The media seems infatuated with the narrative that ‘false equivalency’ is fair and balanced. I feel I am being forced into the “what about-ism” I despise, but I am left with no choice. The last three Democratic presidential hopefuls (two of whom were voted into office) were dogged with a made-up scandal that had the press chasing the car for months, in some cases years, only to catch it and be left howling at the moon. The unfortunate death of American envoy J. Christopher Stevens and three others was investigated for years by partisan Republicans, all for political advantage. Although the Benghazi attack occurred in the Obama administration, the GOP launched the first torpedo of scandal at Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s bow, submarining her 2016 presidential bid. This, despite over eleven hours of unflappable testimony before one of the multiple Benghazi committee hearings.
Meanwhile, the murder of a Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi[by the Saudis], was, at best, ignored and at worst condoned by President Trump.
An imagined email kerfuffle followed that so-called scandal. Unfortunately, the concerted efforts of Republicans and Russian interference scuttled Clinton’s hopes to be the first woman elected President of the United States. Conversely, the Trump administration repeatedly violated email policy with no consequence; In addition, Mr. Trump took home boxes of [C]lassified documents following his loss to Joe Biden. As with most things, Clinton and Trump—his lies were rewarded for their brazenness, while Ms. Clinton’s every utterance was examined for a hidden meaning.
Now the press is chomping at the bit to leave the gate and run down President Joe Biden for the alleged transgressions of his son Hunter Biden. So far, the evidence has been innuendo, unverified information—supposedly from Hunter Biden’s laptop computer and GOP soliloquy. That seems to be enough for the press, trying desperately to find a counter-narrative to the unhinged actions and reactions of—Republican—Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni. For the sake of argument, let us say Hunter Biden accepted money based on his relationship with his father. Ivanka and Jared Kushner provably took advantage of the Trump name to get brand patents from the Chinese and a financial bailout from the Qatari government. Where was the equivalent outrage?
Contrariwise, Jared Kushner, who could not gain White House security clearance, had an unprecedented portfolio given to him by his father-in-law. Mr. Trump granted Mr. Kushner’s security clearance despite objections by the FBI and his advisers. Joe Biden did not attempt to bring his son into his administration, mainly, I believe, because Mr. Biden views nepotism negatively, and he recognized his son’s qualifications were lacking. If you watch the morning Sunday gabfest, as I do ritualistically, the conversations usually go like this:
Head: Joe Biden has raised wages, cut unemployment, and reduced the deficit; next, we will bring on a Republican to tell you why these are all terrible things. We will be back right after this word from Oil, Gas, Coal, and Pharmaceuticals.
Republican Shill: Biden is the devil.
Legitimate criticism is the media’s job, but one would think that after nonstop genuflecting at the feet of Trump for ratings, the press would learn a lesson. Instead, we are resigned to the words of former CBS executive Les Moonves, “It may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” he said.
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