Opinion: Bad information could cost dearly

The Christopher Steele dossier began a credibility slip for the mainstream media that has not ended at this time.

The dossier, purportedly leaked to the New York Times by former FBI Director James Comey, had allegations of outrageous charges of Russian collusion with many members of the Trump campaign as well as against Trump himself. This document resulted in an FBI lawyer illicitly modifying documents that were presented to the FISA Court as evidence for the court to issue warrants allowing the government to spy on American citizens. Members of the intelligence community endorsed these claims and members of the print, electronic and social media piled on as well.

After a years-long, more than $30 million-dollar, investigation by Special Prosecutor Robert Muller, no evidence was ever brought forward that indicated any of the allegations were true. In point of fact, U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz found more than 15 discrepancies with the FBI’s investigation. The apparent rebuttal of collusion charges by the special prosecutor had no impact on members of the media and they continued their assault on Trump for his entire term.

When the New York Post published its story about Hunter Biden’s laptop in October of 2020, one would think that their longevity as the oldest continuously printed newspaper in the country would give them some right to credibility and trustworthiness. This proved not to be true.

Major media, print, electronic and social, all joined in a rush to shoot the messenger. National Public Radio called it a “pure distraction’ and refused to cover the story. CNN claimed that the vast right-wing media machine created the story. Most major newspapers ignored the story or gave it a two-line mention on page G-12. Twitter, however, not only blocked users from sharing the specifics of the story, but also locked the New York Post out of its account for a period of weeks. Comes now the New York Times, the so-called country’s “Paper of Record,” to admit that Hunter’s laptop did, indeed, contain some authentic emails.

The above stories are considered by many to be examples of media outlets publishing erroneous information on purpose, rather than examples of mistakes, or false sources or of differences of opinion.

How many times will we allow ourselves to be led down the primrose path by almost 100% of our information providers, print, electronic and social media, spouting one line of absolute truth and castigating any voices raised in disagreement?

It’s happening again, and this time it may cost us dearly in the form of blood and treasure. I’m afraid it will be more blood than treasure.

Rube Render is a former Clovis city commissioner and former chair of the Curry County Republican Party. Contact him:

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