Posted on 02/22/2005 6:19:04 AM PST by crushkerry
The United Nations has started a blog . And they recruited former Kerry web honcho Peter Daou to run it.
Peter Daou and Debra DeShong, both of whom worked for the Massachusetts Democrat in his campaign against President Bush, have taken on new roles with the U.N. Foundation, headed by former CNN mogul Ted Turner.The group looking to boot the United Nations out of the U.S. is now blasting the global body for hiring aides to former presidential candidate John Kerry to help improve its image.
Peter Daou and Debra DeShong, both of whom worked for the Massachusetts Democrat in his campaign against President Bush, have taken on new roles with the U.N. Foundation, headed by former CNN mogul Ted Turner.
The employment of Kerry aides to "rescue" the U.N. "shows the United Nations is just like the Kerry campaign it's failing," said Howard Kaloogian, co-chairman of Move America Forward.
"As the American people learn more about the rampant fraud and corruption occurring by the U.N. and it's top officials they are coming to realize that the UN is a failing institution. It's time wake up from the dream that this organization is capable of bringing us world peace. What was supposed to be an institution that promoted freedom and security has instead degenerated into an anti-American organization that coddles terrorists, dictators and despots."
WorldNetDaily reported last week that Americans' opinion of the U.N. is sinking, with just 37 percent polled saying they are favorably inclined to the organization.
Daou, a coordinator of the online rapid-response unit of the Kerry/Edwards campaign, was selected by the U.N. Foundation to promote the agenda of the United Nations and discredit conservative critics. He's the top administrator for the "U.N. Dispatch," which calls itself a "blog intended to promote thoughtful discussion about the U.N., and to provide an outlet for important news and views on the U.N."
The U.N. Foundation also operates the "Oil-for-food facts" website which defends the U.N.'s oil-for-food program and attacks those critical of the program's fraud and corruption.
Daou, ever the rapid responder sent an e-mail out to fellow bloggers, which read in part, "You can see from the UN Dispatch blogroll - which will continue to expand - that this is not about "discrediting conservative critics," as the above-mentioned sources allege, but about engaging in a wide-ranging and productive debate. The blog was launched earlier this month and will soon be open for reader comments."
What we know of Peter Daou, we like. And the U.N. Foundation was smart to retain his services. And they are even smarter to embrace the new media. But the medium is not the message here; you cannot perfume a pig and call it an eagle. The Oil-for-Food scandal is a very real disgrace and public fraud. We hope they don't try to "spin" it.
And we'd be lying if we didn't say we weren't suspicious. The U.N. Dispach has already joined the whiny throng of Fox bashers (Note to Peter: David Brock's Media Matters is hardly a reputable source.) And they are peddling the silly Kyoto Treaty. We'll be watching for things like blogads on the Daily Kos, and we're interested in how they will cover the trial of Saddam Hussein, who would still be in power, killing tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis every year if the U.N. had its way. We hope Peter can help prove our suspicious unfounded.
Bulldog comment: I agree w/ Pat that Peter is very good at what he does and we've not seen anything from him that was unfair. The questions I have for Peter (which I will be emailing to him) are about how much latitude he has regarding his content. Is he free to criticize the UN for things like the Congo child sex scandal, and the recent appearance of a cover-up by Kofi Annan of a sexual harassment charge against a high ranking official. How many layers of officials (if any) do Peter's postings have to go through for approval? I'm sure Peter will respond to these questions. He's a stand up guy and we do wish him the best.
Ping
You've GOT to be joking!!!!
Yeah. I read this yesterday and was pretty stunned. They think they can spin the abuses. They don't understand you have to have some level of popularity to begin with, which is why Clinton was able to do this successfully.
As the American people learn more about the rampant fraud and corruption occurring by the U.N. and it's top officials they are coming to realize that the UN is a failing institution.
They'll find out ONLY if you and I tell them. Their not going to find out from the MSM.
Another layer of UN propaganda perfume to mask the smell of a rotting corpse. The loathesome and corrupt Kofi the Commie is a great advertisement for shutting down the UN.
Start another world body to debate matters composed of only of democratic countries. Then the UN will deteriorate into a mob of 70 or 80 squabling dictators that will die from lack of interest or money.
The United Nations does NOT allow employees to criticize it's policies. Even if they wanted to use a little reverse psychology and have Peters "get tough" with them, that's all it is: reverse psychology.
The MSM will go into "I guess they've learned THEIR lesson" mode and the public will believe it after a while. Some promises of reform will be reiterated (reform was already promised) and the public will go on to the new celebrity trial of the season, content that all is now well. Nothing will be done to reform the UN.
Why are we not surprised :-)
Whree's that screw the UN graphic? Please post!
For Immediate Release
January 6, 2005
Debra DeShong Joins the United Nations Foundation
...Before working for the Kerry/Edwards campaign, DeShong was the Democratic National Committees Communications Director. Prior to that, she was Communications Director for Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ). Additionally, DeShong has served as press secretary to Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) as well as on the successful Blanche Lincoln Senate race in Arkansas. She has worked at the local levels of government and media, serving as Communications Director for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee and was a news supervisor and general on-air assignment reporter for WBTW-TV (CBS) in Myrtle Beach, SC. DeShong received a Masters in Journalism from Northwestern University and her undergraduate degree from Fairfield University.
Debra DeShong will report to Amy Weiss, Vice President for Public Affairs.
(snip)
http://www.unfoundation.org/media_center/press/2005/pr_010605.asp
For Immediate Release
April 12, 2004
Amy Weiss Joins the United Nations Foundation
...Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Ms. Weiss was the Deputy Press Secretary to President Clinton and served as an on-the-record spokesperson for the White House. She began her White House service as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary for Operations where she served as Chief-of-Staff to then-Press Secretary Mike McCurry.
Additionally, Ms. Weiss has worked as Press Secretary and Communications Director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Before going to the DNC, Ms. Weiss worked for the late-Rep. Mike Synar (D-OK) as his Campaign Manager and earlier worked as his congressional Press Secretary and for the Government Operations Oversight Subcommittee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, which Rep. Synar chaired. She also served for five years as Communications Director at the Center for National Policy
(snip)
http://www.unfoundation.org/media_center/press/2004/pr_041204.asp
In all fairness since he left the Kerry/Edwards team (remember, he was doing a job there) Daou has done some political stuff on his own website, and it must be said that he has been fair to our site, and other conservatives as well. Whether or not he will able to do that at the UN is another story.
--John F. Kerry
Well ... they did hire Clinton too
BTW ... can you see me rolling my eyes over this news
What a nice thought.
A Marine, however, would have only used ONE BULLET to snuff out the waste of skin wearing the blue dome. Still and all, well done!
I'd forgotten that quote! Thank you so much for posting that on this thread.
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