Let's remember what
Oh, you don't want to go near Kavanaugh? Then just get off the bus, because I'm going there.
There is just no responsible way to discuss
Many in the media had one standard for Epstein and Weinstein, who had clout with
But Kavanaugh? He's a Bush Republican nominated by President
So that other standard was applied, one that allowed unsubstantiated allegations to be reported and repeated, endlessly, in an attempt to ruin him and keep him off the
It seems clear now, from the Ronan Farrow stories and other accounts, and from Robach's hot mic take, that
But Kavanaugh? He wasn't treated deferentially. His reputation was destroyed by wild, unsupported and fantastic allegations that he was a serial sex predator.
Without corroboration, Kavanaugh was even shamed as the leader of a gang-rape crew that drugged young women before attacking them. The unctuous and now discredited lawyer
When Kavanaugh dared become angry about the smears, TV panels of talking heads said he was all but insane. Newspapers were also attacking Kavanaugh, and now many are busy skinning Trump and calling his 60 million voters -- some being their own readers -- stupid.
But much of the damage done to Kavanaugh was delivered on TV news, because TV news shows, particularly those vapid morning shows like "
Network TV is about entertainment and the selling of emotion, a place where repeated follow-up questions are avoided, because, we're told, it's not good TV.
"I had this interview with
Again: Where were those standards when Avenatti client
Where were the standards when
With Epstein and media show ponies hobnobbing in all that glitz, you might wonder if they pondered their standards.
And, as they held glasses of Champagne and made witty party talk with Epstein and other guests, you also might wonder if their tails twitched.
In the video, Robach comes off as bright, committed, exasperated and upset. But she's a news pro, wearing a hot mic, talking on set. So, I don't believe it was a mistake. It seemed rather like a declaration.
Before the Project Veritas story broke,
Sullivan properly noted that others at
Farrow, then of
Farrow and others, including
Farrow went to The
There are many excellent, hardworking and scrupulous journalists in this country, from all political points of view, taking real risks to tell real stories. They are not, as Trump says, the "enemy of the people."
But then there are those network news honchos who decide that it is open season on people like Kavanaugh, while others who are on their team are protected.
These are the unctuous enemies of something vital to a free republic. They're the enemies of journalism.
And they're doing their best to shame it.
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John Kass is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune who also hosts a radio show on WLS-AM.