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Undercover Photographer: L.A. Times staffer crosses a line, again. [Hugh Hewitt mentioned]
www.NationalReview.com ^ | 05/14/2002 | Andrew Breitbart

Posted on 05/14/2002 7:18:07 PM PDT by RonDog

May 14, 2002, 12:30 p.m.
Undercover Photographer
L.A. Times staffer Carolyn Cole crosses a line, again.

By Andrew Breitbart

ittle critical attention has been given to the recent antics of Los Angeles Times staff photographer Carolyn Cole, who on May 2 joined a group of "peace activists" who had clandestinely entered Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, in solidarity with the Palestinian militants holding dozens of civilians and clergymen hostage.

Upon her arrival inside the holy site, Cole took on the dual role of photographer and reporter for the Times, offering first-person accounts from within the church.

The Times, often accused of carrying an anti-Israeli grudge, confirmed many of its critics' suspicions by printing Cole's blatantly pro-Palestinian church dispatches. Cole even noted that she felt safer with the Palestinian militants than she did with the Israelis. (A collection of her like-minded photos from inside the church appear in this week's Time.)

"The Palestinians in the church are a family of sorts," Cole wrote on May 9, sounding as if she had a case of Stockholm Syndrome. "Some are already planning a reunion — same time, next year… As the days drag on, many of them hold hands and stand with their arms around one another's shoulders. And they pace together along the sanctuary floor, fingering their prayer beads, hoping for a way out."

Unfortunately, Cole doesn't have Stockholm Syndrome — she wasn't so much a hostage as an enthusiastic volunteer. Something you can't say about the priests, who were never asked if they wanted to be holed up in the church for 39 days. As talk-radio host and author Hugh Hewitt noted, "Nowhere in the entire article, not even a single phrase, mentions that these priests are hostages. Their captors are described in glowing and even gentle detail. There is nothing of reporting about this at all. It is, quite simply, propaganda."

But this isn't the first time Cole has stepped over a professional line in her career. In April 2000 — at the height of the Elián Gonzalez affair — Cole was arrested on felony charges of "throwing deadly missiles" at police during protests in Little Havana, apparently in an effort to stir up her subjects and thereby generate "better" news.

Miami detective Delrish Moss said Cole "was seen throwing two or three rocks and then picked up her camera and proceeded to take photographs."

Michael Parks, her boss at the Times, said in a statement that her arrest was "an abridgment of the people's right to know."

"Carolyn Cole was covering the protests in Miami as a news photographer, not participating in them, and her photographs published in the Times make that clear," Parks insisted.

Of course, Ms. Cole would never overstep the law nor defy journalistic principles to get a story. And there's no way that she held the anti-Castro crowd in contempt and wanted to create shots that would portray them in the most frenzied and violent light.

The Zelig-like Cole also garnered national attention in 1997 for gaining access to Emil Matasareanu as he lay dying on a North Hollywood street after his outrageous, nationally televised post-bank-robbery shootout with police, which left 11 officers and six civilians injured. In Cole's version of events, Matasareanu was a victim of heartless law-enforcement officials who didn't respond quickly enough to his medical needs. Her account, which she conveyed to Times reporter Bill Boyarsky, became a part of the wrongful-death lawsuit leveled by Matasareanu's family.

Who knows? Cole might well win a Pulitzer for the grit and determination she exhibited in Bethlehem. And since Israeli officials say she faces possible charges and deportation for her acts, even that is likely to become a point in her favor.

— Andrew Breitbart is a writer based in Los Angeles.



TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bias; christianlife; hughhewitt; israel; latimes
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Hugh Hewitt mentioned this article on his radio program today. He had talked about this story extensively when it first broke.

Mr. Breitbart must be a listener. :)

1 posted on 05/14/2002 7:18:12 PM PDT by RonDog
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To: All

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2 posted on 05/14/2002 7:19:08 PM PDT by Bob J
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To: RonDog
"Some are already planning a reunion — same time, next year

Why don't they have it in Hell? And invite Carolyn.

3 posted on 05/14/2002 7:25:14 PM PDT by RippleFire
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To: doug from upland; ALOHA RONNIE; DLfromthedesert; PatiPie; flamefront; onyx; SMEDLEYBUTLER; Irma...
...Unfortunately, Cole doesn't have Stockholm Syndrome — she wasn't so much a hostage as an enthusiastic volunteer. Something you can't say about the priests, who were never asked if they wanted to be holed up in the church for 39 days.
As talk-radio host and author Hugh Hewitt noted, "Nowhere in the entire article, not even a single phrase, mentions that these priests are hostages. Their captors are described in glowing and even gentle detail. There is nothing of reporting about this at all. It is, quite simply, propaganda..."
If you listen to Hugh Hewitt, or read his WND commentaries,
this PING list is for YOU!

Please post your comments, and BUMP!

(If you want OFF - or ON - my "Hugh Hewitt PING list" - please let me know)

4 posted on 05/14/2002 7:26:32 PM PDT by RonDog
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To: Bob J
When I first came on FR, I was trying to be fair to Mr. Thompson. Why give such a hooligan the time of day? He has no credence.
5 posted on 05/14/2002 7:36:31 PM PDT by Angelique
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To: RonDog
Any day now, I expect to see a reporter actually pick up a weapon from the body of fallen "freedom fighter" and start firing it at the evil IDF soldiers- not kidding. The lefties will lap it up.
6 posted on 05/14/2002 7:39:58 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: RonDog
Merci for promoting Monsieur Hewitt. Cole only gets promoted by the liberal press who wants to destroy any institution that represents goodness.
7 posted on 05/14/2002 7:43:40 PM PDT by Angelique
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To: RippleFire
From http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-050902cole.story:
May 9, 2002

FIRST PERSON
A Church From the 4th Century and a Stalemate From the 21st

(click on photo for RealPlayer interview)
Times staff photographer Carolyn Cole spoke via cell phone on May 7 from inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem (RealPlayer)
Times photographer Carolyn Cole entered Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity last Thursday with a group of international activists. More than 160 Palestinians and their sympathizers are inside.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank--You can't say I wasn't warned, considering I'd just run through a dark entrance called the Door of Humility... more
(Note: We are under court order not to post the FULL TEXT of articles from the Los Angeles Times, so you will need to go there to read the rest of this incredibly pro-Palestinian rant.
8 posted on 05/14/2002 7:48:15 PM PDT by RonDog
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To: RonDog
Larry Elder went absolutely nuts over this today.
9 posted on 05/14/2002 8:08:52 PM PDT by doug from upland
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To: RonDog
Thanks RonDog.
10 posted on 05/14/2002 8:30:18 PM PDT by Snow Bunny
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To: RonDog
But this isn't the first time Cole has stepped over a professional line in her career. In April 2000 - at the height of the Elián Gonzalez affair - Cole was arrested on felony charges of "throwing deadly missiles" at police during protests in Little Havana, apparently in an effort to stir up her subjects and thereby generate "better" news.

Yes, I remember her. What a troublemaker!

11 posted on 05/14/2002 9:06:17 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Angelique
Merci for promoting Monsieur Hewitt.
Hi, Angelique!
You must be a member of that small minority of French "resistance" who are NOT anti-Israel, anti-American, etc...
Vive La France! Vive la democracie!

12 posted on 05/14/2002 9:16:08 PM PDT by RonDog
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To: RonDog
Great expose of the LA Times propaganda. Remember, friends don't let friends take the LA Times. I have personally been the catalyst for removing three of their subscribers from the rolls.
13 posted on 05/14/2002 9:51:42 PM PDT by WillaJohns
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To: doug from upland
Larry Elder went absolutely nuts over this today.
I respect the "Sage from SouthCentral," but if he just started talking about this story TODAY, he is several days behind Hugh:

From http://www.hughhewitt.com/editorial_archive_files/editorial_archive_05_02.html#9:

May 9, 2002  - Message of the Day

Sometimes the Los Angeles Times seems almost determined to offend its readers. Today's edition is a case in point.

First, the Times runs a "first person" account of the events inside the Church of the Nativity by Times' photographer (now a "staff writer" for purposes of the article) Carolyn Cole. (Click here.) To run this piece is to endorse what the paper's employee did --rush the Church with a "group of international activists," and doing so despite Israeli efforts to stop additional people from entering the Church. Apparently it is Times' policy to aggravate international crises by interjecting their employees into the middle of the hot spot.

Beyond that, though, is the piece itself. As "reporting" it is a miserable failure. In fact, it is worse than a failure. Take this line for example: "The Palestinians' relationship with the priests is good. The clergymen have been kind to the Palestinians and have helped carry the bodies of those slain out of the church." No where in the entire article, not even a single phrase, mentions that these priests are hostages. Their captors are described in glowing and even gentle detail. There is nothing of reporting about this at all. It is, quite simply, propaganda.

The Times has all but declared its allegiance to the side of the Palestinian Authority in recent weeks, and it is suffering a decline in circulation as a result. But now it has moved from sympathizer to propaganda agent. No doubt more will cancel their subscriptions (call 1-800-252-9141), and more should write the editor-who-isn't John Carrol via e-mail at JohnCarroll@LaTimes.com or the big boss in Chicago, CEO of The Tribune Company, John Madigan, at master-webmaster@tribune.com.

Oh, by the way, California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer bowed to ethics yesterday, and returned $50,000 in campaign contributions from Oracle --the company whose giant contract with the state has led to scrutiny of Gray Davis' donations-for-favors regime. Lockyer is holding on to the investigation and will no doubt pull a Reno and get Davis off the hook. The story appears on page B-9.

The Times' strategy for reversing its deep decline in subscription is now obvious:

The paper is targeting pro-Palestinian liberal Democrats. You have to wonder when shareholders will wake up to the fact that this paper is suicidal...

14 posted on 05/14/2002 9:56:09 PM PDT by RonDog
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To: RonDog
Miami detective Delrish Moss said Cole "was seen throwing two or three rocks and then picked up her camera and proceeded to take photographs."
Michael Parks, her boss at the Times, said in a statement that her arrest was "an abridgment of the people's right to know."

Know what, how to throw rocks? I already knew that.
And some people still wonder why the right is leery of the media.

15 posted on 05/14/2002 10:00:07 PM PDT by Valin
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To: RonDog
Je sais, il est tres jamais pour mon campaignie. Oui, I am avec vous, toujours. We need to fight the horrendous assault on our country. When we listen to those who will fight, then we will succceed.
16 posted on 05/14/2002 10:06:25 PM PDT by Angelique
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To: RonDog
"The Palestinians in the church are a family of sorts," Cole wrote on May 9, sounding as if she had a case of Stockholm Syndrome

Those who hung around with Charlie Manson in the late 60s were a "family" of sorts too.

17 posted on 05/14/2002 10:31:39 PM PDT by weegee
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To: RonDog
Something you can't say about the priests, who were never asked if they wanted to be holed up in the church for 39 days. As talk-radio host and author Hugh Hewitt noted, "Nowhere in the entire article, not even a single phrase, mentions that these priests are hostages. Their captors are described in glowing and even gentle detail. There is nothing of reporting about this at all. It is, quite simply, propaganda."

Never forget that AP's original account of this event was that "dozens" of Palestinians has sought "sanctuary" in the Church of the Nativity. Even in that original account, the dozens were elsewhere identified as being over 120 persons (dozens of dozens???).

Anyone hear of a single terrorist "occupant" converting to Christianity while seeking "sanctuary" in a Christian church of worship built on what is believed to be the site of the birth of the founder of that religion (God incarnate)?

18 posted on 05/14/2002 10:38:44 PM PDT by weegee
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To: RonDog
Miami detective Delrish Moss said Cole "was seen throwing two or three rocks and then picked up her camera and proceeded to take photographs."

Michael Parks, her boss at the Times, said in a statement that her arrest was "an abridgment of the people's right to know."

"Carolyn Cole was covering the protests in Miami as a news photographer, not participating in them, and her photographs published in the Times make that clear," Parks insisted.

And this is the same LA Times that prohibits FR from citing articles? Are they afraid of the scrutiny or is this just an instance of abridging the public's right to know?

19 posted on 05/14/2002 10:43:15 PM PDT by weegee
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To: RonDog
Who knows? Cole might well win a Pulitzer for the grit and determination she exhibited in Bethlehem. And since Israeli officials say she faces possible charges and deportation for her acts, even that is likely to become a point in her favor.

Did she adopt the "uniform" of the invaders? If so, maybe she could face charges of treason. After all, Algore Jr. served his military by being a reporter...


20 posted on 05/14/2002 10:47:00 PM PDT by weegee
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