Blagojevich's real victim: The press

While the news media fixates on the corruption charges against the man in charge of selecting the President-elect's replacement in the U.S. Senate, the crucial story slinks through the shadows unnoticed.

At stake if Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., is guilty of selling Barack Obama's old post is one vote in the senate, one vote that almost certainly will contribute to the Democratic majority. At stake if Blagojevich is guilty of dangling a large sum of money over the head of a major news organization, available only if they fire those who have written against the governor, at stake is the integrity of the press nationwide.

Blagojevich threatened to withhold at least $100 million of state funds from the Tribune company to be granted only if it would fire editors "responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich," according to the official criminal complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain.

Some say journalism is dead. Others say it's just in a coma. If at least the latter is true, the murderer of journalism won't only be uninhibited bias but also censorship of dissent. Nonviolent dissent is the principle reason that newspapers and other news media exist. Sure, media outlets also serve to inform and entertain. But their most important duty -- indeed their highest moral calling -- is to serve as government watchdog, to exercise the freedom to publish the truth regardless of whether it offends the powers that be.

And Blagojevich is just one man. One governor of 50 and one statesman of many more. If this one man, governor and statesman allegedly committed this act and got caught, how many more are manipulating the press and getting away with it?

Auctioning off a senate seat to the highest bidder: Despicable? Yes. Damaging to the integrity of the Illinois government? Absolutely. Significant in the long run? Not so much. Most of the time, a Democrat vote will be a Democrat vote. Surprising? Not at all. These are politicians we're talking about here.

Attempting to bribe the second largest newspaper publisher in the country in order to censor critical speech: Shameful? Yes. Threatening to the entire field of journalism? Absolutely. An affront on the freedom and values of every American? Without a doubt, 100 percent, yes.