--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people will say that words like scum…" description: "\"“Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are wrong for Objective Journalism—which is true, but they miss the point. It was the built-in bl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/hunter-s-thompson-278_first-place_some-people-will-say-that-words-like-scu_2681827.jpg" --- # Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are… ![“Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are wrong for Objective Journalism—which is true, but they miss the point. It was the built-in blind spots of the Objective rules and dogma that allowed Nixon to slither into the White House in the first place. He looked so good on paper that…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/hunter-s-thompson-278_first-place_some-people-will-say-that-words-like-scu_2681827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/hunter-s-thompson-278_first-place_some-people-will-say-that-words-like-scu_2681827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/hunter-s-thompson-278_first-place_some-people-will-say-that-words-like-scu_2681827.jpg) > ““Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are wrong for Objective Journalism—which is true, but they miss the point. It was the built-in blind spots of the Objective rules and dogma that allowed Nixon to slither into the White House in the first place. He looked so good on paper that you could almost vote for him sight unseen. He seemed so all-American, so much like Horatio Alger, that he was able to slip through the cracks of Objective Journalism. You had to get Subjective to see Nixon clearly,”” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Objective journalism’s blind spots let corrupt leaders slip through; subjectivity reveals truth. **In simple terms:** Objective news missed Nixon’s flaws. Key Takeaway Balance objectivity with critical perspective. Themes media politics truth Mood skeptical critical Type journalistic analytical When to use this quote - news reporting - media literacy - political analysis Key Concepts Bias subjectivity journalistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How to spot hidden biases? - When is subjectivity justified? A Different Perspective Too much subjectivity can breed bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowed Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed-nixon-2587370/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Journalism Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism-subjective-2587371/) [Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon/) [Nixon Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon-clearly-2587368/) [Objective Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objective-journalism-2259091/) [Subjective Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective-nixon-2587369/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are wrong for Objective Journalism -- which is true, but they miss the point.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/some-people-will-say-that-words-like-scum-and-rotten-are-wrong-for/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Whereas the handling of the case against President Nixon clearly strengthened the nation's respect for law, justice and truth, the Clinton impeachment may unfortunately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/whereas-the-handling-of-the-case-against-president-nixon-clearly/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [Nixon clearly broke laws. He clearly believed he needed to stay in power to protect the country. But he recognized that he was breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/nixon-clearly-broke-laws-he-clearly-believed-he-needed-to-stay-in/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [Objective journalism is one of the main reasons that American politics has been allowed to be so corrupt for so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/objective-journalism-is-one-of-the-main-reasons-that-american/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as Objective Journalism. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/with-the-possible-exception-of-things-like-box-scores-race-results/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“So much for Objective Journalism. Don't bother to look for it here--not under any byline of mine; or anyone else I can think of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/so-much-for-objective-journalism-don-t-bother-to-look-for-it-here-not/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Objective journalism and an opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/objective-journalism-and-an-opinion-column-are-about-as-similar-as/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The whole sort of debate of classic objective journalism versus a new immersion journalism - that can go on forever... I made no bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-smith/the-whole-sort-of-debate-of-classic-objective-journalism-versus-a-new/) [Shane Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-smith/) > [Nixon represents that dark, venal and incurably violent side of the American character almost every other country in the world has learned to fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/nixon-represents-that-dark-venal-and-incurably-violent-side-of-the/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [George McGovern, for all his mistakes... understands what a fantastic monument to all the best instincts of the human race this country might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/george-mcgovern-for-all-his-mistakes-understands-what-a-fantastic/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Richard Nixon has never been one of my favorite people, anyway. For years I've regarded his very existence as a monument to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/richard-nixon-has-never-been-one-of-my-favorite-people-anyway-for/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The prevailing quality of life in America -- by any accepted methods of measuring -- was unarguably freer and more politically open under Nixon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-prevailing-quality-of-life-in-america-by-any-accepted-methods-of/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The trouble with Nixon is that he's a serious politics junkie. He's totally hooked ... and like any other junkie, he'sa bummer to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-trouble-with-nixon-is-that-he-s-a-serious-politics-junkie-he-s/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [ I'd almost prefer \[Richard\] Nixon. I'd say \[Bill\] Clinton is every bit as corrupt as Nixon, but a lot smoother. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-d-almost-prefer-richard-nixon-i-d-say-bill-clinton-is-every-bit-as/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More First place quotes > [“But the process should not be confused with science. When tests are used as selections devices, they're not a neutral tool; they become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-whyte/but-the-process-should-not-be-confused-with-science-when-tests-are/) [William H. Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-whyte/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Im never shocked when people let me down nowadays. I just hate the fact that I put myself in a position to be let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-never-shocked-when-people-let-me-down-nowadays-i-just-hate-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had a 90's music party with my Glee family tonight. Helped remind me why I got into music in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/had-a-90-s-music-party-with-my-glee-family-tonight-helped-remind-me/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [“If you have the ability and the opportunity to help someone, but you don't do anything just because you're scared or it's inconvenient or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-have-the-ability-and-the-opportunity-to-help-someone-but-you/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Every penny we spend comes from the taxpayer. 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Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) [Browse all 2,907 First place quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Some people will say that words like scum and rotten are wrong for Objective Journalism—which is true, but they miss the point. It was the built-in blind spots of the Objective rules and dogma that allowed Nixon to slither into the White House in the first place. He looked so good on paper that you could almost vote for him sight unseen. He seemed so all-American, so much like Horatio Alger, that he was able to slip through the cracks of Objective Journalism. You had to get Subjective to see Nixon clearly,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. 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