AP Mum on identity of falsifying reporter

After falsely reporting that a crowd President Bush was speaking to booed after he wished President Clinton a speedy recovery from heart surgery, the Associated Press has refused to identify the reporter who filed the story or say what punishment he or she might face.

The original report stated: "A crowd at a Bush rally in West Allis, Wis., booed when President Bush offered ex-President Clinton best wishes for a speedy recovery from coronary bypass surgery scheduled for next week."

At WTMJ, talk-show host Jeff Wagner's producer, Dan Walsh said, "We carried the President's speech live, which included the applause for his best wishes for Clinton's recovery. There was no booing and we had a large number of calls deploring what AP reported."

At Bush-Cheney campaign headquarters in Milwaukee, communications director John Brain said, "We received lots of outraged calls about AP, which put this untruth on their national wire. West Allis is a Milwaukee suburb and two Milwaukee talk-radio stations, WISN and WTMJ, played what was undoubtedly applause and not booing."

On the day after its original report had been circulated nationwide, AP sent out the following correction:

"This is a correction to an incorrect story posted by AP on Friday stating the crowd booed the president when he sent his good wishes. The crowd, in fact, did NOT boo."

Telephone inquiries to the AP in both Washington and New York – as to who was the reporter who put this falsehood on their national wire – resulted in references to higher authority.

On Sunday afternoon at 5:46 p.m. Eastern, Jack Stokes, director of media relations of the Associated Press, sent an e-mail that stated:

So, the identity of just which AP reporter put this falsehood on their national wire will remain concealed by the world's largest news-gathering service.

None of the media that depend on AP for news will be allowed to know who did this, or whether he or she has been fired for this nationally circulated falsehood.

A transcript of Bush's remarks released by the White House noted applause after Bush offered Clinton "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."

ABC Radio Network news also confirmed that the Clinton reference was applauded, not jeered. In its original version of the story, the AP had reported: "Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them."

Let's analyze one of Tom Hays "stories" for accuracy and level of research:

Police Portraying Protesters as 'Terrorists'
TOM HAYS / AP 29jan02

NEW YORK -- Saying police were more likely to provoke violence, anti-globalization activists planning peaceful protests of the World Economic Forum said Tuesday authorities are portraying them as terrorists. "The police have been putting up a counter-campaign trying to portray the protesters as terrorists," Mac Scott said at a Manhattan news conference called by protest organizers.

Another activist, Star Hawk, accused news media of focusing on a potential clash between demonstrators and the police, rather than the protesters' message of "global justice" for the poor and for developing nations.

"There is no secret cabal of violent thugs in the movement," she said.

The comments came a day after police officials announced plans to use nearly 4,000 officers to secure several blocks around the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in midtown Manhattan. About 3,000 political and business leaders will meet there Thursday-Monday for discussions on the world economy.

Citing street violence that has erupted at similar international forums in recent years, New York authorities say they will strictly enforce order. One law, dating to 1845, bars demonstrators from wearing masks.

Leaders of labor, student and environmental groups told reporters that peaceful demonstrations were planned for each day of the conference. Some will feature giant papier-mache puppets and song and dance, including a "Radical Rockette kick line."

"For weeks, the police have been training in riot tactics," said Brooke Lehman of Direct Action Network. "We've been training in samba, puppetry and street theater."

Partly as a show of solidarity with a city stricken by terrorism, the World Economic Forum is being held in New York instead of the Swiss ski resort of Davos, where it has been held for 31 years.

Protesters call the Forum "the dining club for the ruling class." Forum organizers counter by suggesting that angry demonstrations would be inappropriate after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

"There is no secret cabal of violent thugs in the movement," [Star Hawk] said.

What is the Black Bloc, Ms. Hawk and Mr. Hays? How many people are arrested on average at each one of these protests? (I'll give you a hint Mr. Hays: 150 is a low number.)

Citing street violence that has erupted at similar international forums in recent years, New York authorities say they will strictly enforce order.

Again, how much street violence has erupted? Five minutes on Yahoo would show you that these groups are violent thugs that destroy stores, break windows, terrorize employees and urinate on merchandise to "punish" the evil capitalistic corporations like Starbucks and the Gap?

"The police have been putting up a counter-campaign trying to portray the protesters as terrorists," Mac Scott said at a Manhattan news conference called by protest organizers.

This is hearsay. Appropriate research would include verification of the accusation by Mac Scott. Did the police call the street protestors "terrorists" or did they not?

Leaders of labor, student and environmental groups told reporters that peaceful demonstrations were planned for each day of the conference.

That's what they "said". Did you bother to check any of their blogs? You would have found a very different story there, Mr. Hays...

It's a good bet, given that this story was randomly selected, that any of Mr. Hays "stories" can be dissected the same way. His "reporting" is slanted, anti-capitalist, anti-Christian, pro-gay, pro-Socialist and now, apparently false. He does have one thing going for himself, though; he is a very entertaining writer.

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