The Media Research Center’s self-promotional efforts tend to feature the grim visage of founder and president Brent Bozell — not unlike, say, how they do things in North Korea.
This no doubt feeds Bozell’s ego — it’s obvious he has a large enough of one to insist on being the face of the MRC, though his photogenicity is up for debate. This is the guy, after all, who spent 15-plus years stealing the credit from the guy who actually wrote his syndicated column, so he clearly wants as much glory for himself as he can get.
So now the MRC is promoting its little dress-up “Gala” shindig devoted to mocking its political enemies, and here’s the image it’s using:
Hey, it’s a smiling Bozell! In a fancy white dinner jacket! He likes us after all! (You know, just like North Korea.)
And what was Bozell so happy about in that photo? To read the description on the MRC page to which the happy-Bozell image links, it appears he was leading the Two Minutes Hate that the MRC Gala apparently is:
MRC President Brent Bozell asked the audience to show their derision, via jeers and noisemakers, of quotes from Lawrence O’Donnell, [Ayman] Mohyeldin and analysts on CNN led by Sally Kohn, who had won a news category earlier in the program. The audience’s very obvious preference was confirmed by Bozell and the presenters and acceptors brought on stage to judge the audience’s reaction.
And then there’s this, in which Bozell makes sure his role is noted:
The MRC opened the post-dinner program with Bozell honoring Phyllis Schlafly with the MRC’s ninth annual “William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence.” Schlafly accepted via remarks on video in which she praised the MRC for “playing a big role” in getting out “the proper, needed information.”
Note: Not necessarily accurate or truthful information, but the “proper” information. Again, just like North Korea.
It all comes off as a propaganda operation instead of any sort of “media research,” with Bozell attempting to create a cult of personality around himself.
Funny thing is, it was just a few weeks ago that the MRC was accusing Stephen Colbert of leading a “cult of personality.” All the better to distract attention from the boss, it seems.