Guy Ciarrocchi: Yes, it really is fake news

The legacy media’s overtly partisan coverage of Kamala Harris’s “evolving” positions on policy issues finally crystallized to me why so many of us do not trust the legacy or Big Tech media. For the moment, consider her 180-degree (alleged) change of heart on fracking. After years of emphatically supporting a ban on fracking, her campaign alleges that she now is opposed to a ban.

We could also review her evolving “brand” on criminal justice. Here the legacy and Big Tech media are equally adept at either portraying her as the tough as nails prosecutor — “lock ‘em up lady” — or the compassionate, now-enlightened “reformer” — “I’m sorry that I locked up so many black men on marijuana charges.”

People’s exhibit number two: the assassination attempt on former president Trump. Let’s begin with the fact that the New York Times, CNN and others waited for days to refer to it as an “assassination attempt,” yet, millions of us saw it live or saw the raw video coverage. Some  legacy newspapers’ initial headlines talked about Trump being whisked off stage after a “loud noise.” Next up, the seen by millions photo of Trump raising his fist in the air with an American flag in the background — a photo initially seen by millions. Until it was purposefully cropped by the Washington Post and began to reappear with just Trump and the Secret Service agents — no flag.

A would-be assassin fires multiple bullets at a former president running to reclaim the presidency at a political rally where he is speaking. If that’s not an “assassination attempt,” then words truly no longer have meaning.

If a major media outlet intentionally crops a formerly published photo so that it’s “less helpful” to Trump, that’s their prerogative. But, it is also a purposeful attempt to change the true impact of the actual news as it happened.

These examples are why Trump’s “fake news” charges resonate with so many people. When it comes to the media coverage of partisan politics and elections, this is the sad reality.

When Democrats and their allies tell us their radical far-left positions, the legacy media works overtime to tell us to ignore what was said or posted — so as to protect them from themselves. The message is: “Dear voters, trust us in the media. The Democrats certainly didn’t mean what they said, don’t be frightened, trust us. They’re ok.”

When Republicans and their allies — be they conservative or MAGA — tell you what they believe, the legacy media works in near unison to tell us to ignore what the GOP actually said or posted — so as to instill distrust or opposition amongst voters. The message is: “Dear voters, trust us. The Republicans don’t mean what they actually said. We know it sounds reasonable and would be beneficial, but they don’t mean it. They’re not ok.”

Democratic politicians and their left-wing (“progressive”) activists tell us what they believe and what they want to achieve: left-wing policies that are often outside the mainstream of what was being discussed even a year ago, and often objectively unpopular with most voters. They often use extreme or absolute words: “ban,” “mandate” or even label themselves or their own policies as “socialist.”

We see it with our own eyes and hear it with our own ears — often live.

However, the legacy and Big Tech media either ignore it, dismiss it as “just politics.” Or, without blinking an eye, allow Democrat politicians to articulate the opposite position — to get back to the mainstream — without acknowledging that it’s a flip-flop, hypocritical, or political pandering. Consider: mask and vaccine mandates (that are now whitewashed as having been “advisory”), “defund the police” (that apparently almost no one was really for — even if they marched with or praised the marchers), “mostly peaceful protests” (as we watched the burning buildings and as Kamala Harris raised money on Twitter to bail them out). Now, add one more to that list: Harris’s alleged new position on fracking: she’s for it (Psst…did you hear that western PA — “for” it?)

Republicans face the opposite problem when it comes to legacy and Big Tech media. They give a speech, do an interview, write a column or post something on social media — and then they have to fight “tooth and nail” to get the media to accept it and report on what they actually said or wrote! Because, if they articulate a reasonable, mainstream or popular opinion, too many in the media feel obligated to dismiss it, allege that it’s not what the Republican actually believes — and that the politicians’ true feelings are bad, harmful or extreme. Consider abortion (almost no Republican wants a national ban, many don’t even want a national law) or immigration (the overwhelming majority support legal immigration). 

Legacy and Big Tech media seem to be telling their audiences: “Who are you going to believe us, or, your lying eyes and ears?”

Democrats use the elite media to protect them from what they really believe and who they really are.

Republicans have to fight with elite media to promote and reaffirm what they actually said and who they really are.

This is an American tragedy. Legacy and Big Tech media are doing American voters and our nation a true disservice. Didn’t I read somewhere that “Democracy Dies in Darkness?”

Guy Ciarrocchi is a Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy @PaSuburbsGuy