Posts Tagged ‘media malpractice’

Why is Robert Byrd suddenly a “conservative”?

Posted: June 28, 2010 by datechguy in media
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That is what the Washington Post calls him:

Robert C. Byrd, a conservative West Virginia Democrat who became the longest-serving member of Congress in history and used his masterful knowledge of the institution to shape the federal budget, protect the procedural rules of the Senate and, above all else, tend to the interests of his state, died at 3 a.m. Monday at Inova Fairfax Hospital, his office said.

Newsbusters notes his lifetime American Conservative Union rating was 28

Why is this the case? Well it is impossible to write the history of Robert Byrd without noting his involvement in the KKK. Interestingly enough as our fair and balanced media kept painting Tea Party Members and Conservatives as racists it was the democrats who were the party with a former KKK member in their caucus.

This was a problem, but now that he is dead, no matter what his actual voting record the media can now use the word “Conservative” to deflect that fact away from the party.

Update: CNN just called him an “archconservative” just before bringing up the Klan, what a bunch of phony bastards

Ga-4 Forum: Statement of Newsmakers live Journal

Posted: June 2, 2010 by datechguy in elections, opinion/news
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I received the following written statement from the Newsmakers live Journal. As I consider it a reply to my e-mail I include it in full along with my comments in bold italic:

NEWSMAKERS Live/Journal Unfairly Assailed

It has come to our attention that a disgruntled, long-shot Republican candidate for the 4th District Congressional seat is unfairly disparaging tonight’s NEWSMAKERS Live political forum and the credibility of its ownership team by falsely reporting and blogging that she has been excluded from the event because of her race! This is interesting, she is considered the front runner for the republican nomination yet she is considered a “longshot”. Yet Mr. Ruth (who I like) is apparently not a long shot.

Nothing could be further from the truth. There was never any effort to make this a “black only” affair, as has been alleged by the candidate and her supporters. This forum was conceived and set in motion back in April based on Congressman Johnson’s schedule Interestingly enough congressman Johnson’s office informed me personally that he was not attending due to “scheduling conflicts” and the candidates we were then aware of in the race. It took me all of two minutes to find this list of ALL Ga candidates for office, how is it I could do this and they could not? The candidate in question was not on our radar screen at the time, and has been alarmingly indignant and combative when we explained that the lineup was set for tonight, but that another Republicans-only forum is planned for the very near future.If there is a republican only forum later, why is Mr. Ruth invited for tonight?

Despite numerous conversations, and an invitation to attend tonight’s event and be recognized, the caustic candidate continues to condemn and berate Newsmakers Live/Journal in what appears to be a publicity ploy designed to garner her needed name recognition. We lament this political gamesmanship. Let’s talk name recognition. when I was in GA-4 only one voter I talked to even remembered Connie Stokes name, yet she is on the program

In the past candidates have underestimated NEWSMAKERS reach and political impact, much to their chagrin.I would think that wanting to participate in the program is an acknowledgment of your reach and impact Some choose not to show up and answer our piercing and pertinent questions, while others – in a futile effort to enhance their candidacy — falsely accuse us of wrongdoing or racism in our journalistic efforts to enlighten the African American community. It would seem to me if you want to enlighten the African American community on the candidates it would have been normal to include the Hispanic and White candidates in the race

Respectfully,

James “Jim” Welcome, Executive Producer
Maynard Eaton, Moderator

I have sent the following e-mail in reply:

Hello:

Thank you for your statement I have a few questions concerning it:

Your statement says that the event was set in motion based on the congressman’s schedule. I talked to the congressman’s office today and they informed me they would not be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts. This seems to contradict your statement concerning the arrangements.

Are you aware that the congressman’s office states he will not be attending tonight?

Were you aware of the “scheduling conflict” that precludes his attendance and if so when? If the forum was arranged based on the congressman’s schedule why was it not re-scheduled?

Since Ms. Carter is considered the republican frontrunner how is she a “longshot” candidate and Cory Ruth not?

How do you define a “longshot” candidate?

How do you reconcile your claim to: “a long reach and political influence” yet claim you claim all Hispanic and white candidates in the Ga-4 race were “not on your radar screen”?

I was able to find a complete list of all candidates in races in Georgia on this web site in under 2 minutes of searching the web as a news organization how did you establish who was running and who was not?

Is it true or false that Ms. Carter was told when she inquired about the forum that she could participate and then was told she could not. If so why was this the case?

Please explain how a forum that excludes all white and Hispanic candidates not to mention the sitting congressman will enlighten the African American community will more than a forum that includes all candidates?

Thanks

Pete I: DaTechGuy
Have Fedora will Travel
https://datechguy.wordpress.com/

If I get an e-mail answer I will publish it.

As they were kind enough to take my call and return my e-mail I will not pass judgement myself but I ask my readers:

If the forum in question was all white and the organizers of an organization called NEWSMAKERS LIVE excluded all black and Hispanic candidates claiming they were “not on their radar screen” would you believe them?

Feel free to leave your answers in comments.

Mother Jones made me laugh…

Posted: May 11, 2010 by datechguy in opinion/news
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with this article concerning Elena Kagan:

Gossiping about the sexuality of Washington powerbrokers has become sort of a national pastime. But the stakes—and the vitriol—seem to go up substantially when powerful women crash the beltway frat party. And while Sullivan might think that sexual orientation has become as bland a biographical detail as Jewishness, the unfortunate truth is that, unlike him, most of those suggesting Kagan has something to hide aren’t rooting for her to come out so she can advance the cause of gay rights. They just want to knock a powerful woman down a few notches.

I have not nor do I suggest that Elena Kagan’s sexuality disqualifies her for the high court, nor should it. Yet Mother Jones suggests that to be a Lesbian is a slur. Why is that? How is the suggestion that Kagan is a lesbian directing hate to her? I think the very suggestion is a great example of two things.

The first being projection, Mother Jones’ Stephanie Memcimer is quick to play the “homophobia” card but she is the one suggesting Lesbianism is a slur, something to be denied. I guess Cynthia is right when she talks about the left’s true feelings about homosexuals.

The second being the suggestion that the White house plan is to duck the issue until it can be framed as Mother Jones just did. That way it can be the story of: Evil Right Wingers pushing the Kagan’s sexuality as an issue, as opposed to a celebration of the first Lesbian justice. This will give the media a reason to celebrate the diversity without having brought it up themselves first being forced into it. The White House’s cunning plan that I mentioned in play?

Sounds like don’t ask don’t tell to me, but it can’t be because we know Kagan opposes it.

Even funnier than that is this line that really takes the cake:

Just ask John Edwards how hard it is to keep secret relationships secret in the era of 24/7 celebrity coverage.

Is she serious? Does she not recall the successful efforts of the media to totally ignore and deny the John Edwards story until there was no chance of him getting the nomination? This is supposed to be a professional journalist who I am to give credence to? Ha!

Two despicable things

Posted: May 4, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, media, opinion/news
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The first being the murder of a young college girl in Virginia.

George Huguely, 22, of Chevy Chase had been the starting quarterback, an honor roll student and a lacrosse all-American at the renowned Landon School.

Yeardley Love, 22, of Baltimore County had been a four-year member of the lacrosse and field hockey teams at Notre Dame Prep in Baltimore.

At some point, they had a romantic relationship. But early Monday, Love was found dead inside her apartment, and a few hours later, Huguely was charged in her death.

This is a horrible thing and our hearts rightly go out to her family and community.

The second despicable thing is Norah O’Donnell report that just showed on MSNBC.

O’Donnell when reporting on the Murder brings up the Duke LaCross case and mentions a letter where the accused murder wrote how those players were treated unfairly.

The only even remote connection between the two cases was the fact that the girl was a lacrosse player and the falsely accused Duke players were also lacrosse players. Update: Apparently the girl’s killer played lacrosse too.

For O’Donnell to bring this up to suggest that Huguely’s support of the falsely accused Duke players has any connection to this and to include it in her report is a journalist disgrace. To use this murder to try to score a cheap political point is disgusting and says a lot about O’Donnell. None of it honorable.

I would hope that MSNBC refutes O’Donnell and she considers an apology. As the report took place on Morning Joe I’ll tweet him to see what they say.

Update: The producers and editors of that story owe an apology too.

Update 2: Legal insurrection finds some slightly less despicable but misleading reporting. Ironically both reporters mentioned are regulars on Morning Joe too.

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