Uncle Walter

I felt sad to hear about Walter Cronkite's death. My mother worked for him for many years, back in the very early days of CBS News, and back when reporters were actual reporters and not corporate tools. She had great respect for him and found him decent, smart and kind. In fact he went to bat for her when her job was threatened. It is galling to hear him celebrated by "reporters" who are everything he wasn't. Although he never revealed his party affiliation he never concealed that he had actual thoughts. He was called the most trusted man in America, but he earned that trust by becoming a truth teller, something that is clearly not a goal of today's network reporters. Reporters today crave access over everything, which creates an imbalance and a sychophantish relationship with those in power. Right before the War in Afghanistan I heard him on the radio saying what a bad idea he thought it was to invade. I don't think you will hear much about that statement in the grief orgy.