Lap Dogs of the Press by Helen Thomas

[jbfam4]

Lap Dogs of the Press
by Helen Thomas
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0310-31.htm

Of all the unhappy trends I have witnessed--conservative swings on television networks, dwindling newspaper circulation, the jailing of reporters and "spin"--nothing is more troubling to me than the obsequious press during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. They lapped up everything the Pentagon and White House could dish out--no questions asked.

Reporters and editors like to think of themselves as watchdogs for the public good. But in recent years both individual reporters and their ever-growing corporate ownership have defaulted on that role. Ted Stannard, an academic and former UPI correspondent, put it this way: "When watchdogs, bird dogs, and bull dogs morph into lap dogs, lazy dogs, or yellow dogs, the nation is in trouble."

The naïve complicity of the press and the government was never more pronounced than in the prelude to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. The media became an echo chamber for White House pronouncements. One example: At President Bush's March 6, 2003, news conference, in which he made it eminently clear that the United States was going to war, one reporter pleased the "born again" Bush when she asked him if he prayed about going to war. And so it went.

After all, two of the nation's most prestigious newspapers, the New York Times and the Washington Post, had kept up a drumbeat for war with Iraq to bring down dictator Saddam Hussein. They accepted almost unquestioningly the bogus evidence of weapons of mass destruction, the dubious White House rationale that proved to be so costly on a human scale, not to mention a drain on the Treasury. The Post was much more hawkish than the Times--running many editorials pumping up the need to wage war against the Iraqi dictator--but both newspapers played into the hands of the Administration.

[opihimoimoi]

1. How Pathetiuc and Sad we witness these events in our lifetime...

In our Nation too boot....

The Guilty ones should be hiding their faces in SHAME

[ixion]

9. Pathetic and Sad, but not a first in our lifetime, for sure

The same compliant media has happily parroted the whole 'War on Drugs' BS, rather than pointing out that, gee, after twenty years, they only thing it's accomplished has been destroying the lives of millions of non-violent drugs users.


But even before that, it's gone on. Twas ever thus, IMO.

[Cyrano]

2. NY Times, WaPo and Colin Powell. Whores and enablers of Bush/Cheney/Rove.

If back in the year 2000, a poll had been taken of respected institutions and people, The NY Times, The Washington Post, and Colin Powell would have probably made it into the top ten. Yet all three have thrown away their integrity, their honesty, and, if there is such a thing, their souls.

The two newspapers had led the charge against the worst president of the 20th century, Richard Nixon, and been instrumental in putting an end to his criminal career.

And Colin Powell was the one person in the Bush administration who might have been able to stop the Iraq insanity before it began. The
Bush/Cheney/Rove smear machine is a well-oiled implement of destruction, but they would have had a hard time sliming Powell, one of the most respected men in public life.

Helen Thomas has done a good job of calling out the enablers of the criminals who have stolen our country. Too bad that the Times, the Post, and Powell are now high up on a roll of shame.

[rodeodance]

6. As for Powell, he simply lost his halo.---

As for Powell, he simply lost his halo. The newspapers played his back-pedaling inconspicuously on the back pages.

[rodeodance]

7. The Downing Street memo was a bombshell

.......The Downing Street memo was a bombshell when discussed by the bloggers, but the mainstream print media ignored it until it became too embarrassing to suppress any longer.

[rodeodance]

8. "Would you like to correct that incredible distortion of American history?

Helen: The other day, in fact this week, you said that we, the United States, are in Afghanistan and Iraq by invitation. Would you like to correct that incredible distortion of American history?

Scott: No. We are...that's where we are currently.

Helen: In view of your credibility, which is already mired...how can you say that?

Scott: Helen, I think everyone in this room knows that you're taking that comment out of context. There are two democratically elected governments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[sam sarrha]

3. Not jailed Reporters/Journelists, they were paid/employed propagandists..

they are legally responsible for their actions that were being investigated in the comission of a crime.

get over it..

[TomInTib]

4. What a great article. I hope everyone reads it in its entirety.

[rodeodance]

5. write her a thank yoo-here

Helen Thomas is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers. E-mail: [e-mail].

[Hekate]

10. She's a voice of truth and sanity, the grande dame of the press

I have felt ashamed for our WH press corps as they have sat by passively and let Helen Thomas be ignored and disrespected by the likes of Scott McClellan.

She asks good questions -- but it seems no one has her back, no one will pick up her line of questioning when Scotty slaps her back. It's a shameful display.

Helen Thomas is an old woman with the heart of a lioness. Who will there be to step into her shoes? Who among those cowards and lap dogs?

Hekate