Monday, December 17, 2018

Real Fears About Fake News: A Warning From Goldwater

I recently received a reminder that the concept of fake news didn't just spring fully formed out of the forehead of Donald Trump in 2015, but has been a real specter in American politics for decades.

"Believe me," Goldwater responded, "Your concern about the press and media is shared by many of us in public life. I have been talking with editors around the country and particularly with the editor of the biggest paper here in Washington" - presumably Ben Bradlee at the Washington Post, fresh off the Watergate story - "Pointing out that unless something is done to reinstill the American's [sic] faith in the news media, they could well lose the freedom of the press."

In Goldwater's formula, it is the journalists themselves who are abusing the news - by stretching it or slanting it or just not understanding it.

Although it is natural for 21st century news consumers to see Goldwater's complaint through the prism of Donald Trump's war against "Fake news," it should be noted for the record that Goldwater presumably found fault with the news media of the 1970s without consulting Trump.

In retrospect, Goldwater probably offers the closest parallel to the savage treatment accorded to Donald Trump, with the exception that the attacks against Goldwater were more effective.

It was well known that just a month before writing the Quinn letter, Goldwater had told President Nixon that he had one choice - resign voluntarily or be impeached and removed from office - which meant Goldwater had started to make the transition from dangerous firebrand to elder statesman.

Like Trump, Goldwater seemed to know it was a losing battle, but one worth fighting.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/12/17/real_fears_about_fake_news_a_warning_from_goldwater_138941.html

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