Lester Holt and the Collapse of Journalism
In comments titled "Lester Holt Spins Debate for Hillary Six Huge Ways, Plays Gotcha With Trump," Dan Gainor of the Media Research Center writes:
Journalists got their wish. Presidential debate moderator Lester Holt hoisted Hillary Clinton’s campaign high in the air like Atlas. Holt repeatedly called out Trump, as both the Clinton campaign and the liberal media had begged him to do.
In an honest debate, a journalist-moderator would function as an impartial referee at a sports match: Refuse to take sides and consistently enforce the rules of fair play. Otherwise, what you have is not a contest, but rather skewed results at best or a rigged system at worst.
Part of the collapse of our culture is evident in the well-nigh total breakdown of journalism as an ethical enterprise rooted in a passionate commitment to reporting news as evidenced by the facts. Facts have consequences, and so does ignoring them.
If we are honest, when a contemporary status quo "journalist" looks in the mirror, what looks back is not an authentic reporter but a party hack. The human being is just about gone, eaten away by character flaws and a growing loss of self-respect. What remains is a hollow fan, not a reporter; a fanatic in suit and tie, not a seeker in pursuit of knowledge.
Instead of a living soul, we have a cheap shill. A particular reporter may be surrounded by glitz and celebrity and a sense of meaning gained from trying to help political allies destroy a threat to your team. But the smell of hypocrisy overwhelms. Talk about an unfortunate, unnecessary, miserable existence -- when the lights go out and you're alone with what's left of your conscience. And if that doesn't concern you, the you you thought you knew may no longer exist.
Vast sectors of our weak society cannot handle the weight of real, honest reporting. Freedom is heavy. A truly free press requires liberty requires strong people, the exact opposite kind of citizenry nudged and shaped, stupified and bamboozled by the necessarily infantilizing, enfeebling Federal State Monopoly espoused by the likes of Obama and Hillary. And by far too many Republicans. I describe them as "Giveuplicans."
Forget the enduring and liberating norms for human freedom and dignity, the power elites say. Just let go of the Declaration mainstream and its constitutional expression. Forget truth and love. Power and a balcony are all I need. And thank you very much, dear journalists, for jumping into my back pocket, warming my lap, and being so easy to command.
Washington must decrease, if America is to increase. Humanness and intelligence revolts.
Note: Portions of these remarks first appeared on my Facebook page.
