Andeson Cooper understands what's wrong with Washington

[hgc]

Yes, last night, at the end of his show, Cooper let drop his opinion about something that also bothers me quite a bit.

Here's some of his conversation with Headline News anchor Erica Hill, re Karl Rove's rapping performance at the TV and Radio Correspondents Dinner (with NBC's David Gregory providing backup dancing).

COOPER: Yes. That was last night, at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner. Showing off his moves there. Keeping it real. Keeping it very street.

HILL: His street credit is, like, through the roof.

COOPER: Yes. You ever gone to that dinner?

HILL: No, I'm not cool enough to be invited.

COOPER: I find it annoying. I went once. And I've got to tell you, it's just -- it's -- I don't get it.

HILL: That was enough?

COOPER: I don't think all these people should be, like, hanging out, putting on little skits. It's like -- and playing with each other. Like why should the press...

HILL: They're nice for a night and then it's back to the...

COOPER: Why should the press be hanging out with the president and Karl Rove and, like, you know, schmoozing behind the scenes? I don't get it.

HILL: Why would Karl Rove be trying to steal Kevin Federline's moves? I don't get that.

COOPER: Yes. Both valid questions. And frankly, if you want to see someone dance -- you know, we at CNN should show these people how to do it. There you go.

One of the reasons we've seen this disaster unfold the last 6 years is that the press has chosen not to rock the boat, not to investigate, not to break important stories. When you have someone like Tim Russert letting all conversations with his ostensible subjects be off the record by default, when you have these people vacationing together on Nantucket, when they rub elbows at cocktail parties, can you really expect them to pursue journalism aggressively?

Cooper really surprised me by pointing this out. Notice that Hill completely didn't comprehend his point, and was having none of it.

 

[Libertarian]

Ditto to your concerns, and thanks for posting. Got rid of the boob tube recently (in good part due to the erosion of TV journalism) so I depend on the Internet to keep me up to speed.

Seems the press spends half their time sharing cocktails with the people they should be reporting on, and the other half self-righteously bragging about their journalistic ethics.

 

[billydkid]

Ditto to your concerns, and thanks for posting. Got rid of the boob tube recently (in good part due to the erosion of TV journalism) so I depend on the Internet to keep me up to speed.

Seems the press spends half their time sharing cocktails with the people they should be reporting on, and the other half self-righteously bragging about their journalistic ethics.

Where were all you libertarians when I needed you in here? Bastards!!!! (just kidding) I just hope when the next round of arguing liberarian views come around you are more persuasive and articulate than I have been. (don't be put off when the counter libertarians arguments consist of making fun of Badnirik)

Regarding Anderson's comments - not to pat myself on the back, but not long ago I made a substantial post alluding to the fact that journalists should not be buddies with the people they are covering. I did this in reference to Imus (who is not a journalist), but extended this to journalists too. I actually think I was unfair to Imus - he is not a journalist and does, in fact, not give his famous buddies free rides. I think he is full of BS to a large extent, but at least he speaks his mind.

 

[hgc]

Regarding Anderson's comments - not to pat myself on the back, but not long ago I made a substantial post alluding to the fact that journalists should not be buddies with the people they are covering.

If I had known, I surely would have joined in. That's one of my pet obsessions. If you don't know about http://dailyhowler.com, he writes about this problem constantly.

 

[Mephisto]

I agree with all of you and with Anderson Cooper.

It seems just a bit daft to be sharing party-time with people whose movements you should be watching. When I was working for a military contractor we always had to watch our actions lest they be interpreted as "personal services," and I think the Correspondence's Dinner falls perfectly in that category only from the "bribery" side.

The "festivities" this year were certainly a far cry from the year Stephen Colbert was invited and lambasted the administration to the point that no one was smiling. What does it say about the objectivity of our journalists when a pseudo-conservative, pseudo-journalist comedian cuts through the BS with more precision than most of the "journalists" present?

In conclusion, I have only three things to say; the first, Johnny Cash must have been turning over in his grave, two Karl Rove CANNOT dance and three, he got a GIGANTIC head!

 

[Loss Leader]

One of the reasons we've seen this disaster unfold the last 6 years is that the press has chosen not to rock the boat, not to investigate, not to break important stories.

I don't disagree with you but take note that the Karl Rove rap took place at the 63rd annual TV-Radio news dinner thing. So, it's not just the last six years, it's been going on since at least 1944.

 

[corplinx]

Oh yes, the press loves Bush. That's the problem. Very insightful.

 

[Art Vandelay]

The way I see it, there are different levels of independence. You have journalists embedded with troops, flying on Air Force One, going to press conferences, having dinner with politicians, etc. Then you have bloggers with no connections at all. Both have their place. There are stories that bloggers just can't get, because they don't have access to top-ranking officials. Then there are stories that the MSM won't publish for fear of losing their access. I don't think that one is "better"; we're better off having both.

 

[Mephisto]

We need another Hunter S. Thompson. I think I know why he finally blew his head off - he realized what "journalism" had become; they used to call it "brown-nosing" in the old days.