Controlling the message

UNIVERSAL REMOTE

If nothing else, the Libby trial is affording the hoi polloi a look into the cozy relationship that the media have with the federal government. As Tim Ruttan of the LA Times said on the NewsHour last night:

I think we see the picture of a certain strata of the Washington press corps which has a certain relationship with people in the administration at its highest level based on access and mutual convenience. It's not a pretty picture ...

[I]f you stand back from what occurred during those months [immediately after the Plame outing], you have the picture of a number of high level Washington correspondents, very fine news organizations, who were essentially missing the story in the interests of preserving their access.

It can't be stated much plainer than that. When the messenger is controlling the message, it's pretty hard for us peones to have a glimmer of what's going on.

Thank goodness for Internet sites such as Media Matters, Daily Howler, and Editor and Publisher for trying to get their readers past the smoke and mirrors.