Recall, it’s the Left that had worked itself into a frenzy over Donald Trump, repeatedly assuring one and all that Trump was a threat to democracy.
Obviously the American people did not agree, electing Trump by a considerable margin. A presidential election would be exactly democracy at work.
Now comes the news that the owner of the Los Angeles Times, one Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, has decided to do his part for democracy by hiring CNN’s conservative contributor Scott Jennings as a member of the Times editorial board. The result? Liberals freak out at the reality of intellectual diversity arriving at the Times editorial board.
The paper, at the instruction of its owner, previously declined to endorse a candidate for president during the 2024 election. Since the assumption was that the left-leaning paper would endorse California’s own, Vice President Kamala Harris, the news that no endorsement would be made sent shock waves through the paper. The editorials editor for the Los Angeles Times, one Mariel Garza, resigned, telling the Columbia Journalism Review:
“I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
Now comes the news that the owner has extended an invitation to CNN’s conservative, Trump-supporting contributor - Jennings - and more left wing freaking out occurs. The Times of India headlines:
Why liberals are angry about pro-Trump Scott Jennings joining LA Times editorial board
That story reports:
“The Los Angeles Times’ decision to appoint Scott Jennings—a vocal conservative commentator and former adviser to President George W. Bush—to its editorial board has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The backlash, especially from liberal voices within the media and the Times newsroom, has been swift and intense, highlighting the deeply polarized reaction to including a prominent pro-Trump voice in the ranks of a traditionally left-leaning institution.”
All of which decidedly underlines the hard fact that for all their goings on about Trump being opposed to democracy, it is in fact the Left that hates genuine democracy.
Intellectual diversity is, of course, a bedrock principle of democracy. One of the central tenets of democracy is the freedom to speak one’s mind on the issues of the day. The point of the First Amendment is to ensure that freedom of speech is guaranteed to American citizens.
Thus the uproar over the appointment of a conservative to the Times editorial board is a showcasing for the Left’s intolerance of intellectual diversity and their hatred for genuine democracy at work.
Amusingly, the Times of India story on this says:
“However, for many in the newsroom and beyond, this move is seen as a betrayal of journalistic integrity. Critics argue that Jennings’ unapologetic pro-Trump stance and his critiques of the Democratic establishment amount to platforming partisanship under the guise of editorial balance.
The backlash within the Times itself has reportedly been severe, with staff members expressing outrage at what they view as a sharp pivot away from the paper’s traditional values. Internal sources suggest that many journalists are “pissed off” by the appointment, feeling it undermines the institution’s credibility and its commitment to holding powerful figures accountable.”
Got that? A "pro-Trump stance" is "platforming partisanship," unlike oh, longtime reporter Doyle McManus making the case for Kamala?
In other words “journalistic integrity” to these left-wing activists badly disguised as “journalists” is adopting and pushing the left-wing viewpoint on whatever issue of the day is front and center. Which is to say the obvious: that is hardly “journalistic integrity.” That is left-wing activism pushing left-wing propaganda.
It is precisely to bring genuine journalistic integrity to the Times that Dr. Soon-Shiong has asked Scott Jennings to join the paper’s editorial board, bringing with him a decided reputation for conservatism and, unlike his new colleagues, a record of supporting not just conservative principle but supporting President-elect Trump.
One personal note. For a time Scott Jennings was a CNN contributor at the same time as I was there. He was quite obviously a smart, thoughtful guy with a conservative world view. One can be excused for thinking that it is precisely because Jennings has a well-considered conservative world view that the Left is foaming in anger at his addition to the Times editorial board.
In an interview with Fox News’s Trace Gallagher, Dr. Soon-Shiong said:
….we’ve conflated news and opinion. So, the first thing I want to do is ensure that we explicitly say this is news. And if it’s news, it should just be the facts period. And if it’s an opinion, that’s maybe an opinion of the news and that’s what I call now a voice,” Soon-Shiong replied, adding, “And so, we want voices from all sides to be heard.”
Exactly. A better reason than that for the Los Angeles Times to add Scott Jennings to their editorial board could not be had.
