You know, when Richard Nixon did it the Media didn’t like it. Not at all. I’m talking about blackballing a newspaper for writing articles questioning decisions made by his administration.
Back in the 70’s newspapers were still the most powerful journalistic outlet in America. They had the power to make or break someone’s political career. Nixon hated The New York Times and had no problem barring them from access to the White House. Journalists around the country made their feelings known. They accused the Nixon administration of stepping on the First Amendment Rights of The New York Times, and rightly so.
However, that was when there was still such a thing as “journalistic integrity”. That term can now be filed under “Oxymoron” with other classics such as “jumbo shrimp”. Now-a-days the MSM outlets have been reduced to nothing more than 24/7 campaign commercials for Congressional Liberals and the White House. I was taken by surprise when they joined the “Huh?” generation after Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Main Entry: jour·nal·ismPronunciation: \ˈjər-nə-ˌli-zəm\Function: nounDate: 18281 a : the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media b : the public press c : an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium
2 a : writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine b : writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation c : writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest******************************************************************
Main Entry: com·men·taryPronunciation: \ˈkä-mən-ˌter-ē, -ˌte-rē\Function: nounInflected Form(s): plural com·men·tar·iesDate: 15th century1 a : an explanatory treatise —usually used in plural b : a record of events usually written by a participant —usually used in plural
2 a : a systematic series of explanations or interpretations (as of a writing) b : comment 2
3 a : something that serves for illustration or explanation <the dark, airless apartments and sunless factories…are a sad commentary upon our civilization — H. A. Overstreet> b : an expression of opinion
There is now a present day blacklist and it contains one name – Fox News Channel. Why? Because Anita Dunn has chosen to blur the lines between commentary and journalism. These terms, though somewhat similar, are significantly different in one respect. Journalism is “a direct presentation of facts” while commentary is “an expression of opinion”. Commentary, which quite often contains factual information, is an expression of one person’s views of those facts. Journalism in its truest form should not be laced with opinion.
I challenge Anita to stop wasting my tax dollars blogging on a White House website and, instead, issue a statement of factual inaccuracies presented by Fox News Channel. This is similar to a request I made a week-or-so ago to the Liberal blogging community. I fear we will get the same response from her as I did…a barrage of vitriolic refuse.
I want the TRUTH!!!! And I can handle it…can YOU?
Sstorm0730's Blog 
Take this incidient with the Humana incident I blogged about and I think you start to see a really disturbing trend. Its clear the only voice they want to silence is dissent. They have no interest in making sure the facts are accurate and you know what, even if my facts aren’t accurate it is my first amendmant right to be wrong.
Add to that the fact that you and I do not portray ourselves as journalists. We only claim to be “the People”, concerned about our futures and those of our children. However, if they had the opportunity to push the “mute” button on us, I am afraid they would jump on it.
The problem with most adminstrations as they don’t like dissent, not because it’s annoying, but because they can’t wrap their ego around the possibility that someone else could be right. It’s a side effect of politics. The problem is that some administrations have quietly labelled dissenters, and some have sought to fully block them. Neither one is positive, but the latter is counter-productive and un-American.
I can handle it too Katrina! I heard it (truth) will ‘set you free’! 🙂
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