LACIERDA the LOOPY!

"But as usual, Lacierda is being simultaneously ignorant and condescending, a trait he must have developed during his Black and White Movement days. No wonder his own boss, when called to account for being lazy and incompetent, invariably points to Lacierda and the two other Stooges as the real culprits; perhaps Aquino is truly convinced that because the people in his CommGroup are certainly more stupid and clueless than him, he can’t really be blamed."

LACIERDA the LOOPY!

By: Jojo A.Robles

It makes sense for a presidential spokesman to blame newspaper columnists for bringing down the popularity of Noynoy Aquino. After all, the President himself has repeatedly blamed his own propagandists for the erosion of his popularity—following their boss’ lead, these people must find others to blame, in turn.

Lest he be accused of wanting to control the media, Spokesman Edwin Lacierda was quick to explain that columnists were probably criticizing Aquino because they are out of what he calls an “information loop.” That’s why the Palace has never had problems with the Malacañang Press Corps, Lacierda declared; apparently those reporters are “in the loop” and know better than to criticize.

But as usual, Lacierda is being simultaneously ignorant and condescending, a trait he must have developed during his Black and White Movement days. No wonder his own boss, when called to account for being lazy and incompetent, invariably points to Lacierda and the two other Stooges as the real culprits; perhaps Aquino is truly convinced that because the people in his CommGroup are certainly more stupid and clueless than him, he can’t really be blamed.

Lacierda cannot understand that the reporters assigned to the palace are not there for punditry but to report what goes on with journalistic objectivity. Furthermore, he believes that the press releases he churns out and the briefings he stage-manages should be taken as gospel by columnists, whose job is certainly not to report what passes for “news” emanating from the palace these days.

Had the reporters in Malacañang been given columns instead of news stories to write, I am sure they would not just regurgitate what Lacierda shovels down their throats daily. Indeed, I wonder what these reporters were thinking right after they heard Lacierda’s fellow Stooge say that he did not know if Aquino’s bike ride around Quezon City Memorial meant he was quitting smoking, because “the question was never asked.”

Of course, there certainly must be some newspaper columnists who are in Lacierda’s information loop. These people must only write glowingly about the good things that this administration is supposed to be doing and do not hesitate to attack anyone who shows the slightest sign of dissent.

Personally, I want no part of that loop. And the only “engagement” I want to see is Aquino’s own, so that he doesn’t bore us anymore with his serial dating and his hypocritical complaints about not getting enough privacy afterwards.

But if Lacierda really wants all columnists to be in his loop, he can make a rope out of all his inane press releases, loop it around his neck and jump in the Pasig River. What a loopy guy.