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."
x x x x x
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.
So prove first that it was written and put out by this guy - then get the word out -
just my opinion -
28 posted on 10/09/2004 1:29:58 AM EDT by Pastnowfuturealpha
**********
Excellent point, and I would recommend that Drudge get word back to the sender of the email to go into his/her email program, activate "Show all Headers" (in Netscape that is View/ Headers / All, for example) and capture the detailed list of the email system number, the numeric USL number for where it originated and bounced around the Internet, the spam checking, and on and on. Really interesting stuff, which runs about 30 lines! The originating address can be pinged to cerify it was the network headquarters although not a specific computer. As long as there is not just one recipient in the TO: line, this should be politically safe for the sender, plus Drudge doesn't have to publish the complete results of the header check anyway, IF there were a fear of being caught out.
The only intellectualy honest thing that ABC (Almost Blew Chunks) & See-BS could do at this point, is to at least have the decency to file as 527 organizations.
Time to hit the affiliates!
Bump
Can't say I am surprised. We all know these stations are in the tank for Kerry. Great that we now have proof!
LOL This is going to sting ;) he he he
Welcome TTTanker to Free Republic!
Main Stream Media Motto: All The News That Fits Our Agenda
The real keey is to start by attacking the money trail. The local affiliates depend on local advertisers for their existence. Contact all local advertisers and let them know that you will not buy their products or services and that you will organize a boycott of their business. Then contact the local affiliate and let them know what they are doing. Unfortunately, it may have an effect on the local advertisers but if the advertisers contact the station and say that they are pulling ads, it will start a chain reaction. Also, the national advertisers need to be contacted and boycotted.
Additionally, it is time to contact our legislators and demand that CBS release the results of its' internal investigation. They say that they don't want to effect the election. The only way that it would effect the election is if it shows the the Dems were complicit in the crime.
Forget government action on ABC. We've gotta get them in the court of public opinion. The big three are losing big to FOX and the internet. Those arrogant bumbs at the MSM still don't get it. They will destroy themselves before they admit to their errors. Typical of the narcisstic liberal.
bttt
ba-da-bump
This campaign has been historic in that the MSM has finally taken off its mask of objectivity and is openly promoting one candidate. We knew it all along, but now they aren't even trying to hide it anymore.
Moments ago I sent the following memo to ABC News.
"In light of the recent revelations about an internal memo written by Mark Halperin, Political Director of ABC News, I have heard people on various talk shows give a pass to Mr. Halperin for his memo which says that President Bush's campaign should be held more accountable than that of John Kerry. I do not understand how this could or should be. It goes against sense of fairness. You should immediately severely reprimand Mr. Halperin and take him to task for a breach of journalism ethics. Or discharge him. That would be better. His value system and impartiality are certainly in question.
"I formerly had the opinion that ABC would treat the political candidates fairly and equally. Now I cannot believe that it is that way if this is the underlying philosophy of your Political Director Mark Halperin.
"Do you no longer care about the integrity of your news organization?"
I am convinced that those of us who care about our nation must pursue breaches of the public trust like this.
wow that is an excellent memo!!
I thought the same thing. The memo posted at drudge is terrible quality. Honestly, it sorta' looks like it could have been run through a copier for 15 generations. But according to USAToday, ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider verified that Halperin wrote the memo.
Time to get the word out!
You think that the Left is going to try to "PLANT" somethings to try Red Herring form all THEIR troubles with false documents??
Remember--we ARE talking about the left party that ALREADY has 5 major scandals/leaks/memeo-gates under their belts already!
They wouldn't waste a Nano-second screaming--and screaming OVER ALL THEIR FAILURES!! Since they know no Republicans have been on the News SCREAMING about what they were all caught doing!! ( WHY don't Repubilcan Senate/Congress YELL like the Crazy libbie ones??)
THEORY: ( and I firmly believe it!!)_
Liberals biggest THREAT is NOT President George Bush--
He is NOTHING to them.--but what is?? What is ATTACKING them on ALL FRONTS!!
The INTERNET!!--and after all the low-down--disgusting JUDGE RULINGS and " restriction of trade" and talk from the left of " Emergency Control of media to prevent Violence"---
you think the LEFT would give their eye-teeth to make the
WHOLE INTERNET GO AWAY !!
WISHED INTO THE CORN FIELD?? OR UNDER UN CONTROL??
Crazy now---but so was putting a man on the moon...or spy cameras 40 years ago--let alone heart operations, or 17 years of hiding 10 BILLION dollars woth of theift at the UN!
Tom
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.