USA TODAY NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT BUSH "OUTRAGE" ADS -- come on, make a call

dfu | 3-9-04 | dfu

[doug from upland]

USA TODAY: 703.854.3400

Gwenn Foster - political editor.
Mark Memmott - Judy Keen, writers

Here we go again, FReepers. Finally, the NY POST did the story about the funding of PEACEFUL TOMORROWS. The POST told its readers about the funding which was ultimately tied to Teresa Heinz.

I'm still waiting for the WASHINGTON POST and NY TIMES to set the record straight. Perhaps I shouldn't hold my breath.

And now, we come to USA TODAY. Are they a wholly owned subsidiary of the DemocRATic Party? No. Do they do the bidding of the DemocRATic Party? It seems so.

I spoke with Gwen Foster, the USA TODAY political editor. She is apparently satisfied that they did the story and reported the news. She has no plans to do a story on the funding connection of Teresa Heinz to PEACEFUL TOMORROWS. In fact, she denied that the story in USA TODAY even mentioned PEACEFUL TOMORROWS. She has no interest in full disclosure and correcting the record. I called back and read the paragraph to her answering machine. I told her that is sloppy journalism.

I also left a message for one of the writers, Mike Memmott, telling him of the connection and saying to him it was sloppy journalism if they don't report it.

THE ORIGINAL STORY FROM THEIR WEBSITE

Posted 3/4/2004 3:13 PM
Bush accused of exploiting 9/11

By Mark Memmott and Judy Keen, USA TODAY

EXCERPT:

Today those groups plan a press conference in New York to say that the ads' use of video shot at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, is insulting to the memories of those who died in the 2001 attacks. Of particular concern to them: a few seconds of video of firefighters carrying a flag-draped body from the rubble. (Related video: Bush recalls 9/11, defends ads)

"Our message to all politicians is, 'Keep your hands off Ground Zero,' " said David Potorti, of Cary, N.C., a member of Peaceful Tomorrows, one of the families' organizations. His brother Jim, 52, died at the World Trade Center. ---end excerpt---

Calling them "one of the families' organizations" is not good enough. The story was incomplete.

FReepers, you saw that we raised hell on the phone with the NY TIMES over the weekend. USA TODAY needs to hear from us. PLEASE be civil. Leave your name. Guide them toward the story.

Okay, raise your hands? Who will make the call?

Thanks. Your efforts may help Dubya continue the War on Terror. God help us if the RATS get back into power.

[doug from upland]

Ping

[doug from upland]

Ping

[jmstein7]

Great Job! PING!

[doug from upland]

Make the call! Ping!

[Integrityrocks]

Is there an e-mail address? We could bombard them with e-mails, but many of us from our offices can't make calls.

[doug from upland]

I don't have the email. Anyway, that is easy to dump. Make the call after work. Thanks.

[Pete]

Here is a link to the USA Today feedback page.

http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback.htm

[doug from upland]

Thanks for posting it.

[rickylc]

ping!

[doug from upland]

Called L.A. TIMES in DC and asked Joel Havemann to do the complete story. He was sent an email. Let's see what the TIMES does. Duh. I think we already know.

[sarasota]

Thanks for the link. I emailed a letter to the editor. Told him to get a pair and print the truth about the connection between Teresa and this organization.

[Integrityrocks]

Thank you

[jmstein7]

Doug... this is a strong case for "journalistic malpractice":

Read This This would make a good test-case. These "journalists," and I use the term loosely, would have to think twice if they had to factor litigation costs into the equation. If journalism is a "profession," then journalists who do not conduct themselves in a professional manner -- via malfeseance, misfeseance, or nonfeasance -- must be subject to liability for malpractice.

[Mich0127]

I see someone paid attention in Bus Org!

For those of you who do not know lawyer lingo:

Nonfeasance-undertaking a decision with no background information, basically blindly, or doing nothing
Misfeasance-undertaking a decision to do something through utter stupidity
Malfeasance-undertaking a decision with bad faith intentions to harm

:-)

[cincy29]

perhaps I missed it, but what is their number?

[syriacus]

I left a message on Judy Keen's answering machine. I was directed to it by someone in the news department.

I said that explaining to the public that there is a connection between Heinz-Kerry >> Tides Foundation's projects >> and Peaceful Tomorrows would be the right thing to do.

[Ragirl]

Yes, a number or email would be helpful...bump.

Lying AWOL Senator

[doug from upland]

Thanks for the effort.

[doug from upland]

Hannity is all over it again. The media was manipulated by the Kerry people. Go Sean! Expose the cockroaches to the light of day and then...................step on them and hear them go squish.