White House Crosses the Line

Media Wars

by Tom Bevan - October 19th, 2009 - Real Clear Politics

Every White House complains about its press coverage. A contentious relationship between the Executive Branch and a free and independent media is part of America's DNA. Always has been.

But this White House seems to feel they're different. It's not just that the current occupant of the Oval Office has a particularly thin skin when it comes to criticism - which is especially ironic given that he's been the recipient of more glowing press coverage than possibly any candidate or president in modern American history. But not since Nixon conjured up an "enemies list" have we seen the full weight of the Office of the Presidency brought to bear in such a targeted and deliberate effort to delegitimize a media organization critical of the President.

When Communications Director Anita Dunn first announced the White House's war against FOX News last week, many people from across the political spectrum dismissed it as silly. But two of the administration's heaviest hitters, Senior Advisor David Axelrod and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, went on the Sunday talk shows and made clear that the White House's attempt to delegitimize FOX News is deadly serious.

There have been repeated proclamations by those on the left that the election of Barack Obama will allow them to silence voices on the right. From the return of the "fairness doctrine", to the insistence on ending "hate speech" as defined by leftists, to this latest attempt to de-legitimize one critical news outlet, the left has displayed a vulgar contempt for "free speech". They define free speech as embracing leftist ideologies. There is nothing but contempt for anyone who dares to disagree. The left has long been guilty on college campuses of shouting down any they disagree with. Now they are trying to shout down any organization that dares to have a view they do not accept.

If we lose free speech and a free press, we will lose our freedom. It is the most important freedoms we have. All others are dependent on the glaring light of publicity that can be brought to bear in a nation of free speech.