Robert Scheer Quotes

Powerful Robert Scheer for Daily Growth

About Robert Scheer

Robert Scheer (born 1936) is an influential American journalist, author, and professor renowned for his incisive analysis of politics and culture. Born in New York City, Scheer grew up in a Jewish family with a strong commitment to social justice, a value system that would significantly shape his career. After earning a B.A. from Columbia University in 1958, Scheer began his journalistic journey. He worked for various publications, including The Los Angeles Times, Ramparts magazine, and Rolling Stone. His work during the Vietnam War era earned him a reputation as an outspoken critic of the U.S. government's foreign policies. One of his most notable works is "With Enough Shovels: Reagan, Bush, and Nuclear War," published in 1982. The book serves as a stark warning against nuclear proliferation and the dangers of reckless foreign policy under the Reagan administration. In 1988, Scheer co-founded The Nation Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting progressive political ideas and supporting investigative journalism. He also served as the editor-in-chief of Truthdig, an online news source known for its left-leaning perspective. Throughout his career, Scheer has been a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy, particularly during the Bush Jr. and Obama administrations. His 2015 book, "The Greater Good: The War on Terrorism's Surprising Inequality," delves into the socio-economic disparities exacerbated by America's post-9/11 foreign policy. Today, Robert Scheer continues to be a vocal voice for progressive ideals, teaching at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. His works remain influential in discussions about political activism, social justice, and media criticism.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The truth is the first casualty when the powerful fear the unpowerful know the truth."

This quote suggests that when those in power (the powerful) have something to hide or fear exposure, they may suppress or manipulate the truth to maintain their position. The 'unpowerful,' who are often kept ignorant of this truth, have the potential to gain knowledge about it, which could upset the status quo and potentially challenge the power structure. Thus, the truth becomes a casualty in such situations. It's a reminder that transparency and accountability are crucial for a fair and just society.

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."

This quote highlights a nuanced understanding of patriotism, suggesting that true love for one's country goes beyond blind loyalty to its government. The sentiment implies that while we should always support our nation, we should do so critically, providing constructive criticism when the government's actions warrant it. Essentially, Robert Scheer encourages citizens to uphold their national pride while advocating for accountable governance.

"In a world where power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, journalism offers a check on that corruption."

The quote emphasizes the critical role of journalism in maintaining accountability and upholding ethical standards in societies where power can lead to corruption. Journalism serves as a crucial counterbalance to misuse of power by providing an independent platform for uncovering truth, exposing corruption, and holding those in authority responsible for their actions. In essence, it's the essential tool that protects democracies from becoming corrupted by concentrations of unchecked power.

"To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing."

This quote emphasizes that true radicalism, in a positive sense, doesn't reinforce feelings of despair but instead fosters hope. It suggests that radical ideas or actions should inspire optimism about the potential for meaningful change, rather than reinforcing a sense of hopelessness or defeat. In other words, progressive and transformative actions should spark hope within individuals and communities, encouraging them to work towards a better future.

"The essence of journalism is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted."

The quote by Robert Scheer, "The essence of journalism is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted," suggests that effective journalism should expose and challenge those who are privileged or comfortable in society, while providing support and a voice for those who are marginalized or suffering. This approach encourages journalists to uncover truths that may be uncomfortable for some, but necessary for societal progress, and to provide empathy and understanding for those who are often overlooked.

Well, what happened is that I had been the subject of vicious attacks by Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.

- Robert Scheer

Been, Subject, Bill, Vicious

We talk about a free press. These people hide, they make a lot of money off the media. They hide behind the slogans of free press, and then they can come out with crap like that. It's just garbage. It's insulting to the readers.

- Robert Scheer

Media, Behind, About, Free Press

So this guy, Jeff Johnson, who is an accountant who cares nothing at all about a free press and cares nothing about journalism, he's a right winger who supported the war, you know, who two years ago told people he couldn't stand a word that I wrote.

- Robert Scheer

Accountant, Guy, About, Free Press

That means presenting the issues in certain ways that will appeal to those people and then becoming a prisoner of your own language and thought process. That has always happened - it's just been intensified.

- Robert Scheer

Process, Always, Means, Intensified

It had run as a column - I had worked at the paper since 1976, but the column had been running for 13 years, and I think it was a strong column, criticizing the war when the paper was supporting it.

- Robert Scheer

Strong, Think, Been, Supporting

What passes for investigative journalism is finding somebody with their pants down - literally or otherwise.

- Robert Scheer

Pants, Passes, Otherwise, Investigative

For example, I spent a lot of time with Reagan, both before he ran for governor and when he was running for president. As a print reporter without the cameras, I was able to really test the quality of their minds and their knowledge base.

- Robert Scheer

Without, Before, Reagan, Ran

The publisher has told - you know, if these editors, Andres Martinez and Nick Goldberg, were the least bit honest about this, they would tell you the publisher has told them he wants the editorial page to be conservative.

- Robert Scheer

Conservative, Tell, Least, Publisher

The decision came from the publisher. It certainly was cleared by Chicago. And then they come out with these fine sounding words about relation to readers and their obligation. It has nothing to do with that.

- Robert Scheer

Decision, Nothing, Certainly, Publisher

And the big issue here, I think, is that the publisher took over the editorial pages, a guy named Jeff Johnson. He's an accountant from Chicago, doesn't know anything about what newspapers are supposed to be about, and he made a decision to get rid of the column.

- Robert Scheer

Big, Here, Named, Publisher

The paper nominated me 12 or 13 times for the Pulitzer Prize.

- Robert Scheer

Me, Paper, Times, Pulitzer

I was a finalist for the Pulitzer as a reporter.

- Robert Scheer

Reporter, Finalist, Pulitzer

What Clinton severed with his welfare reform was the obligation of the federal government to step in when the states failed and to monitor these programs.

- Robert Scheer

Failed, Clinton, Severed, Monitor

Even with the best of intentions, even when they're very smart and knowledgeable - as opposed to George W., who is neither - it doesn't seem to matter.

- Robert Scheer

Best, Very, Opposed, George W

And new people come in, and it doesn't go along with their politics, and they fire me, end the column, silence a voice in Los Angeles. They can't silence it nationally, but they are able to do it there.

- Robert Scheer

Politics, Voice, New, Los Angeles

When Howard Dean started saying some honest things, they hung him.

- Robert Scheer

Honest, Some, Dean, Hung

For instance, Clinton who was unquestionably the smartest of the bunch I talked to - both the ones who made it and didn't. He had a great interest in policy.

- Robert Scheer

Unquestionably, Instance, Smartest

I talked to Reagan for about six hours all told. and Reagan was willing to go along with it. He didn't look at his watch, and he didn't allow his campaign aides to cut it off.

- Robert Scheer

Hours, Allow, Reagan, Aide

They know that the column resonates in the community. They know that people like it, and yet they don't have room for one column once week that consistently got it right.

- Robert Scheer

Week, Like, Resonates, Consistently

Much of what candidates have to do is raise money and appeal to constituencies or interest groups that can provide that money.

- Robert Scheer

Money, Interest, Provide, Candidates

I teach at USC, and it's obvious to anyone who teaches college students that they don't cover much modern history and certainly not the modern presidency.

- Robert Scheer

College, Teach, Certainly, USC

I was able to do something that people can't do these days, which is to have quality time with the guys who were trying to be president and a number of them who got the job.

- Robert Scheer

People, Them, Which, Quality Time

The issue I highlight in the book is welfare reform.

- Robert Scheer

Book, Reform, Issue, Highlight

I've been with the paper for almost 30 years.

- Robert Scheer

Years, Been, Almost, Paper

I have broken a lot of stories.

- Robert Scheer

Stories, Lot, Broken

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