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ABCNEWS POLITICAL DIRECTOR MEMO SPARKS CONTROVERSY: BOTH SIDES NOT 'EQUALLY ACCOUNTABLE' (Drudge)
Drudge Report ^ | 10/8/04 | Drudge

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abc; abcnews; bias; halperin; halperingate; markhalperin; media; mediabias; napalminthemorning; rats
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To: Smartass; A2J; Boazo


81 posted on 10/09/2004 5:48:56 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (The GOP throw their trash out. The DemocRATS worship theirs.)
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To: A2J

The content of the memo is not news. Anyone with a brain knows that the networks are biased. What is new, and very positive, is that someone leaked this information. Good that someone obviously inside the "bubble" has exposed the bias, hopefully more to come.


82 posted on 10/09/2004 5:53:22 AM PDT by TruthWillWin
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To: A2J
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.

Amazing statement, but nothing new. The MSM has always felt it was their right to interpret the news for us. It's done every night on the alphabet news stations, and now seemingly on FOX.

83 posted on 10/09/2004 5:59:10 AM PDT by itsinthebag
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To: A2J

It will be interesting to see how Sean Hannity handles this. He broadcasts from KABC. This will be a true test of his commitment.


84 posted on 10/09/2004 6:04:14 AM PDT by ArmedNReady (Geroge Bush has Global Test-icles)
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To: A2J

Regarding CBS, they will not release the report from their investigation of Rathergate because they don't want to influence the election. This can only mean that the Kerry campaign was complicite in the crime. This is a travesty that they do not release the report. We need to put pressure on CBS to release the report.


85 posted on 10/09/2004 6:07:08 AM PDT by ArmedNReady (Geroge Bush has Global Test-icles)
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To: A2J

The political naivete and arrogance of a networks political director to put this kind of instruction in writing to all his reporting staff is breathtaking. How did he ever believe that he wouldn't be caught? Perhaps the same arrogance that led Dan Rather to believe that his forged memos' would be accepted without question.


86 posted on 10/09/2004 6:09:35 AM PDT by finnigan2
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To: Pitiricus

I havent and there is no mention of it on ABC news site.. what a bunch of freakin crooks!!


87 posted on 10/09/2004 6:09:45 AM PDT by ArmyBratCutie ("Four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:soap, ballot, jury, ammo in this order!")
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To: ArmedNReady

Well, it isn't just ABC - it's obvious from Halperin's mention of Nagourney, Stevenson, and Fineman, that there is collusion for coverage on this.

These three shouldn't be allowed to skate, either. Did this memo idea come from them?


88 posted on 10/09/2004 6:13:16 AM PDT by mabelkitty (W is the Peoples' President ; Kerry is the Elite Establishment's President)
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To: A2J

?????? and this comes as a shock.


89 posted on 10/09/2004 6:14:16 AM PDT by Dustbunny (The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist)
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To: A2J

This guy must be fired immediately, if ABC News wants to maintain any credibility whatsoever.


90 posted on 10/09/2004 6:15:15 AM PDT by B Knotts ("John Kerry, who says he doesn't like outsourcing, wants to outsource our national security.")
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To: A2J

bump


91 posted on 10/09/2004 6:16:19 AM PDT by KSCITYBOY
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To: B Knotts

I've always wondered why a media outlet even needs a political adviser. If the news is unbiased, what on earth is a political adviser to do?


92 posted on 10/09/2004 6:26:39 AM PDT by Thebaddog (Dawgs for Bush!)
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To: A2J
Don't trust any media source. They are all infested with liberals with their own political agendas and have long forgotten the basics they learned in j-school, assuming they even went.

What they really need are honest, hard-working reporters and anchors who understand both sides of a story and can report it objectively, i.e. a person like me.

Their columnists can write all the rot they want unfortunately, but even the biggest papers should be aware of some journalistic responsibility to at least insert an occasional conservative guest commentary.
93 posted on 10/09/2004 6:45:32 AM PDT by Dave Hamilton
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To: A2J
Who won Friday night's presidential debate?
       
a. President Bush (53%) 216,331
               
b. Senator Kerry  (46%) 185,557
               
c. I did not watch  1%) 3,188
               
d. None of the above (0%) 1,210



http://www.foxnews.com/
94 posted on 10/09/2004 6:45:57 AM PDT by crushelits
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To: ArmedNReady

How do you think that Drudge got the memo...;-)


95 posted on 10/09/2004 6:49:12 AM PDT by databoss (WMD's, Syria and North Korea...)
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; BobFromNJ; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; Coleus; cyborg; DKNY; ...
ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

96 posted on 10/09/2004 6:53:40 AM PDT by nutmeg ("The DemocRATic party...has been hijacked by a confederacy of gangsters..." - Pat Caddell, 11/27/00)
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To: databoss

It was a great scoop by Bush! Absolutely Great! This Marc Halperin guy has some chutzpah! What is it with these little twerps that they feel they can do the thinking for us? This guy is a little nerd whose ego was inflated by his time in the WH at the side of Bill Clinton! This fellow is in the same league with the likes of Sidney Blumenthal, Rahm Emanuel, Paul Begala, John Podesta, et al, who think we are all too dumb to think for ourselves! This cabala of nitwits has to be destroyed before they destroy us! WAKE UP AMERICA, WAKE UP!


97 posted on 10/09/2004 6:54:04 AM PDT by Diogenes
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To: Howlin

ping


98 posted on 10/09/2004 6:55:38 AM PDT by nutmeg ("The DemocRATic party...has been hijacked by a confederacy of gangsters..." - Pat Caddell, 11/27/00)
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To: nutmeg

Please do as I did and write to ABC and expresssed your outrage.


99 posted on 10/09/2004 7:04:07 AM PDT by StarFan
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To: All

"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." (Halperin,2004)

No doubt about bias, what I resent is thier idea that the "voters" need help to "evaluate" anything.

MR Haperin, it is time for you and Rather to step up and do what is right, Step Down.


100 posted on 10/09/2004 7:04:13 AM PDT by TTTanker ("A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user." --Theodore Roosevel)
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