Fraters Libertas

Media Distortions

Last night I saw a CNN segment on the contempt NYT's Judith Miller has for our court system and her subsequent jailing. It was hosted by Jeffrey Toobin and featured a panel of experts, including a CNN analyst/barbie doll, Myron Farber - a former New York Times reporter with contempt for the court who looked like he belonged on a box of frozen fish sticks (no photos located online, uncanny approximation here), and from Minneapolis, attorney and blogger ..... John Hindel-rocker.

No, that's not some fresh-faced new crusader speaking truth to Power. It is the fresh-faced old crusader speaking truth from Power(line). Toobin just botched his name. At first attempt, he stumbled, stopping at "Hindel.... " then he took another run at it, finishing off with "Hindelrocket." Which makes me wonder if he originally stumbled because he thought the name was Hindelrockem.

It's hard to identify the cause of this flub. Maybe the teleprompter malfunctioned, maybe Toobin isn't fluent in Olde Worlde Dutch, or maybe he was intentionally messing with our friend the Rocket Man. That is the way guys hyper conscious of status and fame stick it to you, by pretending they don't know you. Larry King used to do it to Rush Limbaugh during the latter's early radio ascendancy. People would call in to King's show, drop Rush's name, and Larry would reply "never heard of him, next caller, Stu in Cleveland, you're on with Joey Buttafuoco." In a small pond context, I heard Randy Moss do this to KFAN's Dan Barreiro last season. Moss was introduced (to talk about the Lambeau Field mooning, I believe) and he immediately asked "who am I talking to again?" This to a guy who covered the Vikings for Moss's entire tenure via both a newspaper column and radio show. It was beautiful. And something to remember if I ever appear on Tax Payer's League Live! (David Strom who?)

In any regard, when asked to speak our man Hinderaker had by far the most salient points and most articulate presentation. He won this battle in the public forum for the continued incarceration of NYT's contemptuous Miller. Although I thought his demand for her to serve her time in the general population at Rikers Island, followed by his promotion of the DVD release of the first 5 seasons of OZ was a little over the top. (Jokes!)

One constructive piece of criticism to my good friend and valued colleague at Powerline. When they cut to his video image and introduced him, he had his mouth open. Something I've seen before on his media appearances. Sure, that works fine on radio,
but it gives off kind of slack-jawed, mouth-breathing vibe on the boob tube. That tends to argue against his ability to understand, let alone explain the vagaries of complex federal statutory law. Of course, upon his speaking, all doubts were dispelled. But this is a short attention span, channel surfing culture and first impressions can haunt a man for a long time. I suggest something closer to this face and next time he may even get Jeffrey Toobin pronounce his name correctly.