Feeding the Lipstick Besmeared Pigs
Where Have All the Journalists Gone?
Lipstick is a Campaign Issue
Responsible journalists all around the country are writing stories and reporting about who said what about lipstick. Lipstick! How did we all get so hoodwinked into abandoning the basic journalistic skills for which we were presumably hired? Isn't good journalism about going beyond the hype and name-calling and dipping our quills into the inkwell of facts and issues? And yet we dutifully rush to print with the story when a campaign tells us that when one candidate says "they'll try to scare you because I look different," that candidate is playing the race card. The same campaigners then turn around and say that a comment about lipstick is a sexist affront to all women, and that it's not playing the sex card to complain about it. We, again, dutifully rush to print. Do we, as journalists really believe the crap that we're passing off as election news?
Feeding the Lipstick-Besmeared Pigs
At some point, it seems that having an "inside" source became more important than the news. Printing or repeating every accusation made "off the record" by an insider isn't journalism. It's either stupidity or partisanship. Neither has a place in journalism. It has become fashionable in the media to choose sides, and rail against the opposition, with skewed facts and rolling eyes. Those who try to remain objective, as best a human being can, and do not repeat the innuendos thrown out by the political farmhands like so much slop to pigs, are derided as ignoring the "facts." Do these sowers of disinformation laugh all the way back to the political farmhouse at the "journalists" that they use like cheap garden hoes?
A Time Out for All of Us
It isn't just the political system that's broken in this country, it's the media. It's you and me as we contribute to it, watch it, or repeat it around the water cooler. Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are demons. The election of either does not mean our kids will be forced to change sexual preferences or their religion in elementary schools. It won't mean the difference between survival and extinction of the human race. It won't even help us repay our upside down mortgages, but there are real differences in the policies of the two candidates that will affect our lives, and our children's lives. Shouldn't we all give ourselves a time out until we're ready to stop the name-calling or the false-affront at imagined name-calling. Then, let's all sit down and discuss the real issues.
Published by Brad Sylvester - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Brad spent 18 years in the consumer electronics industry, including more than ten years in new product development. He now writes full time from his home in the mountains of New Hampshire. View profile
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- It has become fashionable in the media to choose sides and rail against the opposition.
- Do political operatives laugh at the "journalists" who print the slop they're fed?
- Let's call a collective time out until we're ready to stop the name-calling and the false-affront.
9 Comments
Post a CommentIsn't it too bad that educated adults aren't in charge of things?!
Isn't it too bad that civilized adults can't be civil?!
Isn't it too bad that so much time has been wasted when so much progress could have been made?!
Isn't it too bad that the people 'elected' to watch out for the best interest of The People are blind to the true needs of The People?!
I'll be watching your page for more great insight and invite you to take a look at mine!
Thanks
Great article and very well said. I like the photo too.
feeding the "pig" is politics at it's best and all sides in the race weigh in according to their ability. what is very sad above all is how many "good" people will be duped into believing either party really cares a hoot about them. Both parties are a hoof on the same pig. The democrats put on a huge minority front then nothing "really" changes very much in the balance of it all over time- look where we are compared to 50 years ago- smoke and mirror politics are favorite republican tactics and they play to conservatives. Nothing changes much but faces and lipstick and a LOT of people get hurt.
Beautifully said.
I don't mind mixing lipstick and politics. ;) Nice article here.
I wish the issues would take center stage too. There is so much to discuss that is of great concern, from the economy to education and more. Good points here!
I made the same point in an article today, Brad. I find this distraction and misleading b.s. by the McCain campaign effective but frustrating and disgusting. The government announced a $400 billion deficit for the past year. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was taken over by the Feds. Obama mentions Bush = McCain. The McCain camp screams foul that Obama called her a pig !! Wait. What happened to the economy? Oh, that's right. The economy is fine. It's strong. Let's tell an outright lie about what Obama actually said and make an issue of it. As a voter, I'm simply annoyed and exasperated that this is getting continued airplay and that the media keeps running it through. Who wants to talk issues? Doesn't matter. There's lipstick on a pig somewhere and the media wants everybody to know it.
Ah Brad, I thought the headline was irresistible and THEN I saw the photo. How adorable.
It is also not the media's job to protect the candidates and politicians from themselves...some of the surrogates on both sides have only made matters worse. Will people tire of this and get to the issues...who knows, we can't turn back time on this YouTube era.