CNN news commentator Michael Smerconish devoted a segment of his eponymous Saturday morning (May 18) program to Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s rejecting Fox News Channel’s invitation to appear on a “town hall” program. He credited her decision as powerfully appealing to the Democratic base, but he questioned whether it would ultimately harm her in November 2020.
I believe his analysis presents strong evidence of an inherent problem, not of Sen. Warren’s candidacy but of the “We know better” arrogance of the news-celebrity commentariat. Smerconish is hardly alone. An entire industry has arisen of personalities whose once-healthy skepticism has given way to morbid cynicism. They simply cannot comprehend that Sen. Warren could be driven by principle. In the rubric of those wisest, most reasonable souls, principle, which they cannot comprehend, becomes mere stratagem. Their extremely limited view does violence to the legitimate goals of their trade.
If only talking heads could stop talking for a moment, read Sen. Warren’s obviously sincere statement, and consider that she may be that rare bird – a professional politician whose core principles are not merely an “art of the deal” negotiating point, a sacrifice to expediency. If only.
WILLIAM POLITT
Weare