Phone AP to protest their biased anti-Cheney headline (612) 332-2727 in Minneapolis

AP via Yahoo ^ | Oct. 29, 02 | Associated Press

[churchillbuff]

The AP headline reads: "Cheney won't be at Wellstone Service,"

But as the story itself makes clear (or at least it's clear if you read through their biased evasions) Cheney was TOLD NOT TO COME by the Democrats. THAT'S THE STORY - and THAT should be the headline, not a headline that suggests Cheney is the one doing the snubbing!!! (AP's D.C. phone number: 202-348-5244

White House - AP

Cheney Won't Be at Wellstone Service Tue Oct 29,11:29 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - The family of Sen. Paul Wellstone asked Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) to stay away, so Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson and the White House's chief congressional liaison were leading an administration delegation to Tuesday night's memorial service.

AP Photo

AP Photo Slideshow: Sen. Paul Wellstone

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) said Cheney offered to attend the service for Wellstone, his wife, his daughter and three campaign aides — all killed in a plane crash Friday. "The family was appreciative of the offer by the vice president to attend." But he added that it would be inappropriate to characterize the private conversations that ultimately led to the decision that Cheney would not go.

The pilot and copilot also died in the crash in Minnesota.

Another White House official said privately that with the memorial service expected to draw thousands, the Wellstone family told the White House they did not want mourners subjected to the kind of security screenings that Cheney's attendance would have required. This official also said White House advisers worried that the memorial service, with unions bringing supporters by the busload, would double as a Democrat get-out-the-vote rally and be awkward for Cheney.

There was never any thought of President Bush (news - web sites) attending Wellstone's memorial, said the official, who discussed the matter only on grounds of anonymity.

But at a signing ceremony Tuesday for legislation overhauling the election system, Bush paid tribute to Wellstone and led his audience in observing a moment of silence.

"I would like to pause and remember a devoted public servant who was taken from us last Friday, along with his wife and his daughter and several other Americans," Bush said.

"Paul Wellstone was a deeply principled and good-hearted man," he said. "He'll be missed by all who knew him and all who had the privilege of serving with him."

Bush, who campaigned in Minnesota for Wellstone's Republican opponent, Norm Coleman, just one week before the plane crash, will go ahead with plans to appear in Minnesota once more for Coleman on Sunday.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale, a Democrat, is expected to take Wellstone's place on the ballot in this final week before Election Day. With control of the Senate hinging on the swing of just one seat, senior Republicans said an early internal poll showed a Coleman-Mondale race would be very tight.

[Parley Baer]

The AP has lost all sense of fairness a long time ago. As far as I'am concerned they are in the same downward spiral as the NY Times. Parley

[dead]

You can call and complain if you like, but don’t be surprised if you hear them high-fiving each other and laughing at your outrage.

[ArcLight]

Oh, c'mon! The headline might be considered debatable, but hardly counts as an example of bias. The story itself clarifies the matter quite plainly. My guess is that the harried headline writers at AP just stuck on something brief, accurate and pithy and then moved to the next story.

[chainsaw]

The AP has lost all sense of fairness a long time ago.

Bush kicked cable news off Air Force One. Maybe Chenney will dick AP off Air Force Two.

[Crusader Rabbit]

A noble sentiment.

Were you aware that Daschole's daughter is a bigwig there?

[galt-jw]

perhaps you could piss on a spark plug, as it will help as much.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I don't think the headline is out of line. I might add the word 'disinvited," but I'll defer to someone who writes headlines for an improvement.

[ffrancone]

IT'S 7 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION.

WILL IT STILL BE HER SENATE?

GOOD INTENTIONS DON'T WIN ELECTIONS.
ACTION DOES. ACT TODAY.

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

[MannMade]

Ahem... if it had been Cheney doing the snubbing the headline would read "VP threatens Wellstone's family"

[mathurine]

Cheney is constitutionally the president of the senate. But, of course, the democrats don't care about the constitution unless there is an issue of queers or something near and dear to their hearts being considered.