Journalism used to be about getting the truth out there, but recently we were told it shouldn’t happen if Americans could be swayed the wrong way by seeing and hearing it. Bunches of journalists themselves were upset by a live, CNN, 70-minute, New Hampshire town hall session in which a skilled, smart questioner, Kaitlan Collins, interviewed former President Donald Trump, a semi-comedic bully.
He had a great time, was full of life, good-humored, funny and occasionally likable even if he was dishonest and crude and inexcusably attacked a sexual abuse victim. He was joyfully promoting himself as the next president while a partisan crowd laughed and cheered. Journalistically speaking, there was nothing wrong with this nationwide offering.
It’s the job of journalism, after all, to get the truth out there, and here it was, self-revelation as if in a stunningly written Broadway drama, no curtains to worry about. All kinds of journalists who obviously despise Trump were nevertheless shocked and disturbed, as if the auditorium cheerleaders were an example of a seduced TV audience and Trump’s worn-out blather had never been heard before.
I would bet there were people out there screaming at their TV sets and others simply taking note in a politically mixed, adult, nationwide audience without need of protection. Didn’t these journalistic detractors see Collins asking Trump tough questions and challenging him to the extent of his saying, “You are a nasty person.”?
