The Fourth Estate
The term was coined by Edmund Burke in 1787, who was an Irish statesman and member of the British Parliament. It refers to the press and news media’s ability to sponsor and frame political issues. Primarily, the Fourth Estate’s job is to observe the political process and ensure that the participants don’t exploit it. Sadly, that’s no longer the case, because media now exerts significant influence over what the reportage is or is not, on the body politic.
A recent Gallup survey found that 73% of Americans see too much bias in the reporting of the news. This is almost a complete reversal from the 1970s when about the same percentage of citizens felt confident that what they read and/or saw was fair and true. Americans now think the media is pushing an agenda. 8 in 10 Americans surveyed think that when they question an impropriety in a story, the possibility is that it was intentional.
This week some loon at CNN reported that the President went to the hospital last November because he suffered from a series of “mini-strokes”. CNN referenced New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt, whose forthcoming book claims that the Vice President was on standby, and author Don Winslow who claimed Trump had "mini-strokes" in August. The credulity of both is highly suspect as is their story sourcing.
This nonsense got picked-up and played by various media outlets creating a stock market decline, among other things. White House doctors, current and past, roundly denied the story, outraged at the blatant dishonesty. Is it any wonder that the press has lost its way?
Despite the latest survey findings, most think the media is vital for democracy. 84% of Americans believe the news media is critical and 49% opined that it is very important to provide accurate information and hold the powerful accountable. Although as the election season plays out, this may not be the case.
In an effort to insulate Speaker Pelosi from the “Salongate” mask scandal, CNN newsreader Chris Cuomo said the following, "Maybe she was listening to the President who said masks are weakness, who’s always encouraging people to take off masks, who held his big speech about how to control the pandemic in front of a crowd that was largely without masks. Maybe Pelosi’s falling under the influence.”
Cuomo was serious, you can’t make this up. This is prima facie evidence of a pattern of utter madness at that network. Trump has as much to do with Pelosi flouting the rules regarding beauty salons in California, as he does with crop failure in India.
All one has to do is listen to the questions fired at the President verses the ones that are fielded by his opponent Joe Biden, to see the palpable bias in the press. At times, their questions for Trump border on ludicrous while Biden’s are solicitous, considerate. Just watch and pay attention when you get a chance.
Reporters create “fake news” with impunity. A CBS correspondent reported that the Presidents called those attending peaceful protests “thugs and criminals”. That’s a lie. He actually said that the violent protesters are thugs and criminals. A slight nuance to distort and shape public perception. Disgraceful. ABC News White House reporter Jonathan Karl tried to spin the President’s statement on mail-in voting as advocacy for voting twice if you cast a provisional ballot at the polls, because you are concerned that your mail-in vote might not get counted. Fortunately, the White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany was able to explain to the very dense Mr. Karl what a provisional ballot was.
The absence of all the facts in the recent Kenosha Jacob Blake shooting is troublesome. What hasn’t the media still not reported on the reason the police were called in the first place? Why haven’t they revealed that his father, who Joe Biden met with, is a devotee of Louis Farrakhan, renowned racist and anti-Semite. Look it up.
But the most egregious example of media bias and “fake news” is the latest hit piece on the President found in the Atlantic magazine. In it, Jeffery Goldberg cites four anonymous sources that the President called off a visit to a military cemetery in France because it was full of “losers”. Fact is, the weather was bad and Marine One, the Presidential helicopter couldn’t fly. Even John Bolton, no friend of the President, in his recent book, has an account of the day which does not substantiate Goldberg’s dishonest account. Further, past and present administration officials who were there, are astonished that 60 days before an election, an outright lie like this is in the news cycle. Where’s the heroic source that will verify the story is true, that they heard it personally?
If you don’t think there’s a bias, the Gallup survey found that 71% of Republicans have a very unfavorable opinion of the news media, versus 22% of Democrats. One could conclude the Dems don’t have a huge problem and that there is tilt to one party in reportage. Independents were split 50/50 on the issue… not surprising as most Independents are fence sitters.
By not giving Americans honesty, the Fourth Estate will look like a run-down Estate, that no one will buy.
