It is tempting to blame television for all this.
He was blaming television for the lack of wit in the world.
In pointing this out, I did not mean to "blame" television.
Not one but two former homes secretaries have blamed television and films for what is happening in society.
"One hesitates to blame television for all this because that's such an obvious thing to do," she writes.
Blaming only television, they added, may divert attention from vastly more complex problems.
They blamed television for encouraging violence or at least making viewers less sensitive to it.
But you can't blame television or radio for violence in America; it's as old as the nation.
Those polled blamed political campaigns, as well as television, talk radio and rock music.
"Is the next cause the much blamed television?"