memos, and the Senate testimony of former AG Gonzalez). THis has al bee reported in the news – do a Google.
We have been in an Iraq guerrilla civil war suffering and impsing huge casualties adn spending hundreds of billions $$ for almost 5 years, with no end in sight. That fits the history textbook defintion of a quagmire. Another fact, not an opinion.
Ther are countess examples where Bush officials have relied on fundamentalist religious beliefs to over-ride science – from “intelligent design” (supported by Bush himselef) to denying global warmign. The record is well documented and to extensive to present here. Se the Book “The Republican War on Science” for numerous examples. Another fact.
The data show widening disparities in income and shrinking of the middle class – those again are facts.
Health care costs are skyrocketing and 47 million Americans do not have health insurance. Do you dispute these facts? On what basis?
It is you my friend who in denying these facts is expressing your own opinion.
Sh
Dear Mr. Wolfe aka “No Hesitation”,
You seem to be unreasonably upset and I think that it is affecting your credibility and objectivity. The notion that the media is somehow in cahoots with the Bush administration and is in some way contributing to the growing economic disparity in this nation seems to be the stuff of Lyndon LaRouche.
Alexis Neuman
Hey Sailoralex:
I never said the media was in cahoots with anybody – please read what I wrote.
I said they weren’t doing their jobs well.
The NY Times itself has apologized for its coverage of Iraq WMD, mushroom cloud, aluminum tubes, yellowcake et al in the propaganda lead-up to the war.
They fired Judy Miller, who was writing false stories on WMD based on lies from Scooter Libby and Dick Cheney.
The Congress would never have approved the Iraq War Resolution if the press had reported the facts publicly available at the time – the Bush claims were known to be false at the time.
In terms of income dis[parity all I said was that it is not made part of the campaign coverage – candidates should be forced to respond to factual questions on this issue.
Please read what I write before you go off half cocked with false claims and attacks on my credibility.
I don’t care hat you think about my views, but please don’t put words in my mouth or attack my credibility.
nohesitation, AKA Bill
Yes, I read your comment and you’re still operating on the premise that certain theories, your opinions and preferences are facts. They are not. As I said before, I agree the media does a poor job of informing the public in a substantive and objective manner. However, your prescription is for the media to disseminate leftist propaganda.
For xample:
The “unitary executive” is a theory of constitutional law. Some legal scholars agree with this theory, some don’t, but it’s not illegal.
Evolution is a theory as is intelligent design. Some groups have tried to block discussion and teaching about the theory of evolution and others, intelligent design. Perhaps some day there will a unified theory to explain the origin of the species and the universe. Perhaps not, and instead a new theory will emerge that largely discredits both.
You can’t name one instance where support for or belief in intelligent design by administration officials or Bush himself has brought about an over-ride of science or you would have plainly stated it.
You might be shocked to learn that those who don’t work still have $0 income from earnings and that those who do work are earning more than ever before, thus widening the earned income gap between workers and non-workers.
The number of people in the middle income groups (middle class) continues to grow as the population grows. The middle class can only shrink if the population shrinks. That of course tells us nothing about actual income.
The latest study on income mobility in the U.S. provides the facts though the tracking of what happened to income of people over time -1996 through 2005. The facts are that after-inflation median income for all but one income group increased by 24 percent. That one group, the top 1 percent in 1996, had an income decline of 25.8 percent by 2005. But others from lower income groups moved up to take their place.
Shall I go on?
There are any number of theories as to why the earth has warmed and cooled over the eons. There are many theories as to the primary cause of the current change. One might be right or all the theories may be wrong. Some consider disagreement over the current cause of the earth’s warming as a denial of their deeply held beliefs; others call it being skeptical of an unproven theory.
Some see Operation Iraqi Freedom as a strategic facet of the GWOT. They see a military operation that took out the Saddam Hussein regime in 20 days as being successful and that the ones imposing casualties in Iraq as Saddam Hussein dead-enders, al Qaeda and Iran-backed terrorists. Some believe the U.S. and our Iraqi allies are defeating these enemies and will ultimately prevail. Others see any use of U.S. military force as a quagmire, no matter the circumstances. The New York Times published “A Military Quagmire Remembered: Afghanistan as Vietnam” on day 24 of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Some confuse healthcare with health insurance. How many people in the U.S.- citizens, legal residents, visitors, illegal aliens – are denied necessary medical care each year? Any?
The news pundit coverage of the election for the most important office in the world IS wretched.
Fox is the worst. Mike Wallace’s boy, Chris, treats Ron Paul with utter distain. The other GOP candidates, who want to stay in Iraq ‘forever’ are treated with civility. Obama’s cool. Paul’s the GEEK to be sniped at by Wallace, McCain, Romney, Hume or Rudy. Which one of these egomaniacs will toss Paul’s sneakers over a telephone wire? What’s happened to thoughtful discourse?
William Kristol wants a hegemony over southwest Asia ‘forever’.
The rest all seem to be in bed with neo-cons, too, with Fred Thompson bragging about Fred Kagan advising him, while Rudy has Perle. They smear the opposition to our nation building.
Too many in the news industry have connections of some sort to the candidates. Their husbands, or a child, work for campaigns. Objectivity is gone; polls are obviously rigged; and it appears the actual vote is fixed. This was an insightful article, thanks.
Thomas Reid and nohesitation (Bill),
You guys got way off base. Bill is saying (rightly so) that the media is brain dead and they’re passing this off as “political reporting”. We get the presidency and government we deserve. We need to collectively grow up and start holding the news media accountable or simply stop watching their news shows or buying their papers. By the way, we need to hold the politicians accountable as well for the manner in which they are managing the government. Too often, atrocious.
That’s why I vote every chance I get. Guess which way I vote?
By the way, if you ever get to Phoenix I strongly recommend you take a tour of their state capitol and read the inscription on the door to the old statehouse. It says “We get the government we deserve and being a citizen requires vigilance, etc etc etc”. Words to remember.