Explain to me…
… how something that was discovered over a month ago and that has been written and commented about all over the blogosphere, is breaking news? All I’ve heard this morning is how Rev. Wright was taken out of context, and that his infamous 9/11 sermon was edited and distributed with malicious intent. The clips that the media pushed conveniently edited out his direct citation (and quotation) of Ambassador Edward Peck (who, incidentally, said those remarks on Fox News). I had wondered previously why this information wasn’t making national news and being shoved down the throats of every voter with a TV and Cable (or a penchant for morning news shows). A month later this information is suddenly a big deal? Is it because he finally gave an interview that’s running tonight?
Soooo… let me see if I understand this…
Information that damaged one man’s reputation, jeopardized another’s, and used “selective editing” to distract the country with fallacious arguments is broadcast 24/7, but it takes a whole month to admit that the “news” about this topic was all generated around yet another error in fact checking? Did no one in the media stop and ask themselves whether there was more to that sermon? The incendiary remarks didn’t raise any red flags? Didn’t make anyone think, “Hey, this is awfully biased, I should probably dig deeper here and see what came before and after this clip”? No?
This brings to mind a few questions:
Why didn’t either O’Bama or Clinton point out this error to the public? Was it because it would have brought to another political figure under fire? If so, does that mean that it’s okay to destroy the reputation of a lay person, but not a fellow politician? And It is illogical to think that O’Bama didn’t know about it being taken out of context–he speaks to the man regularly. As for Clinton? Her own pastor, Rev. Dee Snyder, disagreed with her handling of the Wright controversy because it was taken out of context.
Perhaps this “controversy” wasn’t as overblown and damaging as “old media” pundits expected it to be because of the availability of information online, and the ability of individuals to do their own research. Maybe that’s progress.
