Louisiana Voice

(I am no longer active with LouisianaVoice but I am leaving it open to guest columnists who wish to use the platform for their posts. Following is one such guest post by Stephen Winham, retired Director of the Executive Budget Office for the State of Louisiana.)

Tom Aswell

By Stephen Winham     

Our former POTUS knows that when it comes to getting elected, what the media says about you matters much less than the simple fact they are talking about you. Trump is the ringmaster of a circus all the media love – left, right and center– and he loves them back, even while pretending to be the victim if he is even mildly criticized.

Constant coverage keeps Mr. Trump exactly where he wants to be – at the very top of the news. Thanks to years of coverage of his increasingly outrageous publicity stunts and other questionable activities, he can thank the media for his election as POTUS in the first place and for his continued relevance today.

After all, what in the world could possibly be more important than what Mr. Trump did today? [Yes, Virginia, that is sarcasm] Constant coverage of Mr. Trump helps the media in many ways. As just one example, a lot of money is saved from not having to adequately cover a variety of events here and worldwide.

Some events just might be of greater import than showing the exterior of a courthouse for hours and then following the former president’s motorcade from the courthouse to the airport, ala the 1994 slow pursuit of OJ on LA and Orange County freeways. Then, of course, it was necessary to get totally predictable quotes from his attorneys on the tarmac and cover the takeoff of the TRUMP jet.

Since we no longer have a fairness doctrine, it is not necessary for media to attempt objectivity as they compete with one another. Each is free to tailor its coverage to its audience’s political bias. If the audience seems to be drifting away, it is easy enough to shift focus, or even go in reverse.  Right now, the top news everywhere is Mr. Trump and people are perceived to be fascinated by him. As long as that is true, media will capitalize on it.

Okay, so we know who the winners are here – Trump and the media in a deeply symbiotic relationship. Who are the losers? Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding…you got it – us.

Mr. Trump and the media deepen and widen the chasms that were once cracks in our society. I ask you; how does this help us? Is it a good thing that lifelong friendships are the victims of political ideology? That we can no longer civilly discuss, much less agree or even compromise on things that are existentially vital?

How can we possibly deny that the media and powerful politicians are responsible for dividing this country, or, at the very least, fanning the flames of internal discord? And who seems to be the most powerful politician in this country? The same person who is profiting from an indictment for what his supporters and many others consider to be a minor indiscretion – His very own favorite President, Mr. Trump.

Meanwhile, the current POTUS isn’t even afforded the respect due his office, further weakening his ability to lead. The media largely treat him as irrelevant, and the pundits treat him even worse. Even his supporters are lukewarm to him, at best. His age is certainly working to his disadvantage, but he seems to be trying his best and is a decent human being who does not lie as a default response. Nor does he routinely exhibit pettiness and cruelty.

[I know, I know. Mr. Trump did not receive the respect his supporters believe he should have when he was POTUS. I think he got much more respect than he deserved.]

Trump is treating the current indictment as a tempest in a teapot and his followers are agreeing. It is easy to predict he will capitalize on any additional indictments and even on any convictions. In the unlikely event he ever goes to jail, he will achieve the epitome of political martyrdom in the hearts and minds of his supporters.

The United States is progressively losing respect in the world. Mr. Trump should accept significant responsibility for this, and so should the media. The difference is that the media should not be expected to promote the United States as a world leader. As POTUS emeritus, Trump should. Rather than do so, he makes clear arguments that the United States is in horrible shape and going down the tubes in the absence of his presidency. Is that a good message to send to this country, much less the rest of the world? Should we care what the rest of the world thinks of us? We absolutely should and so should all our elected officials. We live on one planet.

Some say we have the country we deserve. Unfortunately, they’re right. We elect and re-elect people who serve themselves, and their political masters. We come in second, at best, and the media accepts it as normal. Politicians are given free publicity and the more outrageous their campaigns, the more publicity they get.

We need to break this cycle. I am not so naïve as to believe Donald Trump and his toadies should not be covered at all. But, please, does he have to be shoved down our throats continuously, particularly when he shows utter disregard for the truth or anything else that might have positive consequences?

Aren’t there important and real issues out there around which we could theoretically unite for the greater good? Will we ever again  have an opportunity to vote for and elect a candidate for President who we can really feel good about? Will the media ever regain its credibility and balance? It really depends on us.