George C. Deutsch — you know, the Bush appointee to NASA who muzzled global warming experts and ordered NASA writers to put the word “theory” after every use of the words “Big Bang” — has been exposed as a liar and a fraud. Though his resume claims he possesses a journalism degree from Texas A&M, the school confirmed yesterday that Mr. Deutsch never graduated.
A blogger broke the story.
Over the last several years an important trend is emerging: citizen reporters are becoming better at digging up facts than the fawning, corporate-owned American press. Reporters, it seems, are no longer interested in investigation; they merely recite claims made by others. Producers, it seems, are no longer out looking for important stories; they merely browse sites like MetaFilter for inspiration. (If it’s on MetaFilter today, it’ll be on 20/20 and Good Morning America in two weeks.)
It may be that the American press is no longer peopled by anything but pretty corporate puppets. In the event that there are still a few folks out there with a shred of journalistic integrity to their names, MadeByMark.com presents five things the press should do in order to command respect again:
1. Do background checks of public officials.
What happens now: The President appoints a green kid to an important NASA post, and the press says, “Great! Mr. Deutsch, do you prefer boxers or briefs?”
What should happen: The President appoints a green kid to an important NASA post, and the press says, “Wait. You look awfully young. What are your credentials, exactly? Where did you say you graduated? Can we have a copy of that resume? Wait … you graduated when? From where? With a degree in journalism? So what qualifies you to hold a post in a scientific organization? Something seems fishy here …”
2. Refuse to be used to transmit propaganda.
What happens now: The President’s people announce that all questions at tonight’s televised press conference must be submitted ahead of time, pre-screened, and approved. The press says, “What time should we arrive?”
What should happen: The President’s people announce that all questions at tonight’s televised press conference must be submitted ahead of time, pre-screened, and approved. The story should be: “Why Does the President Fear the Press?” The press should refuse to attend or cover the event.
What happens now: The President refuses to speak in front of audiences unless they’ve been screened to contain nothing but ardent supporters, and his staff forcibly removes potential dissenters. The press obediently accepts this as “business as usual.”
What should happen: The President refuses to speak in front of audiences unless they’ve been screened to contain nothing but ardent supporters, and his staff forcibly removes potential dissenters. The press should scream, “What about freedom of speech? What is the President afraid of? Why is the President who positions himself as the leader who strikes fear in the hearts of our enemies afraid to face crowds that haven’t been hand-picked by his staff?” When the policy doesn’t change, the press should refuse to cover or attend these events.
3. Ask for specifics.
What happens now: The President says, “We’re going to stay the course in Iraq.” The press says, “Our President says we’re staying the course!”
What should happen: The President says, “We’re going to stay the course in Iraq.” The press says, “Is there ever a point at which the combined loss of life and expense of this operation make withdrawal a better option for the U.S. than ‘staying the course?’ If so, what is that point, exactly? If not, what conditions, exactly, must be met in order for our tour in Iraq to be over? Until you specify those conditions, how can we possibly measure progress toward that goal?”
What happens now: The President says, “We’re going to wean ourselves from dependence on foreign oil.” The press says, “We’re going to wean ourselves from foreign oil!”
What should happen: The President says, “We’re going to wean ourselves from dependence on foreign oil.” The press says, “How, exactly? What’s the plan? How long will it take? By what point will we be, say, fifty percent weaned? What alternative energy supplies will be replacing foreign oil? Your own staff retreated from this statement the very next day, sir. That being the case, how can we place faith in any of your other statements?”
4. Stop being afraid of where the facts lead.
What happens now: After notoriously reliable exit polls predict a Kerry win, Bush wins the 2004 election by a margin that defies logical explanation. The press says, “Bush wins!”
What should happen: After notoriously reliable exit polls predict a Kerry win, Bush wins the 2004 election by a margin that defies logical explanation. The press says, “Hmmm. Why are the polls accurate in districts with hand-counted votes and inaccurate only in districts with voting machines? Why is a voting method that creates no paper trail to audit being foisted on the American people? What ties does your administration have to the companies that create these machines?”
What happens now: A high-profile “reporter” with security-approved credentials turns out to be a high-priced gay male hooker with a series of overnight stays at the White House on the books. The press does nothing.
What should happen: A high-profile “reporter” with security-approved credentials turns out to be a high-priced gay male hooker with a series of overnight stays at the White House on the books. The press asks, “Who invited this guy? Who got him clearance? Who did the background checks? Does that person still have a job? Who is this guy visiting, exactly? Who did he stay with overnight? What was the purpose of his visit? When the President called on this guy for softball questions, did the President know the man was a gay hustler? Are we to believe that no one in the White House knew this, when a simple Google search turns it up? How are we to have any faith at all in national security, when the folks in charge of security at the White House apparently can’t use Google?”
5. Hold public officials accountable.
What happens now: Donald Rumsfield predicted the war in Iraq would cost $50 billion dollars. Costs for the war now top $440 billion. The press obediently reports these figures.
What should happen: Donald Rumsfield predicted the war in Iraq would cost $50 billion dollars. Costs for the war now top $440 billion. The press should scream, “How did $50 billion escalate to almost ten times that much? Are all our estimates so sloppy? Why is this war so much more expensive than you anticipated? Can you really ask taxpayers to continue to fund this effort without clearly accounting for where the money goes or at what point it will no longer be needed?”
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