The White House this week advised mainstream media outlets against taking the Fox News Channel and its stories seriously. This would, of course,  include stories like the ACORN scandal and the opinions of former Obama “Green Jobs” czar Van Jones who resigned amidst relevations relating to his signature on a petition endorsing a 9/11 conspiracy theory. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has it right that this pronouncement by the Obama administration is a matter about which to be concerned.  

Presidents have a history of preferring some media outlets and personalities over others. However, such preferences are not the issue. Rather, President Obama seems to have a problem with people willing to question his policy proposals, political connections, or choice of advisors. Such a sentiment is disturbing, but not as disturbing as the prospect of widespread media complacency on the issue.

To be fair, President Obama has had to deal with warrantless accusations regarding his place of birth stemming from the campaign. However, on this issue, respectable media outlets, including those now being targeted by the White House, have concluded that the accusations made by birthers have no merit. Journalists came to this proper conclusion by investigating. Yet, it is investigating that the current U.S. administration seems to abhor. On this basis, it must be concluded that the White House pronouncement with respect to Rupert Murdoch’s U.S. television interest has nothing to do with fringe kookery.

If Barack Obama did not want to face criticism for his actions as President of the United States, then he ought to not have sought the office. Every public official should be open to criticism, regardless of their ideological or political orientation. Media leaders should be willing to question the policy priorities and personnel of any and all administrations. Yet, some days it is difficult to accept that most in the “responsible” media know that there is more to the U.S. Constitution than the First Amendment.

Take for example House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s recent statement that the “general welfare” clause of the preamble to the U.S. Constitution justifies state-centric health care reform. Any responsible journalist would, instead of taking Hoyer at his word, postulate whether or not that means health care reform should prohibit all medical abortions in the United States due to the stated goal of said constitution to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. Even individuals who support health care reform proposals that enhance the role of the state at the expense of the individual and the private sector should be reasonable enough to admit that there is no explicit constitutional support for this particular policy goal.

Some of the criticism of the White House that has materialized as a result of its Fox News diktat argued that the White House has strengthened rather than weakened the targeted network with its remarks. This point is certainly valid, and all of cable news is rife with absurdities these days, but it is not the fault of the White House that Fox News is popular. While certain commentators may believe that the issue is about cable news talk show hosts, the current administration seems to have nothing against MSNBC or CNN. Indeed, the Fox News Channel is popular precisely because it is willing to challenge the present administration in ways which any responsible journalist should.

The challenging of assumptions made by others is at the essence of democracy; debate is not possible if every leader is taken at his word. A reporter reports on that which has occurred; a journalist investigates, and reports on his inquiry. Said journalist would not be conducting an investigation if he only sincerely pursued a single side of any given story.

Maybe it is a mistake to question the White House on this particular matter. There could all be a rational explanation for their actions. It may not be that President Obama wants to avoid having his actions scrutinized. Instead, it may just be that with the rapid growth of government under the current administration that President Obama and his advisors assumed that old media was one of the sectors of the economy now under their control. Such is an easy mistake to make these days. The president and his staff are only human after all, just like everyone else.

Last 5 posts by James Kane

• In Defense of Michael Steele - July 9th, 2010
• McDonald and Kagan - July 2nd, 2010
• The Petraeus Dilemma. - June 23rd, 2010
• On Paul and Blumenthal - May 22nd, 2010
• Lessons from Arizona - May 12th, 2010