Gannett Editor: Best-Ever Commencement Speech is One Calling Cheney 'Satan'

Gannett/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

June 24, 2006

If Dave Rossie were simply a columnist, one might dismiss his sophomoric liberal rants as, well, sophomoric liberal rants. But what is disturbing is that when he's not pounding out his latest condemnation of all things Republican, the Gannett chain has seen fit to give Rossie the power to edit news at one of its papers, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

Rossie's latest opus concerns commencement addresses. After knocking administration officials for speaking at military institutions, and singling out VP Cheney for "defending the practice of spying on Americans via illegal wire taps," Rossie gave an example of a commencement speech of which he approved - heartily.

This was the address given by Washington Post columnist Gene Weingarten at none other than the U. of Maryland's School of Journalism. Weingarten informed the budding journalists that "objectivity is a good thing to strive for in journalism, but not at the expense of failing to confront the obvious." In other words, don't let journalistic ethics get in the way of promoting the liberal agenda. Here's how Weingarten illustrated his point:

"My own newspaper has written extensively about Vice President cheney without once pointing out the self-evident fact that he is - and I offer this as a trained professional observer - Satan."

Rossie ended his column thusly:

"That may be the best commencement speech ever delivered. Anywhere."

Remember - the author of that last line is someone to whom Gannett has given power to edit the 'news.'

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Gannett/NewsBusters ping to Today show list.

[highlander_UW]

So it's ok to speak about Satan but not God? So now where is the ACLU protesting?!

[MNJohnnie]

But a Christian mentions Christ and they unplug her microphone. The Politic Leftists really are the enemy of all common people.

[Recon Dad]

Not even Journalism students read newspapers anymore. I find lectures by these liberals the same as the recent South Park episode when Kyle and his family moved to San Francisco.

[Bigun]

I just LOVE to hear these types squealing so loudly! It mean that we are WINNING!

[mewzilla]

One of our local papers is a Gannett rag. I once spoke with one of its employees who told me that the reason the paper doesn't have a higher hard news content was because the paper's readers are idiots.

[G.Mason]

" ... objectivity is a good thing to strive for in journalism, but not at the expense of failing to confront the obvious."

Slowly the common man is being "educated" in the true meaning of the words used by the MSM.

"Insurgents" are simply terrorists.

"Populist government" means anything but.

"Progressives" are merely Communist/Socialists, and so on.

Hell, we even know now that Cronkite, Rather, Brokaw, etc. etc. were shills for the Left, and that they have an endless supply of these propagandists, ready, willing and able to spew their bilge water.

Keep the bilge pumps turned on. Sooner, or later, the ship of state will become stable. ;)

[RetSignman]

[ "My own newspaper has written extensively about Vice President cheney without once pointing out the self-evident fact that he is - and I offer this as a trained professional observer - Satan."]

OK, now they have officially joined the ranks of radical Islamists. Way to go Gannett, at least you are up front with all your readership. You should get intense public exposure for your views and, I hope, on a daily basis.

[highlander_UW]

One of our local papers is a Gannett rag. I once spoke with one of its employees who told me that the reason the paper doesn't have a higher hard news content was because the paper's readers are idiots.

And the proof in that view of the employee is in the fact that people lay down good money on their rag.

[Neoliberalnot]

Last time I checked USA Today was Gannetts biggest money maker. Next time you stay at a hotel distributing this rag, fill the card on service and suggest they supply the local newspaper instead of this rag.

[Raycpa]

Shouldn't the mike have been turned off for religious protection reasons if he mentioned satan?

[edpc]

U. of Maryland's School of Journalism.

A couple of the school's more well-known alums...

[RoadTest]

"spying on Americans via illegal wire taps"

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were American. Wire taps are nesessary. What do you have to hide, you poor excuse for an editor? (What you really are is a Marxist propaganda minister)

[Brad from Tennessee]

If you noticed the stock market the last couple of years, Gannett, like all the other newspaper chains, is slowly sinking like an overweight brontosaurus into the tar pit of financial oblivion. Adding to the speed of the demise are the fruitcakes "journalism schools" have been producing for the last 30 years. Thirty years ago most reporters and editors had degrees in English lit, History, Political Science, etc. Learning the news side of newspaper publishing was an apprenticeship. "Journalism Schools" try to turn a craft into an art or a science. It's like sending a blacksmith to college for four years.

[RoadTest]

"USA Today was Gannetts biggest money maker. Next time you stay at a hotel distributing this rag, fill the card on service and suggest they supply the local newspaper instead of this rag."

But if you did that in Southeastern Michigan you'd get another Gannett paper: "The Detroit Free Press". (It's not free)

[bray]

The same can be said for the Stone-age press.

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[mewzilla]

And the proof in that view of the employee is in the fact that people lay down good money on their rag.

Unless their circulation is sliding :)

[weef]

I hate to kick an area when it's down but their 3rd rate newspaper is about as irrelevant as it gets. Check out the latest op-ed from this paper from www.pressconnects.com:

• EDITORIAL: Stadium shuttle - Free service eases traffic for B-Mets fans
• GUEST VIEWPOINT: Forget gasoline; Binghamton needs its trains back
• Flagwomen lent helping hand
• Beech tree will be missed

[Graymatter]

>>Last time I checked USA Today was Gannetts biggest money maker.

I guess people aren't aware that Cheney is Satan to these people. They need to put it across the front page. Or, how much does a full page ad cost? They wouldn't refuse to run a full-page ad quoting one of their own, would they?