Free Press?

Finally, other news networks saw the game that was being run on FNC. The White House had attempted to bar FNC from being a part of the press pool that has been comprised of the 5 major news networks. FOX, being the highest rated. These 5 major networks have been together in he pool for years, so when a senior official, Kenneth Fienberg, attempted to deny them entrance, it seems the spirit of journalistic brotherhood kicked in. It's great to see, the other networks be so politically uncorrect, it is no secret that they pretty much whole heartedly disagree with FOX. The other networks collectively agreed that "spanking" FOX is against everything "freedom of press" is about.

It seems that after the near threats over the past month from the Obama Administration even the "other" side is seeing some discouraging things. Senior Advisor David Axelrod told ABC news that; "Fox is not a real news organization and other networks "ought not treat them that way."

Honestly, I am amazed it took this long. It was pretty gutsy for this administration to be so bold as to nearly violate the Constitution by restricting access to one particular network because they disagree with them. President Barack Obama defended the actions of his adviser's citing that the FNC is possibly operating as a "talk radio format then that's one thing. And if it's operating as a news outlet, then that is another. But it's not something I am losing sleep over it." There are 23 shows on the FNC, and only 4 of them to my knowledge could be classified as a "talk radio" format. Journalism is very much alive at FOX.

The real issue is controlling the media, which I commented on in "Quotes from our Nations Leaders". Anita Dunn, the COMMUNICATIONS director made it very clear that they WANT to handle the news organizations. President Obama had this to say about opposition to his agenda.

"I want everybody to know we believe in a strong and loyal opposition. I believe in a two-party system where ideas are tested and assumptions are challenged -- because that’s how we can move this country forward. But what I reject is when some folks decide to sit on the sidelines and root for failure on health care or on energy or on our economy. What I reject is when some folks say we should go back to the past policies when it was those very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place."

Interesting that when they receive "strong" opposition, and their "assumptions" are challenged, they try to gag, and blindfold the source. So which is it, do you truly accept opposition and someone questioning your "assumptions". So what if it's a talk radio format, that has no bearing on truth. In the late 1700's it was pamphleteers who were considered radicals who opposed government, you know, men like the "blackguard" Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, etc. The times have changed, and now, with the age of the Internet, practically any American can display his voice and his two cents when dealing with current affairs. It's quite liberating. That is why the New York Times, and the Washington Post are going broke. That is why nightly news on ABC, CBS, and NBC has fallen flat over the last 10 years.

President Obama also said regarding FOX news, "the American people are a lot more interested in what we're doing to create jobs or how we're handling the situation in Afghanistan."

That is in fact a concern for most Americans, no doubt. Our soldiers at war, and 15 million people out of work are major concerns to Americans. However large those problems may be, they do not compare to the attacks against real Constitutional rights such as freedom of press. Would the American Revolution have been as successful as it was without the press and pamphleteers of the day? Nothing, in my estimation, is more important right now, under this administration then making sure our freedoms are secured for our children in future generations. The people are responsible for who is in office. Let us not forget that our taxes pay their checks, and they are public servants to the people. It is a sacred office, and Americans should not just allow things to occur do to naivety. How many scandals in the political offices have we seen just in the last 2 years alone? Both parties have their bad apples.

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never can be.”

Thomas Jefferson