Posted on 10/08/2004 10:15:39 PM PDT by A2J
ABCNEWS POLITICAL DIRECTOR MEMO SPARKS CONTROVERSY: BOTH SIDES NOT 'EQUALLY ACCOUNTABLE'
**Exclusive**
An internal memo written by ABCNEWS Political Director Mark Halperin admonishes ABC staff: During coverage of Democrat Kerry and Republican Bush not to "reflexively and artificially hold both sides 'equally' accountable."
The controversial internal memo obtained by DRUDGE, captures Halperin stating how "Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win."
But Halperin claims that Bush is hoping to "win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions."
"The current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done," Halperin writes.
Halperin's claim that ABCNEWS will not "reflexively and artificially hold both sides 'equally' accountable" set off sparks in St. Louis where media players gathered to cover the second presidential debate.
Halperin states the responsibilities of the ABCNEWS staff have "become quite grave."
In August, Halperin declared online: "This is now John Kerry's contest to lose."
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Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004
It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave
I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.
The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.
Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.
We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.
I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.
It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.
Some pigs are more equal than others.
this is what we should spend our time on ...... this is how we can get the system changed......
My God this is truly sick. He is out and out saying their mission is to elect Kerry.
Was CBS the source for Drudge?
Simply outrageous
I guess the color of the lipstick is how we can tell them apart.
AlwaysBeenCommunist
A news director did this ?
"If true" - Isn't this bias - and shouldn't this be investigated ? Like people wanted the CBS memo to get investigated? Influencing an election -
just wondering -
He actually ties Bush attacks on their coverage with the Bush attacks on Kerry, and seems to very much view ABC and the Kerry Campaign as both on the same side against Bush. And he is telling them to do "what's right" by helping to defend Kerry. This is so wrong. They are all left wing pigs.
lots of comment at this previous post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1239519/posts
I remember hearing this in 2000.....yes I do.
"Why have we given George W. Bush such an easy ride when-until now, that is-when actually his qualifications are questionable?"
-Christiane Amanpour on September 13, 2000, at RTNDA2000's Murrow Awards Ceremony
Thank you Drudge.
This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.
No. The increase of people complaining might just be that they see your biased tactics, the Dan Ratherism so rife within your organizations that you can't even see your own prejudice! Mentioning Kerry's own words is now "distortion" and "destroying." Pathetic.
IMO We need to get the word out on this one.
I wonder what Bush was thinking? I know they mentioned it on FoxNews just seconds before the debate began.
I wonder if the audience was told?
Bush is trying to "destroy Senator Kerry." A bit dramatic, aren't they. Scumbags.
I like Michael Savage's version of what ABC stands for: All Bolshevik Crap.
| ABC scandal??? check Drudge |
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| Posted by icecold On Bloggers & Personal 10/08/2004 8:05:22 PM EDT · 21 replies · 268+ views |
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| CONTROVERSY HITS ABC NEWS POLITICAL DIRECTOR MARK HALPERIN |
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| Posted by JazzX On News/Activism 10/08/2004 7:57:36 PM EDT · 290 replies · 13,273+ views Drudge ^ | Drudge |
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