When Julian Assange was arrested in London, he was carrying a copy of our book, Gore Vidal: History of the National Security State
On the sixth anniversary of the death of Gore Vidal, and the final day of our fundraising campaign, we republish Paul Jay’s 2007 interview with Vidal on the state of journalism. Vidal says, “I’ve been around the ruling class all my life, and I’ve been quite aware of their total contempt for the people of the country”
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** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
2:15
Perhaps the most terrifying thing I ‘ve ever heard.
“…I’ve been around the ruling class all my life, and I’ve been quite aware of their total contempt for the people of the countryâ€
The Democratic party is the same as the republican party. It's a false choice presented to control the narrative. The few good politicians within the Democratic party are an exception that need to leave before we can get any actual traction politically. You are literally defeating your own argument about the ruling class and the oligarchy that runs the western world by trying to empower part of that oligarchy to defeat itself?
I miss Gore Vidal. Thank you very much for posting it again. I wonder what he would have thought of Bernie. Here is what Bernie posted on social media when Gore passed away in 2012: "Gore Vidal was not only one of the great writers our time, but a brilliant defender of democratic traditions. He also was an extremely brave man who time after time stood up against the prevailing wisdom and was unafraid to attack wealth, power and greed. " – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Thank you for this profound interview, capturing historic words at every measure.
prophetic about the collapse of the banking system. unfortunately, we didn't have FDR.
Okay, I watched the whole thing – it wasn't easy. The people Vidal mentions in these videos and seems to place in esteem are mostly socialists. I get the feeling he is more interested in "pushing peoples buttons" to keep attention on himself than any balanced examination of reality.
So an IQ higher than room temperature- would that be Celsius ? How about direct democracy, Vidal?
Thank you.
i like Gore Vidal's basic point in this video but disagree with Kerry. He's no hero. we saw how he sold his soul to the devil once in office. Both Democrats & Republicans have no integrity. Most politicians are corrupt, greedy, and out to hoard as much money as possible before the collapse of Empire.
And note the reporter's comment at 3:32 – this is key…. and giving lies equal weight to incontrovertible facts in "news" reporting contributes anxieties, extremism, or radicalization and associated actions, behaviours, etc., that then become news and the cycle of uncertainty continues to be perpetuated, getting more eyeballs, increasing ad rates and more sponsors – thank Les Moonves
Pay particular attention to what Vidal says at 3:07 – that is the clave, the modis operandi, the key method, of "his" manipulation technique. "He" projects what "he" is actually guilty of onto the object of his attack. "You're fake news" means "I'm fake news"; "you're the enemy of the people" means "I'm the enemy of the people," and so on. You see this on the playground a lot.
Wow, Paul Jay looks so young!
Gore Vidal mentioned that we should know why we're so hated in America that we are being attacked, well I for one was surprised to learn that Osama Bin Laden explicitly stated that the US was targeted for its support & diplomatic cover of the crimes of Israel & genocide of Palestine.
Netanyahu stated, in his well rehearsed speech on the morning of September 11, 2001, that these attacks are good for Israel, because now the US can join the war against Islam.
NOT sad Al, but Gore VIDAL!!
Thank you, The Real News Network, (especially Paul Jay), I will watch it all.
Anti social Rightard rigged Pres Bush Jr was a DRAFT-DODGE GUTLESS post-turtle. Put up ohn a fence-post in TeXas and we all know how he got there!
I was guying Vidal until he said Kerry was a hero… !!! He's as big a lout and loser and elitist as the worst of them… Vidal just drank a different flavored Kool-Aid than others
This interview would've been better all combined into a single video, and with more discussion, including a real Q&A period. In all of this interview, Gore said some okay, interesting things, but it's become quite unimportant today, well, imo anyway. This was not a hard-hitting interview, say. So, for me, this was a waste of time. It wasn't worthwhile.
Vidal Gore was hearing "Cries of Rage" in 2007 about Bush/Chaney/Rumsfeld. He would be shocked how the Democrats learned to stop worrying and love Bush in 2016.
Incredible interview, thanks for posting.
They picked a good time to rerun this interview , it is even more pertinent today . Vidal has never been shy about telling the truth , no matter how ugly , and his contempt for the political class is a breath of fresh air .
When he mentions that after 911 the country was labeled the 'homeland ' it brought to mind Hitlers' use of the phrase in the years before the second world war to stir patriotic fervor in the German people .
When Bush stated that they were going to invade Iraq a day or two after 911 , my wife said ' Bush is an oil man and this is an excuse for the Americans to take Iraq s' oil fields ' and she was correct . There was so much that didn't make sense about the fall of the World Trade Center , to a non American , and the way everything was hidden after the event was very suspicious . When the government introduced the 'Patriot Act ' immediately afterwards , it became clear that they were taking away civil rights in the States on the pretext of increased security from the 'others ' who were trying to destroy America . When they want you to give up your civil rights to have security , you can be sure it is a ruse . I live on the boarder and I have not gone to New York state since 911 . They want you to have a passport just to go shopping , sorry , not interested . The States is an armed camp with militarized police forces , and judging from what is happening on the Mexican boarder it is a police state .
miss this man….
What he said about the ruling class's opinion of the people is quite disconcerting. I've always suspected it, but damn.
We'll I've just finished watching all parts to this amazing interview and also in the light of Today's horrific news about Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning both In Cells tonight it is a very sad day Indeed, listening to Mr Vidal's words has brought me to tears, probably the best video I've EVER seen on shit tube. All at TRNN THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, BEES, UK
Thanks Paul for posting this again.
I don’t think most people want the truth, that’s why the real news network have so few subscribers and views
Hopefully the people will be able to see past the lies that the MSM perpetuate and keep electing people who truly have the best interests of the people at heart, candidates such as Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, AOC et al.
Dont worry your doing well so far. Help to grow an intellectual tradition in the USA and Canada! Don't be too shy to foment a new political movement! Working within the present parties doesn't seem worth while. Democratic reform maybe. In the USA has the republic been a worth while system? In Canada the first past the post is in need of a replacement! Update the education system to lifelong free education model is where it would be best to start as a platform. Nand this is basically what I see you doing is trying to inform the public. This is vital! it is an informed citizenry that is the foundation of participatory government of whatever ilk!
Thank you for this interview. This household has not watched MSM news since 2008. These days we get our news via the internet. The Real News Network is one of four channels scanned every day for new uploads. Thanks again for this very interesting interview.
I miss Gore, the only sane intellectual left in America is Chomsky and given his advanced age, it's only a question of time before America becomes a complete intellectual and wisdom vacuum.
Now we all know today the lies we’ve been told….there is no freedom… I’ve always wondered about those that uttered the words God help us. I believed they uttered this because they were powerless to help themselves or did not know how to help themselves. Well here I am saying today, God help us all.