Media a fifth column against the GOP

An incident during the Republican convention this week demonstrates the “fifth column,” which Republicans find arrayed against them. Most conservatives recognize this fifth column as the news media.

Having dominated the press and broadcast media for a generation now, they have successfully demonized Republicans and conservatism. For years they have stealthily manipulated and spun how events and individuals are covered. Sometimes, success breeds carelessness and the perpetrators fall out of the closet. Take David Chalian, for example. During a Monday night Internet broadcast by ABC and Yahoo, Chalian fell victim to the dreaded open microphone. Referring to Mitt and Ann Romney and the tropical storm Isaac, Chalian says, “They aren’t concerned at all. They are happy to have a party when black people drown.” Others with the “unbiased” collective laughed along with him.

Chalian was, until Wednesday, Yahoo! News Washington bureau chief.

According to the bio at the Georgetown University website (he is on the faculty there!), he directs coverage across all broadcast and digital platforms, previously served as the political editor for the PBS “NewsHour,” managing editorial content regarding Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court.

Before that, he was political director for ABC News where he “… helped oversee the editorial content of all political news across ABC News’ broadcasts and platforms.”

He received an Emmy Award nomination as a member of the team that traveled to Alaska to produce the first television interview with vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Hmmm.

That’s quite a lot of control over what kind of perspective reaches the public. It’s even more disconcerting if you consider that there is certainly more than one flea on Fido!

Decide for yourself whether Mr. Chalian was terminated because of his comment or because of the open microphone.

ROBERT BROWN

Leesburg