The alarming, but at this point, not surprising fact, that I took from this program was it was only the non-beltway reporters who investigated the crap Shrub's administration was selling in the lead up to war.
Journalism is the only profession protected by the Constitution. By being a willing flak for this administration, these journalists violated the trust of the country. Their collective rational was fear of being unfair, liberal and unpatriotic.
You could hear the exasperation in Bill Moyer's voice.
Judith "Scooter" Miller is a disgrace. The management team of the NY Times is worse for not vetting her work. The real reporters work was buried in the newspaper, while Judy's work was given the front page, above the fold.
Phil Donahue is unemployed because he presented facts. Tim "I'm a working class kinda guy" Russert has a premo gig and is on the "A" list of "Beltway" parties. When journalists started socializing with the folks they are supposed to cover, their ability to be impartial was lost.
It also was a painful reminder of how Colin Powell, the only member of the administration who could have derailed this war, did not take a stand. By resigning before the speech, he would have sent a clear message, there a problem. Powell is worse than Judith Miller. In 90 minutes, he led the battle cry for war. An honorable career wasted. I would not pay to hear him speak.
Knight-Ridder reaches a larger audience. At the time of the lead up to war, they did not have the credibility of the NY Times and WashPo.
I trust there has been a shift in perspective.
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