A Free And Independent Press

You know what I think is interesting about all the uproar over Anita Dunn (White House person who said she found both Mother Theresa and Mao Zedong to be inspirational)? Last week she fires back at Fox News saying that they're not a legitimate news organization, but isn't it weird that she is getting upset at them because they're actually doing what she claims they're failing in accomplish, i.e. reporting the news?

Her most recent appeals make all the more sense considering these comments she made in Dominican Republic back in January. The story can be found here:

"Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Dunn.

"One of the reasons we did so many of the David Plouffe videos was not just for our supporters, but also because it was a way for us to get our message out without having to actually talk to reporters," said Dunn, referring to Plouffe, who was Obama's chief campaign manager.

"We just put that out there and made them write what Plouffe had said as opposed to Plouffe doing an interview with a reporter. So it was very much we controlled it as opposed to the press controlled it," Dunn said.

Continued Dunn: "Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying."

The video is below, and the specific comments come about a minute into it:



This all illustrates perfectly the importance of a free and independent press, which seems almost impossible to do these days. I guess the greater problem is that you have all of these media sources that masquerade as being unbiased and independent, but then they clearly have their own agenda in mind as they do so.

They are wolves in sheep's clothing, and that is no exaggeration. It reminds me of a scripture found in D&C 38:30:

I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

The emphasis is my own. I just think the council is sound - people will attempt to deceive you by screaming lies so loud into your ears so that you won't have an ear to hear the truth when it's presented. Treasure up wisdom, and heed His word. It's the only way to protect yourself.

Recently, conservative writers Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant were brought before the Canadian Parliament because of remarks they had made regarding militant Islam and the threat that they pose to the West. You can find all the videos here, but I'll just post this one of Mark Steyn's testimony:



The reason they were brought in is because they were asked to comment on the Canadian Human Rights Commission and their censorship powers. They were asked to testify regarding freedom of speech. In his Impromptus column earlier this week, Jay Nordlinger comments how interesting it is that nowadays "the burden of defending basic liberty has fallen to people known as right-wingers."

Interesting, indeed.