Ron Johnson responds to Journal Sentinel editorial, mainstream media
Editor’s note: USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin is publishing Sen. Ron Johnson’s op-ed in the interest of promoting a healthy dialogue and providing a forum for readers representing a range of perspectives. Our network of 11 newspapers across Wisconsin has a long history of independence, holding politicians of all political parties accountable to the citizens, whose views cover all points in the political spectrum. This includes Democratic political appointees running the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, sexual harassment allegations against a former Democratic Assembly member from Green Bay and Johnson’s continued public criticism of certified election results, of the advice of medical doctors and public health experts, and of other evidence that runs counter to his goals or those of his backers. We stand by the accuracy, fairness and integrity of our reporting. To date, Johnson has not asked for any corrections of fact in any of the news stories or the editorial he cites in his commentary.
It is sad, and a troubling reflection on the current state of mainstream media, that I find myself having to respond to yet another unwarranted hit piece by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its Wisconsin affiliates. I write this response with no guarantee they will run it but with full assurance that, if they do, they will publish an accompanying smear in response.
The measure of their misrepresentations and distortions is so extensive that it is impossible to adequately respond in the space they allowed me in the last go-round. So I will make general observations here and present more complete rebuttals on my website.
Freedom of speech and a free press are indispensable to liberty and a vibrant democracy. Both are currently imperiled. Freedom of speech is under assault by the growing power, bias, and censorship of social media oligarchies. A free press is threatened by its self-inflicted bias and groupthink, and by its alliance with, and promotion of, one political party over the other.
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Mainstream media have abused the trust vested in them by the public. This breach of trust has exacerbated the political divide. Those on the liberal end of the political spectrum can be confident that media will reinforce and promote their beliefs while denigrating and working to marginalize the viewpoint of conservatives. Knowing their views will not be presented fairly, conservatives become increasingly frustrated and support candidates who fight back.
Instead of using their enormous power in a fair and balanced fashion to allow the public to draw its own conclusions, media advocates and indoctrinates. They may be oblivious to how they are violating the basic tenets of journalism (although I doubt it), but I can assure you, conservatives are fully aware. The result of modern yellow journalism is that it exacerbates our national divide. It is far more likely to incite than to heal.
It amazes me that the liberal mainstream media have declared me a polarizing figure. I certainly was never polarizing when I volunteered my time and efforts to community organizations in Oshkosh prior to entering the political realm. I don’t see how anyone could look at what we’ve accomplished with the Joseph Project and then label me a racist and say I’m polarizing.
I’m not bombastic, and I don’t engage in personal political attacks. Instead, I tell the truth. Often times, it is truth the liberal mainstream media do not want to hear. It counters their narrative, and they don’t want to allow it. Because they are allies of the Democratic Party, they are also on board with the Democrats’ goal of controlling both of Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seats. So they seize any opportunity where they believe they can damage me politically.
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The yellow journalism hit pieces following the June 28 press event, where I simply allowed five women and a 13-year-old child to tell their stories about possible vaccine injury, is a prime example. Instead of genuinely listening and showing even an ounce of human sympathy for their tragic stories, most of the media used the occasion to attack me.
One of the women, Bree, and the 13-year-old child, Maddie, are national heroes who assumed the risk of participating in COVID vaccine trials to benefit us all. They have suffered grievous injury as a result, and all they were asking was to be seen, heard and believed so they can find effective treatments. The mainstream media would not allow it.
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Instead, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel used the occasion to publish a defamatory hit piece they had been working on for months. I encourage readers to go to my webpage and read the written questions John Fauber submitted to me and my written responses. Then compare those questions and answers to his June 29 hit piece. You will get a good sense with how insidious the process of yellow journalism is.
Media outlets feed off each other. One piece of yellow journalism is used to create another. Before you know it, media have redefined perfectly reasonable and true statements as politically incorrect taboo. And, of course, anyone who has uttered such a newly declared “politically incorrect taboo” is labeled the new Joe McCarthy.
I truly haven’t decided whether to run for re-election. Campaigns are too long and expensive. Delaying its start is probably a good thing. Too bad the media doesn’t agree: They can’t wait to stir up more division. The viciousness of today’s politics is not only depressing, it’s exhausting — for all of us. It deters many good people from seeking public office.
But the good people who do run decide that this marvel we call America is something rare and precious and must be preserved. They ignore the vitriol and they steel themselves against the lies and distortions. They hope that truth can and will prevail.
Ron Johnson, a Republican, is a U.S. senator from Wisconsin. To contact Senator Johnson, go to: www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/contact
