Can We Identify That Spokesperson?

Johnny-on-the-Spot … by John Foster …

Hardly a day goes by when a story out of Washington D.C. doesn’t mention a “spokesperson” as the origin of a news story.

Whether it’s the IRS, the CDC, the FBI or whatever other governmental acronym you can come up with, the story source always seems to be attributed to this nebulous “spokesperson”.

“Official” or “officials” is sometimes used.

You’ll also hear “source” or “sources” credited with some fact or piece of information.

From my perspective, the original thought or concept came from a lone individual.

It was probably one person during a meeting with the key point that resulted in the action.

Are there several of these individuals in our nation’s capitol spewing forth this information?

Sometimes I think it’s a lone individual.

He lives in the basement of his Mother’s home and sleeps on a sofa bed that has Cheeto dust on the arms.

When not lounging in his boxer shorts and t-shirt, he normally wears a plaid sweater vest and corduroy slacks with a too-long belt that he’s poked extra holes in to hold up his pants.

Years ago, he would have had a lava lamp lighting in otherwise dark and dank living area.

His Mother will yell down to him that breakfast, lunch or supper is ready and he’ll respond with, “Okay, Mom!”

Moments later, she’ll yell, “You’re food is getting cold!

He’ll answer with a colder, “I told you I HEARD you Mother!”

In the interest of “WOKE” play, this individual could also be of what we once referred to as the “female persuasion”.

She probably has bangs, clip-on earrings and pop beads around her neck while lounging in her ratty bathrobe with kitty slippers that look much like her actual cat.

Instead of Cheeto dust on the arms of her sofa bed, you’ll find tiny doilies that she crocheted.

I envision this guy or gal getting texts from your favorite government acronym which they’ll read and respond, “Yea. Okay!”

Then that governmental acronym spews out the press release quoting that “government spokseperson”.

This deflects the inquiries on the actual facts to this nebulous individual who can never be actually contacted.

Until they become a “whistle-blower”.

I would just feel more reassured if I knew the identity of the “spokesperson”.

Years ago when I was an actual news reporter, on critical stories you needed to have at least two, reputable information sources who could and would back up what you reported.

I don’t think that’s the case anymore.

There used to be some real bulldogs reporting news and investigating stories but today, things get stated as fact and despite the “aroma”, no one questions or digs deeper.

I suspect a lot of today’s “sources” are what someone read on Facebook or “X” which often times has nothing to do

with facts.

The next time you read or hear “spokesperson” think of my nerdy gal or guy I described earlier and see how well that information sets with you.

Aldous Huxley said, “Facts to do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”: