Is our presidential election process rigged as Trump recently claimed? I suppose that depends on one’s definition of “rigged”. If it is a system influenced by, directed by, or even controlled by factions other that the candidates and their messages then yes it is rigged.
Any one with eyes, ears and a brain has to concede that the big media is having a major influence on public opinion, even to sponsoring and controlling public opinion polls. (Can you say WSJ?) Before someone yells that freedom of the press is one of the foundations of our republic, let me make a couple of points. I grant that the media must have freedom of the press. But, with that freedom, as with all freedoms, it comes with responsibilities. The press should present all sides in a non agreeing,non condemning, and non opinionated way. Where the media presents an opinion then it should be clearly noted as an editorial opinion, not presented as fact.
I understand that the New York Times recently admitted that they are presenting opinions skewed to favor Clinton. They didn’t even make excuses, or offer an apology, or a promise to change and be more neutral. Major newspapers and TV news broadcasts have simply crossed the line of presenting facts verses personal or corporate opinions, and have therefore forfeited their right to claim freedom of the press.
Is this bias against the law? No. Is it something new? No, just more open and more pronounced. Some 50 years ago Theodore White wrote about the power and bias of the press when they pushed to bring down Nixon. Is the bias a violation of ethical standards? Absolutely.
Of course the press isn’t the only factor influencing our opinions and our culture. For half a century the U.S.Supreme Court has systematically de-Christianized and paganized our society by declaring abortion and homosexual marriage constitutional rights. I don’t recall those or other “positions by the court” being in the constitution. These jurists are not elected by us, they are appointed and it seems to me they have stepped far out of the boundaries defined for them by our founding fathers. We can not deny that such judicial opinions have an effect on our culture and our attitudes and even helps allow the media to do what they are doing without public backlash.
Of course the rigged system isn’t all about defeating Trump. The DNC, a collaborationist press, and the Obama White House all conspired to defeat Bernie Sanders in the primary. Ask him if the system is rigged.
Here is just one example of the rigging by the press. In a private speech that netted Clinton $225,000 from Brazilian bankers she advocated open trade and open boarders in the Western Hemisphere. That would effectively eliminate the U.S. as a sovereign nation. Has that traitorous position been presented to the voters? No, they focus on some stupid statement made by Trump many years ago when he was not in the political arena.
Is the election process rigged? Certainly it is.
