Brit Hume gives his colleagues in the media a professional courtesy they don’t deserve
Asked about Schiff’s comments, Hume replied, “What he says flies in the face, of course, of the IG report but it also flies in the face of the much derided Devin Nunes memo that grew out of the Nunes-led House Intelligence Committee investigation…and the whole Trump-Russia affair.” He added, “For Schiff now to claim, when he not only saw what Nunes said but published a memo of his own rebutting it, that he didn’t know about those abuses is preposterous!”…
“Do you think he’ll get called on the carpet by anybody who has been following this story for two years?” Bream asked.
“Well, one of the wonders, to me, of modern media is the failure of my colleagues in this business to see through this guy Schiff,” Hume said. “He has been dishonest repeatedly. He made extravagant claims about the amount of evidence he had of Russia collusion, evidence that it turned out that not even the Mueller team with all of its investigative powers did not discover and that he, Schiff, never specified. Of course the report came out and basically blew up this whole Russia collusion theory.
“Now comes this whole question of FISA abuse and he’s still telling whoppers about that. It’s amazing that he isn’t called out.
I don’t think Hume really considers that his colleagues “fail to see through” Schiff. He’s basically calling them fools rather than knaves, but I think he actually knows what’s going on. He’s just too polite to say it.
The vast majority of the members of the MSM are not reporters or journalists or truth-seekers. They are propagandists for the left. They went into journalism to spread the partisan word, and they are adept at pushing and giving credence to whatever they think will help the cause, whether it’s true or not, and ignoring or trying to discredit that which doesn’t help the cause, whether it’s true or not. If they push something that turns out to be untrue and are exposed as having supported a liar, they are as loathe to admit it as the liar is. They usually just go on to focus on the next propaganda point.
The same dire situation exists in the world of higher education, almost completely corrupted now by the ideology of “social justice”, i.e. hard-left identity politics, sometimes labelled Cultural Marxism. The always-brilliant Heather Mac Donald has just published (in City Journal) a remarkable (yet completely dispiriting) essay entitled “The Cost of America’s Cultural Revolution”, in which she laments the fact that SJWs “are stripping the future of everything that gives human life meaning: beauty, sublimity and wit.”
Brit Hume is a Virginia gentleman (UVA-’65), and will always speak in measured tones. Throughout the history of civilized society this would be considered an attribute. But, as demonstrated during the Presidencies of Bush 41 and Bush 43 it was seen as weakness.
Nevertheless, I value Hume’s opinion, and am always glad to see it; even if I have to parse his words a bit. I wish he were still a regular on FNC.
(I lived for couple of decades in Fauquier County Virginia, where there is a small community named Hume, which he lived near to. I never had the opportunity to confirm if it were named for his family. My wife saw him once in the Library–where he was reportedly a frequent patron–but respected his privacy.)
The cabal always has its original narrative. One of the media’s more powerful weapons are it’s selective omissions. An extension to the selective omission weapon is the tainted source and smearing the investigator.
There are many relevant facts that the MSM will hide, but they will also repeatedly warn you against going outside “the cool people” bubble to look for information. The cool people will excommunicate you if you do.
Bill Barr was a wonderful choice for AG, until he began to speak about spying on a presidential campaign. Now, not only should you not believe him, you must not listen to anything he says. People should not be allowed to even turn on the Fox News channel. Schiff was just maintaining his purity by not listening to Nunes.
Dems don’t just deny inconvenient facts, they “disappear” them, if they can
Recall one of the primary thrusts of Comey’s interview with C. Wallace. The FBI maybe made a few honest mistakes, but I was defamed by the evil President Trump AND the evil Fox News. Spying, treason, and wire-tapping, Oh my! How dare they!
The possibility occurs to me, that while Horowitz’s reluctance to attribute bias or malice to the events in his report were seized on by the Dems as a vindication, it also appears that they can’t really smear Horowitz or the report. They can’t say Horowitz is some hyper partisan that must be ignored. Though Comey did his best to wriggle around the more thorny parts of it.
“I don’t think Hume really considers that his colleagues “fail to see through” Schiff. He’s basically calling them fools rather than knaves, but I think he actually knows what’s going on. He’s just too polite to say it.” neo
I agree. Which makes Hume a fool because if the Left gets its way, he’ll be sent to one of the reeducation camps. As, to fight by the Marquis of Queensbury rules when faced with a murderous opponent is the mark of a fool.
“Bill Barr was a wonderful choice for AG, until he began to speak about spying on a presidential campaign. Now, not only should you not believe him, you must not listen to anything he says. People should not be allowed to even turn on the Fox News channel.” TommyJay
Not sure I follow but if I do… how does speaking about “spying on a presidential campaign” disqualify Barr from serious consideration? Since when does speaking demonstrable truths equate to not believing the truth? Since when is exclusion of a point of view American?
As for Fox, “People should not be allowed to even turn on the Fox News channel.” are you serious? Fox has never been conservative and was heavily RINO under Murdoch senior and increasingly liberal under his sons, but since when is banning the watching of Fox wise? Much less Constitutional?
Geoffrey,
I’m referring to the point of view of the Dems, the MSM, i.e. the cabal.
I completely agree that Fox News has a host of problems, but it is possible to get some real information there. I don’t know about your community, but in mine if you mention something that you saw on Fox News you will likely hear an audible gasp, possibly followed by the other person taking two steps away from you.
Have you not heard Democrats vilifying AG Barr, when previously he was OK in their book. Why is that?
I thought the context was clear, but I guess I was too slick/sloppy. I hope that clarifies.
“The vast majority of the members of the MSM are not reporters or journalists or truth-seekers. They are propagandists for the left. They went into journalism to spread the partisan word” –Neo
You make a good point about Hume, Neo, and it is one of his more attractive qualities — even though Geoffrey Britain is absolutely right that it would not save him from some of his colleagues sending him to the gulag if they got the chance.
I wanted to take issue with a minor point in your commentary above. I don’t think most “reporters” went into journalism to spread the partisan word. Some did, but most are just typical followers who pick up the prevailing viewpoints as quickly as possible to blend in. Starting as teenagers; and in J-school, especially. Then they see who is succeeding and those, in these latter years, are all libby liberals. So they take on that coloration and try to do exactly the same. Like Norah O’Donnell, for example, who did not start out so lefty, iirc, but kept moving farther along the spectrum as she got more air time, or vice versa.
But I really mean the underlings who fill up blog and clickie positions and eventually get a chance at the WaPo or its equivalents. These people just wanted to hear themselves talk, or see their words in print, and gravitated to the clearest winning formula for doing that. Most have less ideology than they do self-promotion.
Objective reporting is close to extinct. I don’t know if there is much chance of its making a comeback, but one of the few good aspects of the assortment who clog the remnants of the industry is that their convictions are so self-serving. Many of them could shift in a different direction if the wind were to swing in that way for a sustained period. With some leadership on the real center and the right, that could happen at some future point. We are near the end of the line on the current garbage, I think, and this whole episode with the DNC, the coup, and the impeachment is going to do major, lasting damage to the journo-lefties implicated in it. It is already hurting the properties that employ and publish them. They can’t influence almost anyone anymore. So, in a better world someday, the proven traditions might reappear.
PS Norah O’Donnell could be a beautiful woman; but looking at a page of her photos, it is amazing how little “person” seems to exist behind that ultra-polished exterior. I don’t feel any. Just an aside!
I am shocked that Geoffrey Britain would call Brit Hume a fool. I would go so far as to say thai is foolishness.
Hume may not spray spittle, and get wild eyed when he speaks; but, for the audience he addresses he doesn’t need those theatrics; and people who are impressed by such would never listen to him.
I am also shocked that anyone would not consider FNC conservative under Murdoch senior and Ailes. The current iteration of FNC is somewhat different.
Although I am an “Originalist” with respect to the constitution; prefer small government; am pro gun rights; and oppose abortion for convenience, could it be that I am not sufficiently conservative because I admire Hume, and trusted Ailes’s FNC?
………..Fox News has a host of problems
Fox Corporation (abbreviated Fox Corp. and informally “New Fox”; simply called as Fox) is an American media company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was formed from the 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox (itself formed from the 2013 split of News Corporation) by The Walt Disney Company. Fox Corp. was spun off from 21st Century Fox and its stock began trading on March 19, 2019. It is owned by the Murdoch family via a family trust with 39% interest; Rupert Murdoch is co-executive chairman, while his son Lachlan Murdoch is chairman and CEO.
Its sister company under Murdoch’s control, the present-day News Corp, holds his print interests and other media assets.
News Corp (2013–present)
Its notable assets include Dow Jones & Company (publisher of The Wall Street Journal), News UK (publisher of The Sun and The Times), News Corp Australia, Realtor.com as well as book publisher HarperCollins.
The company consists primarily of the former News Corp’s newspaper and book publishing assets, and includes:[11][28]
Dow Jones & Company, a New York City-based financial publisher, and owners of the Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch and Barron’s
News Corp Australia, an Australian newspaper and magazine publisher, and owners of Fox Sports Australia and a stake in pay-TV provider Foxtel and classifieds company REA Group
News UK, a British newspaper publisher (includes subsidiary News Ireland)
New York Post, a daily newspaper in New York City acquired by Rupert Murdoch in 1976.
HarperCollins, a major book trade publisher
News America Marketing, a distributor of advertising and coupon promotions
Wireless Group, a British radio station group
Less is more.
When you listen to what Hume says, the wheels start to turn in your head. He is saying fools, but aren’t they really knaves? And what if they aren’t knaves, but merely fools? Why should pay any attention to what they are saying in either case?
That is slipping the knife in with no fuss at all.
Wow, Norah! What happened to your head?! Haven’t seen her lately until she suddenly came into “Survivor:SJW!” to give the “historic” news last night.
To Oldflyer, I read Geoffrey Britain’s comment to mean that Brit Hume is old-school. And to be old-school is to be at risk of any number of punishments, from impeachment to exile to the gulag, under the new rules. There is no such thing as colleagues anymore when ideology is in question.
Even “Survivor: SJW!” had its own impeachment this season.
I saw a tweet of WaPo Staff celebrating their “victory”. There is not even a pretense of impartiality.
I imagine there’s a whole lot of exultation out there.
Which makes a very sad day in American history that much sadder….
My suggestion for them would be to exult while the exultin’s good.