Back in the day when I was just learning the ropes, I remember hearing a lot about how the media was biased. While I accepted the premise, one of the things that gave me a real, concrete example was when I started listening to Rush Limbaugh regularly. Seemingly at a regular pace, some "controversy" would erupt about something he supposedly said. Being a regular listener, I remember being baffled at how far the media reports were from what was actually said and meant; how far they would go to take things out of context and mislead. Over time, I began to understand that there was in fact an agenda here - that it was no accident that the media got Rush so wrong. They in fact had absolutely no interest in representing the facts honestly, and in fact had an ongoing to desire to destroy Rush using whatever means necessary.
The most memorable example of this came a few years back with the "phony soldiers" row. As anyone who ever actually listened to him knows, there is no stronger supporter of the military than Rush. In terms of the actual content of what was said, any creature with a few brain cells understood what Rush was talking about - an ACTUAL phony soldier, not soldiers in general, or soldiers who were against the war. That was a complete fabrication. When Harry Reid and other Democrats raised a stink about it, it was terrible but understandable given their partisan nature. But what was unforgivable was the media parroting the Democrat line and deliberately perpetrating a willful misinterpretation of Rush's words. Whether it was because of malice or ignorance, the media was playing along with the vicious, fictional narrative that Rush was somehow calling all soldiers who opposed the war "phony."
Now this behavior has been taken to a whole new level. In an attempt to prevent Rush from being part of a consortium trying to buy the Rams, numerous media sources have printed literally false quotes - as in, quotes actually made up by someone. These quotes are certifiably false to anyone who takes even a minute to source them. Those that have found out they are invented. And yet supposedly reputable sources like CNN and MSNBC have printed them, and refuse to apologize or retract. Thankfully, Rush is not taking this sitting down and is considering libel charges, which for the sake of all of us will hopefully go forward. Now that he has experienced real damages in losing his chance to be part of the consortium, he has a very strong case to make against journalists who knowingly printed lies about him.
I think it says so much about our society, and especially the media, that this has happened yet again. Firstly, it proves once and for all that the so-called "mainstream media" are not reputable, honest, or even competent in doing basic research. Secondly, it shows the lengths some will go to to defame and destroy a political opponent. Think about the actual situation for a minute - they are risking libel charges and embarrassing themselves in order to prevent a talk show host from being a small part of a group trying to buy an NFL team in the Midwest with an 0-5 record. Their hatred and agenda is so strong that they will throw away every ounce of journalistic integrity to try and destroy him. They cannot stand him so nothing else matters.
I think this is a scary thought for those who do not have the audience and money of Rush. People like Hannah Giles, the girl who helped take down ACORN, have been targeted and sued. Here was just a normal 20-year-old girl trying to do a little investigative journalism, the kind that used to be practiced, and she is smeared and attacked. Thankfully, she has numerous people coming to her aid, but what about those who don't? We have established in this country a powerful alliance of politicians and media that will team up and use their influence to destroy opposing views. The highest amongst these is Obama himself, the community organizer raised to follow Saul Alinsky's methods of target and destroy. If we don't stand up and fight this rising culture of thuggery and intolerance now, when it is being directed at powerful people like Rush who can defend themselves, just wait until they take down the big guys and start coming after the regular folk.
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