Has it ever been thus? Over the last few days we have witnessed what should be a strange phenomenon. The institutional press has rushed to the defense of a woman (that would be Sarah Huckabee Sanders) who works for a man who holds them in contempt. She herself holds them in contempt, and habitually lies to them. As to the latter habit, it is one that they should particularly abhor, since their job is to report the truth. At least, that’s what they say their job is.
It would be perfectly alright if they were rushing to defend her against an unwarranted charge, but they are defending her against a comedienne’s observation that she habitually lies to them, something they all must know is true. Not only are they defending her, but they are themselves lying about what the comedienne said, claiming that she disparaged Sanders looks rather than her credibility. For example:
Maggie Haberman of The New York Times praised Sanders for not walking out on the dinner. She accused Wolf of attacking Sanders’ physical appearance, when the joke was actually skewering her propensity for dishonesty. When asked on Twitter to quote the lines to which she was referring, Haberman didn’t answer and unfollowed the questioner.
This is against a backdrop of constant disparagement of all manner of people, including the press itself, by Trump, Sanders, and their ilk, the essential difference being that for the most part they lie in the course of that disparagement. For the most part the same people who have attacked Michelle Wolf accept the barrage of mendacious criticism from the right as simply part of the ordinary national discourse. Liberals and those on the left are simply expected to be punching bags, and no notice is taken when they are unfairly attacked. If I’m not mistaken, it was conservative that coined the phrase “snowflakes” to refer to liberals who objected to being unfairly vilified, but it certainly seems that it’s those on the right who melt in the first ray of sunshine. In fact, they are now demanding that they be kept in the shade:
During an interview on CNN on Monday, frequent Fox News guest and American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp made a case that it is not the job of journalists to inform the public when the president or his spokespeople are lying.
Instead, Schlapp suggested journalists should just provide stenography of what government officials are saying, and let the American people do their best to sort out who is telling the truth — because otherwise the feelings of Trump supporters might get hurt.
“We have political disagreements in this country, and I think it’s wrong for journalists to take that next step,” Schlapp said. “Just present the facts. Let the American people decide if they think someone is lying. The journalist shouldn’t be the one to say the president or his spokesperson is lying, because what that does is to 50 percent of the country, is it makes them feel like they aren’t credible to listen to anymore.”
Yes, while the national press is vilifying Michelle Wolf for telling the truth, Republicans are demanding the right to lie without consequence, because it hurts their dupes’ feelings if they were told straight up that they’re being fed on lies.
This whole episode highlights the incestuous relationship between some elements of the press and the current administration. If the press had any sense of either self respect or respect for it’s self described mission, it would simply boycott Sanders and the White House propaganda machine until she or it commits to telling the truth, at least on occasion. But those jobs are cushy indeed, requiring stenography only, so that’s not likely to happen.
As for Michelle Wolf, she’ll be fine. Like Colbert’s before her, her monologue will wear well, particularly with those of us who think.
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