Political Coverage 2015

 

 

Okaaaaaayyyy - Koch Brothers Brave Spotlight to Try to Alter Their Image.  Well, yeah.  They sort of have to, or else average Americans might perceive them as something other than patriotic, freedom-loving guys out to save our nation from forces of evil hell bent on usurping & destroying Truth, Justice & The American Way.  I'm doing my best getting my head around Charles Koch promoting everyday happiness, the brothers investing in t.v. ads spotlighting some of the countless great guys & gals who work for Koch Industries.  Hey, they invited THE PRESS to attend their private gathering this weekend that seeks to partner up GOP big $ donors with conservative presidential candidates!  WOW!

Yes, that wow is etched with sarcasm.  Because the weekend event guest list does include the Washington Post & eight other media outlets.  They get to report out on the never-before-seen presentations, talks, seminars, whatever.  They just can't report on what's the real story - they are not allowed to reveal the names of any of the estimated 450 deep pocket donors expected to attend.  And here is the tip-off to Political Coverage 2015 - the media outlets agreed to it.

They get to attend The Big Story, they just can't cover it.  wow...

This has me thinking back to January, when ABC's  White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl moderated a Freedom Partners Forum featuring Ted Cruz, Rand Paul & Marco Rubio - another Koch-sponsored event.  It was considered by the network to above reproach because they - not the Kochs - paid for his travel & lodging to & from Palm Springs.  It's interesting to note that all the reports I've seen focus on the presenters & how gosh darn amazing it is the highly secretive  private brothers were allowing so my scrutiny - didn't spot a word about the donors attending.  .  

A key network correspondent moderating a political forum at a private event sponsored by the GOP's deepest deep pockets.  Reporters invited for the appearance of transparency to an event where they can't report on the biggest - actually the only real - story.

Welcome to political coverage 2015.  Methinks it's time to look backward a century of so, to what was then known as yellow journalism & the plutocrats behind it.