As if the dying newspaper industry needed to remind the public of its increasing obsolescence in legitimate civic discourse/practicability, here’s crusty old Bill Moyers doing his journalism-thing and exposing The Washington Post as the gang of liars and second-rate hacks they become under the light of a full moon:

… Katharine Weymouth, the publisher of The Washington Post — one of the most powerful people in DC — invited top officials from the White House, the Cabinet and Congress to her home for an intimate, off-the-record dinner to discuss health care reform with some of her reporters and editors covering the story.

But CEOs and lobbyists from the health care industry were invited, too, provided they forked over $25,000 a head — or up to a quarter of a million if they want to sponsor a whole series of these cozy get-togethers. And what is the inducement offered? Nothing less, the invitation read, than “an exclusive opportunity to participate in the health-care reform debate among the select few who will get it done.” [AlterNet]

Aw fuck, Moyers! Can’t you just let well enough alone? No?

The invitation reminds the CEO’s and lobbyists that they will be buying access to “those powerful few in business and policy making who are forwarding, legislating and reporting on the issues…

“Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No.” The invitation promises this private, intimate and off-the-record dinner is an extension “of The Washington Post brand of journalistic inquiry into the issues, a unique opportunity for stakeholders to hear and be heard.”

Let that sink in …

Yeah, sink in like a fat kid in the ball pit — who do you think you are, Bob Woodward? This is the post-Bush era; there is no corruption! (And anyways, we’re sure Weymouth was just collecting donations for her failing non-profit organization, The Washington Post)