Lies and the Media That Repeat Them Just Because They Sound Good

I am watching Countdown on MSNBC and one of the first stories tonight was about the flat out LIE about 9/11 Rudy Giuliani decided to tell in his interview with George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America.  Good old George, who seems to be more about promoting himself and earning big bucks, let the lie slide.  He did nothing to question it until the hue and cry went up on the internets and other places.  We got a "my bad", which is, actually, more than we normally get when the talking heads allow or even repeat the lies their (paying) guests tell during so-called interviews.

Eric Burns from Media Matters was a guest on Countdown and he said said the interviewers (I really can't call most of them journalists, since their ambition for fame and fortune made them the whores of the airwaves long ago) had a responsibilty to be nice to the guests and get to the truth.

Even though he did say there was a need to get to the truth, it wasn't the emphasis.

I believe the media and journalists, reporters, editors, producers primary responisbility is the TRUTH in bold capital letters.  Responsible reporting, including fact checking, is second.  A distant third is to be civil, not nice, to the guest or interviewed party.  If the person(s) being interviewed is willing to tell lies, especially knowingly, they do not deserve niceness in any way.  This telling of lies, especially on national TV, is reprehensible and does a huge diservice to the country and the American people.

The media's willingness to repeat the lies and replicate them without challenging them across programs and networks is telling lies.  It is not reporting the facts.  It is not journalism.  It is lying.  Period.  I hope there is a special place in hell for you. 

You may get the titillating controversary that will bring in viewers or sell papers when you spread the lies, but the interviewer who stands up and challenges the liar would earn a huge spotlight for doing so.  I'm sure your next paycheck will help you sleep and make you happy, but- try to think about it.