The media can no longer sustain their pretenses of being aloof, objective observers dispassionately recording events. The media are combatants. [from a new book New Glory: Expanding America’s Global Supremacy, Page 49]
Peters took his thesis to Fox News last night. When asked about a recent ABC report that the CIA moved detainees out of secret prisons in Europe prior to Secretary of State Rice’s visit, he said:When ABC or any other outlet gives away our national secrets, or verifies them, and underscores them by repeating what others have said, and seems to verify for the world — look, they are putting Americans at risk. They’re putting our allies at risk, as you observed. And they’re putting our programs at risk. … But worst of all, Bill, it’s killing American soldiers. [The O’Reilly Factor, 12/6/05]
Bill O’Reilly agreed with Peters’ new definition of the media:I would not have reported what ABC News reported. I would not have done it. I — as you know — didn’t put Abu Ghraib pictures on this broadcast, the only television journalist not to do so. I do feel that the press has a responsibility to help the government in the war on terror. [The O’Reilly Factor, 12/6/05]
Funny, and we thought freedom of the press was a fundamental democratic value.
If, as in the War on Terror, there is a never ending war and civil liberties such as freedom of the press, laws against torture, and the voters no longer have the right to be informed about what is really happening, democracy is effectively shutdown. America becomes a plutocracy, government by the monied. That ladies and gentleman is fascism, pure and simple. That's the government given a free hand to use any means without justification or accountability. I think these statements make O'Reilly and Peters sound like neo-Nazis. Fascism is alive and well in American government today.
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