Tuesday, February 08, 2022

The Trump Disease

Jim Shepperd writes that, when you survey Canadian media, it's clear that what he calls "the Trump Disease" has taken root in Canada:

Of course, all Canadians have the right to protest peacefully. Many protesters in Ottawa and other cities are undoubtedly serious in their beliefs, even if most Canadians think they are wrong. But the truckers’ convoy was co-opted along its route by ultra-right idiots and what is happening now in Ottawa is – as a Globe and Mail OpEd noted this past week -- “an assault on democracy.”

Key Conservative MPs, including presumptive leadership favourite, the acid-tongued and overly partisan Pierre Poilievre, whose announcement of his bid for the top Tory job used the word “freedom” multiple times, actually praised the leaders of the truckers’ protest and joined them. Former Tory leader Andrew Scheer called Prime Minister Trudeau “the greatest threat to freedom” in Canada. 

To be clear, they are saying that the prime minister, by following science and trying to end the pandemic, is a greater threat than the pandemic itself which has killed almost 35,000 Canadians and infected more than three million. Did any media outlet report that AND call them out? Not many. Not in those words.

That’s bad enough at the political level. But when comments like these are quoted in the MSM without challenge, that normalizes the worst of the worst. That’s one of the main factors fueling the hyper-partisanship and violence in the U.S. — the normalization by constant repetition of lies designed to paint the other side as an enemy to be defeated at all costs, not as fellow citizens with whom we should compromise.

In recent days, journalists have been calling out these folks for who they are. But that was not the case in the early going:

Yes, most columnists and commentators have been clear in pointing out the dark side of the occupation and many of its leaders. Yes, the tone of the coverage has changed to more critical in the past few days. However, certainly in the early going, and through Saturday when the truckers arrived, most “news” stories were (a) rah-rah (b) uncritical and/or (c) disgraceful. 

For some, such as Postmedia and the Sun chain, this was to be expected because the protests play into their pro-Conservative and/or anti-Trudeau phobia. For others that are supposed to be more even-handed, such as The Globe, there were significant lapses, especially as the convoy moved across the country and arrived last Saturday in Ottawa. TV gave wall-to-wall video coverage, even if it did have talking heads denouncing the shenanigans. Some radio reports quoted occupation supporters as saying that vaccines, not COVID, are causing the illnesses jamming our hospitals. No rebuttal offered.

Part of the problem is that way too many Canadian journalists are now falling into the same trap that snared so many American journalists in their coverage of Trump’s 2016 presidential election and his antics since then. They remain unable to think outside the traditional box of he said/he said or she said/she said – in other words, both sides need to be quoted and treated as equal, even if one side is clearly unhinged, saying dangerous things and/or outright lying.

Look at it this way. If one side says it’s a bright, sunny day and the other side says it’s pouring rain, the job of a journalist is not to simply report both sides uncritically. The reporter should look outside the window and tell readers/viewers/listeners what is actually happening.

If we don't have the courage to name what is actually happening here, then we will be consumed by it. We have the example of what has happened in the United States. A few days ago, the Republican National Committee called the January 6th insurrection "legitimate political discourse."

Image: The Hill Times

16 comments:

zoombats said...

Hi Owen. This in today's Guardian, US edition gives and interesting and parallel perspective

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/08/canada-ottawa-trucker-protest-extremist-qanon-neo-nazi

Owen Gray said...

Thanks, zoombats. It's a must-read article. The organizers of all this are, indeed, the worst of us.

Anonymous said...

I am taking this opportunity to comment about your blog. There are a few people who use this comment rectangle to say what they think regarding this debacle going on in Ottawa. They are on point and clear. There are many Canadians who are not journalists for which know what is going on in this country regarding the dismantling of democracy which by the way, has become a word for Capitalism used by those same people who would kill democracy. Most of these people are located in Ontario west all the way to Alberta. Some 900,000 or there about. In Alberta many of these people are radical. Conservative attitudes exist to the extreme in Alberta. My father was of the old generation Conservative. My siblings and one of my children support the Cons with Trumpian attitudes. Having studied Political Science in University, I decided not to be staunch anything and call myself Non Partisan. Todays message is absolutely correct. It is not wishy-washy in the least. Anyong

Owen Gray said...

As Mya Angelo wrote, Anyong, "when someone tells you who they are, believe them the first time."

zoombats said...

I just heard from a friend of mine who is a retired C.B.C. news guy living in Ottawa, that It has been reported that Hell's Angels have been seen in a Convoy staging area. Anyone who remembers Altamont Speedway will see the significance in a report like this

Owen Gray said...

At this moment, zoombats, it's really important to understand the people who are really behind this. Con men -- and women -- are successful because they sound committed. The question is, "Committed to what?"

Anonymous said...

In 1994 during the Stanley Cup final which involved the Canucks, there was a riot in downtown Vancouver in the aftermath which caught everyone by surprise. In 2011 the Canucks were again in the Stanley Cup final and this time, no one was surprised, we all expected the riot to happen again. Authorities weren't prepared. The same thing with the "Freedumb" truck rally in Ottawa, just looking at the names of the white supremacist and anti democratic thugs organizing the event would tell anyone in a position of authority what was going to happen. As far as the media is concerned, my UBC educated neighbour has been spouting that "Democracy in Canada will end if we don't get rid of Trudeau." He learns this from his bible, the USA hedge fund majority share owned (non voting) National Post. The NP has been at this for a very long time. I'll leave a quote from musician Kent Parkstreet who said, "Like the band on the Titanic, many journalists are so accustomed to playing sweet tunes for rich people that they can't stop even to save themselves."

mr perfect

Anonymous said...

Far too many journalists come poorly prepared to question politicians and ask softball questions without following up on weasely dodges. Here's an example of good preparation. I can't remember the last time a Canadian journo did this and the public is poorly informed as a result.

Cap

Owen Gray said...

With the problems we face these days, perfect, it really does feel like we can't stop to save ourselves.

jrkrideau said...


A few days ago, the Republican National Committee called the January 6th insurrection "legitimate political discourse."

For a country that started out as a bunch of treasonous British subjects, I don't see any objection.

Toby said...

Whenever and wherever there is a large mass of poor, hungry, oppressed people there is always a would be Robespierre waiting in the wings who is ready to use them for his own ends.

Modern progressives tie themselves in knots over politically correct language and other silliness and don't have the motivation to actually solve real problems. In the mean time our leaders are coddling huge corporations. To paraphrase Warren Buffett, there has been a class war and the rich won.

Question: Is Canada being used as a test for how to disable a government?

Owen Gray said...

I hope every school of journalism in North America shows this clip, Cap.

Owen Gray said...

Except, jrk, they claim they are "a nation of laws, not men."

Owen Gray said...

These folks not only want to disable the government, Toby. They want to overthrow it -- six months after the last election.

Trailblazer said...

A few days ago, the Republican National Committee called the January 6th insurrection "legitimate political discourse.............

Today on US right wing radio they called the insurrection small riot!

Just as with the Trucker insurrection it is gradually being downplayed.
They, like Trump. could soon be the establishment!

TB

Owen Gray said...

That's a truly disturbing possibility, TB.