EXCLUSIVE
The Constitution. If you do not cherish the greatest document ever written, you cannot claim to be an American. The Bill of Rights promises every American that he or she will be treated equally under the law and every right guaranteed in the Constitution applies to every man, woman, and child in the nation. Also included in the first 10 amendments are protections for the country which guard against corruption, religious persecution, and the establishment of an authoritarian government.
Our founding fathers considered the first amendment the most important section of the Constitution. Let me refresh your memory.
“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Among the protections included is the ‘freedom of the press.’ The press has one major responsibility; to protect the American people from government corruption. It was the press which exposed “Tammany Hall.” It was the press which exposed the collusion between banks and big business which caused the Great Depression in 1929. It was the press which exposed the maniacal vicious attacks by Joe McCarthy in the 1950’s. It was the press which unveiled the burglary at the Watergate Hotel which brought down Richard Nixon in the 1970’s. It was the press, primarily Walter Cronkite’s honest reporting in the late 1960’s, which forced Lyndon Johnson to remove his name from contention for reelection in 1968. It was the press which uncovered the Iran/Contra conspiracy in the 1980’s. It was the press which discovered the lies of the Bush 43 administration about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in 2003. So, where was the press in 2015?
First, a little history about America’s fourth estate. Journalists of the past frequently displayed enormous courage and self-sacrifice. They were paid pennies compared to today’s fake journalists, and their efforts were seldom appreciated.
Television news was forced upon the media executives at ABC, NBC, and CBS. Advertisers refused to spend their money on time slots no one would watch. Congress eventually required all broadcast networks to spend one-half hour each evening reporting the events of the day. Within a few years it expanded to one-hour as viewership increased. To be honest, we were better informed then than we are now. 24-hour news “services” have failed the American people. There is less “news” today and far too many “puff” pieces and opinions by phony newspersons.
By the 1980’s television news became the highest rated shows on television. With increased advertising, because of increased ratings, television “newspersons” were compensated financially in a way no past legitimate journalist would ever have imagined. Today, far too many men and women rely on “personalities” rather than journalists to inform them about what happens in our nation every day.
The average primetime television personality is paid approximately ten-million dollars each year. Their job is not to offer facts or the truth, it is to ensure that advertisers continue to pay for sponsoring these entertainment segments. They have become “financial whores.”
In 2015 television “news” gave candidate Donald Trump a free pass while holding Hillary Clinton to a standard which was virtually impossible.
By his own words Trump admitted that he was a racist. He claimed that he began his business empire with a “one-million-dollar loan from his father.” America learned that he was given more than 421 million dollars. By 1995 he lost nearly all of it and desperately needed a bailout from the Saudi Royal Family. In addition, we learned that most of his business enterprises went bankrupt and some ended because of legal action. In 2016 a recording was revealed by “Access Hollywood” in which Trump admitted to being a sexual predator. At least 20 women accused the presidential wannabee of sexual assault. In each situation the television media virtually ignored facts which should have prevented any man or woman from becoming our president.
Sensationalism increases ratings. Rating increases result in increased revenue. Today’s television news personalities report sensationalism and ignore boring facts.
When the television media learned that Russia had interfered in our 2016 election, they downplayed the fact. Not once did they report the truth. Putin’s actions had a devastating effect on the results of the elections.
Social media is more effective than broadcast television. Russian agents infiltrated Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others with the intent of attacking Hillary Clinton, therefore giving Trump an advantage.
The single statistic which proves Russia was successful in ‘rigging’ our election is the fact that voter turnout was far less than expected. Trump was gifted the Electoral College by wins in three states; Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. A total of 77,744 votes in the three combined states allowed the most unqualified candidate in history to become the 45th illegitimate President of the United States.
Television media must accept much of the responsibility for the Trump presidency. Throughout the 2016 campaign the media gave Trump five-times more coverage than all other candidates combined. Think about it.
Do you remember when I talked about “sensationalism?” Trump was manipulative as he encouraged anger, hatred, and violence while telling lies at his rallies to his ignorant supporters and television media loved it.
Most cyber security experts believe that Russia will once again attempt to control the results or our 2020 election, and it appears that television media is eager to see the results.
The “fourth estate” no longer exists; at least on television.
FYI; I have not watched television news since November 9th, 2016. My IQ has increased by 10 points.
Tell your friends about my blog; “The Truth Lives Here.”
Op-ed by James Turnage
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