Posted on 10/28/2004 8:11:23 AM PDT by tmp02
Nah, they won't show it. After all, the CIA confirmed there were WMDs in Iraq. So they're not a good enough "clearinghouse" for ABC news reports.
But at the same time we want 60 Minutes to avoid appearing politically motivated??
Sounds like a double standard we need to be careful of.
ABC is not the only one to have access to this tape. Yesterday, I read in an article that a competitor may be given access to the tape.
Politics?! A threat to this country and citizens is not aired because Politics trumps their agenda!
Oh, this is true reason to blast them with calls and emails.
I hope heads will roll...
Didn't Newsweek spike the Lewinsky story for the same reasons?
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.
90% of what ABC puts into their news is politically motivated. What's interesting is that ABC must think airing this tape would hurt Kerry, or we would have seen it already. Maybe AQ endorses Kerry outright.
But now that I reconsider what you've said, the fact that this tape has been deemed authentic, should remove any charges of politics...
Yeah, I agree with you. A fact is a fact.
My only concern is that broadcasting said tape is delivering a message to sleeper cells.
If ABC does not air the video, there's an attack and info in the video could have allowed American to prepare themselves then ABC will be complicit in any injuries or deaths that result.
They will be sued into non-existence.
Yeah the morons SAT on the tape for 3 days....They better hope nothing happens coz they didnt air the tape so we would have WARNING.....
I don't care if it help/hurt (really, I hope it helps) Bush, but there could be lives at stake...REPORT THE NEWS.
From what I've heard, the administration doesn't want the tape played because it could be used as a signal to sleepers... I wouldn't give these guys the publicity...
does anyone have the e-mail address and phone # for ABC?
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