Why Republicans desperately want the media to be their cheerleaders
Explain is a weekly series that examines what the right is currently obsessed, how it influences politics – and why you should know.
Following the decision to bomb Iranian nuclear targets without first requesting the approval of the Congress, the Trump administration renewed its current war against the media to report factual information.
Republicans want cheerleading, not journalism
President Donald TrumpSecretary of defense Pete HegsethThe White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other Republicans challenged reports that revealed that the Pentagon did not think that Iran’s nuclear capacity had been decimated. In fact, the Trump administration argued that journalists should celebrate Trump’s actions.
“And if we take a beat, first recognize the success of our warriors, Tendes them, tell their stories, celebrate that, wave an American flag, be proud of what we have accomplished,” said Hegseth insisted During a pentagon briefing.
Hegseth Even complains About the reports of one of his former Fox News colleagues, the Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin, for asking a slight question intended to verify the statements of the Trump administration on the strike.
The Republicans, in particular Trump and his orbit, spent more than a decade whining on media coverage – which has largely been complimentary From him and promoted his (false) favorite stories – but this week’s behavior explicitly argued that the press should “encourage” Trump, as Hegseth said.
Trump Ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia made a similar request from the press.
John McCormack, editor -in -chief of the Conservative Outlet The Dispatch, asked Greene a series of follow -up questions after her slight criticism of Trump’s bombings. Greene allegedWithout evidence, that McCormack sought to “twist” her words and said that she would say to the Capitole police “You harass me”.
In 2000, when he presented himself for the first time to the presidency, President George W. Bush was taken on a living microphone Referring to the journalist for the New York Times, Adam Clymer, as a “major league asshole”. And vice-president Dick Cheney accepted, replied: “Big Time”.
Decades before that, vice-president Spiro Agnew went after the media At a press conference in 1969. He smoked that the media responded to the “silent majority” speech by President Richard Nixon on the Vietnam War with the “criticism of the question”, and he argued that the press was not efficient in his praise of Nixon.
Nixon and Agney would later resign separately from their positions because of the scandal.
The law works media references
The right spent decades to beat the media, Trump calling them on several occasions “enemy of the people”. The entire conservative movement has devoted itself to the lie that the “liberal media” are an arm of the Democratic Party designed to eliminate the right.
Organizations like the Media Research Center were funded With millions of dollars to hammer this false story, with reports and other media outings that have allegedly showing media biases.
Trump complains of “false news” when unflattering facts are reported about him, but he does not think of feeling as easily as he breathes. It took the form of racist plots on President Barack Obama, the argument This climate change is a “hoax” and insistence This Covid-19 will simply base at the beginning of 2020.
The “liberal media” is a gop fantasy
The point of discussion of “liberal media” is easily demystified.
Consumer media are much more likely To broadcast and print false right -wing claims without indicating the lies to the public. He also likes to regurgitate the stories intended to harm the Democrats, like Hillary Clinton e-mails,, Joe Biden ageor Bush administration Serial lies On the weapons of mass destruction of Iraq.
Meanwhile, the supposed bastions of “liberal media” as the New York Times have openly described A “Trump age”, regurgity Easily unleashes Trump Spin, and Lied to their readers By depicting the political agents of the GOP and their opinions as ordinary ordinary Americans.
The world deserves Ruth – not the capitulation
Trump’s actions have serious consequences. He has a presidential election history Actions that led to thousands of unnecessary deaths during the coronavirus pandemic and its rhetoric inspired terrorism, racism and crime.
People need to know the truth about someone like Trump and the sycophants about their orbit. There are early signs that points of sale like the New York Times and CNN are a little push Against Trump’s cheerleading requests, but their history on this type of resistance are uneven.
Honest journalism is vital and necessary – the chief of the cheeer is absolutely not.
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