Corporate Media's Gravy Boats

Gotta hand it to Sarah Palin for holding it all in. Say what you want about her (or don't. I'm rather tired of her. And this isn't about her), she's not as explosive in public as her private persona is known to be - or as the person who handles her Twitter and Facebook accounts is. Breitbart, on the other hand, is who he always is - a blowhard cynic and full of big, fat stupid.

It needs to be pointed out, of course, that the intent of this whole fiasco was to intimidate the pro-union protesters. The fact that the Tea Party would be shouted down isn't necessarily rude - it's protective.

And sweet, delectable, and frothy irony.

But what is particularly damning in this video is the media's take. Fox and CNN (and MSNBC and ABC and NBC and CBS and the New York Times and HuffPo and the Chicago Tribune...) are not only or even primarily concerned about providing and/or analyzing information and happenings. They certainly are not objective - no one can be - though there can be balance with multiple perspectives. The problem is that news is not about the news anymore. It is not about public interest as it was in its heyday in the middle of the twentieth century. It is a business.

The questions are no longer, "What matters? What is important?" The overriding question is "What sells?"- because the primary voice is not the public interest, but the business community. News organizations and shows rarely rock the boat, because they need to keep the boat going as long as possible to keep their shows going as popular as long as possible but also to keep their advertisers and corporate heads happy.

The narrative of Sarah Palin - as outdated and irrelevant as she may be to most voters - as a relevant iconoclast and/or lightning rod is still fascinating enough to draw in numerous viewers. Whether or not they love her is inconsequential; she attracts them and that's all she needs to do. And if they allow her to be publicly embarrassed, her star will fall faster than it has already.

And CNN/Fox and their corporate parents would instantly lose a steady (though declining) gravy boat. Instead of allowing it to ride out to its gravy-laden pasture.