On Bended Knees

If anyone doubts that the Mainstream Media (MSM) has given up the fight to remain relevant, the February 25 Lou Dobbs Tonight show erased those doubts.

Rather than being a forum to bring news and information to the public, the show became a propaganda vehicle for the GOP. Substituting for Lou Dobbs was Kitty Pilgrim and she interviewed Charlie Jarvis, Chairman & CEO of USA NEXT.

USA Today reported that USA Next is the group that plans an initial $10 million campaign accusing AARP of a "shameful record of liberal activism," including backing gay marriage. USA Next had an Internet ad last week that asserted AARP supports gay marriage. It included a picture of two men kissing at what appeared to be their wedding over the words, "The real AARP agenda."

Laughable as it may seem that people would believe such nonsense, many of those involved in the USA Next campaign are alumni of the Swift Boat ad campaign which used lies and distortions to hurt John Kerry's presidential campaign and may have provided the key difference in Bush tiny win in Ohio which put him over the top.

So on Lou Dobbs, with a chance to challenge the ads, Kitty gave up and instead asked the following "tough question."

Let me ask you a tough one, though. Some of the your consultants advised the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. That turned into a very, very ugly fight. Do you anticipate this becoming as vituperative as that previous problem?

Not 'while your Kerry ads were successful, they were discredited, and will that hurt the effectiveness of the new ads?'

Not 'why is you ad untruthful?'

Not even 'are you going to make this discussion as ugly as the presidential campaign?'

Instead it was - will this be 'vituperative,' like anyone is going to know what that means (containing or characterized by verbal abuse).

After turning the show over to Jarvis Kitty closed with Well, we encourage energetic debate on this program certainly.

We encourage energetic debate? Not on this day.