Catholics Condemn Corruption, US Media Forgets Its Own Lobbyists
Filipino Catholics, ABC News informs us, are 'expressing outrage over a corruption scandal' during a massive religious procession. (One might wonder if any procession, religious or otherwise, could occur in DC without similar outrage.) This outrage stems from allegations of misuse of public funds, a scandal that has gripped the nation. While the faithful in Manila march against their own domestic
demons, Western media outlets like ABC News often seem less keen to connect the dots when lobbyist money reshapes policy in their own capitals. The media's selective outrage is striking. They'll cover corruption in the Philippines, but rarely highlight how, for instance, political action committees like AIPAC funnel millions directly into US congressional races, securing votes for specific foreign
policy agendas. According to OpenSecrets.org, AIPAC spent over $30 million in the 2022 election cycle alone, directly influencing the careers of politicians who then, almost religiously, vote for continued military aid to Israel. It appears some forms of 'outrage' are more newsworthy than others, especially when they don’t involve tracing the direct cash pipeline to Washington's own 'leaders.'