Benghazi, the Media, and the Death of the Republic

Have we completely lost the idea of an independent, impartial News Media that can be trusted to speak truth to power, expose the misdeeds of Government, and hold politicians and those in authority accountable to act legally and ethically? That seems to be the case. As the News Media becomes more and more partisan and ceases to ask hard questions or actually report news, but instead seeks to promote their own biased opinions, something in America has died. Our ability to make informed decisions based on the truth of a situation has given way to language games and power plays - the chickens of postmodernism have come home to roost.

The debacle of the attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya is case in point. The more liberal, mainstream Media represented by the major networks, newspapers, and accepted pundit class in America has shown a remarkable lack of curiosity over what happened, while Fox News and more conservative news outlets are investigating the story incessantly. Those on the Left claim that a focus on what happened in Benghazi is only conservative politicization of the event for the purposes of degrading President Obama's chances at reelection. Conservatives are saying that NOT reporting on the story is a dereliction of duty by the News Media as they are clearly in the tank for Obama. Who is right?

The problem is that it is really hard to know because one is stuck being affected by who is the most persuasive, who yells the loudest, and who exercises the most power in their argument. This is not how truth is promoted. Biases are reaffirmed and we become more and more divided as a people. There is no truth. It is just all opinion, conjecture, and grabs for power by those on each side. This is the type of slow cultivation of a people that eventually gives rise to tyranny and a dictator who through force of personality and persuasion can grasp for and wield enormous power over a docile people. The News Media actually should function as a check and balance against these types of power grabs, but when it fails or so taints itself that it cannot be trusted, it allows people who only want power to slide into leadership positions.

The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The Freedom of the Press is right there with the freedoms of religion and speech as fundamental to the functioning of the Republic. But, this freedom is being co-opted and neutralized from within as journalistic ethics give way to personal biases and political agendas. A desire for power has replaced a desire for truth and personal integrity. The vocation of the News Media has dissipated and been replaced by a cadre of political hucksters who seek to only get their preferred person in positions of power. There are some exceptions still, of course. But, they prove the rule.

From what can be gathered from many sources and reports that are filtering out, something really bad happened in Benghazi on September 11. We don't have the whole story, but it seems fairly obvious that major mistakes were made (or perhaps intentional decisions?) and then the truth was covered up in various ways. It appears that way, but we can't be sure because we cannot trust the reporting and huge swaths of the Media show no real interest in the story. But, it is easy for one to believe that if a Republican was in the White House and the same thing happened, the same Media showing no interest in this story now would make it their number one agenda to expose what really happened, all under the guise of seeking after the truth. Truth cannot be held captive to personal political bias. It must roam free and establish itself on its own merit apart from the whims of those who might or might not speak it. Truth must stand alone and be acknowledged by all with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Benghazi is a barometer of where we are as a nation - hopelessly divided, becoming smaller and smaller in our vision and scope, unmoved by the death of heroes, willing to bury a story that does not benefit our cause. The death of an ambassador and ex-Navy Seals will soon be forgotten by most, but the sacrifice of Truth on the altar of political expediency will continue to stain us and break us down. The Republic does not stand on our military or economic might. Rather, it stands on the will of a people who desire above all else to be free and who are willing to sacrifice their lives for that freedom. 4 brave Americans paid that sacrifice in Benghazi while sending out unanswered calls for help back to a country that they thought had their back. Now, we find out that not only did their Government leave them to die, but the Press that should hold that very Government accountable is also content to ignore what happened because it does not suit them.

This has been building for a long time, but one can see in Benghazi yet another example of the death of the Republic and the arising of the Empire.

Comments

[Steve Martin]

The whole event has been a disgusting tragedy that ought never happen again.

Cowardice (by the Administration), and then lies to cover it up.

And the cover up is equally disgusting.

[Christiane]

FOX NEWS credibility: it ain't what it used to be . . . take a look:

"During their appeal, FOX asserted that there are no written rules against distorting news in the media. They argued that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves."

More at EndtheLie.com - http://EndtheLie.com/books-and-reading-material/the-media-can-legally-lie/#ixzz2Aki2AN9j

as for other countries, check out what FOX was up to in Great Britain . . . pretty bad stuff

[downshoredrift]

I am not saying that Fox is more credible than any of the other news agencies. They have their own issues with bias. SOMETHING happened in Benghazi and because our Free Press is fundamentally broken, it is almost impossible to figure out what unless you do a massive amount of personal digging, fact checking, and weighing of sources. The vast majority of people are no going to do that. The truth is out there, but as long as it does not get to the masses, it has no real power. That seems to be how some people want it.

Sent from my iPhone

[Christiane]

don't worry,
the truth will out

media bias is a 'given', so it is a very good idea to gather as much info as possible from as many sources as possible,
and evaluate that info carefully to separate out the 'spin' IF possible

eventually, truth will out

most people watch certain TV networks for the 'entertainment' value, not for solid news

people are vastly entertained when they hear what they want to hear ... so news stations play along to their 'base' same as politicians, to keep ratings up

as for the 'truth'?
folks' ears may need tickling,
but 'The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.' (Flannery O'Connor)

[J O E B L A C K M O N]

L's

The only response you deserve is "Muzzle it, chick". The fact is, Fox News is actually reporting the truth related to an attack on American citizens who were on American soil. If we had a President with any character or class who had been raised correctly and who actually valued this country, there would have been a swift, terrifying military response to the attack. Of course, with a socialist like Obama, that's not something we're going to get.

L's, I really, REALLY wish your niece had been assigned to that embassy.

Now, don't you have some laundry to go do??

[Todd]

Alan,
Something happened. There is no doubt. I like the way you call attention to the media non/coverage as one means the Republic remains un/informed.

Sadly, I do not think any outlet gives it straight.

[Alan Cross]

Joe,

Your response to Christiane is rude and ridiculous. You owe her an apology. It is one thing to disagree. It is another to be vicious about it. I won't have that here.

[Dave Miller]

Listening to the father of the slain agent who disobeyed orders to try to help the ambassador was moving.

While Fox may be a little overenthusiastic in their coverage, they are necessary balance to MSNBC, CNN, the NYT, and other elite media outlets that are essentially in the tank for Obama and seem to only want to publish what makes him look good.

It is a sad episode in American history.

Good article, Alan.