A little bit of truth-telling from inside Washington
Conor Friedersdorf, a young conservative writer of considerable talent, posts from Washington on The Atlantic’s blog and commits the serious sin of candid truth-telling:
…. There is this idea among movement conservatives—especially the rank-and-file—that Washington DC journalism is populated by a lot of disingenuous, careerist sellouts. These elites write to enrich themselves, to inflate their sense of self-importance, and to garner social capital, invariably measured by invitations to the dread “Georgetown cocktail party.” Thus they are unconcerned with truth, intellectual honesty, or the actual interests of anyone outside the New York to DC corridor.
This narrative is largely true! Anyone who pays close attention to DC journalism can easily spot intellectually dishonest hacks writing stuff they don’t actually believe, whether to advance their careers or to further a political agenda by the most cynical means imaginable. A blogger could write five posts a day fisking political journalism that is either astonishingly ignorant or disingenuous – and a Washington DC journalist doesn’t have to attend very many happy hours to hear people basically admit that they are hacks who don’t actually believe significant parts of their oeuvres.
What vexes me, having observed this game over the last couple years, is that the people accused of being inside-the-beltway sellouts are often the folks who write exactly what they believe; whereas the kinds of publications that rank-and-file conservatives revere for “never selling out” actually do so all the time….
Though I don’t plan to make my life in Washington DC, I wish the right-leaning critics of its journalistic culture would come visit before I leave, make themselves flies on the walls at various social gatherings, and observe who it really is that stays true to themselves in their writing — and who views their work as a political writer in the most cynical, careerist terms imaginable. They’d realize that they’ve got everything exactly right, and exactly backward, at the same time. It is merely another example of a need for the right to better identify its elites, and demand better ones.
I’d agree with all that, but with one important caveat. A lot of people on the left look at the Washington media establishment in much the same way, and they too are correct.
The days since 9/11 have taught me a lot about our country, about people in general and about my business, not all of it good. But the sycophantic and even cowardly behavior of media bigwigs in Washington during the run-up to the Iraq war and in the early years of the occupation appalled me. A lot of those people knew better and pretended otherwise in order to keep their place in the Washington pecking order, and their silence harmed this country.
Yes, it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
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229 comments Add your comment
Cherokee
July 23rd, 2009
7:11 am
I agree Jay, although I can’t say I blame them – they have families to take care of too. And given the constant shrill refrain about the liberal media from the right wing noise machine, it’s got to be hard to stand up and do the right thing.
It bothers me much more when the cowardly Democrats in Congress refuse to stand up to the Boortzs and Limbaughs of the world.
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
7:14 am
We have first hand experience of those right-wing hacks: I Report links us to them at least 15 times a day.
DB, Gwinnettian
July 23rd, 2009
7:16 am
A lot of people on the left look at the Washington media establishment in much the same way, and they too are correct.
The difference being, of course, that most folks on the right pretend as if these lefties don’t even exist, because it’d upset their “librul media bass” nonsense that plays so well on the screechy AM airwaves.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 23rd, 2009
7:17 am
What about the “the sycophantic and even cowardly behavior of media bigwigs” in Atlanta?
Let me guess, cutting and pasting DNC and White House talking point memos is an honorable and distinguished career?
It’s hard to take this bookman seriously, wait a minute, I mean it’s easy not to take this bookman seriously, listening to him scold people for doing what he makes a living on.
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
7:20 am
I Report,
You’re saying Jay doesn’t write about what he believes in? What he perceives as the truth? You’re saying he is writing against his beliefs?
Or are you just unable to comprehend his blog post this morning?
Normal
July 23rd, 2009
7:27 am
True news reporting died the day independent news papers and TV stations were bought by the likes of Murdoch, Clear Channel, and others.
News is censored, biased, and has become an entertainment outlet. We will never see the news of the Murrow, Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley days…
Mrs. Godzilla
July 23rd, 2009
7:32 am
We are witnessing this same thing in the battle for healthcare.
“REPORT: On health care reform, networks highlight perceived setbacks far more than progress
SUMMARY: In two studies, Media Matters documents that TV news networks have repeatedly given considerably more attention to perceived setbacks to progressive health care reform efforts than to events that signal progress for those efforts”
More Here:
http://mediamatters.org/research/200907220012
Turd Ferguson
July 23rd, 2009
7:35 am
This is nothing new…journalist, with the exception of one Jay Bookman, are basically nothing but liars and panderers. The “big” Atlanta newspaper is full of nothing more than opinion and therefore relegates itself to outhouse use.
Same thing with these local news anchors who thrust upon us their OH SO RELEVANT opinions and superstitions. Regarding news organizations, believe little of what you hear and only about half of what you see.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 23rd, 2009
7:35 am
A lot of those people knew better and pretended otherwise in order to keep their place in the Washington pecking order, and their silence harmed this country.
America will reap the benefits of this “harm” to the country for years to come, a democracy of free people in the midst of a region of fanatical enslavement, the effects of which have already inspired the people of Iran to rise up against the tyrannical yoke that they suffer under.
I, myself, would call these “silent” journalists Patriots, but then again, that is just me.
It was far more “honorable” to focus the camera on the latest car bombing, day in and day out for years on end, while you whined and moaned about a righteous mission to fight and defeat the throat cutting murderers of innocent women and children, yes, I believe even pukelitzers were awarded for such “bravery.”
“Hacks” indeed.
Turd Ferguson
July 23rd, 2009
7:36 am
Lettuce hope this Healthcare debacle dies asap as its no more than a smoke-screen for stupid government. And yes…the govt chowder heads are basically stupid crooks.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 23rd, 2009
7:36 am
Did that help you any, Finn?
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
7:39 am
Maybe the journalism field pays too well? Maybe you have to weed out the pretenders by paying everyone minimum wage for a while?
Trust me
July 23rd, 2009
7:41 am
I have been tempted numerous times to just cancel Dish Network. They pre-package the options of ’stations’ that they want me to purchase instead of giving me the choice. I had a package that did not include FOX news because I refused to pay for any package that contained it. I bought the lesser package just to avoid it. Now, they have suddenly added FOX news to the new package. If they try to raise my package cost, I’ll drop them like a rock and just use the Internet to pick and choose what I want to watch on TV.
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
7:43 am
Yes, thanks I Report.
I wish you would join the armed forces so you can fight them over there so you aren’t tempted to blow stuff up over here.
DB, Gwinnettian
July 23rd, 2009
7:46 am
focus the camera on the latest car bombing, day in and day out for years on end, while you whined and moaned about a righteous mission to fight and defeat the throat cutting murderers of innocent women and children
Our resident military historian strikes again.
Peadawg
July 23rd, 2009
7:47 am
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-guardsman-dies-in-98401.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
“Georgia guardsman dies in Afghanistan”
We must prosecute Obama for this un-just war and murder!
DB, Gwinnettian
July 23rd, 2009
7:49 am
TV news networks have repeatedly given considerably more attention to perceived setbacks to progressive health care reform efforts than to events that signal progress for those efforts
I don’t think anybody anticipated that commercial, for-profit news organizations might focus on efforts to derail legislation that might dry up sources of future advertising revenue rather than what that legislation would mean to actual voting citizens.
Tweety was particularly awful last night, from what I could stomach of him (about one minute.)
Curious Observer
July 23rd, 2009
7:51 am
Journalists who don’t believe what they write–I’m shocked, shocked, I tell you. Next you’ll be telling me there are bloggers here who don’t believe what they write.
Well, I deny the latter. Let’s face it, you’re constitutionally incapable of deception if you’re stupid enough to believe that a man can rise all the way to the office of President of the United States while evading investigations of the FBI and a dozen other acronyms into his supposedly disqualifying and dubious citizenship.
Next you’ll be telling me that Jim Wooten is a raging liberal.
RB from Gwinnett
July 23rd, 2009
7:52 am
Jay, you’ve got to be kidding you hang the lead up to the Iraq war on them and don’t hang the lead up to the last election on them as well. It almost appeared most of them were being paid by the Obama campaign itself.
Got bias?
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
7:54 am
So the writer says both sides have journalists who are guilty – and comments default to who’s the most guilty…
sigh…….
Doggone/GA
July 23rd, 2009
7:56 am
“and comments default to who’s the most guilty…”
And we all know how to determine who’s most guilty, don’t we? You only count the articles and comments that are FOR whoever you are AGAINST, and ignore the rest and VOILA! BIAS!
Trust me
July 23rd, 2009
7:57 am
First, Wooten is a raging liberal. Anyone that talks about the government spending 23 trillion dollars on the bailout can’t be anything else, short of crazy or extremely biased to the point of craziness or something similar.
Second, all hail Jon Stewart. He is the most trusted newsman, and rightfully so.
Mrs. Godzilla
July 23rd, 2009
7:57 am
RB From Gwinnett
Would you do me the honor of meeting me at the end of the previous thread for a chat?
Joey
July 23rd, 2009
7:57 am
“Conor Friedersdorf, a young conservative writer of considerable talent.”
We know he is conservative because???? Jay says so.
We know he has considerable talent because???? Well, he is an easy read and mostly holds my attention. (Be sure when you read his stuff to go include some of his Huffington posts.)
I am not convinced that he is a Conservative. Probably a Moderate, but a Democrat Moderate or a Republican Moderate???????
Kayaker 71
July 23rd, 2009
7:59 am
It is difficult to define many in the present day newspaper business as journalists. Rather is a good example of someone who was trying to find anything to discredit someone he didn’t like in the White House, so he reported on badly biased data that wasn’t true. Same with the NYT article on McCain having an affair with a staffer. When it serves your needs, biased journalists will say about anything…. example being that MSNBC idiot Keith Olbermann. The liberal side has the same opinion of Beck and O’Reilly. What’s the difference?
RW-(the original)
July 23rd, 2009
8:03 am
A hack on hacks column?
Sometimes one has to just shake their head and travel to the forest.
Later!
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
8:04 am
off topic
last night I wrote “Uh-oh. He just answered the Prof Gates/Harvard arrest as if all the facts were in. Prof Gates said he showed the cop his ID, cop said he refused and became belligerent. Pres Obama answered as if the Gates story was the only version.
That’ll get some play….”
And so it has. The police officer says nothing to apologize for – Prof Gates refused to identify himself when he responded to the break-in call. Turns out this ‘rogue, racist’ cop gave “a dying Reggie Lewis mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a desperate bid to save the Celtics superstar’s life…”
Pres Obama cautioned, at the beginning of his answer, that Prof Gates was a friend and that the officer acted stupidly.
Seems Pres Obama needs to view some of his friends with the same level of skepticism with which we need to view journalists.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1186567&format=&page=2&listingType=Loc#articleFull
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
8:07 am
Kayaker 71
Some here pointed out Olbermann’s attacks on the Bush Administration for fabricating fear and ridiculing the arrest of the terrorists planning the attack on Ft Dix.
I don’t recall a retraction when they were convicted.
Now, under the Obama Administration, there’ve been investigations, and, I believe, arrests (?) in the recruitment of US Somalis in the jihadist cause.
Olberman’s rants about a fascist, jackbooted Obama promoting fear? Yeah, right….
jt
July 23rd, 2009
8:18 am
Has Hillery found Obama’s birth certificate yet?
Redneck Convert
July 23rd, 2009
8:19 am
Well, I beleive lots of reporters don’t beleive what they write. They can’tbeleive in alot of that stuff. You can’t set there and tell me any sane reporter beleives that a woman has a right to decide if the baby she’s carrying gets born. Or that it’s OK to have laws that won’t let me refuse to rent to one of Those People. Or it’s OK to let everybody have health care like it’s some kind of right.
And that’s why I beleive libruls know in their heart what they say ain’t true. They just want to rile us up to see how we’ll act. So every librul reporter is a big fake. In their heart they know we’re right. I bet you a dollar to a donut Bookman is about the biggest Conservative you’ll find in these parts. It’s just that he knows the AJC won’t hire alot of Conservatives so he puts on a big act and writes like a librul.
That’s my opinion and it’s very true. Have a good day everybody.
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
8:25 am
Jamie Lee Curtis admits painkiller addiction.
Uh-oh, if her husband Arnold Swarzenneger finds out……
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
8:27 am
hehehe:
Sara Palin is really Sacha Baron Cohen!
http://www.salon.com/comics/boll/2009/07/23/boll/
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
8:29 am
Finn
That was True Lies. But they made a nice couple -
DB, Gwinnettian
July 23rd, 2009
8:29 am
this ‘rogue, racist’ cop
Paul, if you’re going to put words like that in quotes, you’d better have an actual person of prominence actually calling him that. Do you?
Huckabee The Next POTUS
July 23rd, 2009
8:33 am
Wow, obambam is now addressing police matters from small towns. Must be nice to have so much time on his hands that he can put aside the ruining ( oops, I mean running ) of America to weigh in on a criminal matter that has nothing to do with him. Oh yeah, I forgot, it involves a brother being unfairly asked for ID. It must be a racial thing. Guess his Muslim buddy Louie Farrykhan taught him good. Then the idiot follows it up with, If he went back to Chicago and tried to break into his house, he’d get shot. ( His words, not mine ) All I can say obambam is Prove It……………………..Please.
Disgusted
July 23rd, 2009
8:34 am
Prof Gates said he showed the cop his ID, cop said he refused and became belligerent. Pres Obama answered as if the Gates story was the only version.
Ah, yes, the conservative mantra–the cop is always right. Hire a redneck, give him a gun, a badge, and the first authority he’s ever had in his life, and what do you get? A redneck who’s going to show this “uppity black” that you don’t mess around with the police. We choose the least-educated, least-cultured people available–people hoping to rise up all the way to $35,000 per year after a long career–and invest them with power over the citizenry. The same people are assumed to have superior human relations skills, but they usually can’t even write well enough to compose a literate job application letter.
The same thing happens when we hire the least-educated college graduates to teach our children. The better-educated graduates wouldn’t touch the job, and yet we act shocked and dismayed when the pupils of our “teachers” fail to achieve very much.
A single pronouncement goes for the under-achieving cops and teachers as well as their defenders: you can fix ignorance, but you can’t cure stupid.
DB, Gwinnettian
July 23rd, 2009
8:35 am
Wow, obambam is now addressing police matters from small towns. Must be nice to have so much time on his hands that he can put aside the ruining ( oops, I mean running ) of America to weigh in on a criminal matter
He was answering a question during a press conference. If you have a beef, it’s with the reporter who felt compelled to make this an issue of national importance.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 23rd, 2009
8:36 am
“No, I don’t think they have the votes,” Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., said, arguing if that were the case he and the other six Blue Dogs on the House Energy and Commerce Committee who have been holding up the bill in committee would be under far less pressure.
“We’re speaking for a silent majority within the Democratic caucus,” he said. “The American people want us to slow down and they want us to get it right.”
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chair of the Senate Finance Committee, was overheard jokingly telling House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, “let me tell you, praying might be helpful here.”
I am praying.
For you, America.
Peadawg
July 23rd, 2009
8:37 am
“The same thing happens when we hire the least-educated college graduates to teach our children.”
Clayton county anyone???
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 23rd, 2009
8:38 am
The US Government has spent more than $79 billion of taxpayers’ money since 1989 on policies related to climate change, including science and technology research, administration, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~propaganda campaigns~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~, foreign aid, and tax breaks. Most of this spending was unnecessary.-TransWorld News
Most government spending is uncessary, just sayin…..
Kayaker 71
July 23rd, 2009
8:40 am
Paul,
It is common for some to foment anger and indignation about an incident with which they are not fully informed. Bozo has now entered the fray with the Gates fiasco. He doesn’t belong there. Sharpton made an ass out of himself by ranting on and on about the Bramley incident and about the Duke lacrosse team and when each was deemed a non issue, he apologized for nothing. Bozo states that “profiling” is a common practice among police officers. When you go duck hunting, you go where the ducks are. Black males represent 6% of the total population of this country and represent 49% of the male prison population. I would guess that Prof Gates, in his ivory tower, tenured academic status filled professorship has not spent much time in the hood. News flash, Bozo and Gates…. these folk are making you look bad, or don’t you understand this?
Normal
July 23rd, 2009
8:44 am
I am not convinced that he is a Conservative. Probably a Moderate, but a Democrat Moderate or a Republican Moderate???????
————-
Heck, JOEY, If he’s a moderate, he can’t be Republican….
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
8:44 am
DB, Gwinnettian
It was from the Boston Herald article.
‘Crowley, 42, said he’s not a racist, despite how some have cast his actions in the Gates case. “Those who know me know I’m not,” he said.’
I think Prof Gates is a pretty prominent person.
“Gates, who upon his arrest allegedly bellowed to a gathering crowd on Ware Street, “This is what happens to black men in America!” believes he was targeted by Crowley – whom he called a “rogue” cop – because of his race.”
Disgusted
[[Ah, yes, the conservative mantra–the cop is always right. ]]
Quite a leap at conclusions, eh? If you’ve been here any length of time you know I have a healthy skepticism of defaulting to the police version – based upon my own experience, plus the experiences of a family member (deputy DA) and an acquaintenance (criminal defense attorney).
Can I restate your lead sentence as “ah, yes, the liberal mantra – hear of a police matter where there are conflicting reports and the liberal mantra comes – if it involves race, assume anything not siding with the minority is because of conservative bias.”
The point was presidents generally refrain from giving opinions on pending legal matters, //especially// because they have ultimate pardon authority.
Experience….
Turd Ferguson
July 23rd, 2009
8:45 am
Katie Couric is the worst. What a miserable little troll.
On another note…If that cop had not arrested this oh so intelligent black professor then the professor wouldve railed against for not caring that a possible crook had entered his house.
Kinda reminds me of Cynthia McKinney when she slapped the cop. “Dont you know WHO I AM”.
No apology is needed from the officer.
No apology is needed from this black “professor” to the cop.
Obama should shut up and do his job.
Finn McCool
July 23rd, 2009
8:46 am
Jay, if you sit next to Kyle could you smack him upside the head for being an idiot?
I’ll owe you one.
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
8:50 am
Disgusted 8:34
[[We choose the least-educated, least-cultured people available–people hoping to rise up all the way to $35,000 per year after a long career–and invest them with power over the citizenry.]]
Around here, local cops start out at over $40k –
BTW – does the ‘least cultured, least educated’ refer to Hispanics? Asians? African Americans? Or only whites? If whites only, are you alleging there’s a conscious effort to seek out and hire white candidates who meet those criteria?
Hey, this falls in line with the topic – left or right, liberal or conservative… bias exists!
Paul
July 23rd, 2009
8:51 am
Turd
Katie’s cute. IMHO. Of course, I turn the volume way down…
Kayaker 71
July 23rd, 2009
8:58 am
Disgusted,
These “uneducated, white rednecks” and the only thing between you and anarchy out there. At least 40% of the police officers nationwide are black. So much for rednecks. You ought to be glad that we have a military and a police force that is sacrificing a lot to protect your sorry a**.
N-GA
July 23rd, 2009
9:00 am
I am certain that I’ve never read anything on this blog more amusing (and hypocritical) than: “Let me guess, cutting and pasting DNC and White House talking point memos is an honorable and distinguished career?”
Of course that quote is from the queen of cutting and pasting……..
@@
July 23rd, 2009
9:01 am
I would agree, jay….the liberal media is slow. Not to worry, Obama relies on THE BLOGS? He said so in his speech last night.
A boost to your ego, no doubt.