CNN's Don Lemon: "You Weigh How Much You Should Criticize The President Because He's Black"
Lemon spends over minute explaining why he should cut Obama slack, seems to realize the potential snare and throws in one line about "but you have to criticize him because you're a journalist", but as a viewer I'm still left with the stench of knowing that any criticism has been muted because of the president's skin color. That is exactly why affirmative action is such a horrible idea and is in fact denigrating to those who are supposed to be its beneficiaries.
I'm reminded of a line from the movie Stand and Deliver, a line which I'll paraphrase here:
"There are two types of racism Mr. Escalante--singling out a group of people because they are members of a minority, and not singling out a group of people because they are members of a minority."Mr. Lemon advocates practicing the latter.
2 comments:
What struck me about the interview was that Lemon felt his views were important to consider rather then a bothersome source of subjectivity. He was explaining what he thought on the subject and why what he thought was a worthwhile consideration in how he reported the story.
That's not journalism. That's punditry.
What's embodied in the quote, and the video, is the realization that the latter undercuts the credibility of the former and all the former, the journalist, really has to offer is their credibility.
Lemon may be clever enough to put his horrified realization safely behind him and engage again in punditry disguised as journalism with a clear conscience but it'll require an effort of will and the help of friends.
It depends on how courageous Mr. Lemon happens to be.
I'm pretty sure he understands the sh*tstorm he'd endure if he began reporting faithfully, ignoring his duties as a lefty so he may compromise and hate himself for not having the courage to do the right thing. After all, he's got the example of Bernie Goldberg and Juan Williams as a guide.
Stephen Colbert ... a paraphrase: you're black? I can't tell, because I don't see color. People tell me I'm white, but I don't know for sure ...
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