Anyone who watches Jon Stewart knows that he’s a person of liberal political views – but he also shows impressive flashes of independence. Last night was such an instance. In the course of his show, Stewart skillfully rips apart ABC News and its chief investigative correspondent, Brian Ross, for falsely suggesting that the Aurora, Colorado, killer was a member of the Tea Party.
Ross, based on the flimsiest evidence, took an innocent man and, in the words of Stewart, “casually, baselessly, and publicly accused [him] of – I don’t know – maybe being a mass murderer.”
Stewart then explains why this occurred. The mindset of Ross, according to Stewart, is that linking the Tea Party to the atrocity fits into “a pre-existing narrative. I should get that on the TV.” As Stewart puts it, “Tea Party, low taxes, madman. You do the math.”
Stewart then asks, in the form of a joke, quite a serious question: What story does a guy have to blow to get in trouble at ABC? What exactly does a chief investigative correspondent have to get wrong in order to be grounded by the news division?
When it comes to ABC News, apparently, tendentious, reckless and false allegations aren’t terribly problematic – at least when the object of the smear is the Tea Party.
It seems obvious what ABC should do. Simply follow the precedent that President Obama has set. Have a "beer summit" with Mr. Holmes. That should make everything right, no?
Well, I have found some respect for Mr. Stewart.
Well, you know, the DNC media doesn't have Nixon or George W Bush to kick around any more. n nWhat's a [irresponsible DNC media] guy gonna do?
Stewart is still the shallow schmuck who called Harry Truman a war criminal for dropping the atomic bombs. n nBill Whittle of PJTV has a complete and thorough takedown of Stewart on it. I would encourage anyone interested in the topic to take a look at it. n
What I don't get is the non sanctioning of Ross by ABC, if not firing then surely something more than nothing but its pro forma apology, with none, I understand, coming from Ross.