Yes – I was a Hillary supporter for the Presidential election. Yes – I think she is smart and competent. She would have made a better president domestically – foreign policy – questionable; perhaps the same as Obama and his advisors. She’s tied herself to this administration. Still, because I like and admire her – I give her slack. She is working in the world muck – we are sitting outside in the clearer air. But, as I said she’s tied herself to Obama Brand policies.
No matter that (and please don’t make this a flame diary about Hillary) – she gets what’s going on as to the foreign tv presence in our midst. Thank God say I – though I suppose most politicians and American pundits haven’t recognized yet that we are falling behind in newsgathering and televising points of view, and we are eating oil soaked dust.
I watch RT News every day for at least l/2 hour and often more – I go to Max Keiser’s televised spots at least twice a week on my computer. More importantly, more and more people (not even mildly left) are watching. I recently had a conversation at the train stop with a nice, nonpolitical woman who is avidly watching RT. (I didn’t know this stuff, says she.) I have given up on non-cable news channels. I won’t go to NPR since they hired several military officers in the ramp up of the Iraqi invasion – no. Not too much on the other side as I recall – the rational side. Frontline does good work – and of course, I miss Mr. Moyers. MSNBC is a distracting noise – giving us the false impression that one of media MOTU is listening to us. Really, that was only an executive corporate decision “Let’s give them this so they’ll be quiet.” (This is how cynical I’ve become.)
But Hillary understands more and more Americans and other Westeners are watching the foreign news channels. RT is where a viewer could learn, for instance, that homeless people in New York have a lottery at shelters to see who gets in for the cold nights. And right now an enlightening program is up on the Chicago Grain Exchange and world hunger. They have well put-together slices of Russian life as well – travelling all over Russia, focusing on the best of Russia’s culture and cottage industries – no doubt fostering travel. I want to go to St. Petersburg next year (though because of Tolstoy, not RT.) During the ramp up to the Iraqi War, BBC and the Canadian Public radio stations were a balm making that horror more bearable, and for that there is gratitude. But BBC is not as sharp as it once was – sounds tired and trying to please the MOTU (only with a British accent which is always a plus).
So when Hillary says in a congressional hearing that we are falling behind and specifically mentions RT News, she is right. She has watched it and said it was “instructive.” In other words, she gets it. It is instructive. Now does the government want the populace here to get it – nope. What she wants is a superduper American channel like these foreign outlets to get the American point of view out. As long as we continue to send the marines and ships out to oil rich countries – well, let’s say it’s gonna be a hard sell.
Question: How do we hide invasions, torture, whistleblower hunting season, drones, the death of the middle class and the rise of a corporate and slave society? Answer – we can’t hide all of it of course. And why would they put it out there for all to see? (See Julian Assange and Bradley Manning) Thank God there are still good, honest journalists here. But those journalists won’t be on the news outlet she is proposing. Nay – but it gives me a bit of pleasure. At least Hillary gets it.
And here’s a thought: Michael Moore, Matt Tabbai, Chris Hayes, Glenn Greenwald won’t be getting spots on that news outlet. Ya think.