HEEHAW, HEEHAW
Posted on 12/22/2007 2:52:48 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In this long election cycle, we may be learning as much about media bias as about the candidates. PJM’s Bob Owens has more on the questionable characterization of Fred Thompson by The Politico’s Roger Simon.
Fire Chief Dan McKenzie cast more doubts on The Politico’s chief political correspondent Roger Simon’s version of events at McKenzie’s Waverly, Iowa fire station in Simon’s article “Fred Thompson: Lazy as charged.” Questions had been raised about Simon’s article based on a video of Thompson’s appearance, which seemed to show the candidate behaving in a radically different manner from the one described by The Politico correspondent. In interviews with Pajamas Media, Chief McKenzie similarly refuted Simon’s characterization of Thompson as “lazy” or “sour” at the event and the editor of the Waverly Democrat refused to confirm the accuracy of comments attributed to her in Simon’s article.
McKenzie was unaware of the Simon article until Friday afternoon. The Iowa fire chief was read the following paragraphs and asked for comment.
…Thompson rode four blocks to the local fire station. Local fire stations always have captive audiences (unless there is a fire). Inside, Thompson shook a few hands — there were only about 15 people there — and then Chief Dan McKenzie handed Thompson the chief’s fire hat so Thompson could put it on.
Thompson looked at it with a sour expression on his face.
“I’ve got a silly hat rule,” Thompson said.
In point of fact, the “silly” hat was the one Chief McKenzie wore to fires and I am guessing none of the firefighters in attendance considered it particularly silly, but Thompson was not going to put it on. He just stood there holding it and staring at it.
To save the moment, Jeri Thompson took the hat from her husband’s hands and put it on her head.
“You look cute,” Thompson said to her. She did.
Unlike Simon’s characterization of a “sour” Thompson, McKenzie recalled that the firefighters were joking with the Thompsons during the visit, which corroborates the CBS News video that captured part of the event. He stated further than any attempt to portray the event as Simon described was the work of “someone who had their own agenda.”
Unprompted, McKenzie stated that he was well aware of the dangers of politicians wearing hats, and he and his fellow firefighters understood why Thompson declined to wear the helmet. He also stated that he understood that someone might want to make an issue of Thompson wearing his helmet, and that it seemed that when Thompson declined, “someone decided to make an issue out of it anyway.”
Chief McKenzie concluded that the Waverly firemen was very appreciative of Thompson’s visit, as they would be of any presidential candidate that took the time to stop by.
Prior to the campaign’s visit to the Waverly Fire Department, Thompson visited the Waverly Democrat, a semi-weekly newspaper, where Thompson conducted a brief interview with the newspaper’s staff, including editor Anelia Dimitrova and reporter Janelle Penny.
Simon attributed the following statements to Editor Dimitrova in his article:
Anelia Dimitrova, the executive regional editor, greeted us in warmly and invited us to have a seat, chat and use the bathroom. She offered Mark a high-speed Internet line so he could upload some video to his website and I sat down with her for a brief interview.
She said Thompson was the first candidate to come into the paper. The paper does not endorse candidates, and maybe that is why the others have skipped it. “He’s got a lot of catching up to do,” Dimitrova said. “I think it’s a sign he is behind. I don’t think he necessarily wants to run. Bluntly, I don’t know why he is running.”
Simon wrote on the next page of the article:
Later in the day, I sent an e-mail to Anelia Dimitrova, asking her about the private meeting she had with Thompson at the newspaper office.
She e-mailed me back that Thompson “was so vague that I would be hard-pressed to write a story. Simply put, there is no news peg other than he came to the newsroom with his model wife and a beehive of staffers. When I asked him specifically what he would do as prez for farmers in Bremer County, he resorted to glittering generalities.”
When reached for comment this afternoon, Dimitrova stated that she had a newspaper edition that she was trying to finish. She also made clear that she did “not want to get in the middle of this.”
When asked to confirm whether or not the words Simon attributed to her in the article were accurate, Dimitrova declined.
I would rather vote for a Democrat than that....more government involvment...amnesty pushing... Bush bashing....high taxing....parole giving...credential lying.....preacher hick from Arkansas. That’s about it (sure I missed something)
“Saddle Me Up” FRED
HEEHAW, HEEHAW
MINUTE MEN of America
NRA of America
We want to know.....what are you waiting for?
Your endorsements could make the difference in the upcoming elections. If you haven't noticed, you have the perfect candidate in the race. The future of stopping illegal immigration and the individuals right to bear arms are at stake. Failure to give your support to the right person could cost all freedom loving Americans dearly. Your members want you to endorse a person that will stop illegal immigration and secure our rights to bear arms. A true conservative is the only choice, no liberal republicans or democrats need apply.
"When I am president, I will build a fence."
"My idea of gun control is a good, steady aim."
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Thank you for writing this.
I could not agree more!
MEMO TO THE NRA: YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE EF’N FENCE!
Thompson/Hunter ‘08
Patience...
There is plenty of time, don’t want to screw Fred’s timing up.
If he starts doing well before the vote he’s done for...
Thompson was wise to demur on wearing the hat.
I just scratch my head. What is his point? Does he do this to score points with like-minded others?
Another refusal to play the game with their rules. FRED does not do hats...not so weard! FRED won’t raise his hand to stupid questions either. What is this stupid thing with wearing a different hat everywhere he goes?
FRED THOMPSON - NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT (I’ll protect the American people and American values, whatever it takes to stop the Islamic-Fascists including water-boarding) - 2ND AMENDMENT ADVOCATE (arming the People to disarm criminals) – INCREASE THE MILITARY’S STRENGTH AND SIZE (giving those brave men and women a Commander in Chief to be proud of) - SECURE AND SEAL THE BORDERS (don’t give sanctuary anywhere to illegal’s, don’t employ illegal’s, don’t rent to illegal’s, don’t extend credit to illegal’s, don’t give illegal’s rights they don’t deserve, report all crimes committed by illegal’s and deport those illegal’s who have already committed crimes against America) - LAW AND ORDER (enforcement first and foremost with laws currently on the books) – DENY FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SANCTUARY CITIES (enough is enough) – CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES FOR SUPREMES (those who will interpret the law, not create rights that do not exist) – PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE (nominate superior Constitutional Justices to overturn Roe vs Wade) - SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMER (reform a broken program that can’t sustain itself and will bankrupt future generations, with the added benefit of private savings accounts) - DEFEAT ANY DEMOCRAT AND RINO (any fool DemocRATS put up) – TAX SIMPLIFICATION (variety of choice for the tax payer) - WON’T PUT UP WITH CRAP FROM THE MSM (including stupid questions by moderators and pundits) - “WE THE PEOPLE” CANDIDATE (We the People asked him to run and he stepped up) - PING!
Fred is above these kiss-up sessions, thankfully. I hope Iowans recognize that and don't buy into the silliness.
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