Media Chasing the Wrong Shiny Object

At some point one would think that all the venting of ideas and speculation as to why the Obama Administration is taking certain actions, someone would stumble upon this one.  Regarding the Attorney General sitting down with journalist, off the record, many well-established, news bureaus say that they refuse to speak based on the off the record meeting with them because they want to be able to write about it.  Some are sitting down because they say it is important to hear what the Justice Department has to say and that this issue needs to be addressed and finished.  For me I say this.

I salute those who are willing to sit down because it says to me that they not only have nothing to hide or fear but that they are willing to help solve the problem instead of stretching it out to sell more page views, newspapers or increase viewership.  Those who refuses, sends a message that they seek to keep this thing alive and may not really have anything worthwhile to help rid us of the problem of judicial over-reach.  Yes the Justice Department was wrong in this secret subpoena mess but if the news industry is covering for employees who put the lives of others in danger just to see their names in lights or receive multiple invites to television interviews, then they too should be held to the same standards as they hold others to.  Like all of the so-called scandals that have appeared here, this one is a very shiny object that many have latched on to and seemed to be more entertained with them than those they report to.

What if the Obama Administration and the Justice Department were not trying to “make nice” with the news industry but was trying to make sure that the policies originated by the past administration and continued under this one will not be available for the administrations to come.  What if the primary focus of the “Obama Shift” is to make sure that all parties are protected as best they can and calling all hands on deck to make sure all parties are represented and their wishes honored is an honorable thing.  I suppose this could not be the case because it took someone not trapped in this “look at me” scene to see this.  The Obama Administration should advise all those who stick a microphone in their faces that they will let them keep talking about the scandals and all the other distractions in Washington, they will concentrate on jobs, the economy and any other way to get this nation back on track.