Posted on 10/15/2004 10:58:28 PM PDT by ArmyBratCutie
TO THINK I ONCE RESPECTED THE NOTE... [10/15 12:21 PM]
We all know about the Mark Halperin memo.
To refresh, a little while ago, Halperin, ABC News' political director, wrote:
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.
But I was willing to conclude this was something Halperin wrote after a bad day. The Note seemed to be pretty balanced, and ABC had gone after Dan Rather on the fake memo pretty darn persistently. There's no way ABC would follow in the footsteps of CBS, right?
I was wrong. The folks at ABC are every bit the partisan hacks that the CBS folks are. Check out Winds of Change blog:
SCHWARZENEGGER SAYS BOTH BUSH AND KERRY EVASIVE IN DEBATES: "Both of them did not answer some of the questions, which I think is upsetting to me. I think it is much better to be straightforward with the people.... You know like Kerry did. Bush did the same thing in some instances, not really get into it and answer it." So I click along to the linked Reuters story and get this (the deleted words are in bold):
"Both of them did not answer some of the questions, which I think is upsetting to me," Schwarzenegger told KGO radio in San Francisco. "I think it is much better to be straightforward with the people." "I mean if you get a question about Iran and about the nuclear power and what you are going to do in the future with this nuclear power, and you don't even answer that question, I think it's a mistake, You know like Kerry did," he continued. "Bush did the same thing in some instances, not really get into it and answer it."
That is a ridiculous editing of Arnie's remarks, a deliberate ommission designed to make his comments appear to be praise of Kerry when he specifically cited Kerry as not answering the question. There is no excuse for that kind of "editing."
I had been so pleased when "The Note" called the Kerry Spot "excellent." I know, through friends of friends, people who work at ABC and had heard only good things about them. But now we see what this memo meant: Spin. Lie. Reword.
For shame, ABC. You made those who were inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt, like me, look like fools, and now you're acting like just another branch of the Kerry campaign.
ABC biased? BBBBWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
I have selectively edited the Halperin instructions to his news staff to expose its true intent. You decide if I have been fair in what I have cut (AND INSERTED):
Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context ...
we ...(SHOULD NOT) hold both sides "equally" accountable
... you have ...felt the ... Bush ... complain(S) 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.
Now is the time for all of us to step up and... (DEFEND KERRY)
My version, free of the underbrush, exposes red diaper baby, Halperin, for a committed partisan eager to exploit the assets owned by stockholders other than himself and trusted by millions, even to the extent of "unequal" news treatment, to advance his political agenda. I wonder if the directors of this media conglomerate who are charged with the oversight of Mr. Halperin on behalf of the widows and orphans who have invested their pensions and college educations in this enterprise have read this edited version. I wonder if they will be animated to fufill their solemn fidiciary duties to these widows and orphans and protect ABC from Mr. Halperin. I am not holding my breath.
I think we should DEMAND that their Licenses for the use of our Airways should be revoked. These "NEWS" agencies have not reported any of the "good works" that our military men and women have done in Iraq. The support of schools and orphanages. The tremendous progress that has been done in Iraq. This is abuse of the privilige that WE give them. Thneay are to provide us with this Public Service Information. They are using OUR airways to promote their own political agenda.. BS, Let's start a mass write in, e-mailing to congress demanding that thier Licenses be revoked !!!! What say you ???!!
Later, Halperin worked on the national security council as a representative of the State dept. It was his lap top computer that was "stolen" and contained all manner of secret information.
If my memory is correct, he was never formally approved for a top security clearance because of his background.
Regards,
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