ABC News' Web site carries an excerpt from Al Gore's book, "Assault on Reason." The Internet's inventor writes of what's known as McCarthyism and cites broadcaster Edward R. Murrow, "whose courageous journalism was assaulted by Senator Joseph McCarthy. . . "
But how courageous was Murrow? Did he save the Republic from a man whose vicious tactics silenced any criticism?
Not hardly.
There was already massive media opposition to the Wisconsin senator. Edwin Bayley’s 1981 book, “Joe McCarthy and the Press,” catalogs newspaper coverage after Joe launched his anti-Communism crusade in February, 1950.
Within days, the Washington Post’s editorial, “Sewer Politics,” charged: “Rarely has a man in public life crawled and squirmed so abjectly.” The New York Times condemned “the campaign of indiscriminate character-assassination.”
Other newspapers hopped on the bandwagon and ran editorials with headings like “Irresponsible Senator McCarthy,” “Utterly Irresponsible,” and “Jumping Joe McCarthy.” Editorial cartoons incessantly ridiculed Joe and his efforts.
The 1973 book “When Even Angels Wept” by Lately Thomas points out that the same press that constantly warned of McCarthyite intimidation called the senator a “spiteful and delinquent mental patient,” “a primitive form of political obscenity,” a “nauseating character assassin,” and “our No. 1 Fascist.” And this is merely a portion of what the author describes as “a sampling of choice billingsgate.”
By the time Murrow produced his “See It Now” attack on McCarthy in 1954, the senator had been extensively pilloried for four long years. Yes, selectively editing thousands of feet of film to place McCarthy in the most unflattering light possible did have an impact.
It’s unfair, though, to single out Murrow's "courageous journalism" and suggest it vanquished Joe McCarthy.
Renowned broadcaster Eric Sevareid said in 1978 that the Murrow assault “came very late in the day. The youngsters read back and they think only one person in broadcasting and the press stood up to McCarthy and this has made a lot of people feel very upset, including me, because that program came awfully late.”
Even Murrow admitted to less than a significant role in destroying Joe. As quoted in Bayley’s book, the newsman told New York Times columnist Jack Gould:
“My God, I didn't do anything. (Times columnist) Scotty Reston and lot of guys have been writing like this, saying the same things, for months, for years. We’re bringing up the rear.”
Yet Al Gore marvels at Murrow's courage. It appears the former vice president might get his history lessons from Hollywood.
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Did he actually hypnotize chi
May 22, 2007 - 12:54 ET by GalvanicDid he actually hypnotize chickens, or merely bore them into a catatonic state?
I think he hypnotized them by
May 22, 2007 - 13:09 ET by indianaconservativeI think he hypnotized them by singing the same song that his mother sang him to sleep at nights. You know, the "Look for the Union Label" song.
I followed the link and read
May 22, 2007 - 13:09 ET by j. frank wilsonI followed the link and read the excerpt from Mr. Gore's book. There is nothing in this quote to suggest Edward R. Murrow "vanquished" Tailgunner Joe. Mr. Gore never made such a claim. It's a classic "straw man" argument to claim he did and then knock it down.
Mr. Gore wrote that Joe McCarthy's attacked Mr. Murrow's journalism when Mr. Murrow stood up to him. Mr. Murrow had the guts to do it - as did some others. What's wrong with that?
PS: This blog refers to Mr. Gore as "The Internet's inventor." Did he ever call hiimself the Inventor or is that something made up for him?
"During my service in
May 22, 2007 - 13:49 ET by OIFveteran"During my service in the
United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." -March 1999 interview with Wolf Blitzer.
That is what Gore said. Too bad that was a lie as well. The Internet is almost 40 years old. So he is either stupid and believes this crap, or is hedging his bets that most people are too stupid or lazy to look anything up.
<insert something clever>
Thank you for proving my poin
May 22, 2007 - 14:02 ET by j. frank wilsonThank you for proving my point. Mr. Gore has never claimed to be the "inventor" of the Internet.
Did he, indeed, take the initiative in creating the Internet? There is substantial evidence that he did. But that would require folks to - how do you say it? - not be too stupid or too lazy to look anything up.
Here is a considered, researched piece on the subject:
http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/col/rose/2000/10/05/gore_internet/index.html
Salon also ran a story in August 1999 (referenced in the above) that sheds some additional light.
Ok frank, then he said some
May 22, 2007 - 14:10 ET by MightyMouthOk frank, then he said something "stupid" instead. Something you would call GWB on in a heartbeat. But Al gets a pass?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Once again, the classic NB &q
May 22, 2007 - 14:14 ET by j. frank wilsonOnce again, the classic NB "what if?" argument. I guess that's much easier for you than sticking to the facts...
"Once again, the class
May 22, 2007 - 14:18 ET by MightyMouth"Once again, the classic NB "what if?" argument. I guess that's much easier for you than sticking to the facts..."
So is this now your "classic" reply to every NB post? Instead of answering the question that is....
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
What question? I provided a l
May 22, 2007 - 14:22 ET by j. frank wilsonWhat question? I provided a link that details Mr. Gore's contribution to the creation of the Internet. I pointed out the fact that Mr. Gore never claimed to have "invented" the Internet.
Your response? Hot air...
There is one significant difference between the statements of Mr. Gore and Mr. Bush. Mr. Gore's didn't get anyone killed.
To return to the main point, however: Mr. Gore's book (as quoted in the provided link) never claimed Mr. Murrow vanquished Tailgunner Joe. One more fact.
Questions have a little &qu
May 22, 2007 - 14:25 ET by MightyMouthQuestions have a little "?" after them, such as "Al gets a pass?".
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Sticking to facts? Why don
May 22, 2007 - 14:25 ET by OIFveteranSticking to facts? Why don't you take your own advice?
Nice cherry picking on the salon article above. Too bad it totally ingnored ARPANET and packet switching theory and Host-to-Host protocols and countless other things.
Cherry pick any article you want, you aren't going to win an Internet debate with me.
<insert something clever>
"I took the initiative
May 22, 2007 - 14:42 ET by NL207"I took the initiative in creating the Internet"
intiative, the noun form means beginning or starting.
creating, a verb the means bring into existence.
Together, Gore is saying he brought the internet's beginning into existence.
inventing, a verb meaning to produce something new, i.e. bring a previously unknown thing into existence. Sounds like causing something new to exist to me.
Only a lawyer or a used car saleman would have the cheek to argue that Gore did not claim credit for inventing the Internet with this remark.
Got any good deals on low mileage iron today, Frank?
A swing and a miss...it's a r
May 22, 2007 - 14:46 ET by j. frank wilsonA swing and a miss...it's a rightwing myth that Mr. Gore claimed to have invented the Internet. Repetition doesn't make it true. Spin doesn't, either.
If you disagree with Mr. Gore's statement that he took the initiative in creating the Internet, argue the facts. But don't misquote him and then lambaste him for something he didn't say.
I know facts as pesky things, but they are worth preserving.
A Democrat taking credit for
May 22, 2007 - 14:52 ET by sarcasmoA Democrat taking credit for a domestic spending bill isn't exactly news. Hell, what domestic spending bill did AlGore ever vote against???
JMR
And what domestic spending bi
May 22, 2007 - 14:57 ET by j. frank wilsonAnd what domestic spending bill did President Bush ever veto?
What pork-laden defense appropriation or spending bill did President Bush ever veto? He let a Republican-led Congress pass Defense bills year after year that took vital money out of the maintenance and repair budgets for pet pork projects. In my personal opinion that got our troops killed.
Have you read Mr. Smith is Dead?
Dude, you're barkin' up the
May 22, 2007 - 15:02 ET by sarcasmoDude, you're barkin' up the wrong tree when you try to come to the likes of ME for a defense of Bushleague spending. I can't defend Republican pork any more than I'd defend the current crop of Democrats' pork, which at least he's finally vetoing. I'm a partisan LIBERTARIAN, remember? I'm about to (barely) become a Republican to vote in their primary for Ron Paul, but find me any spending bill Dr. Paul supported! I know, it's hard, that's the point.
JMR
Edward R. Murrow was over-rat
May 22, 2007 - 14:31 ET by Michael ChapmanEdward R. Murrow was over-rated, still is, and he even used stock air-raid audio in some of his "This is London" broadcasts during WWII and claimed the raid was occuring as he spoke. As for Sen. Joe McCarthy: He was a great American, and the declassified National Security Archives material (Venona papers) and the material released from Soviet KGB (and GRU) archives proves that McCarthy was mostly correct in nearly every allegation he made. McCarthy, in fact, given the data available now, underestimated the extent of communist subversion and Soviet espionage against the USA. Joe McCarthy was a great American, who has been vindicated by history---and the liberals can't stand it.
A great American? Did he ca
May 22, 2007 - 14:37 ET by j. frank wilsonA great American? Did he call in to the Sheer Insanity Show?
If this is your standard of a great American your bar is low, indeed. Tailgunner Joe was "mostly correct in nearly every allegation he made?" Such as his famous lists of Communists that he wouldn't let anyone read? His attempts to ruin the lives of decent government employees whose only crime was he didn't like them?
You wouldn't by any chance to a daily listener to the Silly Savage would you? Isn't he a big fan of the Venona papers? Or doesn't he roll his own any more?
Venona PapersPBS search resul
May 22, 2007 - 14:56 ET by mastersofdeceitVenona Papers
PBS search results
Arguing the Facts?
May 22, 2007 - 15:31 ET by EllisWyattSo much for "arguing the facts". Do you have a problem with the Venona Papers?
And for the record, I don't listen to talk radio.
If you're not outraged at the media, you haven't been paying attention.
I haven't read the book nor w
May 22, 2007 - 15:55 ET by jdhawkI haven't read the book nor will I do so. Because of the obvisously self serving movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," it is difficult to think of anything that AlBore would have to say that wouldn't be either a lie or a way to further his agenda of power and money.
AlGore is a hypocrite of the first order. He implores Americans to live their lives as we did a century ago in terms of energy consumption. Yet, he has several homes of extreme square footage and the attendant heating and cooling costs. The energy cost for a single one of his homes for one month is many times what the typical family pays for energy for their homes over an entire year. He flys about in private jets that use many times the energy in a single flight what the typical family car uses in an entire year. Moreover, he is a party to a company that sells "carbon offsets" which is a fraud and should be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law as such.
The man is an unlikeable, sycophantic, bore. He should of stayed in divinity school back in the day. Instead, he invents boogeyman and builds them into the fervor of a religion. He is sad sack. The less time talking about or of his goofy utterances and schemes the better life will be.
Al Gore and Michael Moore:
May 22, 2007 - 16:09 ET by lnthompAl Gore and Michael Moore: Each have made "documentaries" that accidentally included a small handful of truthful moments. If they collaborate on some future documentary, maybe they can check each other's work and get that last bit of reality excised from it.
Lee T.
U.S. Navy (ret.) / Vancouver, Washington
The history of the race, and each individual's experience, are thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.-- Mark Twain