RSS
Media Takes Easy Way Out
Inevitably in every political debate there is one telling moment
that gives the voters a real chance to compare candidates. And sure
enough it happened out in Iowa the other night as Mitt Romney and Newt
Gingrich debated the Palestinian issue in the Middle East.
Romney had it right when he opined that Mr. Gingrich's remarks
about the Palestinians being "an invented people" would inflame the
tinder box conditions in that explosive part of the world. Gingrich
defended the statement as just "telling the truth." Mr. Romney
asserted that he would not be a bomb thrower and would lower the
rhetoric rather than kick it up a notch.
Mr. Romney emerged from the exchange looking presidential. Mr.
Gingrich? Not so much.
So when it came time for the post-debate analysis, the boys and
girls over at ABC news could hardly wait to get their teeth into the
meaty issue. that was defining moment of the two hour exchange.
Not on your life!
They could hardly wait to dissect Mr. Romney's offer of a
$10,000 bet with opponent Rick Perry over something Romney wrote in his
book.
"The median income is some parts of Iowa is well below $10,000,"
huffed one so-called commentator. And then they all piled on beating
up Mr. Romney for making a wager that made him look like the
millionaire that he is and therefore, the story line goes, he's
obviously out of touch with you and me.
It was typical media clap-trap that did very little to
enlightened the electorate.
Let's see the $10,000 bet or the Israel vs. Palestine mess?
The former was easy to understand and all that Middle East
stuff? Everyone knows Americans could care less about foreign policy
and to say the least the Middle East story is so complex you need a PhD
to understand it.
Hence the "political experts" went for the simple and
meaningless angle because the audience would get that.
Which is exactly what's wrong with journalism today.
that gives the voters a real chance to compare candidates. And sure
enough it happened out in Iowa the other night as Mitt Romney and Newt
Gingrich debated the Palestinian issue in the Middle East.
Romney had it right when he opined that Mr. Gingrich's remarks
about the Palestinians being "an invented people" would inflame the
tinder box conditions in that explosive part of the world. Gingrich
defended the statement as just "telling the truth." Mr. Romney
asserted that he would not be a bomb thrower and would lower the
rhetoric rather than kick it up a notch.
Mr. Romney emerged from the exchange looking presidential. Mr.
Gingrich? Not so much.
So when it came time for the post-debate analysis, the boys and
girls over at ABC news could hardly wait to get their teeth into the
meaty issue. that was defining moment of the two hour exchange.
Not on your life!
They could hardly wait to dissect Mr. Romney's offer of a
$10,000 bet with opponent Rick Perry over something Romney wrote in his
book.
"The median income is some parts of Iowa is well below $10,000,"
huffed one so-called commentator. And then they all piled on beating
up Mr. Romney for making a wager that made him look like the
millionaire that he is and therefore, the story line goes, he's
obviously out of touch with you and me.
It was typical media clap-trap that did very little to
enlightened the electorate.
Let's see the $10,000 bet or the Israel vs. Palestine mess?
The former was easy to understand and all that Middle East
stuff? Everyone knows Americans could care less about foreign policy
and to say the least the Middle East story is so complex you need a PhD
to understand it.
Hence the "political experts" went for the simple and
meaningless angle because the audience would get that.
Which is exactly what's wrong with journalism today.
posted by Tim Skubick at
5:53 PM
3 Comments:
Foreign policy and isues would not be too hard to understand if the golden rule was applied. "Do unto others what you would want them to do to you" have been the rule for all humans to follow. I would add "and do no harm". Gingrich maybe as smart as he is needs a little more ancient history and that includes the Bible to learn that the Philistines are the ancestors of the Palestinians. They had the land of Canaan before God gave part of the land to the Jews. But God again took it away when the Jews sinned badly. The prophecy goes that God will bring them back on his own time and that time may not be yet. In the meantime they will have to share the land. Read Isaiah. For those who think this is religion, Read Pliny, Herodotus and Josephus.
You certainly got this one right and it could be said for most of the so called political analysis and reporting. Today, many journalists seem to think they are doing reality tv and are not too much concerned with informing and educating the public. Most don't deserve constitutional protection for what they do.
It's part the blame of journalism, but also part stupidity on part of the American voter.
The same people who are financially capable and responsible neighbors are the same ones who vote on single issue nonsense.
ABO -Anyone but Obama is an example. Meanwhile, ABR- Anyone but Romney is another that works against...Romney.
I think Romney will get the nomination regardless.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home