Former ABC Nightline anchor Ted Koppel addressed the graduates at the University of Southern California (USC) and displayed his newfound freedom of no longer having to hide his political leanings. In his commencement speech, which focused on empathy and compassion for others, he couldn’t resist taking some political jabs as well when he accused Americans of displaying a “facile-patriotism” after 9/11.
Koppel also commented on the Iraq war by telling the graduates that “The reality of America today is the administration that proclaims independence and agreement with the Constitution even as it wiggles its way of both in the name of security.” Yet despite the insult of “facile-patriotism” students seemed to enjoy the speech.
“It was pretty political, but I pretty much agreed with things that he said. So I didn’t find anything offensive,” one student said. “What he said about the president and the administration was pretty right on, so I will take this experience with me in the future,” graduate Amber Cervantes told the Daily Trojan.
His speech only confirms what many believed was a liberal bias when he was at ABC but refused to admit. This should raise questions about the impartiality he claimed when on the air, though we know that the mainstream media will provide cover for their former brother.
Don Irvine is the chairman of both Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia.
