CNN is rapidly proving my point about the Fourth Estate becoming a Fifth Column.  They’ve now gone from an untrustworthy irrelevance, in the eyes of many to include myself, to the actual publishing of stories that appear to be designed to invite sedition, or worse.  While it might initially seem innocuous, yesterday, on the Thursday before today’s Inauguration of the 45th President, a story was aired regarding the “designated survivor.”  It’s an interesting take on the COG or Continuity of Government Plan, and it discusses how an obscure appointee of President Obama, would be sitting out the Inauguration in an undisclosed location.  All “just in case” he were to need to become the President in the event of a catastrophic attack on the Inauguration.  

This, in and of itself, isn’t necessarily an invitation for malice; however, given the current climate (mostly created by the folks at places like CNN), the timing of this piece was absolutely horrendous.  This is why most have lost faith in CNN to tell them the truth, because their “Agenda” is showing in virtually everything they do and report.  Seeing a talking head reporter, who has perseverated about being oppressed by racists, etc., talking about the most horrendous “what if” scenario, is extremely troubling.  It is all about timing, and it is also about the tone of the reporter being used to describe such an event.  

Folks, this sort of being misled has been going on for quite some time.  A good example of hiding the truth started back in the first Iraq war, and then continued until the removal of Saddam Hussein.  The Modus Operandi of CNN has been to only tell part of the story.  Opting instead to leave out key items or facts, such as the overwhelming number of Human Rights abuses within the Iraqi Regime that were observed but not reported by CNN reporters on the ground.  CNN finally admitted this in 2002, stating that they were afraid for their personnel that were in country.  Of course, this begs the question about their most recent behaviors.  After all, it was CNN that had someone crying about being afraid that she’d be put into a camp, which if it were true, would probably be the last thing they’d say out of “fear for their reporters on the ground.”

Another problem is the “Tone” of the reporter.  Now the use of certain snide inferences or the tonal quality of the reporter himself will infect a story.  An example of this is when a reporter says simple things such as, “She SAID, that” (as opposed to she stated or she said.)  This emphasis on the word “SAID” is done to imply that whatever came after “SAID” is a lie.  This is subtle, but no less damaging to the actual truth or facts.  Without ever actually coming out to call someone a liar, they’ve put their stamp on it, and told the public that “we think” this man or woman is a liar.  This is only one trick of the trade, but it does the intended damage without our ever understanding that we’ve been misled by the reporter.

I often wonder what happened to things like facts being the news.  I don’t need, nor do I want, someone else spinning a story to fit an agenda.  I don’t need your tonal changes or your bad timing to incite something.  Instead, I just want to know the facts.  I’m smart enough to draw my own conclusions without being fed a line of bull.  I’m also smart enough to recognize when the press is inciting bad behavior or just plain violence.  Again, CNN is a leader in such things, and this most recent timing of the story about “what if” is just one more nail in that coffin.  I generally don’t believe in boycotts, but if I’m ever going to watch CNN, it will be strictly for the comedy and not the truth.  In fact, I’d rather be forced to drink tap water in Flint, Michigan.

~Michael S. Pauley

Last evening, I heard from a former Royal Marine Commando friend of mine from Australia.  He contacted me out of concern that Putin and the KKK were about to take over our country, the moment that our PEOTUS assumes office.  I was a little shocked, because this old friend was quite serious.  I should point out that this particular friend isn’t someone that will speak out of turn, nor is he someone who folds up in a serious crisis.  Instead, he’s a combat veteran who, like me, tries to stay out of the political discourse as much as possible.  He explained that this was what was being reported in their news outlets, who naturally were obtaining their news feeds from places like CNN, CBS, and NBC.  Comments by some that we’re going to be herded into camps, or that the KKK was now going to be in charge, were very commonly being reported as news in the foreign press.

This was very unnerving to me, because this means that our enemies around the world may well see this as an opportune time to take advantage of the divisions they see splattered all over the news.  In essence, these ridiculous rants about the Klan or Camps are putting us all in very real danger.  Isn’t that what a Fifth Column is all about?  Stirring the pot behind the lines?  Causing confusion and disorienting the populace?  Such reporting isn’t just irresponsible, it is actually quite dangerous to all of us as a nation.  When the Fourth Estate reports news, then it is doing the job of a journalist.  It should be critical and incisive.  What we have now is something quite different.  When the press makes up things, lifts things out of context, or simply allows irresponsible reporting to fill up the 24/7 news cycle, then it is approaching what I would call the work of a Fifth Column.  Deep breath people, there will be no Camps, and the Klan isn’t in the White House.  Moreover, most of the divisive rhetoric and accusations are quite simply without any real foundation, evidence, or support.  Are they lifted as out of context statements?  Probably, but they fit someone’s agenda, as opposed to being truth.  

I calmed my friend down by reminding him of the press coverage we’ve suffered throughout our military careers.  I simply said the words “remember how Vietnam was covered?”  He immediately laughed because, as a Vet, he knew exactly what I meant.  This phenomena isn’t just limited to my military background.  As an attorney, I can honestly say that I have NEVER been properly quoted in the press.  Which is why my comments to the press now are limited to this.... “Anything I have to say, I’ll say in the Courtroom.”  I could go on about the history of the profession of journalism.  I could talk about Edward R. Murrow who, during WWII, actually met with FDR on the night of December 7, 1941.  He was told about how bad it was, and nobody had to tell him that it was off the record.  He knew that he was an American first and then a journalist.  What makes that unique in our world today?  Today, even if you said it was off the record, it would still be in huge headlines.  Moreover, now things will be printed even though there is no credible source associated with it.  Why?  Because now it is Agenda oriented, and not News oriented.  

Back to my original question.  Has the Fourth Estate become a Fifth Column?  I’d say that a brief review of most of our major news outlets, both print and multi-media, will reveal that the answer is an unequivocal YES!