"The Journalistic Code Of Ethics"

[JohnnyRingo]

...clearly states in section 5, paragraph VII that: "No member of the State news agency Tass may address a party member with any question that may shed unfavorable light on the candidate or the Communist Party."

Unfortunately for Herman Cain, the Soviet Union is defunct, and with it that code of ethics. Where Cain's campaign manager found this document is a mystery to me. Perhaps it should be looked into.

Of course I'm kidding, but I can't fathom how absurd it is that a candidate for President of the United States thinks for a moment he can pre-approve questions at a press conference. Face time on TV is the very life blood of a campaign, and Cain thinks every appearance will be on his terms.

I have a theory: The press is much more savvy that the average citizen and they know Cain really isn't running. They know what I suspect, that Cain is playing the media to gain public exposure like Sarah did so he can find untold riches after he backs out, and most journalists don't like being played as the fool. In a way, when Cain claims the "liberal media" is out to destroy him he may have a point.

While the media didn't invent the charges against him, they certainly can highlight the events to smear him after he inevitably drops out. It's harder to get a job at Fox News or sell books if one is known more as a pervert than a staunch conservative. So far, Cain has played more victim cards than than a CSI writer. Today in a desparate move, he pulled the ace of walnuts out of his sock.

[RZM]

1. As an aside, the sad part is the clamp is back down on the media in Russia

It's not enshrined in law anymore, but it's more or less understood that you don't get too loose with the criticisms of the United Russia party in the media. The government has done a good job of buying shares in companies, installing cronies, and creating an environment where self-censorship is the norm.

Whenever the subject of RT (the Kremlin's English language outlet) comes up here, I try to let people know this, but they seem to not want to hear it.

I do agree that the media have never taken Cain seriously at all, even when he was at the top of the polls. No doubt today's revelations will be cause for much backslapping on their part. Of course, it's also true that there are a lot of rumors out there that take a while to see the light of day. Perhaps media insiders knew well in advance that a story like this was going to break eventually.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. That is sad. We've become jaded by the journalistic freedom we enjoy here.

Sure, there's bias in news, but it's usually represented by what they show instead of what they say. Fox News today, for instance, refused to air the Allred news conference. When Howard Dean was a front runner most outlets had his scream in continuous loop.

Our news media certainly deserves some criticism for the wicked power they wield, but that power is an unpleasant byproduct of the very freedom they enjoy. Fortunately, we have the freedom to filter out what we find incredible.

I also firmly believe the media here is less driven by ideology than ratings. Everybody now wants their clip on YouTube, and no media outlet has ever issued a cease & desist.