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In reply to the discussion: Don't link to COUNTERPUNCH. It's a far-RW racist trojan horse (No Click On It) [View all]JonLP24
(29,322 posts)This is Nixonian 101 right here
Nixon Is Gone, but His Media Strategy Lives On
Forty years after Watergate, presidential suspicion of reporters and attempts to keep the press at arm's length remain high.
Richard Nixon left the White House in disgrace 40 years ago this month, but the war he launched against journalists has continued under Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and other recent presidents.
Nixons resignation is remembered as a great victory for the media. Investigations by Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, and other reporters helped expose the White House crime spree that caused the presidents downfall. Even though he lost his battle to remain in power, Nixons way of handling the press has prevailed in American politics. Intimidating journalists, avoiding White House reporters, staging events for televisionnow common presidential practiceswere all originally Nixonian tactics.
Nixon would enjoy the frustration many reporters feel toward the Obama White House. This summer 38 news organizations sent Obama a letter protesting his administrations obstruction of journalists. The news groups complained of officials blackballing reporters, delaying interviews until after deadlines had passed, and preventing staff experts from talking with journalists. For example, they said the Environmental Protection Agency refused to answer questions about the mishandling of hazardous waste despite repeated requests from reporters.
Obamas predecessor, George W. Bush, repeated many of Nixons argumentsprotecting national security and executive privilegeto keep information about his administration secret. Bush bluntly told reporters he did not think they represented the public, echoing the adversarial relationship cultivated by Nixon.
The perpetually insecure Nixon was sure reporters were out to get him. After voters rejected his 1962 bid to become Californias governor, he accused journalists of being delighted that I lost, ignoring the fact that most of the states major newspapers endorsed him. You wont have Nixon to kick around anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.
Nixon read a summary of each mornings news and then directed his staff how to respond, noting in the margins which reporters he liked and disliked.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/08/nixons-revenge-his-media-strategy-triumphs-40-years-after-resignation/375274/
Sounds like Saudi Arabia to be honest.