John Stossel is an asshole, people. “Big time,” as former Vice President Dick Cheney might say.
Heck, we’ve dined with the man, and we can say without fear of contradiction that he’s a condescending, know-it-all, moustache-stroking asshole.
Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that Stossel also happens to be one of the few mainstream media reporters in America who actually does his job. You see, unlike so many of the fawning bureaucratic sycophants who pose as “reporters” in this country, Stossel really is one.
He doesn’t just play one on TV.
For example, his “Stupid in America” piece – which focused on the systemic failure of the public education system – has become the stuff of journalistic legend, a prime example of what our local media here in South Carolina should be doing … you know, instead of doing this.
Seriously, sometimes “it takes an asshole,” people, and on any number of subjects, Stossel breaks through the typical liberal spin and reports facts – smartly. Unswervingly. Unapologetically.
His network? Not so much.
In fact, given the journalistic fellatio that ABC has been performing on President Barack Obama’s health care plan of late – we were pleased to hear that Stossel was doing a story on the “unintended consequences” of government-run health care.
Or at least we thought he was.
From Stossel’s ABC News blog:
My piece of British and Canadian healthcare has been postponed once again. Now it’s scheduled to run, not tonight, but next Friday, July 31 at 10pm ET.
Sadly, ABC has been postponing this thing for over a month now … which makes you wonder if the network is taking its marching orders on this from Linda Douglass, the former ABC “reporter” who now serves as the head of the White House office on health care reform.
Are we ever going to get a look at this story?
We hope so. In the meantime, you can access part of Stossel’s story on the web …
By seymour July 25, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Don’t dare oppose King Obama or Princesses Waxman, Rham, and Pelosi…
By baker July 25, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Sorry, Will. “Stupid in America” was a piece of unabashed propaganda. It was not legitimate journalism.
It is interesting to know that you got to dine with John Stossel. I can imagine that he and Mark Sanford were very much on the same page.
By K Trane July 25, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Hmmm… Very interesting indeed! “Journalistic Felatio” = Priceless!
By Dewayne Day Old Bakery July 25, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Apparently ABC’s execs aren’t impressed by the 1979 MVP award he shared with Pops Stargell or the World Series ring he won with the Mets in 1986. Or maybe they’re just making him pay for spitting on Newman and Kramer.
By liz July 27, 2009 at 7:30 am
All health care plans are owned by a company named Fidelity Management and Research.
By Bingo July 27, 2009 at 8:33 am
Fits, You hit it on the money with Stossel. His public school thrashing was top notch. Just think about it. “Public” schools would not let him film inside an ordinary classroom.
It takes an asshole to challenge the status quo and call it like it is.