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KLINE CAMPAIGN: WE CAN’T TRUST COLEEN ROWLEY’S JUDGEMENT #4
By Michael B. Brodkorb | August 18, 2006
"WASHINGTON — DFL congressional candidate Coleen Rowley said Friday her campaign would keep on staff an unpaid worker who had called for decriminalizing drugs on his personal Web site.
'David Bailey has made valuable contributions to the campaign, and he will continue to do so,' Rowley said in a statement, referring to the worker. 'I welcome input and advice from people with a variety of views. This necessarily means I will disagree with both my supporters and staff on certain issues at certain times.
'But at the end of the day, Coleen Rowley decides what Coleen Rowley stands for, period. And as a 24-year FBI agent who fought organized crime, I emphatically and unequivocally oppose legalization of all drugs, especially methamphetamine, heroin, and crack cocaine.'
Rowley, a Democrat, is challenging Rep. John Kline, R-Minn.
Kline's campaign highlighted Bailey's writings in a campaign flier headlined, 'Legalizing drugs is the TOP PRIORITY for one of Coleen Rowley's key advisers,' adding, 'We can't trust Coleen Rowley's judgment.' The flier includes syringes in the background.
'John Kline may want to run against David Bailey, but he's not,' Rowley said. 'He's running against Coleen Rowley, and if his attack mailers are any indication, he's running scared right now.'
Bailey is Rowley's unpaid director of earned media, where he works to build her exposure through the media, including blogs." Source: Associated Press, August 18, 2006
Click here for complete story.
Topics: Coleen Rowley, David Bailey | 56 Comments »
56 Responses to “KLINE CAMPAIGN: WE CAN’T TRUST COLEEN ROWLEY’S JUDGEMENT #4”
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August 18th, 2006 at 10:36 am
I’m not with the Republicans on this one. These tactics almost make me decide Kline should not be elected. Legalization of drugs is a perfetly legitimate opinion, even if I don’t agree with it, and it is disturbing for Kline to suggest that anyone who holds that opinion is so inherently dark that he should of course be fired.
Further, Bailey’s statement was found on a three-year-old discussion string, evidently. It’s remindful of the moment that brought down Mccarthy, frankly, when McCarthy tried to make hay out of some old stuff in the life of one of Joseph Welch’s aides.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:01 am
I have to go with Paul on this one. I still strongly support Congressman Kline, but pehaps he needs a new campaign manager if this is what he has going in August. Kline’s the incumbant, he should run on his record.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:02 am
John Kline is a prick.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:17 am
John Kline’s personal attack on David Bailey, an unpaid Coleen Rowley campaign volunteer, hits a new low on the sleaze meter. Not even demagogues like Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter have stooped this low.
Kline’s disgusting behavior tells the voters in CD2 all they need to
know about this guy: HE LACKS DECENCY AND HUMAN EMPATHY!
August 18th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Paul and Dave, thank you. It’s what I have been saying since the beginning:
/Kline’s the incumbant, he should run on his record./
August 18th, 2006 at 11:40 am
***/Kline’s the incumbant, he should run on his record./ ***
The LAST thing John Kline wants to run on, is his record. As a veteran, applaud LTC Kline’s military service record; while wearing the uniform he carried the nuclear football. However, as a retiree wearing a suit in congress, he’s carried the administration’s and GOP House Leadership’s water. His voting record for supporting veterans issues is deplorable as exemplified by his ZERO out of 100 rating by the Disabled Veterans Of America.
And if Congressman Kline were so damned concerned about drugs, one would think he’d be seriously questioning how this administration’s Afghanistan policies could allow poppy cultivation to go from practically nada in 2000, to well over 300,000 acres this year.
From yesterday’s news:
General Says Opium Fuels Taliban
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 17, 2006; 9:48 PM
WASHINGTON — NATO must do more to prevent Taliban militants from using the growing opium trade to fund their insurgency in Afghanistan, the alliance’s top military commander said Thursday.
U.S. Gen. James Jones said the military forces can take on a larger role in ferreting out information about the drug connection and locating opium production areas, but U.S. and NATO troops will not be used to eradicate crops.
The opium problem “certainly cries out for more international focus,” said Jones. “The international community understands that we have to have more success in the narcotics field, and we have to do that in the fairly near future.”
Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Jones said that NATO forces can now have “at least a supporting role in helping the authorities with intelligence and using our technologies to show them where the production, the increase, is to make sure that the roads are in fact used for peaceful purposes as opposed to transporting illicit goods.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081701305.html
Let me repeat: the way John Kline has carried the water, the LAST thing he wants to run on is his record.
I think his campaign is in trouble, and they know it.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:44 am
The first paragraph, above, that I wrote should read:
***As a veteran, I applaud LTC Kline’s military service record;…”
Because, I do. LTC Kline served honorably and admirably.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:52 am
You Rowley parrots are hillarious. On the Rowley webpage, there are more issue statements by Bailey then there are by her. Clearly, she has a soft understanding of the issues and Bailey, more than anyone else, has her ear on these policy matters. So, how are his views on the issues not relevant?
Also remember, Rowley was the first person to bring staff forward as an issue in this race – not John Kline. You people have a laughable double-standard – when Rowley attacks Kline staff it’s an act of heroism, but when Kline’s campaign hits back it’s treason…gimme a break.
You realize Kline is probably just doing this to help out his friends Tim Pawlenty and Mark Kennedy, so that when people see Klobuchar/Hatch signs in the same yard as a Rowley sign, they think of every bad DFL stereotype – which Rowley embodies.
Rowley has become such an embarrasment that it is little wonder why other DFL candidates are running away when they see her coming.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:52 am
Boo hoo, do I need to get any of you a tissue??
August 18th, 2006 at 11:52 am
P.S. Mr. Bartlett, you should seek professional help – you’re kind of scaring us here.
August 18th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Kline is in a Republican leaning district against a not real strong candidate. Hey, I have an idea, why not run a normal campaign? Show up at the parades and festivals. Do some feel good advertising. If anyone criticizes him, say “I’m a veteran, are you questioning my patriotism”. Okay, just kidding about the last one, we’ll leave that for the Democratic candidates.
August 18th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
Paul, I’m with Dave here, but when you say similar things about Hatch you’ll be more believeable, and less nakedly partisan.
August 18th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
JonM –
Which Paul? Bartlett? I’m not exactly nakedly partisan in the way you presume, if me.
MikeyJ –
Actual question – how did Rowley bring forth staff as an issue?
August 18th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Bellhop Kline is a low-life weasle who doesn’t have the balls to debate Rowley.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Michael is deleting my posts about guests and questions for his radio show… until this one is deleted, here’s what I am trying to suggest (my initial one probably was better but Michael deep-sixed it):
Until Michael deletes again…
Ask Kline why is flooding the district with thousands of flyers beating up on one his opponent’s volunteers — is Coleen Rowley too scary for him to take on man-to-man.
Secondly, ask him what the media could possibly excluded from his statements about the Marines in Haditha that would have changed either the meaning or context of these words:
/”There is no question that the Marines involved, those doing the shooting, they were busy in lying about it and covering it up — there is no question about it,” Kline said. – Los Angeles Times, May 27, 2006/
Third (and I think this is the one that got my comment deleted) ask him about the $11,000 his chief of staff said Kline was giving to charity to rid himself of the blood money he took from Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, the man convicted of taking bribes from military contractors while Americans were dying in Iraq. He was a friend and close colleague of Rep. Klines — why did he take $11,000 from him in the first place when Cunningham said that the “lberal leadership in Congress should be lined up and shot.” Does he think that this is the sort of honorable person he should have aligned himself with?
And lastly, why is he running away from his record instead of ON it.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
Something I forgot to add from my original post that was deleted:
Where DID John Kline give the $11,000 to? There has been no documentation or substantiation that he did indeed give $11,000 of campaign money to any veteran’s charity or other. This was $11,000 of war profiteering money — is it now being used to send campaign flyers attacking a consitiuent ?
Where is the $11,0000? Here’s the story where Kline’s chief of staff said it was going to happen. Michael, you are in a position to find out. Tell us — in fact, show us the reciept from the charity.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Mike:
Kline is a gutless coward, that’s why he doesn’t debate. How could a spineless worm like Kline have carried Reagan’s briefcase? It probably only contained Nancy’s panties.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
***How could a spineless worm like Kline have carried Reagan’s briefcase?***
With dignity, honor, and integrity. Which he did. And his spine, I’m sure, was ram-rod straight and strong.
You wanna rip him for what he’s done since he retired, fine by me. As a veteran, I’m none to happy with his record regarding veterans issues.
You wanna rip him for his distinguished and honorable service, we got problems.
Let me correct that: YOU got problems.
This veteran will stand up for LTC (ret) Kline’s military service.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
“John Kline is a prick”
“Kline is a low-life weasle”
“Kline is a gutless coward”
“How could a spineless worm like Kline have carried Reagan’s briefcase? It probably only contained Nancy’s panties.”
I like having more liberal types on here. It raises the debate to new standards.
August 18th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Who is this guy ? Do you folks know him? Or is he just a web presence?
August 18th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
I would sincerely ask other people on here critizing John Kline to limit it to his perfomance in office or to the actions he makes as a candidate.
There is no reason to denigrate anyone’s military service.
There also is no reason for name-calling.
You can say that his actions in sending out the drug flyer was chickenshit, but you shouldn’ t call him a chickenshit. There is a big difference.
I’d ask the same respect be given his opponent Coleen Rowley, a former FBI Special Agent. That, too, is in service to our country.
If we want to have a discourse it should be about issues or conduct as a candidate.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
Hey this is great, the libs here are bashing a GOP guy and doing so with personnal attacks and calling him all sorts of names.
What makes me happy about this is that it means it is time to bash their now dead hero Mr. Wellstone.
First of all I am sure you all are aware the Mr. Wellstone was a wrestler. Did you know that he used that skill to undue all his terrible policies that he realized were harmful to the same people he claimed to represent?
Apparently it has been revealed that Mr. Wellstone realizing how horrible his liberal views were and the terrible effects they had on the country could think of no other way to undue his mess and save face with his liberal supporters. It was then Mr. Wellstone in an impressive feat for his age and health was able to not only place a headlock on the pilot, but also swing his legs up and sissor lock the co-pilot as well and sent the plane crashing to the ground.
Well, I know Mr. Kline and believe him to be a good man and without doubt will win this election.
Rowley is a joke and will get trounced this fall without question. Now back to your regularly scheduled program of whining liberals.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
/White House confirms Bush visit Tuesday
Last update: August 18, 2006 – 2:39 PM
WASHINGTON — – President Bush will travel to the Twin Cities Tuesday to take part in a health panel and attend a political fundraiser for Republican congressional candidate Michele Bachmann, the White House confirmed Friday.
The trip has been discussed for weeks, but had not been acknowledged publicly by the Bush administration, which normally does not release the president’s schedule more than a week in advance.
White House officials said the president will participate in a panel discussion on health care at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest hotel in Minnetonka. He will then attend a fundraiser for Bachmann, who is running against DFLer Patty Wetterling for the Sixth District House seat being vacated by Republican Mark Kennedy, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
The fundraiser will be at a private residence in Wayzata, according to the White House.
Bush’s appearance at the health conference is considered an official presidential event, so he will travel to the state at government expense.
– Kevin Diaz/
Hmmmm… the rumored Burnsville stop and speech (Kline’s District)is now changed to a Minnetonka appearance.
Wonder if there is a reason for the change.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Goe, I have tried several times to get your answer as to why you are still here??!
Many times you have posted tha this site has no value or credibility yet you come here everyday.
Granted, you never answer any questions that anyone puts to you, but you like to come and do “drive by postings”.
My guess is another liberal paid to go from site to site posting leftist incorrect views though you could also be just another loser in his parents basement in a suburb and this is how you get back at your parents.
Still, just wondering when you are going to follow through on your promise and leave? Maybe by chance you are posting from Canada with Mr. Baldwin??
August 18th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
***I like having more liberal types on here. It raises the debate to new standards.***
Yeah – kinda reminds me of the NotSoSwifties.
Oh, wait – those character assassins were “cons”, weren’t they?
At any rate, I agree with Geo – BOTH LTC (Ret.) KLine’s military record, and FBI Agent (Ret.?) Rowley’s record reflect favorably upon their service and duty to country; to us all.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Paul from MPLS – Rowley brought staff up as an issue in her original debate challenge letter, she accused the Kline staff of being dirty tricksters and habitually crossing the line (citing letters to the editor as proof)…Look it up, it was on one of those 30 blogs attacking Kline.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
***Hey this is great, the libs here are bashing a GOP guy and doing so with personnal attacks…***
I got news, pal – your side has extremists, too.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Most likely the President/national party is going to concentrate on Kennedy as that is a close election. Unless Kline continues to run a really bad campaign, he should win re-election.
“Yeah – kinda reminds me of the NotSoSwifties.
Oh, wait – those character assassins were “consâ€, weren’t they?”
Actually no. The 255 Vietnam vets who were part of the SBVT felt that Kerry was not fit to be CinC of the armed forces. What did they say that wasn’t true? {same debate over and over}
August 18th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Thanks Two Put Tommy. We’ve got a couple people from each side on this site that it does no good to respond to. Maybe if we ignore them they will go away while some of us can have a fun and spirited debate.
To the point of my post. MikeyJ, there is a huge difference in refering to dirty tricks by staffers in a letter which only us political types will notice and care about, and the mailing of a slick advertising piece throughout the district that pretty much calls a volunteer a drug dealer.
I thought the first one was lousy (the dirty tricks one) and tacky that it mentioned the volunteer by name. It was a classic he-said, she said between Bailey and Bratlie who have been battling it out in the newspaper letters column. The fact that whatever happened, happened two months before he joined the campaign didn’t make Rep. Kline look too forthcoming.
However, this second piece is pure character assasination. I’ve read where this volunteer has little kids, and his daycare provider got the flyer. I imagine there are whispers about him through his whole community now, and I wonder how any of you would feel if you volunteered for a campaign and had the other side send out something like that about you.
That’s why I get upset about some of the comments on this board. If we have true beliefs in issues (and I think the ethics in campaigning and campaign finance reform are big issues) we need to be civil. What this campaign did was not civil — it was behaving like a thug.
This goes way beyond the photoshop of Kline, that I thought I read wasn’t even up a day. Again, nobody saw that except a bunch of us political junkies without lives.
This drug piece went to all the “civilians” that this volunteer will be living among for quite some time I imagine.
I really think it calls for an apology and correction from John Kline, but that will only happen with enough of you on his side bringing it to him and letting him know he’s gone too far.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
MikeyJ, I can’t seem to find the letter about the debate. Can you give us a link here? Thanks!
August 18th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Well, ignoring for the moment whether her complaints were accurate or not, criticizing the behavior of aides in the context of their duties in the campaign deosn’t seem like crossing the same kind of line.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
Paul from Mpls,
Bailey has a diary up at Daily Kos right now and says that he still believes what he said 3 years ago, so the fact that he said it 3 years ago doesn’t matter. If you click on my name it will take you to his diary.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
I still think it’s a legitimate opinion. My observation on the three years thing had more to do with the – for lack of a beter term, ickiness of digging around that far in the past.
Actually, the fact that he posts at the Daily Kos is a bigger issue then drug legalization, speaking personally.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
I’m not sure why everyone on this board thinks that staff are not supposed to become an issue in a campaign. In Kline’s last race against Luther a lot of Luther’s bad press was due to the incredibly stupid decisions of his campaign manager (No New Taxes Party, the fundraising letter to lobbyists calling Kline a 3 time loser because of Bob Dole’s campaign in ‘96). A staff doing something embarassing will always reflect on the candidate, fair or not, as those of us who have been on campaigns well know. Rule #1 is always “Don’t Screw Up and Make Your Candidate Look Bad!” Bailey has failed in this regard and should have fallen on his sword for Rowley. The fact that he hasn’t and has made himself more of a national story by posting at dkos just shows his ineptitude.
August 18th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
There’s soemthing to that, but part of this issue for me is what seems to me to be a plain fact: being in favor of drug legalization should not be considered so wacky an opinion that it endangers the guy working for a candidate. Treating it like it is, to be frank, is potentially chilling to debate. So I have to watch out for ever publicly expressing a controversial opinion, if I ever hope to volunteer for a candidate?
It’s not the same kidn of opinion or activity as Ellison’s ties with NOI, for example.
August 18th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Again, the campaign is against Coleen Rowley and a battle of ideas, not what a volunteer for her campaign thinks or doesn’t think. And those of you who actually go to the page Kline pulled the text from will see it says nothing about crystal meth, which is what the flyer highlighted and damned him with.
Meth and other drugs are a real problem in the high schools in the Second District, and to insuinate that Rowley is soft on drugs is bad enough, but to make a volunteer look like a drug dealer in his community is shitty.
August 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
***I still think it’s a legitimate opinion.***
It’s an opinion many have, for reasons that should be debatable. Sadly, it is NOT a debatable issue; it’s an issue to be spun and attacked with.
Here’s a story about the DEA, where the DEA states that drugs and drug profits are tied to terrorism; no surprise there. The advocates for legalization (and I am NOT advocating legalization; I’m merely repeating the advocate’s position) say that specifically, it is the illegality that results in the massive profits to the terrorists.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/national/article/0,1406,KNS_350_4913520,00.html
Like it or not, because this administration botched Afghanistan, heroin is going to be a big issue for a long, long time.
It should be an issue that can be debated reasonably.
Kline’s campaign – based on that flier – gives no indication that they would/could debate this issue.
Again – I think the Kline Campaign is in trouble, for having to go negative – AGAIN – this far before the votes are counted.
August 18th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
If someone believes that favoring legalization means that person is a drug dealer, then it doesn’t matter that Kline publicized it because Bailey already has (and continues too!) on his blog and others. My point wasn’t that it was necessarily the right thing to do, but that Bailey, continuing to allow himself to be made an issue by sticking around, is going to hurt Rowley even more in the long run (not that she ever stood a chance anyway).
August 18th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Geo – Campaign “issues” include more than just policy positions. Rowley’s judgment is an issue. It has been an issue in the past, as we learned from that DOJ report where she gave the FBI agents bad advice in the Moussaoui case. Now it continues to be an issue, because it takes poor judgment to hire someone this far off the deep-end and keep them around after you have been told they were sneaking around your opponents office.
The only sane Democrats here or on Bailey’s Kos post were the ones saying that he should have fallen on a sword for her. The fact of the matter is that as long as David Bailey is on her campaign, his behavior and his position on drugs will continue to be an issue.
I’m sorry that Bailey got his feelings hurt, but if you play with fire, you’re gonna get burned.
He had a website attacking Kline, wrote a bunch of letters questioning Kline’s integrity, writes on Coleen Rowley’s webpage accusing Kline of bribery, corruption, and other not-so-nice things, and he got caught trying to spy on their office…
But when Kline puts out 2 factual lit pieces explaining real things that Bailey has said and done, he calls it a vicious smear. I don’t feel bad for him at all.
August 18th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Paul Bartlett: // It probably only contained Nancy’s panties. //
OK, pal. That’s over the top. Speaking as one who has gone there. (NO, not there!)
August 18th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Two Putt: // At any rate, I agree with Geo – BOTH LTC (Ret.) KLine’s military record, and FBI Agent (Ret.?) Rowley’s record reflect favorably upon their service and duty to country; to us all. //
Agreed. Service is honorable. Leave Kline’s military record alone.
Where would we be if people stopped wanting to do military service?
August 18th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
Good for Colleen Rowley on this one. David Bailey (a volunteer) had done lots of good work on Rowley’s campaign. I think the ad by Kline is going to backfire. It’s what you would call a Party Over Principles ad.
August 18th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Well, it’s been decided. In MN politics, the opposite of Eva is always right. Good work Mr. Kline.
August 18th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Frank: // Opposite of Eva is always right. //
Since Eva seems to be left-leaning, the opposite would be right-leaning… congratulations Eva!
I agree with Eva. Good on Rowley for this call. Not only strong, principled, but loyal to boot.
Betcha most righties would hang their staff out to dry.
August 19th, 2006 at 12:00 am
P.J., I was referring to the presentation with the big glossy brochure with a syringe on it rather than the debate on legalization itself. The words quoted from the volunteer were accurate, but the presentation and delivery method paint a very different picture than he does himself.
Regardless, it was a calculated distortion to blame Coleen Rowley.
And I actually think it is refreshing in this day and age of politics to stand by someone who works for you and bravely state that you have people work for you that you don’t always agree with, but then that’s what democracy is about.
We’ve probably gotten as far with this issue as we’re going to get. Sure we’ll have something new to chew on next week.
August 19th, 2006 at 1:30 am
If the aid is going to be posting to the offical campaign website and such, then the association (whether paid or unpaid) is substantial.
Kline has every right to be critical. Is it worth the effort? I don’t know…
But, it is fair to ask Rowley if she supports that possition as well.
August 19th, 2006 at 7:07 am
“Well, it’s been decided. In MN politics, the opposite of Eva is always right. Good work Mr. Kline.”
Amen. And if Brian or Roving Hypocrite agrees, that’s even more evidence that the opposite is true.
August 19th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Brian,
No…Most righties would be smart enough to realize that keeping him around is an unneeded distraction from the campaign that hurts their electoral chances…
August 19th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Anyone who allows an opposing campaign to make staffing decisions for them is an idiot.
President Bush is very loyal to his staff. Someone who wasn’t loyal would have hung Karl Rove out to dry a long time ago. President Clinton hung people out to dry all the time. Lani Guinere anyone?
August 19th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
You notice in the last week or so we have these
“voice of fairness” Liberals appearing on this
site along with the usual lefty ad hominen attack dogs that are usually present. Can anyone
say “SEMINAR POSTERS !” Also the the reason the
DFL LEFTIES hate any attention being directed at
a staff is because the public then can see how extreme they really are ! Where were PAUL and GEO
when SEN. DICK DAY was being attacked for the alleged actions of one of his staff members ?
August 19th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Facts: // But, it is fair to ask Rowley if she supports that possition as well. //
I agree… probably the first time I’ve agreed with anything you’ve written!
August 19th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
jimj –
not to put to fine a point on it, but yer talking out yer rear end – that is, acting like a kos-ite. Attempted demeaning labeling is a typical lefty tactic. I’m pretty new here, but I’ve been reliably anti-stupid-left for years now, and here. I’m taking part in a discussion board. I have no idea what you’re talking about with Dick Day.
Tactics and attitude say a lot abotu a political perspecitve, I’ve decided, and the preponderance of that kind of categorizing and jeering – what’s up with the all CAPS on the names – is why I left the left.
August 20th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
***Where were PAUL and GEO
when SEN. DICK DAY was being attacked for the alleged actions of one of his staff members ?
Comment by jimj — August 19, 2006 @ 12:24 pm ***
I don’t know, but this was me:
***
“Ethical Journalismâ€, and other urban myths.
Judging by the title of this post, “DFL Fires Dud At Dayâ€, the real message of the alleged “story†in the Strib goes unrecognized again.
A press release is issued on Thursday; a “story†is run on Friday morning. What do readers actually know after reading the Strib’s story? Readers know that there was an allegation, and a denial, and that’s about it. In other words, this “story†raised more questions than it answered. Here’s my main question I asked after reading this alleged piece of “journalismâ€: “Is there any basis for the allegation of impropriety?†let alone the follow up: “are there any Democrats doing the same thing?â€
This “storyâ€, as reported by the Strib, is but one more shoddy example of what passes for journalism these days: “He said; she said†with no real journalism, and any follow-up merely consisting of “more of the sameâ€.
IMNSHO, the Strib should have investigated the issues raised, and then either a) decided there was merit and offered Senator Day an opportunity to respond, or b) decided there was NO merit, and ignore it.
Both options “a)†and “b)â€, of course, would require actual journalistic effort.
Which, of course, is probably why the Strib went with option c), which is: publish a “he said; she said†article, and who cares if more questions are unanswered than answered? After all, a bomb has exploded, allowing more opportunities for lazy, shoddy journalism!
The c) option, which appears to be the preferred option taken by the vast majority of the media, only encourages more bombs to be tossed. Until ALL parties express their outrage at what passes as “journalismâ€, we can only expect more bombs to be thrown. Why? The media is going to run with them, regardless of merit.
This type of “journalism†has led to the collapse of credibility of the media.
Tommy Johnson
Comment by TwoPuttTommy — April 17, 2006 @ 4:25 pm
***
See http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/page/24/
August 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pm
I don’t know what a “seminar poster” is and I wasn’t tuned into whatever the Day controversy you mentioned was. Did it involve a public official mailing wildly distorted views of a political opponent’s volunteer instead of taking on whatever views the opponent had? I’m sorry I wasn’t visiting here when that thread was going on.
Was out for the weekend or would have responded sooner.
JimJ am I to take it that you don’t want me posting here because I’m not extreme enough for you to hammer on? Sounds like you are mad because you perceive me as a moderate?
August 21st, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Not knowing about the facts, “B” above from Two Putt Tommy sounds like what should happen in most cases. Running stories that raise issues with no hopes of resolving them does nothing for anyone.
August 26th, 2006 at 11:22 am
The Empire understands you’re all, to the last, a bunch of mal-informed, under-educated soma-eating idiots.
Infowars.com