'SLANTED' ABC TAKES THE HEAT (ABC News tells its reporters to go after Bush)

NY Post ^ | 10/9/04 | Deborah Orin

[Cableguy]

ABC News was under fire last night after an internal memo surfaced suggesting President Bush should be held more accountable for his statements than John Kerry.

The memo to staffers from the network's powerful political director, Marc Halperin, noted that while both campaigns are distorting the truth, Kerry's bending of the facts shouldn't be hit as hard.

"Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win," Halperin wrote.

But "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 added.

Halperin further advised the ABC staff to keep that in mind when reporting.

"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," the memo continued.

"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."

A spokesman for ABC news insisted "we are not interested in taking sides, we are only interested in getting at the truth."

Halperin plays a mostly behind-the-scenes role at ABC, and is known as the father of "The Note," a daily political memo that is read by thousands of D.C. insiders, political players and journalists.

[daybreakcoming]

***I hope the liberals and young voters that got scared by the dems about the draft meet with long lines and get de-motivated to wait in them.....***

Maybe we could tell 'em it's the draft line :o)

[Shortstop7]

You are right about contacting the local affiliates. I contacted both the Network in NY and our local station. This is just disgusting to me.

[tomnbeverly]

LOL no thats a really cool idea...... I ROTFLMAO when Hannity does the man on the street interviews asking questions about John Kerry's runnng mate Stew Ped..

[Danno]

Thanks onyx for the ping and I will let everyone know what if any response I get from any of the shows the letter was sent to. I hope a few more sent out an email too because the more emails that are sent with this the more attention to be paid.

To make it easier I pasted an entire-ready-to-paste list in the thread of foxnewse email addys. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1239785/posts

[onyx]

You have done fabulous work.
You're treasured here by me
for one.

[Cableguy]

Fox News is running with it today.

[San Jacinto]

We should all contact Fox about this issue. I sent an email to Roger Ailes, concluding with this:


I will continue to watch for now, but I will be watching very closely. If my impressions are confirmed that Fox News has lost its commitment to a fair and balanced presentation of the news and has joined its professional brethren as simply more members of the Liberal Elite, then I will have no further reason to watch. The Internet and news radio will meet my need for an information source quite nicely, but it will be a shame all the same.

[Grampa Dave]

There is no difference in the Not News divisions of ABCNNBC BS.

Their Not News divisions are controlled by hate GW maggots, who lie, spin and spike the truth.

They will do anything to elect their fellow butt boys, John/John.

[San Jacinto]

I have e mailed Ailes. We all should do so. I think a BUNCH of calls, letters and emils together with even a SLIGHT ratings dip might put some sense into them.

[onyx]

I've done the same thing, and I c/c a copy to Brit Hume as well.

[mabelkitty]

Check out this thread from last February.
I'm trying to get it pinged around.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1075873/posts

[VOA]

The memo to staffers from the network's powerful political director,
Marc Halperin,
noted that while both campaigns are distorting the truth, Kerry's bending of
the facts shouldn't be hit as hard.

(forgive my repeat of the following)
Following the VP debate, Peter Jennings bragged about how ABC News wouldn't
be talking to the "spin-meisters" then immediately proceeded to one of his
objective, unbiased colleagues:
MARK HALPERIN
for an analysis of the Cheney-Edwards debate.

[Grampa Dave]

Media Maggot Wing of the Lying/Spinning Rat Party.

[daybreakcoming]

More on Mark Halperin and George Stephanopolus(using phonics here) re the clinton draft-dodging letter hold-out
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/brentbozell/bb20030507.shtml

[desherwood7]

I'm very familiar with it. If you don't mind me asking a question, Will the "Halperin Memo" come back to haunt ABC news & Mark Halperin?

[San Jacinto]

Good thread from early in the campaign, and the personal attacks on Bush started well before then.

As I think back on it, I am convinced that even Reagan did not have to contend with the negative press onslaught that has been directed toward Bush. It has been constant, personal, viscious, and exremely LONG TERM. These attacks are bound to have had an effect on the public at large.

[delacoert]

I read with interest your (all you all's) comments regarding leaving the Democratic party as a result of the attempted character assassination of Clarence Thomas.

I wonder if, in retrospect, you think that you should have come to the same fateful decision in regards to the successful character assassination of Robert Bork four years earlier?

If so, what kept you from seeing it then?

[gitmo]

Unbelievable. How can they be so stupid as putting this in print? ABC & BS are going down.

[daybreakcoming]

Well, they are that gullible...........:o) Yes, I've heard those on the street interviews too and think OMG - we surely are in a handbasket going to hell....