The Failures of Television Journalism (a special editorial by John Lucia)

There are over 500 members of Congress elected by the people, yet it is only a small number of them that appear on television and the American people only get to hear their views on issues facing the country. Our people deserve to hear from other members of Congress and have the benefit of their views as well.

Guests like Senator McCain, Newt Gingrich etc., are on T.V. over and over again and give out the same hype and failed messages. There are no fresh thoughts or ideas coming forth. It is no wonder we never solve any problems. Television needs to open up their guest list to other members of Congress to broaden the debate. Other members of Congress should be extended that opportunity and the people should get to hear what they have to say.

One would think the networks and their journalists would have learned a lesson after they paraded the same people over and over again on their shows during the run up to war in Iraq and who told the people over and over again we had to go to war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Now well into the fifth year of this war the same people are once more on the shows telling the people we have to stay in Iraq over WMD that did not exist. The American people have had enough of that spin.

George Bush has not balanced one Federal Budget since he has been in office and has given the country record federal deficits, yet I do not recall seeing Senator Kent Conrad on any shows informing the people just how serious the problem is. Senator Conrad is an expert on the federal budget and the networks know that. But because Senator Conrad is not a high profile Senator, the people are fed Mr. Bush's spin and denied Senator Conrad's knowledge on the subject matter. Interest paid on the national debt for fiscal year ending September 2006 was $406 billion. Senator Conrad could explain what that money could have been used for if Republican's balanced the budget instead of wasting that money on interest payments.

Mr. Scot Ritter, a U.N. inspector in Iraq, said over and over again during the build up to war in Iraq, that Iraq possessed no WMD. The networks disregarded his statements and proceeded to promote Iraq having WMD on their own accord, following the administration's lead. The war and our own inspectors who combed Iraq for over a year during the war proved Mr. Bush and the networks wrong and Mr. Ritter right. It is noticeable that Mr. Ritter has not been a guest on any television shows(to my knowledge) since it was discovered that Iraq had no WMD.

Programs like Meet the Press, Face the Nation, The Situation Room, Tucker, Hardball and others could acquire some respectability if they broaden their guests beyond the usual members of Congress who offer the same old spin on the issues. I for one would like to know what others think and why they think that. The bottom line is that television and journalist fail to meet their obligation of pursuing the facts and having an honest debate on the issues.