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.
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.
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.
It will be interesting to see how Sean Hannity handles this. He broadcasts from KABC. This will be a true test of his commitment.
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.
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.
I havent and there is no mention of it on ABC news site.. what a bunch of freakin crooks!!
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?
?????? and this comes as a shock.
This guy must be fired immediately, if ABC News wants to maintain any credibility whatsoever.
bump
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?
How do you think that Drudge got the memo...;-)
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
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!
ping
Please do as I did and write to ABC and expresssed your outrage.
"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.
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