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AP: HATCH LASHES OUT AT STAR TRIBUNE FOR STORY NOT YET PUBLISHED
By Michael B. Brodkorb | July 24, 2006
This is bizzare.
##
Hatch lashes out at Star Tribune for story not yet published
ST. PAUL (AP) _ Attorney General Mike Hatch took the unusual step Monday of attacking a news outlet for a story it hasn't printed, accusing Minnesota's largest newspaper of "sleazy" reporting.
Hatch, the Democratic endorsed candidate for governor, filed a complaint with the Minnesota News Council, an independent body that reviews allegations of unfair media coverage.
In his complaint, which included an e-mail from the paper's reporters, Hatch criticized Star Tribune reporters and an editor for inquiring about relationships of his adult daughters and raising other questions he described as “the most sleazy type of innuendo.''
"Is it so important to the newspaper to have a Republican governor that it is permitted to 'swiftboat' my family?" Hatch asked, in a reference to TV ad attacks on John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
Hatch wouldn't comment beyond the written complaint, a spokeswoman said.
Star Tribune editor Anders Gyllenhaal said the newspaper is doing its job by asking questions of candidates pursuing high public office.
"You are constantly asking questions about all kinds of things you are hearing about and you run only that which proves to be true. We hadn't run a story," Gyllenhaal said. "We didn't know what to make about a lot of this."
The Star Tribune's reporting stems from the controversy that led state Rep. Matt Entenza to end his campaign to replace Hatch as attorney general. Entenza, also a Democrat, came under fire for hiring a Chicago-based research firm for a covert look into the workings of Hatch's office. The firm also made a public-records request for a parking ticket Hatch received in 2003 for leaving his car at a scenic overlook in Dakota County.
Gary Gilson, executive director of the News Council, said he doubted the council would take on the matter.
"We don't handle cases like that," he said. "We handle cases that have to do with published material. It does seem to all be about reporting methods."
After trying to interview Hatch in person, two Star Tribune reporters sent him a detailed list of questions. Hatch released their e-mail to his office.
"And please don't take offense if aspects of these scenarios are partly true or completely false," the reporters said in a note prefacing the questions. "We are seeking your response because we want to identify the truth."
In his letter to the News Council, Hatch said public officials have an expectation of privacy. "As a father, I have every right to use any means possible to protect the privacy of my daughters," he wrote.
Hatch's preemptive strike on the newspaper perplexed Jane Kirtley, director of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota. She said Hatch risks alienating one of the largest newspapers in the state just as the gubernatorial campaign heats up.
"It's a very strange tactic," she said. "It's hard for me to quite grasp exactly what it is that Attorney General Hatch is trying to accomplish here beyond trying to discourage the Star Tribune from pursuing this kind of reporting." Source: Associated Press, July 24, 2006
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17 Responses to “AP: HATCH LASHES OUT AT STAR TRIBUNE FOR STORY NOT YET PUBLISHED”
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July 24th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
“Is it so important to the newspaper to have a Republican governor that it is permitted to ’swiftboat’ my family?” Hatch asked, in a reference to TV ad attacks on John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
I think he meant to say “Brodkorbed”.
July 24th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
By “Swiftboat” does he mean 250 people who know the truth coming out and exposing him?
Surely he’s not calling all 250 of these Vietnam vets liars.
July 24th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
// “You are constantly asking questions about all kinds of things you are hearing about and you run only that which proves to be true. We hadn’t run a story,” Gyllenhaal said. “We didn’t know what to make about a lot of this.” //
Look closely at this phrase …all kinds of things you are hearing about… and then ask yourself,
“Who are they hearing these things from?”
Newspapers need to take a close look at the credibility and agenda of any sources. A report about Jeff Johnson from a DFL hack, for example, questioning whether or not he had a homosexual affair in high school, should be dismissed out of hand – unless there is a witness or two, or some physical evidence.
If Star Tribune reporters are taking all innuendo, from whatever quarter, and recycling it into questions without doing their own research, then I think that speaks to the quality of reporting.
On the other hand, if someone saved a pair of jeans with evidence about Johnson’s affair, well then, lets get that looked into.
July 24th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
Well, well, well, what are we getting closer to here with reporters sniffing around AGAIN in stuff the hatch princesses may have been up to?
Those little princesses are really bustin’ the old man’s balls, aint they?!
And Mr. Hatch- you protest too much!
July 24th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
I think Brian Hanna is trying to call Jeff Johnson a homosexual. Better duck, Bri — I can hear the black helicopters coming.
July 24th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Hatch is imploding, and he is running out of places to dump. Entenza is gone, and the princess poop stench is getting thick…. When the shit flies, it’s time to reach for those.. uh…papers!
July 24th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
Hatch has become a total Captain Queeg ! Some
body should tell this martinette that the the
STRIB is HIS P.R. agency ! And to all STRIB
personnel: ARE YOU SUCH DFL HACKS THAT YOU WILL
DO ANYTHING TO ELECT THIS OBVIOUSLY TOTALITARIAN
CREEP GOVERNOR ! ?
July 25th, 2006 at 9:27 am
I can safely assume jimj, that have a big problem with the Bush Administration then. They’ve done a lot worse. A lot worse.
July 25th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
The DFL answer to everything:
Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died. Bush lied, people died.
July 25th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
DJZ,
How in the world has the Bush Administration done worse? It seems as though everything is going so well! We haven’t been attacked again since 9/11, we’ve helped to establish a democratic government in Iraq and Afghanistan, lowered taxes and created millions of new jobs.
Wait, let me guess your response. “Bush Lied…People Died! Bush Lied…People Died!” Give me a break. Grow up and quit whining.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Chris: // I think Brian Hanna is trying to call Jeff Johnson a homosexual. Better duck, Bri — I can hear the black helicopters coming. //
Why, no, but then I haven’t heard him deny it either. Why won’t he deny it? Isn’t that somewhat suspicious? The story just won’t die, by the way, until he does deny it. When will he release all his high school yearbooks, notes, and letters? After all, how can we determine the truth without his full disclosure?
I suppose an argument questioning innuendo might be really hard to get, for readers of a site awash in it.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:36 pm
Chris: // Bush lied, people died. //
Very good, Chris. Now try these:
Where ARE those WMDs?
No more Torture in my name.
Warrently wiretaps: wrong, wrong, wrong.
It’s time to stop the War on the Poor.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
Brian,
In case you missed the recent news, over 500 chemical weapons have been found in Iraq since 2003.
As for torture in your name, tell that to the troops who were recently slaughtered like cattle by the terrorists. Although I’m sure I won’t see you condemn that.
I don’t know what the hell a Warrentley Wiretap is.
As for the war on the poor, nobody is forcing you to keep what you have. You can always overpay your taxes.
This is more of the same Bush lied, people died blah blah blah.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Assad says: “Where ARE those WMDs? (Bwahahaha)”
Saddam says: “No more Torture in my name?”
Ms. Spelling Teacher says “‘Warrently’ wiretaps?” “wrong, wrong, wrong.”
Jesse Jackson says (from his manse): “It’s time to stop the War on the Poor.”
Pfft. effin’ Lefty’s, you’re all too much!
July 25th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Assad says: “Where ARE those WMDs? (Bwahahaha)”
Saddam says: “No more Torture in my name?”
Ms. Spelling Teacher says “‘Warrently’ wiretaps?” “wrong, wrong, wrong.”
Jesse Jackson says (speaking through a megaphone from his stretched ‘Lade)”: “It’s time to stop the War on the Poor.”
Pfft. Effin’ Lefty’s, I swear, you’re all too much!
July 25th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Assad says: “Where ARE those WMDs? (Bwahahaha)”
Saddam says: “No more Torture in my name?”
Ms. Spelling Teacher says “‘Warrently’ wiretaps?” “wrong, wrong, wrong.”
Jesse Jackson says (speaking through a megaphone from his stretched ‘Lade)”: “It’s time to stop the War on the Poor.”
July 25th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Brian,
There is a difference between calling someone gay for no reason and raising intelligent questions based on evidence.