Genetically modified Mouthpieces

Published June12, 2008

The San Francisco Bay Guardian.

In 2003 when I was working as an anchor for a San Francisco television station, anchors and reporters across the country were asked by the White House to refer to the Iraqi invasion as Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). We were asked to call the war in Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Operation Infinite Justice (OIJ) had a rocky start because most of America’s Arab allies were offended. Muslims believed only Allah could provide “Infinite Justice.”
Even so, with press releases in hand journalist’s repeated genetically modified words as if their DNA depended upon it.   Genetically modified language is when propaganda wins, journalist sell out and the public loses. It is when words are twisted and massaged and spun until an entire suit of lies is woven to cover the guilty and cloak the truth. The Genetically Modified language, in the case of Iraq, was full of false bravado and moral superiority, in attempts to turn lies into honorable causes our dear children were willing to go to war for. 

But nothing caught on like “The War on Terror.”  It was a White House propaganda bonanza! Whole networks built their news around swirling “War on Terror” graphics and anchors began stories with “Today in the war on Terror,” while most of the world considered Americans the terrorists. That’s when I pulled up lame and refused to dance the destructive dance. Most of us who complained are gone now after some pretty nasty break ups.

Journalists as conduits of mass manipulation. I was too naïve then to understand it was nothing new. The lies were as poisonous as the tons of saran, mustard and VX nerve agents President Bush told us Saddam wanted to use on us. But, as the lies began scrubbing the girl away and the woman’s eyes opened, I started seeing the media’s complicity in the pain and death that followed. I read every book on propaganda I could find. I quickly learned Genetically Modified language was one of Joseph Goebbels favorite propaganda tools. But the dopes got duped.

Even so, many corporate “journalists” eagerly grabbed an American flag pining it to their lapels. Rooting for the war is much easier than asking hard questions revealing a conflict based on lies and a country led by liars.  Hard questions lead to other hard questions. Linear logic in this case is frightening.

We all wanted desperately to believe the White House Mantras.  Many are still repeating subtle propaganda in the name of patriotism on our nightly newscasts today. That’s why I am writing this now.

As you most likely are standing in judgment, I offer up this sliver of attempted redemption.  Journalist like most Americans are patriots too, we don’t want to believe the government is lying, but as odious as it may sound to the “My Country Right or Wrong people,” finding and revealing those lies used to be our job.

“The fourth Branch” was created to watch the government and anyone else using lies to gain power and profit at the expense of the safety and security of the American people.

Also, I ask the American public to consider their own role in the Iraqi quagmire.

Five years ago, when President Bush likened Saddam to Hitler in order to justify going to war, questioning the President’s motives was considered by corporate America unpatriotic.  Corporations exist for one reason: to make money.

Patriotism and genetically modified language delivered to newsrooms directly from the White House was easy. The words were powerful because “War on Terror” not only sounds authoritative, it makes a great graphic! All the polls agreed!

The President’s approval rating was high when America invaded Iraq and the media corporations blow toward the money. More viewers= more money.  So Patriotism was served up instead of unbiased news.
The media corporations began buying anchors and reporters who did not understand their part in the body bags.  Anchors, producers and assignment editors who would go along to get alone were hired, and they got to keep their pay checks and health coverage. This is why Disney, Viacom, Westinghouse  G.E., Murdoch and Cox should not own newsrooms. They are often the very ones the press should investigate.

Cognitive journalists can now see that using the White House Genetically Modified language with unquestioning devotion is one of the many reasons we lost the public trust five years ago.

The fourth branch our fore-fathers envisioned is broken. We became stenographers. Does the red-tally light on that newsroom camera lobotomize us?  Part of the problem is putting corporate anchors in anchor chairs where reporters should be. Certainly experienced reporters would notice the genetically modified words and their own complicity when it seems completely lost on those covered in layers of lip-gloss.

Now that former Press Secretary and once staunch Bush ally, Scott McClellan is walking toward redemption and has found the courage to speak the truth, the “Deer in the headlights” look on his face as he turned in his resignation makes perfect sense. I knew something was up.
Practicing Prevarication for a living wears most people down.

Now that the president’s approval rating has plummeted, it no longer takes courage to toss the White House pompoms in the trash heap and the genetically modified language with it.

With Bush’s approval rating lower than a snakes belly, no commercials will be lost if journalists are brave now, but we have lost more than we ever imagined, “ the penultimate loss” nearly five thousand dead American soldiers.

I propose journalists stop repeating Genetically Modified White House language, but they also go a step further.  I am about to fall on my sword here, so please open your mind.

On the very day it was leaked that Scott McClellan’s book reveals the country went to war based on known lies, the sweetest shiniest, dimple faced, airbrushed Bay Area Murdoch girl began a broadcast by announcing:
“Another American has given his life for his country today.”

Here is the falling on the sword part.

I was once that girl, but girls someday grow into women. Today I know that soldier was one of thousands who bravely believed in what the president said and died believing a lie the press helped promote.
I propose to this anchor women, who I imagine to be a nice person, read this instead:

“Another American has died in Iraq today, he was a beloved brother and child and he was number 4,084.
Then perhaps follow that with the number of wounded Iraqi veterans 30,329.
  In an attempt at truly unbiased  journalism end with the number  1,217.892 Iraqis who have lost their lives.

If this war, as McClellan says, and dozens of other experts have pointed out, was based on a great lie, let’s honor those who were brave and honorable and willing to believe the lie by bringing them home alive and stop repeating Genetically Modified words that glorify a conflict American journalists could have helped prevent by putting their pompoms down.

Comments

[Rosemary Watson]

Did I send you this? It's my first Palin parody. Hope you like it.

[Katheine]

I knew you weren't just a pretty face (though I miss seeing yours on TV). Just read your Guardian article and learned that you have survived the MSM onslaught. I'm glad you didn't just fade away. If only you had been allowed the range of Rachel Maddow on Countdown with Keith (don't get *him* started on O'Reilly). KTVU wasn't really wired for opinion from the smiling female anchors. So we are clinging to our Bill Moyers and Tavis Smiley to plumb some depths of news and culture. And I am pleased that you are now unbridled and speaking your own mind.

[David Lewis]

Leslie, I was disappointed last night to hear you on KGO evade the question of what happened at ktvu. I always liked you, even if, as I now discover, you are against circus animals (you need to hear the other side). Considering your call for candor, you might have shown more, I thought. And what about Dennis Richmond, who outlived you and your cohorts? Did you LEAVE the station because of your principles, as expounded upon last night, or were you retired?
Thanks, David

[Lyn Sanny (Lino Sanchez, nom de plume)]

Hello Leslie Griffith! 6/5/2008

Basically, an excellent article: "Genetically modified Mouthpieces"

Some very weak points---still:

Reference to:

"1,217.892 Iraqis who have lost their lives."

1. The number is too exact (and without references).

2. The Iraqis did not lose their lives, they were murdered!; principally, by chronically Imperialistic America and many Americans.

3. The following is a horrible omission, and on Your part, more, of Your chronic weaknesses:

Assuming 6 wounded for one dead Iraqi: "6" million wounded Iraqis (of course, perforated bodies, missing limbs, damaged brains, traumatized sensory organs, eternal pain and incapacitation, do not rate mention; just, the dead Iraqis---and those, rarely, and commonly under reported).

Who killed and wounded "7" million Iraqis? Principally, the same country that destroyed Iraq!; the chronically Imperialistic United States of America---by its government, industry, and a large percentage of its people, who, via industry, and personal untamed predatory instincts, put that government in charge (and without "adult supervision"), and facilitated that holocaust---"The Iraq War".

Best Wishes! Lyn Sanny

[MKFry]

"Anchors, producers and assignment editors who would go along to get alone were hired,"

Sorry - need a copy editor here - S/B "go along to get along" otherwise, couldn't be better! Hopefully we can end this insanity before my 15 year old son who is totally bought into this becomes another victim/causality of the new modern "War Machine". The 60's have gone, but the ideas which drove the Viet Nam war have come to life again - sort of like a hydra. But, when money and arrogance are involved there is no shame.

[Jay Slupesky]

The U.S. occupation of Iraq was made possible by a masterfully-run propaganda campaign which the press fell for hook, line, and sinker. They didn't even seem to be aware that they were being used. It reminds me of The Sting, where the perfect con job is described as one in which the victim doesn't even realize he was conned.

Leslie, it's refreshing to read that you refused to be co-opted by the war promoters.

[Seth]

"Jimmy shoes busted both his legs, trying to learn to fly
From a second story window, he just jumped and closed his eyes
His momma said he was crazy, he said 'Momma, I've got to try
Don't you know that all my heroes died
And I guess I'd rather die than fade away'

These days the stars seem out of reach
These days there ain't a ladder on these streets
These days are fast, nothin' lasts, it's a graceless age
Even innocence has caught the midnight train
Ain't nobody left but us these days"
-- Bon Jovi