Johnny Chung: Telling Truth to Power

Johnny Chung: Telling Truth to Power
by Diane Alden

Recently, at a dinner hosted by Judicial Watch, Johnny Chung was honored partly because he told the truth about giving illegal campaign contributions to the DNC and the Clinton presidential campaign. But that is old news. What is compelling are his words to the assembled group:

"I got message for everybody. No matter you are male or female, East Coast, West Coast, Republican, Democrat, Independent, you can donate $20, $50, $100, even more, 1,000 could be. You can write your congressman. Or you can write a letter to the White House. But I have news for you. Your voice mean [sic] nothing to them. If I make you angry tonight, you are right. I made a mistake, because the people like me can write $50,000 [checks] to buy [their way] all the way to the top position of this country. Your voice, your letter mean nothing to them."

Currently, reform-minded politicos like John McCain and Bill Bradley, are making loud media-covered noises about campaign finance reform. Everyone, including John McCain and Bill Bradley, knows that a new law will never stand a court test. But so what? - it sounds good when Dan Rather intones about the rightness of it all.

However, like gun laws, campaign finance laws are ignored. The problem really isn't the need for more laws, the problem is the dearth of personal honor and a sense of justice exhibited by those in power. If honor and a sense of justice were absorbed into the national psyche, campaign finance laws would be unnecessary.

In their hearts, conservatives know Chung is right. They know that it takes a flood of mail or media involvement for new laws to be proposed; or more importantly, for old ones to be put out of their cumbersome and expensive misery. They know that money talks louder than anything else.

Conservatives have become disheartened because congressional warriors, who proposed regulatory reform, are silent. The question is why? Are conservatives in government intimidated, tired, jaded, or don't they care anymore? Have they been beaten up so badly by the media they are loathe to stick their necks out one more time?

A couple of years ago, Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee began to plow through the tons of federal agency rules and regulations. Additionally, he recognized the obvious need to get rid of certain agencies which have out lived their usefulness, like Commerce and Education. He made an attempt to sunset these agencies and along with the tons of regulations which no longer do any good. He attempted to deep six that which did nothing to improve the function of government. Most of these entities merely increased the cost of doing business, intruded in people's lives, and made bureaucrats secure in a lifetime job with a guaranteed pension. But nothing came of Thompson's efforts. Regulatory reform died like other legislation designed to put a lid on government expansion. Therefore, the sucking sound you hear is the "tax surplus" going down the drain.

Does anyone listen anymore? Guys like Georgia Representative Bob Barr and Texan Ron Paul try to listen and cover all the bases. Others like Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Scott McInnis, James Inhofe, Richard Pombo, also make an effort but they are few in number. Through bipartisan compromise and/or bureaucratic inertia nothing much changes.

Corporations have figured it out and are going around government. Even to the point of hiring corporate military, reteaching those whom they employ, and trying to compete internationally in the face of regulations that other countries do not have to obey.

Chung is correct in saying that the ordinary person has little effect on policy. The Congress goes along with bad policy because it is easier. They assume the media will stay off their backs if they don't rock the boat. Therefore, they increase their chances of being reelected by compromising with the devil.

Congress isn't the only problem. As the stock market continues its upward climb, and 401Ks are healthy, jobs plentiful, and the library of movies at the video store high, the American people dither along fat, dumb and happy.

The voices of those who do care about the direction of the country and lack of response from power, are stilled or ignored by a complicit and complacent mainstream media. A media whose job now seems to be to make news by being the news. A media which creates hype and concerns for things which are not a problem. A media that covers bicycle helmet news, nanny state concerns and beats the drum for more dumb laws which will be ignored, thus, creating disrespect for all law.

Every time I write an article, I receive a flood of mail from people with a story to tell. They tell me things that are totally ignored by the mainstream press. Stories of deceit, corruption, lies and even murder -- international stories, national stories and local stories. They ask for my help and sometimes I can give it in small ways. But mostly I would be investigating this stuff 24-7 - if I took it all to heart. This is another reason why I so profoundly despise the mainstream press - they are an abomination and a disgrace. They ignore the duty placed on them by the Constitution. They ignore the corruption in the soul of America - because they are part of that corruption. They ignore the voices of the powerless who cry out for someone who will listen and take action, or show them honestly why their fears or concerns are unfounded.

Johnny Chung is a hero. Not for coming forward about his complicity in the money scandals of the Clinton administration, but for telling it like it is -- telling truth to power. People know who he is -- and they pay attention. But other voices, just as important, are ignored - and mores the pity.

Other voices with stories to tell do not have the $50,000 or more it takes for power to listen. And the fourth estate, which should be the conscience and guardian of the people and balance this inequity, has prostituted itself to power.

Don't look for regulatory reform soon, or an honest press, or widespread support for those few in the press and government who do turn up corruption and deceit. The honest few are like all prophets; they end up marginalized and ignored - or they become martyrs. However, history indicates that those who don't listen to their prophets are themselves consigned to the dustbins of history or else they are made slaves.

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