A Free Press?

My buddy Dan Meek, the great public interest lawyer, sent my last blog (The 800 pound gorilla) out to 242 press outlets in Oregon. The subject was the most important issue facing the country. It was relevant, pertinent and topical; all the things a good press release should be, and well written too if I do say so myself. Not a single mention of it from any of the newspapers, radio or TV stations – and sent from a candidate for governor! Why no mention? It’s because we don’t have a free press in this country, not since the CIA infiltrated it in the 40’s. Google search Operation Mockingbird if you think I’m exaggerating.

“There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dare to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar weekly salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities, and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes.” John Swinton, former Chief of Staff for the New York Times.

John Swinton was one of New York’s best-loved newspapermen, called by his peers “The Dean of his Profession.” He made this statement when asked to give a toast before the New York Press club in 1953. It wasn’t reported in the press of course. It did come out in Senator Frank Church’s senate investigation in 1975 but few noticed. I did.

So while you’re reading about Chris Dudley missing another free throw or Allen Alley taking a stroll or Kitzhaber wearing jeans, take some time to do your homework before you let the press tell you who to vote for. Please.