MEDIA CRISIS - Rep. Hinchey on the American Media Caucus

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MESSAGE FROM REP. MAURICE HINCHEY ON THE AMERICAN MEDIA CAUCUS

 

 

 

Dear Friends:

 

Thirty years ago a Republican Administration, hiding behind a thick smoke screen

of deception and outright lies sought to undermine our constitutional democratic

republic and create an imperial presidency. They may have succeeded, except that

in the 1970s America had a stronger, freer and more independent press.

 

Two reporters for the Washington Post, informed by an unknown source, worked

against the odds, and in spite of personal danger, to reveal the corruption of

that administration to the American people. Now we know the identity of that

source to have been the second ranking official at the FBI, whose courage and

determination put Bernstein and Woodward on the proper path and helped them to

reveal the crimes of cover-up and misuse of power that threatened American

rights and freedoms.

 

The revelation of W. Mark Felts' identity and the reminder of those events more

than three decades ago could not be more timely. The threats to our constitution

and country - as well as to our security - are even more deep and dangerous

today than they were then. And countering those threats by those who truly love

our country and appreciate what it has always stood for is proving to be even

more difficult.

 

That is because the lessons of Watergate have not been lost on the manipulators

within the administration of George W. Bush. Immediately upon taking office they

cowed and intimidated those holding the most powerful and sensitive positions -

recall George Tenent, CIA Director, telling Mr. Bush that the " intelligence " he

wanted on Iraq was " a slam dunk " - until they could replace them with the pawns

and sycophants who hold those posts today. Their intimidation of the media

including PBS has been more aggressive and so far, more successful than those of

Richard Nixon's, who tried to shut down Public Broa! dcasting in the early

1970s.

 

Why are they going after PBS? Because every poll shows that Americans named PBS

as their most " trusted " source of news, more trustworthy than any of the

networks or cable channels! Kenneth Tomlinson, the new Republican Chairman of

the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is trying to forge an environment that

will make it impossible for PBS to live up to its mandate to be a free,

educational, and apolitical source of information and entertainment for

Americans. We must not allow that to happen!

 

That is why I have just formed a new organization within the House of

Representatives called the Future of American Media Caucus, which will focus a

bright light on the government's efforts to manipulate our sources of

information and control what Americans see and hear, and therefore understand.

Any authority which can control the information people receive can ultimately

control the ideas they hold. It was that strategy that was used so successfully

by both fascism and communism to consolidate power in parts of Europe and Asia

in the 20th century. And it was a variation on that strategy that enabled the

Bush Administration to convince the majority of the Congress as well as most

Americans that their rationale for war in Iraq was sound and sincere.

 

Almost every thoughtful American now knows that was not true. The most recent

compelling evidence - following much more proceeding it - is The secret Downing

Street memo, which shows how " Bush wanted to remove Saddam " and how " the

intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy " .

 

Throughout history there have been only two ways to govern: by consent or by

fear. The radical Republicans in Washington have moved us away from consent. We

must not be fearful in opposing them.

 

I am deeply grateful for your help and support which enables me to continue this

work.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey

 

 

 

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