Forget the cops, it’s reporters who need to keep their bias in check.
Last week was the tenth anniversary of the justified police shooting of the thug Michael Brown. After robbing a clerk (about half his size) at the Ferguson Market for a box of cigarillos, Brown left the location with his friend Dorian Johnson.
Officer Darren Wilson observed the two suspects walking in the middle of the street, blocking traffic. After initially reaching through Officer Brown’s patrol vehicle window and trying to grab his pistol, two shots were discharged in the car. After Officer Wilson got out of his vehicle, Brown charged him, the officer fired and killed him.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Officer Wilson was investigated by the local district attorney and the federal Department of Justice. The local grand jury declined ot indict, and fortunately the Eric Holder “Just-Us” department was unable to twist the law. The Ferguson Police, among countless others, instituted “reforms” such as body worn cameras and implicit bias training.
I thought of that term “implicit bias” last week in reading an article in the local rag, the Houston Chronicle. The Chronicle has many concerns about Houston and Texas in general. The soaring crime in the 4th largest city in America? No. The pathetic condition of our streets and other infrastructure, in spite of the high property taxes paid by Harris County residents? Not an issue. The fact our County Judge (the county major) is completely unqualified for her job and the county is being run by a corrupt county board of commissioners member? Don’t see a problem there.
No, they are horrified that not one state official (governor, senator, attorney general, etc.) is a Democrat. The fact that the People’s Democratic Republic of Kalifornia (former state of California) hasn’t had a state GOP elected official since Arnold Schwarzenegger left in 2011, and every productive person who can get out is getting the hell out of there should give them a clue. It would be funny, but the fact is a one-way U-Haul rental from the PDRK to any state in the US is twice as much as the reverse. And the two states they are most running too are Texas and Florida (also Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee). All Republican dominated states. You would think a journalist would see a pattern here?
I thought of this reading an article in the Chron about the unfortunate death of a middle school student in his physical fitness class. The young man passed out, was transported to a hospital and was pronounced soon after arrival. According to his father he had no medical issues, and he is “demanding answers,” as is the Chronicle, pointing out several critical things.
One, the started off the news article showing relevant facts (emphasis mine):
Payton had no prior health conditions, his father said, and state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles did not provide a cause of death at a news conference Friday.
Yes, Mr. Miles was appointed as the Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District in 2023. He was appointed to lead he largest ISD in the state, because the board was failing the students, parents, and taxpayers of Houston. You can question why the Texas Education Agency replaced the school board and superintendent (all in accordance with Texas law), but is that relevant to an article about a tragic death of a student from an unknown cause? Also, the young man passed on Wednesday, Mr. Miles had a press conference two days later, and they are shocked he doesn’t have a cause of death? Apparently so.
The Harris County medical examiner has not listed a cause yet either, but the records note that the teen died at 1:21 p.m. Wednesday in a hospital emergency room.
Anyone with a clue (Chronicle “journalist” apparently doesn’t qualify) should know that state law requires a cause of death be determined whenever someone passes. Someone who’s knowledge of law and medicine is better than a YouTube expert or Law and Order viewer should know an autopsy takes weeks to months for a final determination (unless a blatantly obvious reasons, e.g., an unknown heart condition). Wouldn’t a more accurate (and less prejudice) statement be, “The cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.”
Now the HISD Superintendent overseas an organization of 274 schools, 187,000 students, with a total employment of over 27,000 people, including 11,300 teachers. And Mr. Miles has been present for just over one year. But he must be terminated because a battery was not working.
Both of Houston’s teachers unions have spoken out against the district after reporting that the school gym’s defibrillator was broken or expired. The Houston Education Association wrote a letter calling for the removal of Miles and several HISD board members after the Houston Federation of Teachers reported that multiple Marshall Middle School staff members told them the defibrillator was not working.
“This oversight is entirely unacceptable and highlights a significant lapse in safety protocols,” the Houston Education Association said in the letter.
Are you saying the superintendent of the school board should go around to almost 300 schools to ensure the batteries in the defibrillators are in working order? I would call that a bit of micromanagement, not to mention impossible. He would have to inspect at least two schools a day. By the way, if the battery was an issue why didn’t the staff bring it to the attention of the principal for him or her to handle? We’re not talking major money. Checking Amazon, a replacement AED battery is less than $200.00. Why didn’t the school staff handle this matter before the new school year?
My point in this? Ages ago in my Army days, I went through ethics classes where the instructor drilled into us the standard is not impropriety, but the appearance of impropriety. As a federal officer, I was expected to not bring my integrity into question (paging Congress, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Mrs. Bill Clinton). Shouldn’t professional (snicker) journalist conduct themselves to not show implied bias in their presentations? You would think so, but I question that.
Another recent example is the discovery (gee, the sun rises in the east!) that brings the appearance of impropriety on a major “journalist.”
Atop ABC, a Personal Connection to Kamala Harris
On paper, the potential for a conflict of interest seems obvious: ABC News, the host of next month’s high-stakes presidential debate, falls under the purview of a top corporate executive at Disney who happens to be longtime friends with the Democratic nominee.
The executive, Dana Walden, first met Kamala Harris in 1994. Their husbands, Matt Walden and Doug Emhoff, have known each other since the 1980s. The Waldens — “extraordinary friends,” per the vice president — have donated money to Ms. Harris’s political campaigns since at least 2003, when she ran for district attorney in San Francisco.
“In many ways, Dana and Matt are responsible for my marriage,” Ms. Harris joked at a fund-raiser in April 2022 at the Waldens’ home in Brentwood, a wealthy Los Angeles enclave where Ms. Harris and Mr. Emhoff also own a residence. The Waldens, Vice President Harris explained, set up a couple who in turn had set her up with Mr. Emhoff on a blind date.
Apparent impropriety?
With something like a presidential debate, you would think the hosting agency would want to have no question of integrity. You would bring someone up like a Tim Russert or David Brinkley, people who were known for hard questions of both sides of the aisle, and no one would doubt their veracity (Candy Crowley or George Stephanopoulos need not apply).
But the 4th Estate has no issues with integrity as they have none. They see themselves above reproach, and if you have questions of integrity or impropriety, the problem is with you. They will honestly look at you and ask, “Who are you going to believe, us or your lying eyes?” Until we start holding them to more account (e.g., GOP, do not agree to any debate with moderators who are open supporters of the Democratic Party), this will continue. And it has to stop.
Michael A. Thiac is a retired Army intelligence officer, with over 23 years experience, including serving in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is also a retired police patrol sergeant, with over 22 years’ service, and over ten year’s experience in field training of newly assigned officers. He has been published at The American Thinker, PoliceOne.com, and on his personal blog, A Cop’s Watch.
Opinions expressed are his alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of current or former employers.
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