The establishment media knows its role. Show no curiosity. Repeat talking points. Above all, protect the powerful.
At a press conference on Tuesday, an establishment reporter played her role to perfection when she challenged Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania to produce evidence of President Joe Biden’s wrongdoing and thereby “prove” that the House’s impeachment inquiry did not spring from a desire for “political revenge.”
On X, formerly Twitter, the conservative media outlet Citizen Free Press nicely summarized Perry’s dragon-like reply.
“Scott Perry breathes fire at a ‘reporter,’” the Citizen Free Press posted.
The full exchange perfectly illustrates the establishment media’s role in our phony democracy.
First, the establishment reporter posed a question that a White House representative could have written.
“What actual evidence do you have as opposed to allegations to show to the American public that would merit an actual impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden and prove that today isn’t just about some of you…” the reporter’s question began.
Perry, Chair of the House Freedom Caucus, knew the reporter’s intent and briefly interrupted.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Perry began in a sarcastic tone.
The reporter kept talking, though Perry’s interruption rendered part of her question inaudible — inaudible but no less predictable.
“…McCarthy for the sake of exacting political revenge for the impeachment of Donald Trump?” the reporter asked.
Perry then gave a masterful, fire-breathing answer filled with references to actual evidence against Biden.
“This isn’t about political revenge. We have the bank accounts,” Perry began.
Bank accounts do constitute good evidence, but Perry’s second item showed how deliberately incurious the establishment media must be.
“We can see — ma’am — you can see that the homes that the Bidens own can’t be afforded on a congressional or Senate salary. You also understand that it’s not normal for family members to receive millions of dollars from overseas interests. Those things aren’t normal,” Perry added.
Citizen Free Press rightly regarded this portion of Perry’s response as damning to the Bidens.
“The homes that the Bidens own can’t be afforded on a Senate salary. You understand that it’s not normal for family members to receive millions of dollars from overseas interests. That’s not normal,” Citizen Free Press wrote in a paraphrased version of Perry’s statement.