Mayor Tin Ear Mocks Occupy Wall Street | The Nation

Mayor Tin Ear Mocks Occupy Wall Street The Nation

It’s not surprising that Bloomberg privately expresses open contempt and mockery when talking about OWS. After all, the movement is comprised of his ideological opponents, but it’s sickening that press—any press—would so willingly play the role of obedient lapdogs, and even laugh along while the mayor makes light of his own authoritarian behavior that landed some of their colleagues in jail.The party in Gracie Mansion serves as a microcosm of the larger problem of co-opted media, in which so-called journalists become the servants of the one percent. Rather than adopting adversarial roles in which reporters constantly approach every government claim with the highest degree of skepticism, reporters allow themselves to be sucked into the world of the ruling elite, including being wined and dined at exclusive clubs. Eventually, it’s hard to play the role of fact-checker on one’s golfing buddies.Clearly, not all journalists who attended the event thought Bloomberg’s humor was appropriate, but those who stayed, applauded, and went as far as giving the mayor gag gifts should be ashamed of themselves. Laughing in the presence of a creeping city police state should be grounds for immediately revoking a reporter’s press card.