Facts are facts. Opinions are opinions.
News reporting should be factual. Opinions belong on the editorial page, although they, too, should be based on fact.
At least, that’s the way it used to be. Today, “woke” ideologues deny that objective truth even exists. Others say, more reasonably, that pure objectivity in journalism is impossible, but it is the gold standard toward which journalists should strive.
Dr. Jelani Cobb, the Dean of the Columbia Journalism School, recently convened a panel discussion called “The Objectivity Wars” to explore this issue. “[T]he act of journalism, no matter how much we may fetishize the idea of objectivity, requires a series or a pyramid of subjective decision-making,” panelist Wesley Lowery said, including decisions such as what stories to run, what resources to invest, or whom to quote. “Objectivity is dead, and I’m okay with it,” another panelist, journalist Lewis Raven Wallace, once wrote.
“My argument is simply that if we’re going to have an ideal, then moral clarity would be a much better guiding ideal for journalism than objectivity,” Masha Gessen of “The New York Times” added. Objectivity, Gessen said, is “a style that since the beginning of the Trump presidency has served to normalize things that ought not be normalized.” In other words, the role of journalists is to let people know what is “normal” (okay to think) and what is not normal (not okay to think).
I’m not going to let journalists decide what I should and should not think. For that, I’ll turn to the Word of God. And then, I’ll look to responsible journalists to give me the facts, so I can interpret them in light of the Bible.
That’s what I like about “1819 News.” One section is called “News,” and there the reporters give the facts. Another section is called “Opinion,” and that’s where this column fits.
I’ve appreciated “1819 News’” thorough coverage of the controversy concerning the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) and its commissioner, Admiral Kent Davis.
So what’s this all about? I’ll try to separate fact from opinion.
FACT: ADVA serves Alabama’s approximately 400,000 military veterans, working with – but not as a division – of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). ADVA’s mission is “to promote awareness and assist eligible Veterans, their families, and survivors to receive from the U.S. and State Governments any and all benefits to which they may be entitled under existing or future laws.” With a budget of approximately $230 million (FY2025) and approximately 1,200 state and contract employees, ADVA maintains 62 veterans service offices (including 12 new offices opened since Davis became commissioner), administers a military dependent scholarship program, operates a state veterans cemetery (in addition to the federal veterans cemetery) and five state veterans homes, and conducts extensive programs for veteran well-being including suicide prevention, and much more.
MY OPINION: The ADVA commissioner position requires a highly qualified person.
FACT: Davis has a lengthy resume. Besides being a National Merit Scholar, he graduated second out of 157 from Georgia State University Law School and served as Editor-in-chief of the law review. His military career includes service as an Army Judge Advocate and a Navy Public Affairs Officer, retiring at the rank of Rear Admiral, plus many other credentials.
MY OPINION: Davis is highly qualified to serve as commissioner of ADVA.
THE CONTROVERSY: As reported in numerous “1819 News” articles and other sources, in August 2024, ADVA Board members grew concerned that state officials had violated state ethics laws concerning a $7 million American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant. Davis therefore filed an ethics complaint with the State Ethics Commission, noting in the complaint that he was not certain a violation had occurred but that he was required by law to bring it to their attention. Rightly or wrongly, the State Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint as unsubstantiated, which should have ended the matter.
But it didn’t. The week after the complaint was dismissed, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, on Sept. 5, demanded Davis’ resignation by 5 p.m. that day. (Did Ivey’s demand constitute illegal retaliation for a “whistleblowing” ethics complaint? I can only say that is possible.) Davis at first refused to resign, denying any wrongdoing; then he reluctantly submitted his resignation effective Dec. 31. No action has been taken on that resignation, so he could still legally rescind it.
Many veterans have rallied to Davis’s defense:
The Commander of the Alabama Veterans of Foreign Wars, MSG Eric Dudash, called Davis “a strong and tireless advocate for veterans,” and lauded him “opening a fifth state veterans home, [providing a] $10 million expansion of the state veterans cemetery, and … [his] continual pursuit of ending veteran suicide,” saying, “We are disheartened that Governor Ivey has asked Commissioner Davis to resign.”
The President of the South Alabama Veterans Council, Lt. Col. Louis Lartigue, said in a letter to Ivey: “Commissioner Davis and his staff have overcome many obstacles that they were faced with to ensure that our Veterans receive the support they need and deserve. The SAVC stands in solidarity with ADVA and Commissioner Davis in the Department’s past and future support of the Veterans of All Alabama.”
Alabama Commander of the American Legion Don Madden, wrote: “As the American Legion, Department of Alabama which consists of over 16,000 Veteran members, we fully support the work of Commissioner Davis and the full ADVA staff. The care and accountability of our Veteran community within our great state, consisting of over 400,000 Veterans, has been exceptional under the leadership and devotion of Commissioner Davis.”
AND NOW, MY OPINION: As Past Commander of my local American Legion post, I have personally observed Davis’s dedication to Alabama veterans and his willingness to attend post meetings in his off-duty hours and share with large and small audiences what ADVA is doing and can do for veterans. As a frequent speaker for Vietnam Veterans of America events, I have been impressed with Davis’ willingness to travel substantial distances during evenings and holidays to stand in support of veterans. As for his handling of the ARPA grant, Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), co-chairman of the ARPA Oversight Committee, says flatly: “Misappropriation did not occur. There wasn’t anything illegal or even improper.” Albritton is a former law student of mine, and I have high confidence in his integrity and judgment.
MY CONCLUSION: Alabama veterans need Davis as their commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs. I urge him to rescind his resignation.
And I appreciate the factual coverage “1819 News” has given to this unfortunate controversy. Because of the human condition, absolute objectivity in news coverage may be impossible, but it is the “gold standard” toward which responsible journalists should strive.
Colonel Eidsmoe serves as Professor of Constitutional Law for the Oak Brook College of Law & Government Policy (obcl.edu) and as Senior Counsel for the Foundation for Moral Law (morallaw.org). He may be contacted for speaking engagements at eidsmoeja@juno.com.
