Gotcha Journalism
I've got to quit watching the Sunday morning talking head shows. Time and time again, the host welcomes a high level administration official and time and time again they pull the same tired trick out of their toolbox, which usually takes the form of, "Does the president <promise/commit> to <always/never> do <something>?"
This morning it was Larry Summers and Tim Giethner, both of whom were asked whether or not Obama was going to raise taxes on the middle class. Both of them refused to rule it out. Mind you, neither of them said Obama would raise taxes. In fact, Obama promised in the campaign that he would not. But that fact that two of his top officials wouldn't say that he wouldn't gets translated into "he might," and wingnuts will certainly interpret as "he will."
That's the news, folks. I'm sure the talking heads will now amplify this to an intolerable volume to the exclusion of all other topics and then pat themselves on the back for it when somebody from the administration or maybe even the president himself has to come out and "clarify" the remarks made by Geithner and Summers.
If that's journalism, I'd rather be uninformed.
This morning it was Larry Summers and Tim Giethner, both of whom were asked whether or not Obama was going to raise taxes on the middle class. Both of them refused to rule it out. Mind you, neither of them said Obama would raise taxes. In fact, Obama promised in the campaign that he would not. But that fact that two of his top officials wouldn't say that he wouldn't gets translated into "he might," and wingnuts will certainly interpret as "he will."
That's the news, folks. I'm sure the talking heads will now amplify this to an intolerable volume to the exclusion of all other topics and then pat themselves on the back for it when somebody from the administration or maybe even the president himself has to come out and "clarify" the remarks made by Geithner and Summers.
If that's journalism, I'd rather be uninformed.
Advertisement
















Appreciate this post!
Pundits have no place on any program that opines it delivers news or touts themselves as journalists.
I seldom watch any cable 'pretend news' - sometimes network evening. And do support PBS (most is good and actual reporting).
Rec'd.
August 2, 2009 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
These shows are political publicity tours.
Will they raise taxes on the middle class? I don't know. Maybe the situation is such that the previous administration and the current congress leave them no choice. I just don't know.
What I do know is this, this general rule:
The less you watch the news, the more informed you'll be.
It's more work to search and unearth the real news, via the internet, or whatever tools you have available to you, but it's worth it.
It's worth it to know what's really going on out there, not just what large government/corporations want us to think is going on.
August 2, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
As painful as it is to watch Sunday politics shows, I do so to better understand people I do not necessarily agree with.
August 2, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
A must read from Greenwald on how Olberman is getting muzzled by GE management. A picture of what passes as journalism on the big networks.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/08/01/ge/index.html
August 2, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
that is a good read, Obey. It was surprising to hear that Richard Wolffe (SP?) is now a corporate lobbyist, yet is still being presented as an independent journalist. MSNBC really really needs to change that.
August 2, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just unbelievable that they can do that. I mean, can I go on and have them call me supreme court justice, or something? But what's interesting is how market forces actually managed to produce some good journalism between oreilly's attacks on GE and KeithO's slamming of oreilly. It's the cartel culture between Newscorp and GE that killed it all. But crazy story, huh?
August 2, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
What the hell are big non-media corporations, like GE and Microsoft, doing owning news operations, anyhow?
August 3, 2009 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Selling perpetual war.
August 3, 2009 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would appear they are covering their own behinds, not wanting to sound later if something changes, like they didn't have a clue. Wouldn't want to be accountable or anything.
Thanks for the post. I feel that way at times too on weekends. Sometimes I retreat to CSPAN book talks. There are some great interviews with authors of historical books then.
August 2, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose watching makes it easier to understand why fellow americans come up with the crazy notions they do. They get it from somewhere and as long as it's convenient for those in power to have the mass public believe x they will promote it however untrue, unethical, or insane. It's all about power, control, and money. They will steal it wherever they can get it.
August 2, 2009 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're all trying to make news, instead of reporting it.
August 3, 2009 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
August 3, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree in general, but it seems the President might be winning this news cycle. I've gone to Google news, and the majority of the narrative seems to be that "Obama remains opposed to middle-class tax increases" and "White House steadfast on pledge of no middle-class tax increase". Heck, even Fox News' headline was "White House Says No New Taxes for Middle Class" (at least for now—someone's going to get fired for that one…).
August 3, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink