When Paul Krugman published a column collection on C-Plus Augustus, as Charlie Pierce called Shrub (thanks, Molly Ivins), Russell Baker (all rise) reviewed it. A letter writer wondered about his criticisms of the media. Baker responded that “something more fundamental than household economics may be reshapi…
When Paul Krugman published a column collection on C-Plus Augustus, as Charlie Pierce called Shrub (thanks, Molly Ivins), Russell Baker (all rise) reviewed it. A letter writer wondered about his criticisms of the media. Baker responded that “something more fundamental than household economics may be reshaping journalistic attitudes toward public issues. Today’s top-drawer Washington news people are part of a highly educated, upper-middle-class elite; they belong to the culture for which the American political system works exceedingly well. Which is to say, they are, in the pure sense of the word, extremely conservative.
“Most probably passed childhood in economically sheltered times, came to adulthood in the years of plenty, went to good colleges where they developed conventionally progressive social consciences, and have now inherited the comforting benefits that 60 years of liberal government have created for the middle class.
“This is not a background likely to produce angry reporters and aggressive editors. If few made much fuss about President Bush’s granting boons to those already rolling in money, their silence may not have been because they feared the vengeance of bosses, but only because the capacity for outrage had been bred out of them....”
Tim Rutten of The Los Angeles Times smelled a story there and talked with Baker, who said of the DC press corpse (thanks, Brother Cleaver), "they lack empathy for the rest of the country. If you’ve never lacked health insurance -- and most reporters and editors never have -- you don’t understand what it means for the 43 million Americans who are doing without it, any more than the Congress does.” He also said, "The old-timers I met on those trips were an odd mixture. Many had only high school educations. One very good correspondent for the Scripps chain had spent the Depression pounding out tunes on a piano in a five-and-dime. They had a raffish but informative experience of the world that is very hard for journalists to acquire now. When I started out as a police reporter, I lived next door to a cop. Reporters don’t come out of those neighborhoods nowadays. We’ve all moved uptown. Today, reporters join clubs. They play golf.”
They are paid better, and they make extra spouting off on TV. This is the pluperfect description of what has gone wrong in DC.
Thanks. Of course, the source is Baker, not me! I applaud the reporter for seeing the review and doing something with it. I can get you the originals if you like.
I am reminded of something ....
When Paul Krugman published a column collection on C-Plus Augustus, as Charlie Pierce called Shrub (thanks, Molly Ivins), Russell Baker (all rise) reviewed it. A letter writer wondered about his criticisms of the media. Baker responded that “something more fundamental than household economics may be reshaping journalistic attitudes toward public issues. Today’s top-drawer Washington news people are part of a highly educated, upper-middle-class elite; they belong to the culture for which the American political system works exceedingly well. Which is to say, they are, in the pure sense of the word, extremely conservative.
“Most probably passed childhood in economically sheltered times, came to adulthood in the years of plenty, went to good colleges where they developed conventionally progressive social consciences, and have now inherited the comforting benefits that 60 years of liberal government have created for the middle class.
“This is not a background likely to produce angry reporters and aggressive editors. If few made much fuss about President Bush’s granting boons to those already rolling in money, their silence may not have been because they feared the vengeance of bosses, but only because the capacity for outrage had been bred out of them....”
Tim Rutten of The Los Angeles Times smelled a story there and talked with Baker, who said of the DC press corpse (thanks, Brother Cleaver), "they lack empathy for the rest of the country. If you’ve never lacked health insurance -- and most reporters and editors never have -- you don’t understand what it means for the 43 million Americans who are doing without it, any more than the Congress does.” He also said, "The old-timers I met on those trips were an odd mixture. Many had only high school educations. One very good correspondent for the Scripps chain had spent the Depression pounding out tunes on a piano in a five-and-dime. They had a raffish but informative experience of the world that is very hard for journalists to acquire now. When I started out as a police reporter, I lived next door to a cop. Reporters don’t come out of those neighborhoods nowadays. We’ve all moved uptown. Today, reporters join clubs. They play golf.”
They are paid better, and they make extra spouting off on TV. This is the pluperfect description of what has gone wrong in DC.
I'm going to use this - with credit to the source - in a longer takedown of these people.
Thanks. Of course, the source is Baker, not me! I applaud the reporter for seeing the review and doing something with it. I can get you the originals if you like.
Yes please (via email).
Looking forward to it, Tom. 👍🏻
Excellent assessment!!