VIEW

The New York Times apparently considers itself above reproach.

Considered one of the world’s most prominent and powerful media organizations, it apparently can dish it out but cannot take it.

Known in past generations as the Gray Lady, apparently because of its conservative page layout, it has slipped from its original moorings as a down-the-middle disseminator of information to a mouthpiece for the nation’s left.

The Times became unhinged last week when it related with huge shock that the President Trump administration, which has been the target of an endless tirade by the publication, might be working to discredit the paper.

Jarrett Stepman, author of “The War on History,” (the current crusade by the left to rewrite the nation’s past to meet its own biases), explains the operation this way in The Daily Signal:

“The Times report began with ominous-sounding language: ‘A loose network of conservative operatives allied with the White House is pursuing what they say will be an aggressive operation to discredit news organizations deemed hostile to President Trump by publicizing damaging information about journalists.’

“The dastardly method these operatives are using to collect this ‘damaging information’ apparently involves scouring old social media posts. The Times said that these so-called conservative operatives have ‘compiled dossiers of potentially embarrassing social media posts and other public statements by hundreds of people who work at some of the country’s most prominent news organizations.’”

Stepman goes on to relate:

“Unlike previous presidents—including Trump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama—who have used government agencies to spy on or shut down “enemies” in the press, the Times report says that the conservative operatives have done only opposition research using easily accessible public information.

“‘They are seeking to harass and embarrass anyone affiliated with the leading news organizations that are asking tough questions and bringing uncomfortable truths to light,’ said New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger. ‘The goal of this campaign is clearly to intimidate journalists from doing their job, which includes serving as a check on power and exposing wrongdoing when it occurs. The Times will not be intimidated or silenced.’

“These “uncomfortable truths” belong in the light—unless, of course, the light is turned around on those shining it and it reveals something ugly behind it.

“A CNN spokesman actually said that the opposition research is a ‘clear abandonment of democracy for something very dangerous.’

For the defenders of transparency and truth in our nation’s largest and most powerful media organizations, it seemingly signals the end of the republic—or something.”

All the leftwing news organizations are deeply offended by this attack on “fake news” as the president refers to the unending and many times baseless attacks on his administration.

The Times has been the attack dog of the left for some time. It spews vitriol on conservatism and free enterprise and the pack (the rest of the lazy left-wing media) recycle it.

The Times’ response appears to us to be that of the school bully that is unexpectedly challenged by the tough new kid who isn’t overawed by the bully’s reputation.

Brent Bozell and Tim Graham in Townhall pointed out this gem:

“In The Times story, The Times admitted this was about ‘potentially embarrassing social media posts and other public statements,’ but a caption under another picture in the story warned, ‘The operation is the latest step in a long-running effort by President Trump and his allies to undercut the influence of legitimate news reporting.’

So, in other words, everything The Times does is “legitimate.” Everything its critics report about it is intended to “undercut the influence of heroic journalists.”

Jack Shafer, senior media writer at Politico, put it in reasonable context when he wrote:

“Journalists don’t deserve a get-out-of-bigotry-jail free card just because they’re journalists. If their past tweets, however ancient, undercut their current journalistic work or make them sound hypocritical, they can’t blame their diminished prestige on Trump’s allies.  

“It’s like blaming a cop for writing you a ticket for speeding in a school zone.”

It seems the Gray Lady has a dark side.

We have to admit we are not a subscriber to the New York Times and never have been.

We declined to subscribe to East Coast publications after subscribing to The New Yorker on the recommendation of a college journalism professor who described it as the epitome of fine writing.

To our uncultured eyes it seemed just another snobbish left-wing publication that was filled with editorial comment in its “news.”

We read it as long as our subscription lasted but decided it said more about the journalism professor’s politics than it did about writing.

Obviously, we have been a life-long “deplorable.”

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This reminds us of something our dad told us years ago: “If you don’t want someone else to know something, don’t write it.”

Dad was not a journalist –  just an everyday kind of guy who was far smarter than the elite – and don’t you wish they were “elite” –  comprehend.

We often think of Dad’s advice when we read some Facebook comments. That could be why we don’t have a Facebook account.

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We undoubtedly stick our neck out with comments on this page at times, but they are just our opinion and we stand by them.

We are happy for readers to refute anything they consider wrong.

We love letters to the editor.

Just be sure to sign them so that their authenticity can be confirmed.

ple employs relatively few American employees compared with other large corporations, so it is difficult to see why Apple should be dictating our trade policy.

Apple has been making an estimated 50% of its iPhones in China, and earlier it announced moving a portion of this manufacturing to India instead.  These are not American jobs that are at stake, but Asian ones.

Indeed, Silicon Valley where Apple is headquartered has enriched a few billionaires but largely failed to hold onto American technology secrets.  Now China can manufacture smartphones using technology stolen from the West, probably using some engineers who returned to Asia after working in Silicon Valley on H-1B visas.

Liberals ridiculed Trump for saying he is “the chosen one,” but the American people did choose him to stand up to China.  To make America great again requires, at a minimum, ending how China takes advantage of our massive consumer market while stealing our secrets.

John and Andy Schlafly are sons of Phyllis Schlafly (1924-2016) and lead the continuing Phyllis Schlafly Eagles organizations with writing and policy work.