Byline, Ellsworth Toohey (MSM's depiction of Bush policies)

Granddaddy Long Legs ^

[cchandler]

I've been searching for the perfect way to describe the fashion that the liberal press covers the Bush Administration, conservatives and their policies. It's always been difficult, because journalists continually adapt their approaches to maximize insult and injury.

Sometimes they try to imply guilt by association. Other times they report rumors and innuendo as fact. They often underreport or completely ignore stories that favor the Administration, and then over-hype anything that can be seen as damaging.

But I finally realized that I have seen this kind of mass manipulation before. As a matter of fact, it was thoroughly depicted over 700+ pages of prose. It is the main characteristic of Ellsworth Toohey, the arch-villain in Ayn Rand's, The Fountainhead.

Let's take a look at his character description:

Ellsworth Toohey - The villain of the novel, and Roark's antithesis - a man with a lust for power but no talent. Since his boyhood, Toohey has despised the achievements of others, and he dedicates himself to squelching other people's talents and ambitions. He is a small and fragile-looking man, but his persuasive voice and knack for manipulation make him a formidable opponent. He encourages selflessness and altruism to coax others into submission.......

[cchandler]

I still think this is one of the greatest bits Ayn Rand wrote:

Ellsworth Toohey: "Mr. Roark, we're alone here. Why don't you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us."

Howard Roark: "But I don't think of you."

Simple, but VERY effective.

[TheCrusader]

"It's always been difficult, because journalists continually adapt their approaches to maximize insult and injury. Sometimes they try to imply guilt by association. Other times they report rumors and innuendo as fact. They often underreport or completely ignore stories that favor the Administration, and then over-hype anything that can be seen as damaging."

This is beautiful writing, because it penetrates and exposes the dark techniques employed by the lying, agenda-driven media. It also reveals just how easy it is for a corrupt media to 'create' the news rather than report it. Finally, because the media is such a powerful force in shaping people's minds, it begs the question, "what can be done to help guarantee media impartiality, evenhandedness and fidelity to the truth?".

[MikeHu]

Your blog is very good -- very well-thought out, well-researched and well-written.

The mainstream media won't publish you because it would make them look bad. It's the same with all the good writers in the world. The only way the mainstream media can maintain their monopoly is to suppress all the other writing out there. It works for a while but then one day the dam breaks and they just get swept away. The smart thing to have done would be to let talent in the door instead of trying to protect their turf. So they have nobody who's any good on their side anymore -- nobody worth a damn!