THE TRUMP TURNAROUND AND MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY
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Trump Turnaround—Truth to Power
As Americans, the underdog fighting injustice always secures our loyalty.
It’s embedded in our very DNA. From the Pilgrims to the Patriots, from Harriet Tubman to Abraham Lincoln, from our boys at D-Day to the Holocaust survivors who birthed the state of Israel, from Martin Luther King to the NYPD firefighters and even to Barack Obama, President—America backs the underdog fighting injustice. And when they win, we all win. Their victories become our own.
That said, something shifted last night in the political landscape of America. Something that caused an underdog to win.
Donald Trump is in so many ways very flawed leader. Especially given his propensity for trash talk sexualizing women—“locker room talk” as he described it—he was the clear underdog in his debate last night against Hillary Clinton. And he deserved to be.
But the tables soon turned. Call it the Trump turnaround. It seemed all but impossible, yet it happened.
How? For the first time in recent memory, including the previous debate, truth was spoken directly to power. It was almost as though Trump was delivering a verdict. In this he not only won the debate, I believe he won the respect of a great many Americans.
Media Hypocrisy
It remains to be seen whether Donald Trump will sustain the turnaround. And again, I don’t in any way condone the abhorrent conduct suggested by his conversations. I’m wrestling, praying that he truly is the new man he has claimed to be. Jesus alone makes this miracle available. Our genuine response makes it a day by day reality.
That said, neither do I condone the the extraordinary actions of those whose strategically-timed interjections sought to take Trump down. The same news outlets that exposed Watergate are unabashedly pro-Hillary, and seemingly distort their reporting according to their bias. They released the tax records right after Hillary’s focus on them during the first debate. And with an an extraordinary knack for kairos timing, they released the Trump tapes right before last night’s debate.
Yet these same institutions have willfully downplayed and ignored travesties of justice which are, in my opinion, far greater in magnitude than either Watergate or the Trump tapes. Sins against the American people, against our national security, perhaps even against the Constitution itself. Like Secretary Clinton openly defying a congressional subpoena, destroying 33,000 emails after these files were mandated to be turned over. Perpetuating denial and deception even after other emails allegedly demonstrated that she willfully breached even the most basic security protocols for handling classified information.
She was given a free pass. The FBI even helped destroy the evidence. In front of our very eyes, with most of the mainstream media not only looking the other way but championing the alleged abuser.
Message conveyed? The elite can escape accountability and justice. And the media can justify whom they choose and condemn whom they choose.
Keep in mind this is the same media that singled Trump out among the crowd of Republican candidates and promoted him to the top spot. Pocketing millions—probably billions—from his capable showmanship all along the way. Building him up for their own profit, only to manipulate his fall to promote their preferred choice.
Donald Trump should continue to emphasize his repentance for his decade-old conversations and actions. But who is holding the unrepentant media to the fire? Who is calling them to account for hypocrisy?
Rededication to Truth
Many of the news outlets whose virtue I now question provided the role models which inspired me as a journalist. Woodward and Bernstein. The fearless Mike Royko. Photojournalists like James Nachtwey and Sebastio Saldago, who conveyed unsettling truth to the world with their very eyes.
Ideals instilled in college mandated that the “Fourth Estate” remain unbiased in reporting, with a focus on truth. How else could we hold the institutions of society accountable?
And when I first read the Bible as a college student, it was actually the consistent, unwavering commitment to truth that sealed the legitimacy of these Scriptures in my eyes. God is committed to truth, even when its exposure is costly. He holds Himself accountable. He holds His people accountable.
We need the recovery of this dedication today. It’s at the very core of our Judeo-Christian values, it’s at the core of our nation’s founding, and it’s the heartbeat of genuine journalism. In this turnaround year, redemptive truth marks the tracks we must take to “make America great again.”
Manipulating the Manipulating Media
Final thought. To secure his turnaround, Donald Trump effectively manipulated the media that was trying to manipulate him. Issues the media purposely avoided were forced to the forefront. And whatever your opinion of his tactics, Donald Trump is now back in the race.
For those who believe his platform represents the greater hope for America, that’s really good news. But keep this man in prayer. It’s going to take a lot for this turnaround to be sustained. The stakes are very high.
And we should all recommit to the accountability of God’s redemptive truth.
Jon
Your astute comments help the general public see and hear through Journalists eyes and ears. I happen to know you came to Christ in Ohio when you were at OU … right??? … and thank heavens you were exposed to professors and professionals that were true journalists and trained you well.
Keep encouraging those that are part of the Lamplighter Family with wisdom and insight and revelation that we can share with those who touch our lives … still time for this TURNAROUND TO HAPPEN. In Jesus Name … Amen!!!
I do not know if Donald Trump is a true Saint, I pray for both him and Hillary Clinton. For the blood of Jesus has bought and paid for their total redemption. When the FBI laid out the evidence, they had found in regards to Hillary Clinton and then offhandedly dismissed it. What came to me instantly was, when Joshua and Caleb gave their speech as it is written: [Num 14:9 KJV] Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they [are] bread for us: their defence {this word is translated 45 other times as shadow as in[Psa 91:1 KJV] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.} is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not. We know that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities powers rulers of the darkness. As it is written: [Luk 10:19 KJV] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. I prayed in the name of Jesus as the shadow over Hillary Clinton and her campaign would be removed, and that the Holy Spirit would talk to the people of Christ; and they listen to the voice of their Shepherd and vote. That, there is no king but Jesus, I agree with the cloud of witnesses that settle this nation, with the first prayer on Virginia soil that this nation would be a Christian nation and take the gospel throughout the world.
Towards the end of the debate Sunday night, clarity came forth to any and all who believe in Christ Jesus in reference to the judges, in reference to not only the Supreme Court, but also all federal judges. Of the 600 federal judges that exist in this nation. Only one person has the authority to choose them, which is the president of the United States. Congress has the responsibility to ensure that these individuals will uphold the Constitution, defend the Constitution, and ensure that the laws of this land Constitutional. God says life is sacred.
One person declared she would appoint judges that declare life is not sacred and that the federal government should pay for all abortions in America and throughout the world. One person declared she would appoint judges who disavowal, deny any knowledge of all responsibility for or associated that marriage is between a man and a woman. The other person said that he would appoint judges that honor life and that a marriage is between a man and a woman. The average tenure of Supreme Court Justice now is almost 27 years; it will increase as life expectancies increase. One judge is guaranteed will be nominated and appointment by the next president. Currently four of the Supreme Court justices are 75 years old or older. Therefore, it would seem that it is a possibility for five judges Supreme Court to be appointed by the next president out of the 9 judges who sit on the Supreme Court. It takes five judges to rule to make the majority and say whether something is a law or not.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke, there’s one of the same also said that is very pertinent right now. “Nobody made a greater mistake and he did nothing because he could do only a little.”
I would challenge the Lamplighter Family, to consider currently this is a two-party system with the Republicans and the Democrats, I willing acknowledge, there are other parties, but the practicality is there are only two. There are only two practical options, and only one can be president. We have the responsibility as Christians to bring heaven to earth. We have the right, privilege and responsibility to register and vote. Prayerfully ask our Father, who would bring heaven’s purposes, goals, and intentions to earth, the person who wants life to survive and that marriage is between a man and woman or the other.
Awsome & so insightful, Jon. Our
Prayer group is engaged in corporate
prayer in tongues over & for the
nation. We have also been lifting up
all pastors & church leaders so that
they might rise up to give Trump even more support & begin to encourage their people to vote for
truth. Thankyou for all you’re doing.
WOW! What insight! And the comments are really good. I can’t say anything more than what has already been said. I have missed being on the call for about a month. My husband had a torn achilles heel and could not put any weight on his foot, so I was busy with him. Hopefully I can get on this week. I’ve missed it1 May the Lord bless you both!