..out of the dark

..from beltway journalists.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/01/16/king/index.html

Subject: excuse me?

I don't read biased uninformed drivel so I'm a little late to the game.

But a friend who understands how my business works and knows a little something about my 20 plus years in it sent me the link to your ramblings.

Why is CNN's John King so angry? The other day, he displayed what is - in the press- corps following the campaigns - completely normal affection for the candidates they have collectively decided they like. And, while this would be a sorry excuse, it would be possible to suggest that this kneefalling reverence for for instance John McCain, really is a way to get the candidates to spill the beans on important issues.

Not so, for mr. King (or anyone else in the press- corps so far). Instead he does an "interview" where all that affection is made the central piece of the interview, without a single useful piece of information eventually turning up in the broadcast version.

So what does King have to say in his defence?

Did you think to ask me or anyone who works with me whether that was the entire interview? No. (It was not; just a portion used by one of the many CNN programs.)

Did you reach out to ask the purpose of that specific interview? No.
(...)
The interview was mainly to get a couple of questions to him on his thoughts on the role of government when the economy is teetering on the edge of recession, in conjunction with similar questions being put to several of the other candidates.

The portion you cited was aired by one of our programs (...)

Aha. So King really wanted to lure some info out of McCain by appearing to worship him, but unfortunately one of the programs CNN aired (they have different programs during the day, since they update things as the broadcast moves through the timezones, and I assume that's what he refers to.. I wonder, does that make people in California more or less uninformed in the end..? Nevermind..) only showed the worship, and edited out the tough, hard questions King really (cross finger) swears he asked, and wanted to show on the air! Not only that - this is part of a Plan. Oh yes. This is part of a plan to get some real goods on McCain, specially when it comes to his views on what behaviour for the Leader in Government would be appropriate, when the country it teetering on economic recession.

Really, what the fuck is this? King threatens Greenwald indirectly with going to the courts to defend his honour as a /real/ journalist - and he blames his editor for making him appear like a puppy, eagerly licking John McCain's hand. And then goes on to tell ridiculous faery- tales about how they really have an editorialising responsibility in all this - that just didn't materialise yet, and is also for the moment out of his power to deal with.

Crazy, crazy shit.

But don't think I'm not sympathetic - I feel my mind slipping into a void every time I try to watch CNN for any length of time, so I can only imagine what it must be like to work there. "More noise before you say anything to the camera! No! Again, and with more feigned indignation this time! What is this - YOU DO NOT STOP TO THINK IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUESTION! BAM, BAM!".

*shudder*