The Press' Unparalleled, Unrelenting Self-Regard
It's hard not to get tired of the MSM's unrelenting self-regard.
Today, we find this gem in The New York Times. Ah, the grandiosity:
Reporters from other news organizations have endured longer jail time in the same important cause over the years, but for us and we hope for others, it should be clear after 41 days in a Virginia jail that Ms. Miller is not going to change her mind.
Forgive me for suspecting that The Times would not have the same excessive regard for a journalist from National Review, The Weekly Standard or The American Spectator -- much less a conservative blogger. Nor, I believe, would The Times be so supportive of the journalist if she were withholding information that might have, for example, saved Bill Clinton from impeachment.
But The Times isn't alone in its pompous self-consciousness. As sad as Peter Jennings' untimely death is, wasn't the ABC special -- pretentiously titled "Peter Jennings: Reporter" -- a bit much? Two full hours, devoted to an estimable -- but hardly extraordinary -- man and career? Was it broadcast because it was important, or important because it was broadcast? To the television divas appearing (Brokaw, Rather, Walters, Sawyer, Gibson et al.), it's clearly important because it's about them -- or someone like them.
And finally, one has to return to the Plame kerfuffle. It's a story that works for the press, because like the whole Cindy Sheehan debacle, it makes a nice anti-Bush narrative. But even more, it's a story the press likes, because it's about them.
Funny . . . if all the journalists were as important as they keep reminding us that they are, it seems they wouldn't have to tell us so, so often.
Today, we find this gem in The New York Times. Ah, the grandiosity:
Reporters from other news organizations have endured longer jail time in the same important cause over the years, but for us and we hope for others, it should be clear after 41 days in a Virginia jail that Ms. Miller is not going to change her mind.
Forgive me for suspecting that The Times would not have the same excessive regard for a journalist from National Review, The Weekly Standard or The American Spectator -- much less a conservative blogger. Nor, I believe, would The Times be so supportive of the journalist if she were withholding information that might have, for example, saved Bill Clinton from impeachment.
But The Times isn't alone in its pompous self-consciousness. As sad as Peter Jennings' untimely death is, wasn't the ABC special -- pretentiously titled "Peter Jennings: Reporter" -- a bit much? Two full hours, devoted to an estimable -- but hardly extraordinary -- man and career? Was it broadcast because it was important, or important because it was broadcast? To the television divas appearing (Brokaw, Rather, Walters, Sawyer, Gibson et al.), it's clearly important because it's about them -- or someone like them.
And finally, one has to return to the Plame kerfuffle. It's a story that works for the press, because like the whole Cindy Sheehan debacle, it makes a nice anti-Bush narrative. But even more, it's a story the press likes, because it's about them.
Funny . . . if all the journalists were as important as they keep reminding us that they are, it seems they wouldn't have to tell us so, so often.
posted by LadybugUSA at 3:39 PM
1 Comments:
Carol -
What's 41 days? I say keep her jail permanently. She's not a journalist...she's a propaganda piece for this administration. She's not protecting her source...she's trying to save her hide. She is NOT "liberal" by any stretch of the imagination.
Peter Jennings had an extraordinary career. He knew more about the Middle East in his pinky than Rush or any of the bloviators. The press and the country are mourning the loss of journalistic excellence and not paid shills for parties disguised as "journalists". Mr. Jennings wouldn't cover the Laci type stories because he felt that it just wasn't news that Americans really need to know. He felt they needed to know the reality of the world.
The Plame Name Game is extremely important to flush out treasoners in this administration. It isn't about the press. It isn't anti-Bush, it is anti-fabrication, anti-lie, anti-traitor. The CIA brought charges, not any party, so they ought to know when their operations has been compromised. It is about uncovering why this administration puts party above nation and principle. It is another documented tale of what this administration's slime machine will do to those who stand in their way of making money for their buddies.
Rove has flip flopped on his story so many times that we already know he's probably going to do some jail time for getting caught lying to the Feds.
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