The latest episode of PBS’s Washington Week was a show of unprofessionalism and wilfully misguided opinions as the media attacked Conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Behind the controversy were Democrats, harping on every opportunity to get Alito to recuse himself from upcoming January 6 cases.
Mara Liasson from National Public Radio, took a low swipe under the panel’s guise. She exploited the ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, a Revolutionary War flag displayed outside Alito’s beach house, spinning it as symbolic of insurrection. One must question if her historical understanding – or lack thereof – is deliberate. Maybe, ignorance best suits her narrative.
She then had the audacity to claim Alito was quick to blame his wife on the upside-down flag but said nothing about the ‘insurrection’ flag, which was nothing but a falsity. As if it was his responsibility to pander to every accusation without foundation. The show’s host, Jeffrey Goldberg, had to provide a reality check by reminding Liasson that the ‘insurrection’ flag, in fact, represented a significant American historical event.
As the panel discussion waded into a territory where personal lives of judges are under scrutiny, CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe was the only one expressing concern. He feared where this new-found openness in prying into the private affairs of public officials would lead. With judgments made on half-truths and biases, he wondered if this was the kind of Washington we were willing to create.
Liasson had her rebuttal ready, suggesting that public officials might damage their institutions’ reputations if they fly flags in their private homes they deem offensive. It’s disappointing to see how easily she equated a historical Revolutionary War flag with ‘insurrectionist’ propaganda.
O’Keefe replied, pointing out that the court’s reputation has already sustained damage. But Liasson was relentless, implying that it worsened the situation. Her logic stirs up unnecessary drama and plays into the hands of those willing to politicize even the Supreme Court.
Echoing the concerns of many sensible citizens, O’Keefe expressed valid concerns over where this trend of liberal outrage could lead. He reminded everyone of the possibly disastrous consequences, like the unsurprising, yet tragic, attack on Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He feared the disagreement would transform into a political dichotomy and that the court’s politicization would become a norm. It’s a sobering reality that if the focus remains on such shocking scrutiny, that’s where the debate will end up heading.
In this drama, the real losers are people whose faith in institutions dwindles with every shallow argument. Each time an individual attempts to gain political mileage out of an unfounded situation, it’s another dent in public trust. If the elite media personnel cannot rise above their biases and consider a broader perspective, are they the leaders we can trust with our nation’s narrative? It’s time to ask ourselves, is this the future we have chosen for ourselves?
