WHAT IS THE MEDIA'S ROLE? WHEN IS REPORTING NOT ENOUGH?

I wonder how and what the German media was asking during the election of Adolf Hitler in 1932 as Chancellor of Germany. Did they just sit down with Der Fuhrer the way that Anderson Cooper did the other night….in some soft chairs with some coffee mugs close by?…”Donald, do you think you can wrap this election up after Florida?”

I wonder how they responded after “the Night of Broken Glass” (Kritillnacht), in November of 1938 when Hitler organized the destruction of Jewish businesses and homes in Munich, as well as the beating and murder of Jewish men, women, and children; it was an exercise in state sponsored terror. How did the German newspaper class respond when Hitler rounded Jews into ghettos and when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939? We know that the Churches became puppets to the Nazis. They were accomplices. Equally, the media didn’t raise a finger…not a pinky, they were instruments of the State, the insanity.......and 60 million people died!

And, so too, the media in this country are “kissing the ring” of this colossal sociopath…this isn’t an issue for debate…Trump is a proven liar…a proven thug and a clinically painful narcissist and bully and, did I say liar? Ever "fact checked" Trump after one of his speeches or debates? It's a full time job.

Yet, the American media..CNN, ABC, and even MSNBC, etc., are having fireside chats with this man. They are lapping this milk up like a starving kitty.

Where does the implicit neutrality of the media need to be dismissed in favor of something more sane and dignified and responsible?…If Trump shouted out “Down with the N**gers” would the media just sit still and treat him like all the other candidates? Where is the Tipping point for objectivity?

And, if you don’t speak out…are you not desensitizing the atrocious behavior? I remember when Florida State QB Jameis Winston was accused of raping a college co-ed and the issue was front row and unresolved during the time when Winston was set to play in the BCS championship game nationwide on ESPN…Winston had no comment and said the sex was consensual in light of the DNA evidence proving that a sex act had occurred. Anecdotal accounts were highly implicating of Winston as having committed rape. I was truly let down when my favorite sportscaster and someone who I otherwise respect a great deal, Kirk Herbstreit, didn’t take a stand and elect to not broadcast that game for ESPN. I was hoping (however foolishly) that Herbstreit would say that he had a personal and public responsibility as a citizen to not dismiss the severity of the case in light of the strong evidence against Winston and to do so--to call the game as usual and to ignore the allegations and to highlight the football skills of QB Winston during the game would show a total lack of sensitivity for the alleged victim (and all victims of sexual violence). So, too, it would be an invitation to others to dismiss these charges as less important than a football game…Clearly, when business goes on as usual the American public becomes desensitized to these very serious crimes…rape in this case…an epidemic violent crime that is desperate for attention and prosecution in America and perhaps even more so in the privileged sports culture….

When does the media, either collectively or individually, have a responsibility that transcends their employment responsibility to their news organization? When is a member of the media becoming more of an accomplice to a despot or to a bigoted leader than just a reporter. There is no way to interpret Trump’s words and actions as anything other than bigoted and deceitful. I think there is close to consensus on this…even from his supporters. I am not dismissing every idea or belief he has…but his tactics and language are clearly meant to disparage certain demographic groups..be they blacks, women, the disabled, hispanics, muslims, etc.…

Where is the line? How far would Trump have to go before the media would stop playing his music?--they follow him around like minions…like he is Elvis.

Lawrence O’Donnell, the host of MSNBC show “The Last Word” has said that he wouldn’t interview Trump unless he had free reign to ask him anything. I know that Rachel Maddow has expressed the same.

But, Anderson and most others are willing to stand next to Trump for a photo op following an interview…it reminds me of Sean Penn's interview with and photo op next to El Chapo. Maybe a photo eating the "Trump Steaks", or drinking the "Trump Water"....Really?

Would Walter Cronkite sit down with Trump and have a friendly interview in front of the fireplace? I don’t know the answer to that…I doubt if Mike Wallace would be anything less than confrontational and accusatory with Trump.

Should the media just turn a blind eye to lies, deceit, bullying, intimidations, racism, etc.? No, never....they should not takes "sides" in a battle of ideologies but they should never stand silent when they are broadcasting lies...no matter who it comes from.... The media has a responsibility, one that goes with their privilege to broadcast through our TV sets, to repudiate lies...not opinion, but objective lies.

I don’t have the answers…but I know that there is something pathetic to me when CNN’s Anderson Cooper or Chuck Todd of MSNBC can interview Trump and do it in a way that allows Trump to show only the feathers that he wants to show. You can always tell when Trump is lying because his mouth is moving. Where is gritty journalism? They are acting like game show hosts. Anderson Cooper is a nice guy but he is more Pat Sajak than Edward R. Murrow, more Alex Trebek than Mike Wallace.

About a protester at one of his rallies who was being shoved and spat on as he was led out of the event candidate Donald Trump said (while standing at the microphone in front of over 10,000 people), “somebody should punch that guy in the mouth”. And, “if you do I’ll pay your legal fees”.

Food for thought…