“Distributed to Republican senators by party leaders”
Yet another argument for a center-right newswire service is the use of the phrase “distributed to Republican senators by party leaders” in a Washington Post story on the flaky “GOP” memo on the Schiavo legislation. According to Michelle Malkin, one of the reporters of the story, Mike Allen, said “we simply reported that the sheet of paper was distributed to Republican senators.”
Not quite. The version sent out under his byline to papers around the country, such as the Oakland Tribune, contained the phrase, though the Post’s own version does not.
The Oakland Tribune also says this, under the byline of Mike Allen and Manuel Roig-Franzia:
Republican officials declared, in a memo that was supposed to be seen only by senators, that they believe their attention to the issue could pay dividends with Christian conservatives, whose support is essential in midterm elections such as those coming up in 2006.
Here’s the Post’s version available on the web:
In a memo distributed only to Republican senators, the Schiavo case was characterized as “a great political issue” that could pay dividends with Christian conservatives, whose support is essential in midterm elections such as those coming up in 2006.
It appears clear, from this archived version of the Post’s story, posted at 10pm March 19, the Saturday night before the Post’s current version dated “Sunday, March 20, 2005; Page A01,” that Allen is incorrect in his assertion of what the story he wrote said. At several points in the original story, which was distributed on the Post’s own website, and throughout the country via its wire service, the memo was attributed to Republican party officials or leaders.
And there’s worse. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cited the Post story, and quoted the memo and its being “distributed to Republican senators by party leaders” in an editorial against Congressional action on March 22. So the Post’s original story, carrying the explicit assertion that the GOP was behind the memo, was not only distributed as news, but used as a basis of opinion-making at at least one respected newspaper.
March 31st, 2005 at 11:50 am
Dear Bill,
What does MSM going from a “nuanced subtlety” to full out blatant in their
lefty (no longer “leaning”) bias?
They are really worried as they should be. The circulation figures decrease
monthly and the latest Nielson ratings were as follows:
Fox News Channel 1.9 Million
CNN .9 Million (less than half)
CNN HEADLINE .34
MSNBC .33
Even when you add the 3 lagging cable networks, you get 1.57 Million Vs
1.9 Million for FNC. This is with the full out attacks on FNC by the MSM,
labeling Fox “discredited”. The MSM, made up of all those miseducated
elites cannot understand why America will not listen to them “for their own
good”. They are not ashamed of the recent “push polls” using untrue
terms to form the questions to assure the answers they wanted.
They are exhibiting tactics of the Saddamites and Islamists in Iraq, who
are also seeing the writing on the wall. They must destroy the Republicans
they must regain the White House and the Congress, for they fear they
will begin to lose the Judiciary, and the White Towers of “education”.
Their goal is to divide and therefore conquer with a Hillary victory
in 2008. I get disheartened by some emails published at the NRO
Corner written by supposed Republicans who plan to change sides
based on Terri Shiavo’s case. I have always felt that the Republican
party was one of “grown ups”. Reading these emails, I can only recall
the “I’m never speaking to you again” or “I don’t love you anymore” and
the best analogy “I wish I had another Mother” outbursts by teenage
daughters.
I wish you well in gathering support for such a competing news service
March 31st, 2005 at 4:02 pm
See here,riskoperson, why do your Closet-Queen letterwriters invoke the holy name of Ugly George whilst posting messages about mere politicos? UG outranks ANY mere political person by voitue of bein a Sex Symbol,as can be seen on my website (soon 2 stream vidclips and NOT for Commie Pinkos. Michelle Malkin has unwisely refused 2 rap 2 me; will your pointy-headed intellectuals be any sharper?