Media gaslighting featured in previous posts has focused on the “overt” propaganda; the shameless promotion of primaries over conventions, which seems to have moderated in recent weeks.
What has not diminished, however, is “covert” gaslighting.
Covert gaslighting by journalists includes things like source selection, topic selection, deliberate omission of facts that challenge the primary narrative, assignment of authority where none exists, ignoring the role of the party convention delegates and a focus on “early voting states”.
THIS IS THE LAST POST FEATURING MEDIA GASLIGHTING; just one chapter in the book in process tentatively titled “GASLIGHTING AMERICA; HOW THE POLITICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX HIJACKED THE PARTIES”.
The “Best Gaslighter” award for this chapter goes to John DiStaso who gaslights for ABC News affiliate WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire, under the heading “NH Primary Source”.
Ballotpedia recognizes DiStaso as a “Top Influencer” in New Hampshire and included the following statement:
“DiStaso was named by Politico as one of the "must-follow journalists on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, a list geared toward anyone in Washington with a stake in the 2016 presidential campaign."[10] His reporting has been picked up by national news outlets such as CNN, NBC News and Politico.[6] He has also provided content for C-SPAN.[11]”
The WMUR website brags about DiStaso:
“His weekly political column began in 1982 and became a “must-read” for anyone interested in New Hampshire politics. John continues that tradition with WMUR through the “New Hampshire Primary Source” column, which appears on Thursday mornings on WMUR.com.”
On April 29, under the headline “NH Primary Source: State GOP leaders working now to protect first-in-nation primary in 2024”, DiStaso interviewed NHGOP Chair Steve Stepanek and Republican National Committeewoman Juliana Bergeron and wrote about their efforts to preserve New Hampshire’s “first-in-the-nation primary”.
“ ‘We are out there working and fighting to make sure (we) will maintain the first-in-the-nation primary,’ Stepanek said”, wrote DiStaso.
He also quoted Bergeron directly, “I really felt like we were feeling a lot of love for our primary, Bergeron said”, about her meeting with other RNC members about the early state primaries.
Then, DiStaso wrote DECLARATIVELY about Bergeron, “She has been named to the all-important RNC Rules and Bylaws Committee, which will eventually present a proposed primary and caucus calendar to the full RNC, with a vote expected in August 2022.”
On April 30, fellow New Hampshire gaslighter Paul Steinhauser wrote about the matter in the Concord Monitor under the headline “On the trail: GOP leaders working to keep N.H. ‘first-in-the-nation’.”
Steinhauser quoted Stepanek directly saying “everybody was very supportive” of the current calendar and “we haven’t heard of any rumblings, rumors, or anything of anyone else challenging that.”
Then, Steinhauser wrote DECLARATIVELY, “Longtime RNC committee member from New Hampshire Juliana Bergeron now sits on the national party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, which will shape the proposed presidential primary calendar for the 2024 cycle. The full RNC is expected to vote on the calendar next summer.”
COVERT GASLIGHTING AT ITS BEST!
An April 30 email to DiStaso seeking to clarify some “significant misinformation” in his article did not get a response.
On May 11 a more specific follow up email was sent. In that email, DiStaso was asked:
Did Bergeron say she was on the “RNC Rules and Bylaws Committee?
What, exactly, did she say the RNC will “vote” on in August 2022?
Gaslighters have said, “But as anyone who follows politics in New Hampshire knows, winning the New Hampshire primary is not about the delegates. There are only a couple dozen in each party”.
3. If not about the delegates, what is the New Hampshire primary about?
Trump got 35% of the 2016 primary vote. How many were Republicans? Unaffiliated? Democratic?
4. Is it true that any voter in New Hampshire can vote in the Republican Primary?
DiStaso did not respond to either email. Steinhauser was not contacted.
The significant disinformation here is the reference to the “Rules and Bylaws Committee”.
The Republican Party does not have any BYLAWS.
This is where the Democratic Party and the Republican Party differences really matter.
The Democratic Party has a “Rules and Bylaws Committee” because it is organized as a “permanent” association.
The Republican Party is not a permanent organization.
The Republican Party is governed only by Robert”s Rules of Order and special rules of order adopted at its quadrennial national convention, which is the highest authority of the Republican Party. Once properly adopted, these are referred to as “The Rules of the Republican Party”. These rules provide for a Rules Committee of the Republican National Committee; however, this committee only has authority to RECOMMEND rules to the Republican National Convention.
WHO DECIDES? PRIMARY OR CONVENTION?
DiStaso and most of the prominent primary gaslighters have all been encouraged to seek answers to the following questions relative to the Republican Party, which will answer the question, “WHO DECIDES?”:
Do we need a Republican National Convention?
If we do, how will the delegates from each state be elected?
Will they be “bound” to vote according to primary results?
Are there, in fact, written rules to govern the 2024 nomination process?
Where can they be found?
Where are the Rules of the Republican Party adopted by the 2020 Republican National Convention?
Is the First Amendment relevant to the rights of members of political parties?
Primary or convention. Who decides?
What is the highest authority of the Republican Party?
How are the Rules of the Republican Party created?
Will the Rules of the Republican Party bind delegates at the national convention to vote according to the results of previously held primaries in 2024?
If so, which specific rules?
When were the current Rules of the Republican Party adopted? (Date)