Has the mainstream media lost their minds?

Retired General John Batiste has been quite vocal about the Iraqi War; after appearing on the votevets anti-"stay the course" commercial, he found himself out of his job as a CBS news consultant. According to the VP of CBS, "the viewer might get the feeling everything he says is anti-Bush." CBS also claims Batiste violates their standard of having no advocates on their staff.

Funny thing is, Nicole Wallace is the former communications director for the White House; she now works for CBS and has advocated for and spoken direct Republican talking points as a CBS correspondent. Michael O'Hanlon also works for CBS, and has advocated for the "surge." We can conclude advocacy only is considered advocacy by CBS's standards if the message questions the president.

CBS has not only been busy silencing voices against the Iraq War, they have also been shaking in their boots even since the Don Imus incident, and are now firing low brow "shock jocks" for their off-color humor. The Imus firing had its merits, considering Imus's status as almost a "political roundtable"-like talk show host, and the fact that the victims of his racist tirade were college basketball players. On the other hand, the firings of "JV & Elvis" for Chinese restaurant prank phone calls, and "Opie and Anthony" coming under scrutiny for tasteless sexual jokes about Laura Bush and Condi Rice on their X-rated satellite radio show is now getting out of control. As low brow and as stupid as these remarks were, the context of them being comedians and "shock jocks" puts it into perspective. These hosts don't have senators and the Vice President on their programs, like Imus; their job is to deliver sexual innuendo and off-color humor. Some of it may be offensive. You, the reader, may be surprised to know Ralph and I are firmly against "political correctness" attacks on radio, cinema, and the arts in general. (From Ralph: It is the essence of liberal thinking to protect all freedom of speech in the arts, even if we are not fans of it, and especially if we disapprove of it.)

We are in support of demanding accountability and accuracy in news reporting, and exposing right-wing talk show hosts for the filthy liars and irrational idiots they really are. Their context of speech demands to be held accountable; they are delivering the "news" and opinion whether it be a bobble-head on Fox or a Hannity on the radio. Every word they spout is taken as "gospel" by their viewers and listeners. Shock jocks, on the other hand, are good for giggles for those who desire low brow humor. Instead of attacking comedy, the media should be monitoring propaganda and deception. Considering the Republican agenda helps big media conglomerates, this is highly unlikely.

What will be left? A humorless mass media, propagating radical neo-conservative ideology.

I normally have respect for Al Sharpton, but his attack againt the immature "shock jocks" misses the big picture. The attention should be focused on the lies, deception and real hate speech from the right wing as opposed to adolescent sex jokes and mocking prank calls from "shock jocks."