Gannett Propaganda: You Forgot John Doe?!?!

The New Year brings out the worst in the press -- perhaps its because little newsworthy happens now, yet press deadlines demand stories.  So what do we get?  Pundits pontificating and printing meaningless lists -- an endless array -- usually short stories devoid of facts.

Gannett, publisher of USA today and a vital part of Wisconsin's pro-Walker media echo chamber (owning virtually all newspapers in the Fox River Valley) printed an misleading piece today, proclaiming to be the 5 things on the line for Walker in 2013.

It was no such thing -- it was pure propaganda, glossing over Walker's biggest concerns, the ongoing John Doe probe into the criminality of his ascent to power and Walker's need to raise money to fight the investigators and spin PR to avoid accountability.


No one should be surprised that Gannett props up Scott Walker -- that's what they do.

Earlier this year, they were part of the chorus falsely proclaiming it to be  unfair  to even mention that there is a criminal investigation into the crimes that underlie Scott Walker's media-contrived "rock star" status.  And then, when a low-level aide pled guilty to illegal campaigning, committing these crimes within 25 feet of Scott Walker's Milwaukee County Executive Office, Gannett was part of the media echo-chorus falsely proclaiming the investigation was over -- nothing could be further from the truth.

In the sentencing memo for convicted felon and close Walker associate, Kelly Rindfliesch, and then again in a 78-slide PowerPoint presentation used at Rindfliesch's sentencing hearing; the Milwaukee County DA's office clearly outlined where the investigation is going -- it's closing in on higher-level Scott Walker aides and associates and Gov. Walker himself.

So one would think that any valid list of "top five" things on the line for Scott Walker would begin with these 2 points:

1. Is this the year the John Doe investigation closes in on Walker?  Remember, it took 8-years of investigation to bring down Illinois republican Gov. George Ryan.  Walker's probe is only entering its third year -- and despite what Walker and the Wisconsin media echo-chamber has falsely proclaimed, Walker hasn't cooperate; he's consistently stonewalled.
2. Will Scott Walker's criminal defense fund continue to receive the financial support it needs to retain the services of high-powered Chicago criminal defense lawyers to defend against cindictments and public relations firms to deflect responsibility and attention from the crimes that only Scott Walker directly benefited from?  And if Walker continues to successfully raise boatloads of money for his criminal defense, what will wealthy contributors to Scott Walker's legal defense fund expect in return?

Nope, Gannett doesn't think this is newsworthy or even important to Scott Walker this year -- a shameless lie, but not a surprising one.

All of Walker's self-serving talking points are supported by Gannett, Lee Enterprises, Journal Communications, and Clear Channel which are the major players in Wisconsin's media echo-chamber of deceit. And these Walker mouthpieces are doing their part to shield Scott Walker from scrutiny and accountability.  This is what Gannett's latest punditry is attempting to do.

Gannet intentionally omits the biggest challenges Scott Walker faces this year.  By misdirecting and misleading, Wisconsin's media echo-chamber is working to obtain impunity for the crimes behind Walker's ascent to power -- classic propaganda and Gannett is happy to play a lead role.

This is dangerous for Wisconsin.  While the media is doing what it can to prop Scott Walker up with false proclamations that he now strives for "unity" and "moving forward", the process of impunity demands more of Walker's divisive "divide and conquer" if he is going to emerge from ongoing investigations with enough of his reputation intact to run for higher office, which is what most informed observers believe will happen.

He is a distant relative of 2 former presidents, part of the George Herbert "Herb" Walker Clan and has the same core of billionaire financial backers. This should disturb Americans. 

But Gannett says, "don't worry, be happy!" and wants you to believe that there's nothing to see here, no criminal investigations, no concerns -- absolutely false.

The biggest stories of 2013 in Wisconsin is going to be determined by what happens next in the ongoing John Doe investigations and reported federal investigations -- remember, the FBI was part of a raid and seizure at a close Walker aide's home.

Walker's criminal defense fund is going to play a major role in what challenges he and Wisconsin face in 2013.  Gannett and the rest of the echo-chamber does not want you to know this.

Don't turn to Gannett for news in 2013 -- you will find little to none, but you will find more shameless Walker propaganda.