SHAME ON THE MEDIA

WAKE UP, AMERICAN MEDIA

Trump and I have something in common.
We are disappointed in the media, but for completely different, 180 degree diametrically opposed reasons.

Trump’s presidency should be over and the media could have ended it.

Can you imagine, if – at his very first press conference, when he singled out a CNN reporter and refused to answer a question from that reporter and then went on to call CNN names and to vilify CNN – can you imagine if one reporter has stood up immediately after and addressed the issue?

“Mr. Trump, do you mean what you just said?  Do you stand by your decision and are you not going to call on this particular reporter and are you standing by the disparaging comments you’ve just made about a huge and reputable news organization?  Do you have any credible source for what you’re saying or justifiable reason for your actions just now?”

Trump would have melted down.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  He would have melted down and the entire nation would have seen what kind of sociopath and authoritarian fascist nutjob we’ve inaugurated as president.  He would have melted down in an outburst that would have ended his presidency.  He would never have brooked the possibility of two reporters in the White House pool not being lockstep with his every whim.  His actions at that moment would have assuredly capped his undeserved and dangerous presidential career.

But no…

There was no media solidarity, there was no media integrity, there was no media scrutiny or strength and that poor reporter was left hanging in the breeze and Trump’s CNN insults were left unchallenged at that moment because the media is cowed and fearful rather than strong and principled.

And a moment of bizarre, authoritarian, pathology passed.  And a despot gained one more foothold in orchestrating the decimation of America.