I Don't Like Aaron Brown

Let the lightning strike. MWO has been defending this alleged journalist and I can't see why. I'm aware that some time ago he said something considered 'brave' or the like and MWO readers sent him lots of thank-you letters, to which he responded with a condemnation of any site that would label his fellow 'journalists' whores. So it's admirable MWO continues to defend him but again, why?

I couldn't watch his war coverage. I thought it was drippingly supportive of the entire strike and I don't buy his 'well there's a war on we must cover it' explanation. You can hear his thoughts for yourself courtesy of Democracy Now's Amy Goodman by clicking this link. Real Player required. Linked from Ruminate This.

So sorry, MWO. You're great, Brown is not. And I'm definitely not a Kool Kid.

In that interview you'll hear Brown call Robert Fisk's questioning of CNN's editorial policies 'stupid' yet that doesn't really address the concerns Fisk and others have expressed about it. For instance CalPundit pointed to a SF Chronicle article that stated CNN was 'right on target about guessing the war's start date.' Today's LA Times points to remarks made by CNN news head Eason Jordan on Howard Kurtz's CNN show Reliable Sources;

Kurtz, who juggles two hats while covering media for the Washington Post and drawing a paycheck from CNN as regular host of "Reliable Sources," asked Jordan about government criticism of retired military men who had second-guessed aspects of U.S. invasion strategy during initial TV coverage of the war.

The essence of Jordan's reply to Kurtz was that he didn't understand the fuss because he had received clearance in advance. According to a CNN transcript of the program, he said: "I went to the Pentagon myself several times before the war started and met with important people there and said, for instance, at CNN, 'Here are the generals we're thinking of retaining to advise us on the air and off about the war.' And we got a big thumbs-up on all of them. That was important."

Important in what respect? CNN viewers were not about to learn, for time had run out. "OK, we've got to leave it there," said Kurtz.

Which was unfortunate, because Jordan had just revealed that he had asked the Pentagon, in effect, to vet and approve ex-military men that CNN hoped to use as analysts. That is getting cozy.

Yet Mr. Brown could only point to leftist irrationality and inablility to understand his 'simple' answers when asked questions concerning CNN's seeming ties to the Bush administration. Either he's in denial or a player. But something's not right.