20199: Esser: Stenographers to Power; US Press Torpedoes Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

CounterPunch
http://www.counterpunch.org

March 10, 2004

Stenographers to Power
US Press Torpedoes Aristide
By MIKE WHITNEY

"The unconstitutional removal of any leader cannot be condoned."

Percival Patterson, Caribbean Community President

The international community must not be seen to be wavering in its
commitment to democracy and respect for the rule of law, particularly
in the face of anti-democratic forces.

S. African Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

"This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine."

Prospero; "the Tempest"

The most extraordinary part of the coup in Haiti was not the fact
that the Bush Administration was directly involved in the deposing of
a democratically elected leader. No, that type of criminal behavior
is almost a requirement of the office at this point in time. The real
surprise is that not one major newspaper in the country has spoken
out in favor of restoring Aristide to power.

This should be considered a positive development.

Many of us have tried to make the case that the major media are the
solitary province of corporate America, providing a world view that
tilts dramatically rightward and exclusively reports news that
doesn't infringe on their commercial interests. This can be a tough
sell. Many dismiss the notion as flagrantly conspiratorial.

The coup in Haiti proves otherwise.

The media has responded with such frightening uniformity that even
skeptics must be shocked.

Do we need to reiterate that the duly elected leader of the country,
Jean Bertrand Aristide, is now under virtual "house arrest" after
being trundled off in the middle of the night by an armed contingent
of US Marines?

Should we emphasize that he was elected by a margin of 92% by the
Haitian people in an election that was not contested, despite the
conspicuous attempts by the NY Times and the Associated Press to
create that impression? (In fact, only the Senatorial elections were
challenged; Aristide's election was never in doubt)

And yet these salient facts have made no impression on America's
recalcitrant press.

Perhaps, they have taken the Dick Cheney position that, "Aristide had
worn out his welcome."

Mr. Cheney should be grateful that that is not the accepted standard
for determining one's tenure in elected office.

Or, perhaps, our "free press" has adopted the Judith Miller
philosophy of journalism, "My job isn't to assess the government's
information and be an independent intelligence analyst myself."

Has there ever been a more apt description of a stenographer? The
only question we could possibly have for Miller is, "Were you sitting
on Rummy's lap when you were taking notes on the apocryphal tales
that led the country to war?"

But, Miller is no exception, and Haiti proves that. The entire media
system is rotten to its "capital-drunk" core.

The astonishing sameness of reporting on the details of the coup, and
the predictable omissions of any US involvement, would have impressed
the editors of Pravda. No brave soul has broken from the "party
line." No one dare speak out for something as inconsequential as
democracy.

Isn't it amazing that how similar the "corporate press" is to the
media in totalitarian states?

Joseph Pulitzer said it best, "A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press
will produce in time a people as base as itself."

'nuff said.

Mike Whitney can be reached at: fergiewhitney@msn.com
.