Where's the evidence and argument, Neil Mitchell?

Neil Mitchell opened his top-rating radio talkback program (3AW) this morning with unrestrained scoffing at the duo appearance of Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello on Seven's tabloid Today Tonight last evening.

The Prime Minister and his Treasurer in a sort of a buddy performance fielded questions about their work, their successes and their relationship. They made the self-evident claim that to work with each other over eleven and half years with stunning success on the economic front they would have to have a good working relationship - despite the problems that inevitably crop up over time. Everybody knows that the best of relationships - personal or business - are put under stress from time to time.

This is all straightforward stuff. Well, straightforward if you're not a journalist, reporter, commentator, in brief, all those who get paid to manipulate the public's curiosity and prejudice.

For Neil Mitchell, the Prime Minister and Treasurer's performance was a sham, a lie, a cynical attempt to fool the people. Okay, but where was the evidence? There was none - absolutely none - just the bald assertion. Everyone is to believe it on Neil Mitchell's say-so, his authority as a top-rating radio personality.

The media have been peddling this sort of thing about John Howard and Peter Costello for years, but never make the effort to provide any substantial evidence for it. Well, they tried to beat up the fact that the Costellos were never invited to the Lodge for dinner. And that's just it - it's all a ferocious beat up.

The media's behaviour excites the community's contempt at the best of times. But in this election they have reached new lows in their reporting, or rather the lack of it. It's been appalling. Beat up, ignoring the the real issues, playing the man, appealing to community prejudice...

People talk about the end of John Howard in sight. I fervently wish some of the long time media figures were about to depart the scene.