Liberal Press Un-American?
I don’t think so. I think it’s very American and a critical function of democracy. That said, I'm not convinced the press is any more liberal than conservative. And I think it's "un-American" of those in the media who equate liberalism with being "un-American". If not for liberals like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, or F. D. Roosevelt, to name a few, there wouldn't be a US of A to be liberal or conservative and I'm getting damn tired of hearing people in the (conservative) media making claims that the press and media are liberal and (therefore) un-American. And since when is questioning our Government un-American?
A democracy by definition means (among other things) openness. The founding fathers knew enough about human nature to know government would always cover up its mistakes if it operated in secret. Bringing mistakes to the fore is a strength, not a weakness and it's the responsibility of the press to keep the Government's mistakes to the fore.
When America outlawed segregation, it acknowledged 200 years of wrongs. Would anyone argue that publicly correcting those wrongs made us weaker? To the contrary, it made us stronger. It showed the world that we live by the values we preach. And that those values work.
This administration has been secretive when there was no real point to it, has paid reporters to take the government line, and has left the impression that bad news exists only in the minds of reporters. That's no way to win a PR war Mr. President. In fact, it's a sure way to lose it. Our strength comes from emphasizing in every word and action the values that separate us from those who oppose us, not from adopting their methods.
The Bush Administration’s war on our Freedom of the Press is also a war on our Freedom of Speech. The Bush Administration’s Patriot Act is a war on our remaining civil liberties. The President’s illegal wiretapping of American citizens is only one example of the blatant disregard this Administration has for the freedoms that made us the great nation we used to be. Yes, I said “used to be”. We cannot describe ourselves as “great” so long as we continue to allow our leaders in Washington to chisel away at our rights the way they’ve been doing since Lyndon Johnson’s Administration.
It blows my mind how stupid we Americans have become. If the Government steals away our rights in the name of “The War on Drugs” and now “The War on Terror”, we sit back and relax in the false sense of security the our Government is taking care of us. And now, when our President accuses the press of playing (liberal) politics, we sit back and relax in the false sense of security the he’s right. After all, he is the President. And so I’m left with this question for President Bush: “Since when is it un-American to question my Government?” If you don’t like the way the press is treating you George, perhaps you should clean up your act. Calling them names like “liberal” doesn’t cut it with me, and it doesn't make them "un-American" which raises another question: “Since when is being “liberal” a bad thing?”
Gavas 021906
Copyright (2006) Gavas Independent Group
COMMENTS
Dear Gavas,
If anything, the Press is MORE conservative than liberal. I rarely see any criticism of the Bush Administration or the Republican held Congress in the press. In the 'non-ink' news media, particularly radio, there is little, IF ANY, liberal points of view. On MY radio dial, at least, all I can tune in to is the likes of Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. Television isn't much better, particularly FOX News.
Gloria Schmidt (Pocatello, ID) 02/23/06