Posted on 06/09/2004 7:51:51 AM PDT by kattracks
Journalists who bashed and trashed Ronald Reagan during the 1980s are biting their tongues this week amidst the outpouring of love and affection towards the GOP icon from a grateful nation.But the cease fire won't last long, judging by the comments of major network new anchors Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings yesterday.
Rather told the Philadelphia Inquirer the week-long commemoration of Reagan's life was journalistic overkill and hinted that he was anxious to return to stories he thought were more important, like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
"Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life does go on," he groused. "There is other news, like the reality of Iraq. It got very short shrift this weekend."
The CBS newsman blamed "herd journalism" for the media's fixation on Reagan.
NBC's Tom Brokaw suggested that the media's current presentation of the Reagan legacy was far too positive, noting, that while he "was a beloved American leader . . . at the same time our journalistic obligation is to put his whole life and his political career in context."
He told the Inquirer that a single day's worth of tribute to Reagan would have been enough. After that, it was time to examine "scandals" like "Iran-contra [and] his failure to recognize early on the AIDS epidemic."
ABC's Peter Jennings concurred, telling the Inquirer, "If we waited for the president to be buried before doing a critical analysis, the world would move on quite a bit."
Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz seemed to agree that the focus on Reagan was too much, noting during an online chat on Tuesday, "Nixon got two or three days of very heavy coverage, but nothing like this weeklong, nonstop extravaganza."
"If you were too young to remember Reagan and just tuned in since Saturday," he contended, "you'd have very little idea that he was a controversial figure with legions of detractors as well as admirers."
Longtime Reagan watcher and Post reporter Lou Cannon said Reagan critics could look forward to new ammunition to use against their nemesis.
In a separate online chat, Cannon said that still-sealed documents on Reagan's presidency will be released in the coming years, noting, "and what is revealed in these documents may again change our opinions."
They're angry that the herd is headed one way when they were pointing them elsewhere (Abu Grahib).
"After that, it was time to examine "scandals" like "Iran-contra [and] his failure to recognize early on the AIDS epidemic"
But a week after reporting on a Clinton scandal, it was 'old news' and unworthy of another mention. Again, these three hacks no longer care how partisan they are or appear and their agenda pre-empts ethics, balance and fairness.
Exactly. It's put Republicanism in the spotlight and people might just remember what it stands for and vote for W.
I love the anchor who said the "reality of Iraq" is being bumped off the news. The reality, which they will never report as such, is a new government and a unanimous UN vote in support of Bush's policy.
And if anyone would know about herd journalism, it would be Dan Blather!
All of this from networks that wouldn't give Jaunita Broaddrick the time of day.
No, Tom, your "journalistic obligation" is to tell us who-what-when-where. Keep your opinions on the opinion page.
Got it?
What sort of "obligation" is soiling the reputation of a figure who is beyond all political activity? To whom are these people obliged: us, Reagan's enemies, or themselves? Speaking the truth is the only journalistic obligation, IMHO, not "providing a balance."
OTOH, it is refreshing to see that these propagandists recognize themselves for what they are. What amazes me as that they can continue to sell it as virtuous.
I've had enough too.
I hope one day to have the pleasure of pissing on the graves of these three liberal media has-beens. Even Chris Matthews has kept his composure and behaved himself at this time of national mourning.
Ronald Reagan's legacy is bringing down the Berlin Wall, Clintoon's is bringing down the World Trade Towers. And the media slimes know it.
While the ratings at ABC,CBS & NBC continue to fall...
These clowns just don't get it...
And if I were Rupert Murdock, I would start a nightly news hour on the FOX commercial channels across America and blow the other three majors right off the charts!
Brit Hume would be my anchor.
Just as they did with JFK (the first one)? It took years before the whole truth came out about him. Where was their "obligation" then?
Now I know what AM and FM stand for: A$$hole Media and Fricking Media.
I'm all for opening up history.
Let's start with the history that Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, the chief Marxist propagandists of CBS, are the architects who installed the dictator Pol Pot who set out to create a "worker's rural paradise" by butchering 1 million Cambodians.
AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
Yet, JFK jr and Princess Di got as much air time & I don't remember any of the Elitest Media Slime making a squeak about too much coverage.
Wait till it's Carter or Clintoon, they'll be canonized by these idiots!!!!
God Bless the Reagan family & God Bless the United States of America!!!
I hate to break it to you, Peeeetah, but other events happened in the world between the dates of September 11 - 17, 2001 as well. You didn't care about not covering those events then.
I see. When Republicans are being trashed, it's honest journalism. When a Republican is being honored, it's herd journalism. Thanks for clearing that up, Mr. Blather.
The vultures are circling. I predict that we're going to see and hear ugly, vile comments starting Saturday morning. Sure, it's already starting, but I fear we haven't seen the worst from these hateful people yet.
While these whores and jerkoffs are grumbling to each other, hundreds of thousands of grateful Americans stand in line for hours on end for the moment it takes to pay respects to a great man.
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