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"It is unacceptable that The Washington Post and the Guardian newspaper from the U.K. are becoming the lead source of information about violent encounters betwe
by 6stringmerc 11y ago
"It is unacceptable that The Washington Post and the Guardian newspaper from the U.K. are becoming the lead source of information about violent encounters between police and civilians. That is not good for anybody."
I'd say that's a pretty good example of the freedom of the press doing work that's in the interest of the public. Just because it makes the FBI look bad doesn't mean it lacks merit. Maybe his quote is taken out of context though, in that it's "unacceptable" the FBI can't fiddle with the data for its own ends.
- Ensorceled 11y agoWithout any context at all, I don't take that as a attack on the freedom of the press. The only way to take it, without mental gymnastics, is that it's bad the FBI isn't collecting and providing that information and that we have to rely on a UK newspaper.
- maxerickson 11y agoHe means it is a failure of the government that they do not collect and provide the information.
- 6stringmerc 11y agoWell, in one interpretation yes, but saying that another entity collecting the data "benefits nobody" is really disingenuous.
- maxerickson 11y agoHe clearly isn't saying that, he is not attacking the journalistic efforts, he isn't being disingenuous (at least not in the sense you imply, but he could be grandstanding for political gain rather than saying what he really thinks). He's using a figure of speech, the meaning is that the current situation where the best effort is coming from the journalists should not be allowed to continue, but there isn't any implication that they should stop what they are doing, it is an acknowledgement that the FBI or whoever should be leading the way.
- 6stringmerc 11y agoI'm not going to say the subtext I pointed out in an "other side of the coin" tongue in cheek manner went over your head, but I'm also not not going to say it. I measure public statements by persons in similar positions to him by how they could be cast as self-serving.
- maxerickson 11y agoThat you were being sarcastic seemed pretty likely, I continue not to be able to make much sense of it (if the comment is self serving, it is as political grandstanding, it is clearly not critical of the journalism).