What the True Believers Truly Believe
According to reports, talk show host Katherine Lanpher is leaving Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), hitching her wagon to satirical superstar Al Franken and going to work for the ascendant liberal radio network. Regarding her departure, this from the MPR press release:
Senior Vice President for News Bill Buzenberg praised Lanpher's performance as Midmorning host. "I can say that from the very start, whether listeners agreed or disagreed with her, they listened to her," he said.
The listeners listened to her? I guess that’s intended as high praise, although I think by definition, the listeners have to listen to her. Or they wouldn‘t be listeners. Granted, I don’t have the inside knowledge or credibility of the esteemed MPR Vice President for News, but I think I can categorically state that whether non-listeners agreed or disagreed with her, they didn’t listen to her.
Buzenberg’s self justifying feedback loop is evidence of the MPR mindset that allows them to employ someone like Katherine Lanpher in a news function, yet still claim to be an unbiased source of information. Sounds crazy, but they do it all the time, with a straight face. Not even the departure of one of their anchor personalities for a job in an explicitly left wing operation is enough to crack the facade of belief. In fact, the pathology is so advanced over there, I’m sure they actually believe what they’re saying is true.
Here’s more evidence of living a delusion, from the MPR Lanpher press release:
”She made compelling radio and was a fabulous host. We will miss her laugh, her energy, her hard work, her vast intelligence and her indomitable spirit."
I know every employer wants to be nice to those who leave under good terms. But to publicly state they’ll miss her laugh (which is literally a shrill cackle)? And to reference not just her intelligence, but her VAST intelligence!? Can’t somebody get these people some help?
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