In anticipation of a Donald Trump victory, we’re entering another media news cycle of “Give us another chance!” No thanks!
Following several days of insufferable whining from Washington Post writers, the publication’s owner, Jeff Bezos, felt compelled to explain why he directed his paper’s editorial board not to issue an endorsement of Kamala Harris. He explained that “what presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias.”
True. We have no idea who the Post’s preferred candidate is now that they won’t be explicitly endorsing one. The Post endorsed Barack Obama twice, Hillary Clinton, and then Joe Biden (and also propagated the Russia hoax), but it’s entirely possible the Post is now pro-Trump. I guess we’ll never know, though.
Bezos went on to say his intention for his paper was to transform it into “a credible, trusted, independent voice.” I’m sorry, baby, but it’s just too late for that. For that statement to hold any weight at all Bezos would have had to fire every single one of the entitled dopes who publicly disparaged his decision. He pays their salaries — the paper is a multimillion-dollar loser — and allows them to openly question his judgment? No one can take him seriously, least of all when he says there’s a course correction afoot.
Enhancing the hilarity of the situation, The New York Times last week said Bezos “is interested in expanding The Post’s audience among conservatives” and that he “informed” Post management “that he wants more conservative writers on the opinion section.”
Get fired up, people. The Post is about to bring on some strong talent, tried and true conservatives like Alyssa Farrah Griffin of ABC’s “The View” or hanger-on Joe Walsh.
That’s how this always works. Some formerly prestigious news operation finds itself in an existential crisis, as they all did in 2016, and vows to undergo a period of self-reflection. It promises to demonstrate its even-handedness by platforming atypical voices, then invariably hires someone like Bret Stephens or David French. The Times gave itself a hard pat on the back when it took on those two gooners who have always hated Donald Trump and who spend 90 percent of their working hours declaring how disappointed they are in conservatives, Republicans, and right-wingers — plus advocating for their electoral defeat.
CNN also said it wanted “conservative” reporters. That’s how we got KaitLAN Collins and her eyebrows reliably beginning every sentence she reads off the teleprompter with some variation of “Trump falsely claimed …” or “Republican X continued spreading disinformation related to …”
They don’t hire conservatives, Republicans, or right-wingers. They hire amoral, trainable typists who say whatever is necessary for six figures and ongoing cable news appearances.
It’s pathetic for the people who get hired, but it’s another lifeline for bosses like Bezos. He shouldn’t get to have another lifeline. His publication needs to die and so do the rest.
