In reading an entry In Anil Dash’s blog, I take issue with him on a key point of basis. He lashes out at bloggers that the victory seen in the downfall of Eason Jordan of CNN saying:
In this sense, Eason Jordan got fired for blogging. Except, of course, he’s not a blogger. And nobody’s ever been fired for blogging. But his words getting taken out of context and resulting in his resignation from his position put him in an untenable, unemployable position, at least to those who choose a false clarity over the nuance and understanding any of us would extend to the people we care about.
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And about Eason Jordan: More myopic blogger triumphalism. Dear political bloggers, most people, even in the blogosphere, have never heard of the whole kerfuffle, let alone the one surrounding Jeff Gannon. This is inside-baseball cliquishness at its worst. I’m not saying these guys didn’t screw up, I’m saying that you didn’t win. It won’t temper we liberals who control the media to be more moderate, and it won’t keep the White House from trying to spin the media. Net effect? Lots of negatives, few positives.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but you’re hurting us. You’re hurting all weblogs.
Hello, dipsmack. Eason wasn’t fired for blogging. He was fired for opening his trap. And if you, almighty Anil, had any clue about political blogging (outside of being pissed at right-wing bloggers), you’d realize that “Blogging Jordan” was not about making the public aware. It was making it clear to news executives like Andrew Heyward of CBS, who escaped Rathergate lynching by the skin of his teeth, that they will be held accountable for their actions. Gone are the days of unchecked control over information. No, Mr. Dash, Easongate was not about the public. It was about the executives in the main stream media.
That’s a fundamental difference in interpretation and when viewed through those shades, it was a victory.
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Thanks for the polite and thoughtful feedback. My point was that I want people to be more considered and reasonable in what they write in their blogs, to keep blogs from being branded as extremist and marginalized media.
I don’t know how to make it clearer than I did, but I’m *not* pissed at right-wing bloggers. I’m disappointed in all bloggers who want the medium to be known as another casualty to the incessant demand for personal attacks. That you’re proud to be associated with an effort that you yourself describe as a “lynching” is part of the problem. Don’t you see how that makes you just like the mainstream media?
You couldn’t be held accountable to the same standards you want these media executives held to, and neither could I, and we’ll all regret if we push the discussion so far that this sort of scalp-taking becomes the rule rather than the exception. Would your employer defend your enthusiasm for lynchings if this post were taken out of the context of your blog? I suspect not.
You have a quote on your homepage from Einstein, saying “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” What do you think he meant by that?
Thanks for the polite and thoughtful feedback. My point was that I want people to be more considered and reasonable in what they write in their blogs, to keep blogs from being branded as extremist and marginalized media.
I don’t know how to make it clearer than I did, but I’m *not* pissed at right-wing bloggers. I’m disappointed in all bloggers who want the medium to be known as another casualty to the incessant demand for personal attacks. That you’re proud to be associated with an effort that you yourself describe as a “lynching” is part of the problem. Don’t you see how that makes you just like the mainstream media?
You couldn’t be held accountable to the same standards you want these media executives held to, and neither could I, and we’ll all regret if we push the discussion so far that this sort of scalp-taking becomes the rule rather than the exception. Would your employer defend your enthusiasm for lynchings if this post were taken out of the context of your blog? I suspect not.
You have a quote on your homepage from Einstein, saying “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” What do you think he meant by that?
I, regrettably, did not participate in the Dan Rather or Eason Jordan “lynchings”. I came in when it was too late and all was said and done.
But we are held to the same accountability that we hold the MSM to, Anil. When one blogger, such as yourself, speak in err – as you did in your entry – then you can expect the same kind of scrutiny and criticism that any one else in the MSM recieves. In fact, since you’re an A-list blogger, you can expect it more than someone like me who is not A-list. The level of profile and influence is directly proportional to the amount of heat you recieve.
The fact of the matter is that Eason was fired by Eason opening his mouth, not by bloggers going after him. The fact of the matter is is that if CNN and Jordan had opted to release the tape that might have exonerated him, this flap may not have occurred. The fact is, if Jordan wasn’t quoted as saying that he chose to keep his mouth shut regarding Saddam regime atrocities that he knew about prior to the 2003 invasion in order to keep a CNN bureau office open in Baghdad, the right wingers may never have smelled blood. You see, it’s repeated offenses that draw the ire of the people.
So this is not about trying to publically assassinate someone in the media. It’s an attempt to restore credibility to a media that is supposed to be unbiased and lacking corruption. No victory is won without blood and maybe you are right… Maybe it’s not good for the blogosphere. But it is good for the media and it is good for America. Honesty and credibility in the media is of utmost importance to the security of the nation and having Eason Jordan’s and Dan Rather’s around who are more concerned with getting a liberal elected President than reporting unadulterated and unfiltered facts is harmful to society. Which is more important?
I, regrettably, did not participate in the Dan Rather or Eason Jordan “lynchings”. I came in when it was too late and all was said and done.
But we are held to the same accountability that we hold the MSM to, Anil. When one blogger, such as yourself, speak in err – as you did in your entry – then you can expect the same kind of scrutiny and criticism that any one else in the MSM recieves. In fact, since you’re an A-list blogger, you can expect it more than someone like me who is not A-list. The level of profile and influence is directly proportional to the amount of heat you recieve.
The fact of the matter is that Eason was fired by Eason opening his mouth, not by bloggers going after him. The fact of the matter is is that if CNN and Jordan had opted to release the tape that might have exonerated him, this flap may not have occurred. The fact is, if Jordan wasn’t quoted as saying that he chose to keep his mouth shut regarding Saddam regime atrocities that he knew about prior to the 2003 invasion in order to keep a CNN bureau office open in Baghdad, the right wingers may never have smelled blood. You see, it’s repeated offenses that draw the ire of the people.
So this is not about trying to publically assassinate someone in the media. It’s an attempt to restore credibility to a media that is supposed to be unbiased and lacking corruption. No victory is won without blood and maybe you are right… Maybe it’s not good for the blogosphere. But it is good for the media and it is good for America. Honesty and credibility in the media is of utmost importance to the security of the nation and having Eason Jordan’s and Dan Rather’s around who are more concerned with getting a liberal elected President than reporting unadulterated and unfiltered facts is harmful to society. Which is more important?
I also think that another point was missed. Eason Jordan wasn’t fired by bloggers, although he was reported on by a blogger who happened to be the only one at the WEF Conference in Davos Switzerland. NO ONE since then EXCEPT bloggers have reported on this story. The MSM won’t even cover it, and the people who operated the conference refuse to release the video tapes of the discussion by Eason Jordan and the people who debated his statements and asked him to come out with proof rather than heresay. (One of them was Barney Frank, and Democrat).
Personally I thought the dipsmack comment was funny, but now i’m getting off topic.
I also think that another point was missed. Eason Jordan wasn’t fired by bloggers, although he was reported on by a blogger who happened to be the only one at the WEF Conference in Davos Switzerland. NO ONE since then EXCEPT bloggers have reported on this story. The MSM won’t even cover it, and the people who operated the conference refuse to release the video tapes of the discussion by Eason Jordan and the people who debated his statements and asked him to come out with proof rather than heresay. (One of them was Barney Frank, and Democrat).
Personally I thought the dipsmack comment was funny, but now i’m getting off topic.
I’m truly trying to grasp this, but I cannot for the life of me understand some peoples’ problem with bloggers, even partisan bloggers.
Correct me if I am wrong, but every time somehing like this happens, the establishment does their absolute best to blame bloggers for “lynch-mob journalism”, and irresponsibility. I want to scream when I hear this because I keep thinking, wait, wasn’t it CBS that OUTRIGHT LIED, and MANUFACTURED a story for PARTISAN gain, in order to help usurp the will of the public be willingly engaging in libelous journalism? And the blogs were right on target when they waived the bullsh*t flag, yet the opponents spend more time attacking blogs than attacking the true problem: CBS!
Eason Jordan quit, because he would rather go away, than release the video tape that would incriminate him and expose the second layer of openly biased MSM. It is commomn knowledge that his ‘alleged’ comments are videotaped, and if he wanted to exonerate himself, all he had to do was release it. Instead, he threw in the towel.
I’m not seeing a problem with blog posting at all. In fact, had we not had them, the elections of this past year, the sacred symbol of our Republic, could have come out very differently because of the yellow aims of CBS and other media outlets.
I’m truly trying to grasp this, but I cannot for the life of me understand some peoples’ problem with bloggers, even partisan bloggers.
Correct me if I am wrong, but every time somehing like this happens, the establishment does their absolute best to blame bloggers for “lynch-mob journalism”, and irresponsibility. I want to scream when I hear this because I keep thinking, wait, wasn’t it CBS that OUTRIGHT LIED, and MANUFACTURED a story for PARTISAN gain, in order to help usurp the will of the public be willingly engaging in libelous journalism? And the blogs were right on target when they waived the bullsh*t flag, yet the opponents spend more time attacking blogs than attacking the true problem: CBS!
Eason Jordan quit, because he would rather go away, than release the video tape that would incriminate him and expose the second layer of openly biased MSM. It is commomn knowledge that his ‘alleged’ comments are videotaped, and if he wanted to exonerate himself, all he had to do was release it. Instead, he threw in the towel.
I’m not seeing a problem with blog posting at all. In fact, had we not had them, the elections of this past year, the sacred symbol of our Republic, could have come out very differently because of the yellow aims of CBS and other media outlets.
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