JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russiagate: The Great Tragic Comedy of Modern Journalism” – Matt Bivens

Vladirmir Putin and Donald Trump Sitting in Chairs with Flags Behind, adapted from image at whitehouse.gov

(Matt Bivens – Medium.com – March 25, 2019 – medium.com/@mattbivens_34439/russiagate-the-great-tragic-comedy-of-modern-journalism-fd2a451aaa25)

“Russiagate: The Great Tragic Comedy of Modern Journalism”
By Matt Bivens
Former editor, Moscow Times

“In its Russiagate coverage, The New York Times has repeatedly offered a graphic accusing the President’s retinue of “more than 100 contacts with Russian nationals.” This decision to question the loyalty of people who have had contact with a Russian national — so for just knowing or meeting a Russian — has been a staple of New York Times Masthead from 1913 adapted from image at loc.govNew York Times coverage. ‘More than 100 contacts with Russian nationals.’ It’s incredible that this can even be an allegation — in our paper of record — there in explainer graphics almost every day, for more than two years now. It smacks of the famous Senator Joseph McCarthy speeches in the 1950s: ‘I have in my hand a list of 205 [or 57, or 81] …’ And yet no one ever seemed to mind.James Clapper file photo, adapted from image at defense.gov After all, as former intelligence chief (and liar to Congress) James Clapper has asserted on television, ‘Russians are almost genetically driven to co-opt, penetrate, gain favor.’ Worse, I may have already been co-opted and penetrated without even knowing it! As Clapper said recently on CNN when asked if Trump could be ‘a Russian asset,’ it is ‘a possibility, and I would add to that a caveat, whether witting or unwitting.’ Unwitting! So you can be an unwitting traitor? Infected with Russian mind-control, like a zombie? Yes. As mainstream media have argued repeatedly and quite explicitly. …”

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[featured images are file images from other occasions]


 

 

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