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.

[OXENinFLA]

YEAH!!!

Anyone have the NY post link?

[syriacus]

The Heinz Endowments [of Teresa Heinz Kerry] have teamed up with a secretive left-wing group Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^

Teresa Heinz Kerry: Bag Lady for the Radical Left

Heinz Foundation Bankrolled Group Protesting Bush 9/11 Ads

Kerry's wife supports U.S. radicals, jihadists Teresa Heinz lavishes millions on abortionists, defenders of terror, homosexual extremists

[Pete]

You probably have seen this but just in case you missed it. The Fellowship for Reconcilliation is also associated with the Peaceful Tomorrows group. Check out their website at http://www.forusa.org/.

Loo-knee! Make sure to read their history at http://www.forusa.org/About/history.html. This is the group that gave Peaceful Tomorrows their seed money.

[cardinal4]

Doug, I just got off the phone with Mr. Memmott. I was connected by the receptionist. He said another caller "just filled me in on the Heinz-Kerry-Tides connection" and that they are actively investigating it now. FWIW, he said he wished he had this info before the 4 March and 5 March stories. Im holding my breath waitng for the article detailing Heinz-Kerry's involvment..

[syriacus]

Thanks for the effort.

Thanks for the idea.

[GOPrincess]

I will email today.

Everyone should definitely make the call or email. A few months back I emailed the paper after reading a disparaging comment about Bush and Fox News viewers which their Detroit Editor made on the Poynter.org website. I received a call back from a Deputy Managing Editor, saying that Managing Editor Karen Jurgensen had asked him to call and discuss the issue with me. We had a lengthy discussion about media bias as well as changes the paper had made to its ethics policy as a result of the incident (i.e., reporters are not to post political comments on websites -- the only problem, I told him, is they continue to hold the same points of view, they're just more hidden!).

Bottom line, they seemed like a responsive organization and if they hear from enough people it might help.

[GOPrincess]

Appropos of the LA TIMES, did anyone else notice the third paragraph of their front-page story on voting problems in Orange County today? It referred to the "Principal of Democracy." I'd like to know who that person is...

[doug from upland]

Great work. Thanks for the report. It is becoming more clear that not only are there a lot of RAT-supporting journalists, there are many who simply do not do their homework. We shall make sure that they stay after school and learn their lessons.

[doug from upland]

This is great. I spoke to a reporter at the NY POST yesterday. She did not know of the Heinz connection. Good for them for jumping on this.

NY POST STORY

[cake_crumb]

Thanks for the link. Nastygram sent. Will call later.

[sarasota]

The problem with Hannity is that he's not being heard by the people who have the ability to expose this. If Dems hear him, they just turn a blind eye/deaf ear.

[sarasota]

Way to go cardinal4. We need to keep pushing.

[GOPrincess]

Email to USA TODAY just sent.

[doug from upland]

The good thing about Hannity --- millions listen. They will tell their friends. And you and I can get on the telephone. We don't even have to leave the comfort of our chair at the computer screen. It really is easy, but it takes a commitment.

[cake_crumb]

BIZARRELY, when Rush started in on it today, he was extremely careful to stress that he heard this as a rumor last week and needed to research and confirm it...also that he was unwilling to jump on it without ironclad proof.

I sent "YOU'RE BUSTED" nastygrams to CNN and NBC last week...maybe we need to send them all over again?

[CyberAnt]

Great link - sent my message - 9/11 happened to America, not just John Kerry or the democrats.

I also mentioned the little Tides Foundation connection and because of that connection I will not accept this "outrage" as being legitimate.

[OXENinFLA]

Good for them for jumping on this.

Good for you for calling!

[doug from upland]

No nastygram. Get on the phone to the network or newspaper and ask for the news desk. Try to talk to a reporter, preferably the one who did an original story on the outrage. Ask him if he is going to correct the record and do the full story. Intellectual honesty and good journalism will require that he does. Get his or her name. If they don't do anything, we out them here and get on the phone again to shame them.

[cardinal4]

I have never been a USA today reader so I didnt know what to expect. The guy, Memmott, really seemed miffed that he didnt know of the Tides connection. There are a lot of liberals at my work, and even they agree that there was nothing wrong with the ads and one of the major lefties even muttered, "This type of s#it makes us all(progressives they call themselves,)look bad,"

I almost had to get my breathing restarted! You know, while typing this, its occurred to me that none of those lefties have made mention of supporting Kerry...

[doug from upland]

His initial attitude is really encouraging. I hope reporters realize that have been set up by the RATS. Many of them will not like that.