Posted on 07/03/2005 3:35:41 PM PDT by Impeach98
Critics Call Radio Hosts' Trip Propaganda Mission
Sunday, July 03, 2005 By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
WASHINGTON — A contingent of conservatives talk radio hosts is headed to Iraq this month on a mission to report "the truth" about the war: American troops are winning, despite headlines to the contrary.
The "Truth Tour" has been pulled together by the conservative Web cast radio group Rightalk.com and Move America Forward, a non-profit conservative group backed by a Republican-linked public relations firm in California.
"The reason why we are doing it is we are sick and tired of seeing and hearing headlines by the mainstream media about our defeat in Iraq," Melanie Morgan, a talk radio host (search) for KSFO Radio in San Francisco and co-chair of Move America Forward, said.
Morgan said the media is "imposing a Vietnam template on this war."
"This is not Vietnam," she said. "War is war, and it's dangerous, and the killing is taking place all of the time. At the same time, where there is danger, there is success and there is a mainstream media that is determined to shut out that success."
She said the group is going to Iraq to support American troops, who see a disconnection with what they experience and what's being reported in the United States. She said the incongruence is leading to "morale problems."
But critics, including independent journalists who have reported from Iraq, say the trip is a propaganda mission for the U.S. military and the Bush administration and cannot be considered "journalism" by any standards.
"This is the most pathetic thing I've heard in a long time. They should be ashamed of themselves," Peter Beinart, editor of left-leaning The New Republic magazine, said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I've just been updated, MAF is picking up about 1/3 of the cost of the BBQ and 2/3rds is being picked up by another corporate sponsor.
MAF is also raising money for the coffee, cookies and cards program, a worthwhile effort!
"... but won't a true report about the good things be a breath of fresh air?"
Yes it will .. and since it will get spread all over the internet .. the public who's paying attention will find out the truth.
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Not me. Sean presents himself as the uber patriot and talks tough. Everything he does is calculated to maintain and boost his own fortunes. It would be easy for him to show up one Monday broadcasting from in theater. I'm sure he could arrange for a sub for a few days, he does when he goes skiing. Sorry, but in my opinion if anyone sets himself up the way Sean has he'd better put his money where his mouth is once in a while.
This is a very lame grouping of sentences. Sean puts his money where is mouth is on a daily basis. I know, Sean should be fighting the good fight 24/7, forget his family, etc.
Sean does an outstanding job every day on radio, Hannity & Colmes and when he travels the country.
I don't get this constant jealousy of Sean's success. Sean bashers / haters here must be closet socialists or something. The more successful Sean is the better for conservatives in this country because he is speaking the good word for our side every day.
It's a total waste of time to debate a Sean Hannity basher/hater when it comes to the topic of Sean on radio, TV and elsewhere.
This Friday he is continuing the process of raising millions of dollars for college scholarships so that the children of our fallen men and women in the military can have the best chance possible to achieve the American dream. Of course that's not good enough!
'wtc911'... let's see you put your money where your mouth is and match Sean's effort to provide millions of dollars in scholarships. No excuses, get off your butt and do it. And report back here ASAP! Whatever it takes, get your own talk show, TV show... whatever it takes, whatever it takes. That way you will have an understanding of what Sean has accomplished to make it where he is today.
Sean started from nothing... so can you. Get it done! ... then maybe you can sit back in your easy chair and criticize our 'Great American' Sean Hannity.
So, have you heard: Real Journalist Peter Beinart is sneering at conservative talk show hosts headed to Iraq this Friday to report on the war. Fox News.com's Kelly Beaucar Vlahos (whom I'm sure Peter Beinart doesn't consider a Real Journalist either) quotes Beinart:
"This is the most pathetic thing I've heard in a long time. They should be ashamed of themselves," Peter Beinart, editor of left-leaning The New Republic magazine, said."They have no idea what journalism is, and to pretend they are journalists is laughable," Beinart said. "You do not achieve victory by not facing reality. I think these are the kinds of people that will lead us to lose there."
The trip is being organized by my friend, the brilliant and often news-breaking Melanie Morgan of KSFO radio in San Francisco. [Added note: As I mentioned last week, the tour was spearheaded by another good friend, Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson.] If Real Journalist Peter Beinart had bothered to do some elementary research before opening his mouth, he would have learned that Melanie was a real journalist while he was still sucking his thumb (not that he hasn't stopped):
Ms. Morgan started her broadcasting career at the age of 16, working at her college radio station, KCLC FM, in St. Charles, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, she began an internship at KUDL AM/FM in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. After working at several radio stations in Kansas City, Melanie began her television career as a researcher, for ABC TV's Howard K. Smith, during the 1976 Republican Convention. In 1980, Melanie went to work for KMBC, Channel 9 in Kansas City as a television reporter and anchor.She moved to the Bay Area in 1981 and began working for KGO television as a free-lance reporter. It wasn't long before KGO Radio recognized Melanie's outstanding news and reporting ability. Her talents were fully realized when she stepped forward to spend three weeks in Beirut, Lebanon covering the conflict of that war-ravaged country. She received several awards for excellence in news reporting for her on-air reports from Lebanon.
Peter Beinart (his Real Journalism bio is here) should be ashamed of himself. He owes Melanie and the rest of the talk show hosts going on the Iraq tour an abject apology.
Not that Real Journalists ever say they are sorry for getting their facts wrong.
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Oh, and by the way, here are some background reminders of the Real Journalism practiced by Peter Beinart's esteemed publication, The New Republic:
New Republic Associate Editor Stephen Glass Fired for Fabricating Stories
Lies, damned lies and fiction
The incomplete contrition of serial liar Stephen Glass
Shattered Glass
Ruth Shalit: Plagiarize, Plagiarize, Plagiarize; Too Much Too Soon
***
Bob Johnson at Rightalk.com, one of this site's valued advertisers, is a major sponsor of the tour. He informs me that there will be a blog for participants with daily comments and photos, as well as live webcam feeds, at Voices of Soldiers. Check it out.
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Tell you what, I'll freep mail you my e-mail then you (or anyone else) can contribute anything you want to what it is that I do to support the troops, to be precise...
contribute my own funds as well as raise additional funds locally to help defray the costs of Friday night dinners for troops recovering at WRAMC.
Gather and deliver vans full of winter clothing, boots, gloves, etc as well as household goods for the families up at Fort Drum (my next run is in August so there's plenty of time for you to send things)
Support with monthly deliveries (out of our own pocket) troops in theater with the 42ID at FOB Danger. Before them it was troops of 1/187 of the 101st.....
That's some but not all. Wanna kick in? I've also worked with US troops in places like Camp Bonifas in the DMZ and Camp Bondsteel (know where that is?) on film projects for which my company barely breaks even, or sometimes doesn't (intentionally on these).
Where do I get the time? I came from nothing (in fact not too far from where skippy grew up) and built a fully independent life before fifty that enables me to do what I want when I want. So, I can "sit back in my easy chair and criticize Sean". And I will.
If you want to buy his act hook, line and sinker go ahead. Some of us expect more from those who claim super patriot status.
And, you can't get away from the fact that even dirt bags like Franklin spent the Holidays away from their family to visit the troops. Skippy went skiing.
Holy Moley - the Mordant Media propaganda establishment is challenged by the TRUTH CORPS!
Aside: the value of boycott: gollywood is melting down.
Read that sentence back to yourself...the irony is deafening.
This is great what they are doing, and I am glad Michelle Malkin is supporting them so strongly.
"Tell you what, I'll freep mail you my e-mail then you (or anyone else) can contribute anything you want to what it is that I do to support the troops, to be precise... contribute my own funds as well as raise additional funds locally to help defray the costs of Friday night dinners for troops recovering at WRAMC. Gather and deliver vans full of winter clothing, boots, gloves, etc as well as household goods for the families up at Fort Drum (my next run is in August so there's plenty of time for you to send things) Support with monthly deliveries (out of our own pocket) troops in theater with the 42ID at FOB Danger. Before them it was troops of 1/187 of the 101st..... That's some but not all. Wanna kick in? I've also worked with US troops in places like Camp Bonifas in the DMZ and Camp Bondsteel (know where that is?) on film projects for which my company barely breaks even, or sometimes doesn't (intentionally on these). Where do I get the time? I came from nothing (in fact not too far from where skippy grew up) and built a fully independent life before fifty that enables me to do what I want when I want. So, I can "sit back in my easy chair and criticize Sean". And I will. If you want to buy his act hook, line and sinker go ahead. Some of us expect more from those who claim super patriot status. And, you can't get away from the fact that even dirt bags like Franklin spent the Holidays away from their family to visit the troops. Skippy went skiing."
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Even though you kept posting on other threads long after I posted this to you I never heard from you.....
Why is that and why am I not surprised?
Tell you what, I'll make it easy for you to put your money where your mouth is....
Post here that you want to contribute and I'll post here an address at the Pentagon where you can send a check. I'm sure you can manage a couple of bucks, and it will be tax deductable....
(bobj - I included you only because this other poster saw fit to include you in her rant)
Also depends on who is defining "journalists", doesn't it?
It could be a new school, or a great victory etc. I did like a recent story on how our military men and women we're helping Iraqi's who lost limbs.
Rush reported live from Afghanistan about two months ago.
That's our Melanie!! The underground resistance here in the Bay Area fights on!
This from a guy employed by a magazine that gave us Stephen Glass. I consider the New Republic to be the laughingstock of political rags.
Who is this Al Franken?
this is a golden opportunity for FOX News to jump in and discredit the MSM. show the real progress in Iraq... lift this veil of political hit jobs that's being unleashed on the current administration.
God Bless America. Godspeed President Bush
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