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August 12, 2008 at 10:14:46
Promoted to Headline (H2) on 8/12/08: by Dave Lindorff Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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By Dave Lindorff We Americans got a graphic illustration of the demise of any In the first case, we had the completely pointless if prurient Then there’s the Georgia war. I was stunned by the graphic
independent American corporate news media these past few days as the
coverage on TV and in print was saturated with reports about John
Edwards’ infidelity and, equally important, Russia’s invasion of
Georgia.
airing of Edwards’ sordid extra-marital affair. Pointless because
Edwards at this time is a has-been politician. If there were any point
to the coverage it should have been, as Alex Cockburn pointed out in
his journal Counterpunch,
the abject failure of those same reporters and “news” organizations to
cover the story back last fall, when it might have mattered. Back then,
when the only paper covering the story was the National Enquirer,
Edwards was still a viable candidate for the presidency, or a possible
contender for vice president again. It’s not that his personal sex-life
has any news value in and of itself. The point is that had he won the
nomination, or been picked as a vice presidential running mate, its
inevitable exposure later during the general election would have
destroyed any Democratic presidential chances. And the corporate media
knew back then all about this story. They just weren’t pursuing it (and
the current blitz of stories proves that they weren’t holding back out
of principle!).
depictions of Russian brutality in Gori and other cities that were
massively bombed and shelled, with apartment buildings collapsed into
rubble, children killed, and civilians targeted. The New York Times, in
particular, had photographic images of dead Georgian soldiers, of
charred bodies, of hysterical mothers. On NBC News, Russian planes were
shown dropping their loads of bombs on apartments.
We watch and read voluminous reports on this relatively small Russian war against its neighbor and former domestic province (Georgia was one of the SSRs in the old USSR), and meanwhile there is almost nothing being reported about the continuing five-year-old war launched by Bush and Cheney against Iraq. And certainly, over the course of five years we have gotten no visual depiction of that war even approaching the scenes that were on display from the front in Georgia.
Apparently, in the view of our corporate news editors and managers, it is important for Americans to fully witness the bloody horrors of war when that war is being fought by Russia, but we are to be carefully protected from seeing such things when they are being perpetrated by our own centurions. We aren’t even allowed to see the grievous injuries and death being suffered by our own troops.
And, of course, don't feel to good about the quality of the coverage of the Russian/Georgia conflict either. This too is biased. Indeed one reason we are shown all the carnage is that the US government has been backing Georgia, and there is evidence that the US even encouraged the Georgian attacks on ethnic Russians which provoked the invasion. The US also has obligingly airlifted Georgian troops back from Iraq to Georgia.
This is not news. This is propaganda, pure and simple.
American corporate news media broadcasts and articles should include
a disclaimer: “This report was approved by the media managers of the
Bush/Cheney administration.”
_________________
DAVE LINDORFF is a Philadelphia-based journalist and columnist.
His latest book is “The Case for Impeachment” (St. Martin’s Press, 2006
and now available in paperback edition). His work is available at
www.thiscantbehappening.net
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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| 9 comments |
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Yes, indeed.
And as galling as it is for them to be such unabashed, in your face propagandists, it is even more of an insult to realize that they are simply slapping anyone who can see them nakedly purveying this crap right in the face. I think that we as citizens must step up. It is not enough to boycott them, indeed it has no effect. We need to put the word out about this in the small ways that we can. Clearly we are not going to get coverage from a network news bureau. We must carry signs. We must point out the corporate "news" deficiencies to people who discuss the news in whatever forum, be it at a family gathering, on a street corner, in a train station, etc. Perhaps avoid the subject at the corner bar, since responses there are fueled with volatile organic compounds, but take other opportunities to point it out. Many people simply won't see anything that they aren't specifically looking for. Once you direct their attention to it, it jumps out as clear as day. by John Sanchez Jr. (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 1796 comments [154 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:13:12 PM  (0+)
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The Double Standard
The United States conducts an illegal war of aggression based on manufactured evidence and a series of statements that have proven to be lies - and we continue in a war with the people unable to stop it. Russia gets condemned and their actions are shown on the MSM. When we judge the entire world including ourselves by the same standard and that standard is applied not just from outside but from within - then we will have made progress to ending violence and war forever. As long as we continue to tell others can't do something and we ourselves think it is ok to do it - then we all lose. And our MSM. We need to unplug it or take it back. The psychological perpetuation of needless consumerism needs to come to an end. by August Adams (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 585 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 at 8:48:28 PM (0+)
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Pack Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile
The media exist to amuse, distract and entertain us. The sex and gore content this week exceeded the usual quota. I am glad to hear from Americans who don't worry about perpetual war, ecological disasters, joblessness, soaring food and fuel prices, national economic collapse and homelessness. Barack Obama can't solve these problems, as the public is unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices. by Jason Paz (68 articles, 89 quicklinks, 112 diaries, 1394 comments [98 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 at 9:30:50 PM (0+)
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Response to "news has been approved"
Comment from Ratings: I loved this article. As a nonworking person that watches many new channels and read extensively on the internet I concur with you that there is such a ban on news these days. I would however go further as I believe that the news that is censored by our government is taking place by another "world government" that acts in private, making our news reports invalid for the time or censuring it until it is valuable to their cause. I even believe they "doctor" reports. The only news I truely rely on now days is "live feed" that hasn't had a chance to be doctored in anyway. If you can watch "live feed" it hasn't had a chance to be doctored and you can see how much difference there is. I haven't fund a really reliable news source with all live feed unless there is something catastrophic happening, or C-Span live. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks for the great article! Judy by Snoopy (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 42 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 at 10:47:10 PM (0+)
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How
Right On. I may not be the only one who doesn't care that Edwards has a sex life. But the best line of the week is when Bush was told Russia invaded Geogia he said, "did they get to Atlanta yet?" With all these online sites and High Def. TV's in bars, the MSM will be about out of business within 5 years; or they will change. I've got to figure out a jukebox that can play you-tube videos. There was a juke box in a Casino in Reno that did that in the 80's. All you need is a laptop and wired Club to do it for free right now. by Michael Dewey (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 245 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 at 6:55:38 AM (0+)
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Beyond Irresponsible
My favorite news coverage item was when GW told Bob Costas that America didn't have any problems....and as Jon Stewart said, that IS our biggest problem. I don't get it, someone help me please, how can we not be holding this criminal administration accountable? How can the media ignore the truth that is, indeed, stranger and has more shock value than fiction? by Judy Ramsey (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 93 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 at 7:34:42 AM (0+)
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Double standard as always:
"When you get into trouble five thousand miles from home you've got to have been looking for it." -- Will Rogers by Mike Folkerth (120 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 566 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 at 8:18:05 AM (0+)
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Tell Newspaper Subscribers to Cancel Their Subscriptions
Most major newspapers are losing 5-10 percent of their subscribers each year because of competition from the internet. These subscribers are what keeps them in business. Its their lifeblood. So threaten them. To gain your power over them, threaten to drive subscribers away. Readers can get most news for free on the internet. Stand in front of your newspaper with Big Signs saying "Cancel Your Subscription if you don't like this newspapers politics" and do a mass email campaign to everyone you know. You Will Get Their Attention. Attacking them directly will work. AND Use Your Power To Force Impeach Hearings Now or lose it forever "As John Dean points out, Bush/Cheney have broken the same laws Nixon did, only Nixon's actions did not cost the lives of over 4000 brave American men and women" (and over 30,000 GIs wounded, one Million Iraqis Killed). Bush and Cheney are the most impeachable US executives in American history. If the Incumbent House Democrats do not hold impeachment hearings soon it will be plain to all that they are Traitors to their Oath Of Office and to Our Constitution. The failure of the House Democrats to hold Bush and Cheney accountable for the WMD Lies is unforgiveable. The Democrats lied to us about Stopping The Iraq War in 2006 and then proceeded to fund it thru 2009. Even the Democratic Base will not support them in the November election. No matter what Bush/Cheney Crimes evidence comes out the Incumbent House Democrats will try to ignore it. It is time for some tough love for Incumbent House Democrats. How can we make Impeachment Hearings Happen? Arrayed against impeachment literally, is nearly the entire Democratic Party establishment as well as most Republican Congressmen. But the Democrats control Congress and can start Impeachment Hearings with a simple majority vote. They have the votes. We just have to make them do it. Most rank and file Democratic voters want Impeachment but are being ignored by the Democratic Congress. In addition, many of the so called progressive organizations are also in cahoots with the House Democrat and Pelosi (such as: MoveOn, ACLU & UFPJ ) and are against impeachment. It will take a very hard fight to over come this and some real courage on the part of Democratic voters. MoveOn could cause Impeachment Hearings all by itself but refuses. UFPJ once said it was for impeachment but refuses to take its 1,400 local activist groups to the street to support impeachment hearings. Is it lying? ACLU (don't get me going) was the primary leader in causing impeachment hearings for President Nixon, but today refuses to do so. If the hundreds of violations of Our Constitution by Bush and Cheney are so much worse than Nixon... Why in Hell isn't ACLU supporting it? What underhanded deal have they made with the Incumbent House Democrats and Pelosi? In Colorado we have actually been doing negative campaigning against all incumbent Democratic Congressmen who reject impeachment. We have a Congressman Udall who is running to be a Senator from Colorado. He supposedly has a liberal background but is moving right as fast as he can. He avoids all protesters who want to stop the Iraq War funding and who support impeachment. The difficult aspect is that the Colorado Democratic Party, the Denver Media, and most Colorado Progressive organizations are helping him avoid us, However, we have had contacts from strong Udall supporters and bloggers asking us to back off. We know we are having an effect on Udall's Campaign. The race for the US Senate from Colorado is statistically "too close to call", so we have a real chance to make a difference here. We believe that since the race is "so close" that we actually can stop Udall from winning and going to the Senate. The way we are doing this is by doing "Negative Protesting" at our weekly impeachment events, at all of Udalls public events. We only have to sway the vote of a very small percentage of voters to keep Udall out of the Senate. This is doable. Up until about two weeks ago, the honking at our weekly events had quadrupled since January. Then we used much "tougher" anti-Udall language on our signs and the honking doubled again. So much so that the Denver Police came and threatened arrest if we continued to use "honk to impeach" signs and also threatened us with citations for "disturbing the peace". A strong indication that we are getting to the Democratic establishment and that the public is with us. Given that impeachment advocates have worked hard to lobby Congress to hold hearings and have done so for many years with no results, we think it is time for all impeachment advocates to try a different tactic, to get tough with Incumbent House Democrats. The House Democrats have ignored us for years. Unless we threaten to un-elect them with negative campaigning they will continue to ignore us. The only thing they care about is getting re-elected. Unless Angry Liberal Democrats, Independents, Republicans, Greens and the rest of you get off the couch and carry signs in front of all Incumbent House Democratic Congressmen's offices with harsh language such as "UDALL is a Traitor to Our Constitution because he Refuses To impeach"... It is up to you. John H Kennedy, Denver CO, 43 yr Democratic voter, .. by John H Kennedy (12 articles, 7 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 281 comments [19 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 at 9:12:26 AM (0+)
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How 2
This is the best idea from a passed on John Hinde about raising our glasses. Its worth at least trying something different than war. by Michael Dewey (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 245 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Aug 14, 2008 at 1:45:21 PM (0+)
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