People of Courage & Decency. And Everyone In Between.
Is it the time to be afraid yet? Possibly.
Today, news broke that Jeff Bezos, the American billionaire with a net worth of $206 B (NZ $344B), personally vetoed Washington Post’s Editorial Team from endorsing Kamala Harris.
That stops the decades-old tradition of the Wapo for endorsing Presidential candidates.
And editors have resigned - that includes Editor at large Robert Kagan. Past editors have spoken out in defiance. Staff are angry. They say this is “cowardice,” and “chicken shit” .
Wa-Po’s cartoon today (remembering their slogan is: Democracy dies in darkness):
David Maraniss, a Pulitzer-winning reporter and editor at the Post, added: “The paper I’ve loved working at for 47 years is dying in darkness.”
Another former editor at the paper, Robert McCartney, said: “Given the choice this year, it’s appalling.”
And the right have celebrated:
Last year Bezos appointed a former Wall Street Journal executive to become the CEO of Washington Post. i.e. a close Rupert Murdoch associate.
And we all know how much Rupert is hands on with his media empires and close to his teams - “personally dictating” editorials and admitting he is a person who is “not going to hold my tongue” - often promoting policies that are a far cry from his reported socialist ideals as a younger man.
Yes - Murdoch is the man who makes Prime Ministers in the UK and Australia. Most modern British PMs kissed the ring before making it:
Murdoch media dislikes Jacinda Ardern.
We know because of the many negative pieces ‘The Australian’ and Fox News did on Ardern’s tenure - as well as the lavish praise they have heaped on Luxon and his partners - calling Luxon “inspiring, a positive guy with..can-do optimism”.
But the more pivotal point here is - Jeff Bezos, America’s 2nd richest man, bent the knee.
Look I don’t need him to be