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Call Them What They Are: Liars
For a very long time, members of the GOP have complained about the bias of the mainstream media. As that bias has increased in frequency and hyperbole, Republicans just complain more. But nothing changes. Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, has shown how to push back against the media, powerfully and truthfully. He has made it very clear that he’s not going to take it anymore.
Recently, Andrea Mitchell lied, saying that DeSantis had decided that the story of slavery should not be taught in Florida schools. DeSantis’ press secretary responded to her accusation:
The governor’s press secretary Bryan Griffin also called out NBC for being ‘maliciously intent on deceiving people’ and threatened to cut off the media giant’s access to information, comment, and interviews from the governor, who is one of the top polling Republicans for the 2024 presidential ticket.
In an email addressed to ‘all of the bookers and producers reaching out to our office from NBC News and MSNBC,’ Griffin wrote that the governor’s office will give ‘no consideration of anything related to NBC Universal or its affiliates’ until Mitchell ‘corrects the blatant lie’ and ‘NBC and its affiliates display a consistent track record of truthful reporting.’
Mitchell gave a pathetic non-apology apology:
In my interview last Friday with Vice President Harris, I was imprecise in summarizing Gov. DeSantis’ position about teaching slavery in schools. Gov. DeSantis is not opposed to teaching the fact of slavery in schools, but he has opposed the teaching of an African American studies curriculum as well as the use of some authors and source materials that historians and teachers say makes it all but impossible for students to understand the broader historic and political context behind slavery and its aftermath in the years since.
The DeSantis response is hardly representative of other Republicans in their relationships with the media. Most Republicans seem to believe that any publicity is good publicity, and they may complain, even publicly, about the lies that have been attributed to them, but they just figure those are the rules of the road. We watched President Trump repeatedly call out the media, but he didn’t refuse to speak with them. Many of his protests were general attacks on the mainstream media, instead of consistently calling them out for the specific distortions. (He was specific at times, but not consistently.) He seemed to prefer to deride them as “fake news,” which was true, but eventually, this protest didn’t seem to help his cause.
I think Republicans who are trying to build and maintain their credibility must hold the mainstream media accountable. It’s time to reset their priorities, particularly since any reporter affiliated with a mainstream organization is likely to misrepresent or distort what they have said. The next time a Republican, especially a high-profile Republican, is offered an interview with the “fantasy press,” they can put them on notice that they expect them to publish accurate representations of what the person has said; if they don’t, they will boycott the entire organization. If a reporter publishes a story about a public event and lies about it, the Republican should publish a video not only calling the person out, but the reasons for doing so; in fact, maybe a YouTube account for Republicans should be opened just for this purpose. If enough Republicans pushed back in this way, they would have the satisfaction of exerting their power and reinforcing the negative public perception of the mainstream media, as well as setting the record straight. As Jordan Boyd stated in her article:
The media’s incessant bullying of conservative politicians, voters, and beliefs ends only when their utter lack of credibility is exposed and their power to control narratives is neutralized. DeSantis and his team recognize this, which is why they confidently ignore liars and smear artists. If other Republicans are serious about winning the culture war and getting the country back on track, they will do the same.
Step up, Republicans. You’re long overdue.
Published in Politics
Reporters lie. It’s what they do. Telling the truth about that is important.
Pretending that reporters will, one day, not lie and that they can ‘have their priorities reset’ is not a helpful fantasy in which to indulge.
The DeSantis team is not accepting the non-apology either.
There’s some coverage of the incident here:
Did Andrea Mitchell climb down to fake a grovel to Ron DeSantis? Why, yes – yes, she did.
What I appreciated about this was that the DeSantis team came with direct evidence to counter the insidious lie. “Yes, we discuss slavery and Jim Crow here, and here, and here, and here . . .”
Not that I expect the rest of the media to support DeSantis; the “worse than Trump” message must be promulgated. Her non-apology referencing what “historians and teachers say” is a nice bit of misdirection. Let’s get the names of those “historians and teachers” so that we can highlight more liars. Or do they not really exist?
I really appreciate the response of just cutting them off. Would that more Republicans were like DeSantis in this — and in so many other ways. Once again I’m forced to ask why is it only DeSantis doing these necessary things?
I just read this in the Lounge:
https://www.uncoverdc.com/2023/02/21/newsguard-misinfo-watchdog-contracts-with-dod-who-pfizer-microsoft-and-aft/
I feel like once a story or comment is out there, there could be a response that will either get silenced, censored or buried. Context is everything. It seems like they are boxing in any alternative or conservative thought.
I’d settle for fewer lies, as I’ve said before.
Correct. That’s why they need to create an alternate venue to get the word out!
Several reasons they won’t: they’ll make someone mad; they may not be asked to do future interviews; they can’t be bothered to take the time to respond properly; and they’re lazy. I’m sure they have other excuses, too, but these are a good start.
There’d be a great job for someone who wants to write a manual for Republicans–“How to Beat Up the Press and Keep them Honest.” I bet at this point, some Republicans might want to buy it!
By the way, I detest the use of the word “liar.” It’s so laden with negativity and accusation. But I think using it, especially when it is blatantly obvious that the lie was intended, is appropriate.
There you go again.
But it’s the corporate private sector media. And everything that comes out of the private sector and corporations is good. You have the freedom to walk away don’t you? Cut their taxes.
Okay, okay! ;-) How about Try to Keep them Honest. Better? There’s no getting anything past you, genferei . . .
I don’t think you can. Trump beat the crap out of them, and they still lied . . .
I’m not so sure. Trump was so out of control that they could treat him like he was crazy. And he just kept calling out “fake news” and often wasn’t specific. I mentioned other things that worked against him in the post. If those who challenge the media do it with some dignity, and if enough of them do it, I think it can be effective.
Maybe. Still, the “XYZ is Hitler” narrative can always be used . . .
When it comes to polititions especially, we use too many euphemisms for lies instead of just calling them lies. So-called journalists…..I’m looking at you.
Exaggerating, misrepresenting, distorting, without context, obfuscation, etc.
That “apology” is by no means sufficient. Since NBC News insists on being nothing more than an amplifier of the Democratic party line, let them talk to Democrats and Democrats only.
Good information and helpful analysis. This is much better than the same old, same old complaints. Thank you.
Add: My truth
Romney just took it when “unbiased debate moderator” CCN’s Candy Crowley teamed up with Obama during the debate. ABC news chief news correspondent was a spin doctor for the Clintons – and he was able to moderate a GOP debate.
DeSantis is a much smarter version of Trump. He and his team are more in command of the facts than the so-called “journalists” who think a twitter feed counts as vetting.
Part of Trump’s problem was his lack of discipline – DeSantis does not have this problem. In Covid and like this story, he had a much better command of the facts. He also seems to have a better team than Trump.
CBS is doing the same – I hope DeSantis team does the same to CBS News
Isn’t using the words “lie” and “liar” sort of a red line where libel law is concerned, which is why journalists and other public figures resort to euphemisms?
Lacking candor.
I like that DeSantis didn’t call them liars. Instead, he pointed out the specific lie, and gave the teller of that lie a chance to correct her behavior, as well as reason to do so. That’s much more constructive than namecalling, and at the same time is not tolerating the lie.
Vinnie Prasad, who refers to himself as as leftist, did the same a few days ago in this screed about vaccine-based immunity versus “natural” immunity from covid-19.
He used the word lie, and gave sufficient detail and context for us to know what the lie was, and to know it wasn’t just a case of carelessness in passing on false information. What he gave us was information we can use. Namecalling, whether it’s “liar” or “fake news” used without specifics, is not information we can use.
I think these people need to feel seriously wounded, since they have told these lies over and over. Simply saying a person has told a lie can be effective, but calling a person a liar has an even more powerful impact. These people are not acting professionally; they are making their attacks personal and I think using “liar” will feel more personal, and I think it should. I think they can protect themselves emotionally by being accused of telling a lie, rather than be called a liar.
I don’t care if they’re wounded or not. I care if their lies are called out and made ineffective. That’s the impact I want, whether powerful (in the sense of loud and noisy) or subtle. What Ron DeSantis does is effective. What Vinnie Prasad does is effective.
As to your last sentence, I think it works precisely and exactly the opposite of the way you describe. You yourself noted that the way DeSantis did it, by calling out the lie, was more effective than Donald Trump’s tossing around the vague and unspecific term “fake news.”
Another point on this. Andrea Mitchell can make an attempt to correct the lie, even if her backtracking and non-apology didn’t go as far as it needed to.
But can a liar like Joe Biden ever make himself into a non-liar? I doubt it.
A lie can be repaired, somewhat. A liar is a lot harder to fix.
Now that is an interesting take on the subject. I’ll think that over, Retic.
You hit the nail on the head — as usual!