Just the Truth

by Gen LaGreca

  Zack Walker tried to discredit Taninger News during his appearances on various news programs. His manner was calm and detached, like a reasonable person engaged in fair-minded reflections; his words, however, were an all-out attack on Laura—and on her grandfather. On one program, Zack pronounced, "No one can deny that old Julius Taninger was a bombastic loudmouth in yesterday's news industry. He lived during a time of bigotry, and he was a product of his age. He held disturbing views about voting that are now way out of the mainstream. His granddaughter Laura Taninger, who now runs Taninger News, has not gotten the message that times have changed and the public has moved on. She's said many times that her grandfather was her idol and mentor. What does that say about Laura Taninger?"

  On another show, Zack remarked, "Laura Taninger is the granddaughter of that deceased news relic from a bygone era, Julius Taninger. She's taken over Grandpa Julius's company and adopted many of his anti-social, elitist views, which she pontificates on nightly through her show. And now this heiress to an unscrupulous tycoon's fortune has become the driving force behind a perverted scheme to stir up distrust and suspicion toward the Martin administration. She calls what she does reporting. I'm sad to say, it sure looks like fear-mongering to me." Zack looked regretful at having to arrive at such negative conclusions about a fellow human being.

  On a third show, he charged, "Taninger News is not a real news organization. It has a bias against our president, and it slants its stories to accommodate that. We try our best to work with them, but I can tell you that their president, Laura Taninger, is so mercurial that it's hard to reason with them." Zack was the grieved party, shaking his head, bewildered by someone as wicked as Laura Taninger. His harmless, well-meaning, Everyman persona added to his aura of innocence.

  Following Zack's appearances, the news outlets were buzzing:

  Today the president's senior strategist, Zack Walker, called out the mercurial news commentator Laura Taninger.

  The mercurial Laura Taninger today received a smackdown from the administration.

  Well, I can't really blame the administration for coming out swinging at such a mercurial personality as Laura Taninger.

  As Laura watched the interviews and the media's reactions, she shook her head in revulsion. Either a dozen newscasters had independently awakened that day intending to use the word mercurial, or they had simply parroted Zack Walker's characterization of her as a factual description.

  Laura waited for the interviewers to press Zack on his accusations. She waited to hear probing questions, such as: What does the deceased founder of Taninger News have to do with events occurring today? How does smearing him smear his granddaughter? How does smearing both of them erase the fact that an agency has been petitioned for information and has not been forthcoming about providing it? Why is the government not complying with the laws of full disclosure of its contractors and expenditures? What is it hiding? What's wrong with being "mercurial" in holding agencies accountable for their activities?

  But no such questions were asked of Zack. Merely making accusations about Laura was sufficient to switch the media's focus to her as the one who was misbehaving. Attacking the messenger, Laura thought, was so crude a dodge that everyone should see through it. Instead, most newscasters and viewers seemed to accept Zack's comments uncritically. His tie askew and deer-in-the-headlights gaze suggested he was not sophisticated enough for scheming; therefore, he must be trustworthy. Furthermore, Zack had compiled a list of treasured interviewers as meticulously as a museum curator collects masterpieces. Zack's list contained only those journalists friendly to the administration, who would be reluctant to grill the president's spokesman. Besides, Zack held the keys to the cabinet of top-shelf political power players, which his thirsty interviewers waited in line for him to open.

  Four years ago, when the newly elected Ken Martin had named Zack Walker as the senior strategist to the president, many people wondered what the position entailed. Was Zack going to develop strategies on foreign policy to counteract the serious threats to national security posed by the country's enemies? Or was the president's senior strategist going to tackle urgent domestic problems to loosen the yoke of national debt, insolvent federal programs, regulations, or taxes that were choking the citizens?

  Zack Walker, however, did none of the above. He used his sizable budget and staff to develop strategies to counteract the president's critics. When asked whether he was working for the people, or simply using taxpayers' money to run public relations for the president, he replied evasively, "The president works for the people. I work for the president."

  The questioner scratched his head and uttered, "What does that mean? Don't you work for us? I mean, we citizens pay your salary, don't we?"

  Zack provided no further explanation.

  Four years ago, in his new post, Zack instituted a policy that he described as "a program that will set the new gold standard for administrative outreach and that will be studied by political operatives for decades to come." The program that was to assure his place in history consisted of arranging top-level job offers in the media for members of the president's administration, and conversely, offering key posts in the administration as a reward to helpful members of the media. Zack's adventures in recruitment paid dividends. He now had a cadre of journalists who were friends, former colleagues, or favor seekers whom he could depend on to advance the president's agenda. His strategy provided an especially high payout that week in his campaign against Laura with his talking points picked up by major print, online, television, and radio news outlets.

  To aid him in his endeavor, Zack's researchers found a trove of old video clips featuring the feisty, straight-talking Julius Taninger commenting on the subject of elections. In one video JT had said, "Election Day is when people who don't pay taxes vote on how to raid the wallets of those who do." In another, he'd said, "If you don't know what you're doing, don't vote. If you don't know anything about politics or the candidates, your patriotic duty is to stay home." In another, he'd said, "It's a fool's dream to elect representatives who say they'll give you everything you want and someone else will pay the tab. It's a demagogue's dream that you'll believe it. Why do we let fools elect demagogues to enact pipe dreams?"

  Zack forwarded the videos to his media contacts, along with a note:

  Hey, I thought you'd like to see these colorful clips. Along with them, we can make a few simple points: Julius Taninger was a bigot who wanted to take away people's voting rights. His news organization worked against the interests of the poor and the working class. Laura Taninger follows in his footsteps. That's why she's trying to sabotage SafeVote, the fairest voting system ever designed that guarantees to all citizens their right to cast a ballot. Just some suggestions. Thanks much! Zack

  His "suggestions" were repeated verbatim by his many friends in the media. His curated list of friendly news personalities had grown so large that the clips were picked up by dozens of media outlets, making it seem as if there were a groundswell of public disapproval of Laura and Taninger News.

  During this period, President Martin withdrew his offer to speak at the Pinnacle Awards ceremony, which was scheduled to air on the Taninger Entertainment channel. Zack Walker announced that President Martin had a scheduling conflict and would not appear. The press reported the announcement, people in the entertainment media parroted it, and the public accepted it without further probing.

  One interviewer, however, was connecting dots. She asked Zack if the president's cancelation had anything to do with the charges being made by Laura Taninger against the administration.

  "I'm not aware of any connection," Zack answered, his mouth forming its innocent O-shape, like a boy being wrongly accused of dipping into the cookie jar.

  "But it's quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say, that the president suddenly cancels his appearance on Taninger Entertainment on the heels of Laura Taninger's Public Disclosure Request," the interviewer persisted.

  "If the president had
those misgivings about dealing with the Taningers, it just means he has a conscience and can't in good faith appear on the network of a corporation of . . . questionable . . . merit, one that's displayed hostility to voters, their voting rights, and fairness."

  Zack's calm reply and courteous smile made him appear thoughtful, composed, and sensible.

  The day after the president's appearance was canceled, another news item was leaked to a major media outlet. According to unnamed but reliable sources, the bill known as the Fairness Tax on Movie Theaters was about to be brought to a vote on the House floor. The sources further claimed that the president's party had the votes to pass it, and Ken Martin had decided to sign it.

  The following day, just before the signing ceremony for the Pinnacle Awards that Irene Taninger had eagerly awaited, Mort Bennett, the president of Pinnacle, pulled out of his arrangement with Taninger Entertainment to broadcast the Awards ceremony. Pinnacle issued a statement regarding the pullout: "Because of certain ethical and humanitarian concerns that Pinnacle has about Taninger News, the sister company of Taninger Entertainment, we have decided that we will not engage this group as our broadcast partner for the Awards ceremony. Taninger News has been antagonistic to the new SafeVote program, which we wholeheartedly support as the means of ensuring universal voting rights and free elections. We at Pinnacle want to do our part to encourage everyone, even the poorest among us, to vote, and in our view, it's just wrong to oppose a program designed to do that. Pinnacle won't be a party to that."

  Mort Bennett then signed on with another network to broadcast the Awards ceremony. To Irene's astonishment, Ken Martin was announced as the special guest of the event. His scheduling conflict had apparently been resolved. Irene's idea of arranging for President Martin to appear at the most popular awards ceremony in the entertainment industry would now set ratings records for her competitor.

  The next day, buried deep within the print newspapers and on the less prominent areas of online news sites, another story surfaced: According to reliable sources, the Fairness Tax on Movie Theaters would not be taken up by Congress this year, after all. Ken Martin was said to have changed his mind about signing the bill, so Congress pulled it in order to avoid a presidential veto.

  Ten days after Zack had told Darcy Egan and Ken Martin that he would take care of Laura Taninger, he met with them in the president's office to report on his progress.

  "I shifted the media's attention from the alleged wrongdoing by the Bureau of Elections to the bias of a sinister reporter and her shady news organization," said Zack proudly.

  "He's not my senior strategist for nothing," said the president, pleased.

  Darcy beamed at Zack, as if he were a protégé who made her proud. She said, "Zack didn't merely defend us against an opponent's charges, he turned the tables on her, put us on offense, and made the top news story of the day about her corruption, not ours."

  A smug, cocky Zack replied, "I just put into play what Darcy always says. 'Truth is what people believe it to be. Change their opinions, and you've changed the truth.'"

  "That's it!" said Darcy. "And news is what the media reports. Control what they report, and you control the news. Control the news, and you control public opinion, which controls what's true. You get it, Zack!"

  President Ken Martin flashed his oversized grin, saying, "Zack did what administrations have always dreamed of doing. He led the band, and the media played his tune."

  Glowing in their praise, Zack quipped, "Next, I might try walking on water."

  Martin laughed and slapped him on the back.

  That same morning, Clark Taninger faced his four children around the conference table. Two of the wall monitors aired live broadcasts from Taninger Enterprises' television networks—Laura's Taninger News and Irene's Taninger Entertainment—the sounds of each station dueling for attention. With the twist of a gold-cufflinked wrist and the tap of a manicured finger, their father clicked a remote control and both screens went black.

  Clark's assistant, Caroline Davis, sat ready to take notes, her fingers poised over the keyboard on her laptop computer, as her boss opened the session.

  Clark said, "Friday, September 1, the executive management meeting of Taninger Enterprises will come to order."

  "You've done it now!" Irene shot out of her chair, unable to contain herself until she was called on, and pointed her finger across the table at Laura. "When Ken Martin pulled out and the Pinnacle deal fell through, I lost a fortune in advertising. Not only did I lose all the sponsors of the Awards ceremony, but I lost a dozen more. They ran away from my network to make their self-righteous public statements to placate the nasty groups that swarmed around them like bees ready to sting. I've never been so humiliated! I've been disinvited to give the keynote speech at the Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, and the medical charity I'm the spokesperson for dumped me! Imagine, a charity that I raised millions for and donated my time to for years just spit me out like that." She leaned over the table and snapped her fingers in Laura's face. "My network took big losses, I've been personally disgraced, and, little sister, it's all your fault!"

  "I'm sorry, Irene, really I am," said Laura, with genuine sadness. "I'm sorry the president you admire and campaigned for is okay with his staff, his media friends, and his special interest groups ripping into you in his fight against me. What kind of man is Ken Martin if he's okay with waging vendettas not just against his political enemies but also against their innocent family members?"

  "It's not Ken's fault. Politics is what it is. It's your fault for picking a fight with him."

  "It's not about him personally. It's about a controversial new program." Laura said, correcting her.

  "His key program! Why must you pick a fight on that?"

  "Why did his agency pick a fight with me, instead of being forthright with the information I'm legally entitled to have?" asked Laura.

  "You're responsible for the company's losses and for my humiliation!" Irene charged.

  "And now we're seeing all kinds of unflattering clips from JT being dredged up," Billie complained. "He told citizens who have the same rights as he does not to vote. How nasty is that?"

  "Now wait a minute—" began Kate.

  "You keep out of this," Irene ordered. "You're an observer here!"

  "I saw the clips," said Kate. "JT encouraged people not to vote if they didn't know anything about politics or the candidates, so they wouldn't do harm to all of us by casting an uninformed vote."

  "But that's not how it's being reported," said Irene. "The media is saying he told people not to vote, period."

  "But that's a distortion, Irene," said Laura.

  "But it's the narrative we have to deal with!"

  "What's going to drive us? A false accusation against our grandfather, or the truth?" Laura asked.

  "JT also said that, for some people, voting is tantamount to raiding other people's wallets. That's a smackdown of the poor by an elitist!" said Billie.

  "It's cringeworthy!" added Irene.

  "But it's true, isn't it?" asked Laura. "People who don't pay taxes do get to vote on how other folks' tax money is used. Why are we afraid to speak the truth?"

  "Who cares if it's true? It's the perception that counts," said Irene authoritatively. "JT made enemies every time he opened his mouth."

  "He also made a lot of money that keeps you living in comfort!" Laura replied hotly.

  Irene returned to her seat, folded her arms in a huff, and stared at Clark. "Father, what are you going to do to put a leash on Laura?"

  Clark, who sat back in his chair, frowned as his children exchanged barbs. He leaned forward and glared at Laura, saying, "Why should we be the ones to stick our necks out? I already warned you, Laura. Cover other news. There are plenty of other stories to sink your teeth into."

  "But Dad, this is important! This is a question of whether Martin and his staff are using a new voting system for . . . nefarious—"

  "There you go. You have no grounds!"
said Clark crossly.

  "If they have nothing to hide, then why are they acting as if they do?" Laura asked.

  "This sounds like another one of your headstrong crusades," Clark said, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Can't you be practical?"

  "You do go off punch-drunk with your high-sounding ideals," said Irene. "In the past, that hasn't turn out so well, has it?"

  "Irene, don't bring that up again!" said Kate.

  "I don't think Laura's sleeping with our major competitor this time," Irene continued. "I guess we should be grateful for that."

  "Even your lover was practical," Clark said to Laura, referring to Reed Miller. "He made an accommodation with the administration, and now, to the detriment of Taninger News, his network is thriving. When are you going to learn the art of compromise?"

  "After the Bureau of Fair Trade dropped the suit against Reed, how long did he wait to dump you?" Irene peppered her sister. "One day? Or do we measure that timeframe in hours?"

  Pained, Laura averted her sister's eyes and stared at a dust ball on the floor.

  "The media had a field day with that, and Taninger Enterprises was a laughing stock!" Billie grumbled.

  "Stop it, both of you!" Kate pleaded. "Dad, make them stop."

  "A Taninger has an affair with our major competitor and defends his interests over ours," Irene said, pouting. "Then, when the threat to break up his company is gone—the threat that she used our network to help him fight—he spits her out and is back competing with us full throttle."

  Rallying behind her principles, Laura said, "I was standing up for us, too. The Feds could just as easily have targeted us. Was it right for them to threaten to break up his company? Don't you care about that? Where's your integrity?"

  Billie laughed wryly, dismissing the question, and said, "All I know is when you become the news, sis, and the media slaps you around, that doesn't work out too well for the rest of us. You're going to strike out again and lose another game for your teammates."