Idiot Watch
Charles Johnson has the latest from Murtha Mouth:
MIAMI — American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said to an audience of more than 200 in North Miami Saturday afternoon.
Support his opponent, Diana Irey.
UPDATE:
Some have argued that Murtha was misquoted. Robert Novak comments:
Murtha’s opposition to the war has never been the real issue. He was misquoted stating that the U.S. is the greatest danger to world peace, but the misquote went unchallenged for days, and it was quite believable that he would say such a thing. It looked like another potentially dangerous venture into the great left. Even more offensive were his statements condemning Marines who allegedly participated in a massacre in Iraq, which gave no regard to the presumption of innocence or the existence of evidence (the Marines involved maintain their innocence).
Just why did he leave the impression hang for days?
NRO’s Stephen Spruiell sums it up nicely:
Read the transcript and decide for yourselves whether Murtha was misquoted. True, the reporter should have mentioned that Murtha was citing “world opinion” when he said that the American presence in Iraq is more dangerous than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran. But it’s clear that he was using that statistic to support his own position on Iraq.
If Murtha disagrees with “world opinion” on this issue, yet goes around citing it to support his position on Iraq, well… that’s pretty disingenuous, isn’t it?
You can watch the tape here.
Text:
Just think what that does to us internationally.
On the debate on the floor of the House, and I was leading the debate on the floor, and this one fella says, “You talk about terrorism.” He says, “Ask Spain.”
Well you ask Spain. Fifty six percent of the people in Spain think it’s more dangerous, the United States is more dangerous in Iraq than Iran is.
Everyone of our allies think that the United States being in Iraq is more dangerous to world stability and world peace, every one of our allies; Great Britain, every single country… They think its more, uh, we’re more dangerous to world peace than North Korea or Iran.
That says something.
Indeed.
It says we need to support his opponent, Diana Irey.
June 27th, 2006 at 2:43 AM
“MIAMI — American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said to an audience of more than 200 in North Miami Saturday afternoon.”
Were I in Sun-Sentinel’s shoes, I’d sit quiet as a mouse, hoping this will all blow over without much more fuss. Elizabeth Baier quotes Murtha several times in her Breaking World News (Brit Hume of Fox News as well as the Wall Street Joural have taken Baier’s ball and run with it) claims of what Murtha said in Miami. When direct quotes are used, it’s often the case the reporter has recorded the event, in order to make certain their quotes are accurate. What initially drew my attention was her lack of quotes for what she claims Murtha said in her first paragraph.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-ctownhall25jun25,0,7119684.story
Shortly after reading the Sun Sentinel story, I googlenews’ed “Murtha Miami Iran Nuclear”
Among the dozens of hits quoting Ms. Baier indexed within a few hours of the Sun Sentinel’s earth shaking expose’ of Murtha’s talk, I found another article published by the Miami Herald.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/14896189.htm
You will notice, this writer totally missed Murtha’s “shot heard around the world” (technorati now has 400+ hits for what Ms. Baier claims Murtha said.)
On the unlikely chance Ms. Baier did *not* quote Murtha from a recording she made at the event … I’ve written the Florida International University Public Relations folks asking them to preserve their audio/video recording of this event they sponsored for Murtha to speak at.
I’ve sent inquiries to the entire editorial boards of the Sun Sentinel, Wall Street Journal, Arizona Sun Star and Miami Herald, as well as Knight Ridder, asking them to pursue any recording of this event, in pursuit of the real news story, Elizabeth Baier.
It shouldn’t take more than a day, or three, for Ms Baier to experience personally, that the world of journalism is flat. Whether you like or despise John Murtha is no longer the story. The real story is … just how far has mainstream media sunk? Is Jerry Springer Journalism the new standard for reporters?
Here’s what should strike every blogger as truly shocking… If Murtha never said anything like this … If America’s Conservative Talking Heads plastering this “Murtha fiction” all over the internet, including Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, then who’s to blame for this story achieving such prominence that our enemies will have no trouble finding it, and get the comfort these stories provide them?
Hold your breath and hope that all this aid to our enemies really does have to do with what Murtha said in Miami. Until this gets cleared up by audio/video recordings verifying what was said, it’s America’s media “dittoheads”, including bloggers that are the ones providing comfort our enemies.
Let’s hope Fox News, Wall Street Journal, and of course, bloggers ain’t the real culprits giving comfort to our enemies.
Keep in mind there are only two stories written by reporters who were actually in Miami last Saturday, where Murtha spoke. One used Mutha’s outrageous comments as her opening paragraph, and the other, at a competing Newspaper in Florida, never mentioned them at all.
I spent a few hours on the phone with a friend of mine who is editor for a news site. I’m letting him run with this ball. You can follow how this story develops at:
http://theinfozone.net/
chancuff
July 5th, 2006 at 4:09 PM
As of the date and time stamp of this posting the following is correct:
The original first paragraph written by Elizabeth Baier at the Sun-Sentinel has been removed. Since their original correction to their story and my constant vigilance and the constantly updated reporting at theinfozone.net, they have rewritten this entire original article.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-ctownhall25jun25,0,7119684.story
What distinguishes this as unique is that though newspapers certainly update stories all the time, but when doing so, they are required by standard journalism practice to make clear it’s a revision, stating prominently at the top this story is a revision and updating the date of the article to the date of the revision. They have done neither.
Any impression created by this posting that this indicates that the Sun-Sentinel is covering up what they started by making all the uproar of this week over something that “never happened” is not my intent here. (legal disclaimers have become necessary)
Wait until you hear the new development today. The video of Murtha’s speech in Miami has been released.
Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
July 11th, 2006 at 5:37 PM
Looking at the large number of blog posts I’ve placed throughout the blogsphere in the last 2 weeks, I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking they look like spam.
My apologies to all.
Some interesting things happened today. I received an email response from Bill Pasco(e) of Diana Irey’s campaign against John Murtha for the 12th District of Pennsylvania seat in the House of Representatives.
In responding Mr. Pascoe’s email, I found it useful to CC that response to him to Elizabeth Baier and her editor Ms. Rosenhause (Managing Editor Sun-Sentinel).
The topic of those emails was “Rovian Architecture Unplugged”. If you are interested to learn more, feel free to write them.
Make “Rovian Architechure Unplugged” your subject heading so they know what your inquiry is about.
Their email addresses:
Bill Pascoe (724) 258-2300
bill@irey.com
Elizabeth Baier
ebaier@sun-sentinel.com
Sharon Rosenhause
srosenhause@sun-sentinel.com
Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
July 12th, 2006 at 3:41 PM
Despite an email warning to Mr. Pasco to contact Sharon Rosenhause, Managing Editor at the Sun-Sentinel, irey.com continues to maintain this page.
“Is Murtha channeling Marty McFly? Congressman’s June 27 press release magically includes information from … June 28?”
http://www.irey.com/news/Read.aspx?Id=61
In my email exchange with Mr. Pasco yesterday he attempted to float this clever headline with me in an email. I responded to him with this:
—————————————————————————-
If you really want to follow this “rapid crash journalism” course of action of yours, let me assist you in doing so properly. This is John Murtha’s original press release issued by Cindy Abram on June 27th.
http://theinfozone.net/PDFfiles/MurthaPressRelease.pdf
…
You can understand why Cindy Abram updated Mr. Murtha’s press release from the 27th now, I presume. After all, most would conclude that the Sun-Sentinel, who created this mess to start with, was in a better position to fix what Elizabeth Baier broke than theinfozone.net.
Please note: Ms. Baier as well as her editor Ms. Rosenhause are recipients of this email.
Mr Pasco(sic), perhaps they will be gracious enough to assist you towards a more lucid understanding of your “Marty McFly” insight.
—————————————————————————-
Apparently Mr. Bill Pascoe puts more faith in continuing his slander strategy than makes sense.
Ms Rosenhause has her own special part in this. The Sun-Sentinel has removed their retraction … the correction that rewrote the “the shot heard around the world” first paragraph. The Sun-Sentinel has suddenly placed it in their paid archives, removing it from public domain. The only way you will find the unethical rewrite (still in public domain) is through google cache. You may wish to contact her as well.
For the sake of clarity, inquiries regarding THIS turn of events should include the Subject Line: Mr. Bill
Bill Pascoe
bill@irey.com
phone: (724) 258-2300
Sharon Rosenhause
srosenhause@sun-sentinel.com
phone: (954) 425-1200
Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
September 12th, 2006 at 3:42 PM
“Swift Boat Veterans for Themselves” ignored a couple issues CRITICAL to our troops at war during the run-up to the 2004 election.
First, they sat silent knowing full well that Bush NEVER USED the number of troops he incessantly claims his generals asked for. Turkey would not allow the 40,000 troops of the 4th to pass through and participate in Bush’s invasion of Iraq.
Bush waged war KNOWING our troops were 40,000 short.
Second, these same Lookatme! Showboaters sat silent when this very same troop shortage resulted in America’s greatest tragedy of the war in Iraq.
EVERYONE who’s ever gone through basic training knows that when you find your enemies weapons, you keep them secure.
Hundreds of tons of high explosives that our troops had captured at Al Qaqaa were abandoned specifically due to troops shortages, CREATED by Bush’s incompetence in war.
These explosive stolen from Al Qaqaa are the weapons that have been used to blow our troops into too many parts to count each and every day of this war.
When some pasty butt wimp, like Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com, decides to pass his “gimme’ some money” collection plate to support his concept of patriotism for a circus tent performance at The Cambria County War Memorial on October 1st of this year …
Some would say there’s nothing more patriotic than putting a moron who’s never given a hoot about our troops at war (or he would have spoke up about those 40k troops left behind and Al Qaqaa IN 2004) in his proper place …he’s a coward.
To make matters even MORE entertaining, Larry Bailey actually thinks having John O’Neill, the original Lookatme! Show Boater, as his surprise guest speaker is a feather in his cap.
You may not like the stand John Murtha has been making, but for anyone who supports our troops at war, there’s no way to respond to these idiot Swiftboaters’ Reunion in Murtha’s home town of Johnstown, Pa, than a chorus of Bronx raspberries.
I hope this clarifies.
Cliff Hancuff
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
———————————————
Things are JUST NOT GOING WELL for the folks at the “Diana Irey for Congress” camp.
Diana Irey Press Release UPDATE!
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo…611/m/911101894
(read first 4 posts, the rest if you fancy to)
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo…611/m/631100794
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/fo…611/m/134103794
(click all links found in post, or you will get/be lost)
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/197109694
September 13th, 2006 at 2:48 AM
RE-POST WITH EXPLANATION. THE LINKS ABOVE ARE TRUNCATED AND NOT CORRECT. THE LINKS HERE MAY APPEAR THE SAME, BUT THEY POINT TO THE PROPER PLACES.
————————————————
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/911101894
(read first 4 posts, the rest if you fancy to)
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/631100794
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/134103794
(click all links found in post, or you will get/be lost)
http://community.cnhi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/38410611/m/197109694
September 29th, 2006 at 12:18 PM
LARRY BAILEY (BOOTMURTHA.COM) OCTOBER 1ST RALLY IN JOHNSTOWN, PA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cliff Hancuff
September 29, 2006 Journalismisflat@aol.com
“American troops could be home now, except for critical mistakes by our current Commander in Chief,” charges Cliff Hancuff, Director of The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too.
“Media and right-wing bloggers are ignoring this fact. For weeks I have been challenging political activists and journalists to act with a minimum of ethical standards,” continued Hancuff.
“I became involved when the Sun-Sentinel in Florida reported that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) said the U.S. poses the top threat to world peace. I watched in dismay as the media and bloggers worldwide reported on this misquote.”
“My involvement continued when I discovered Diana Irey, John Murtha’s political opponent, had attacked Murtha using a fictional quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln.”
“Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com is continuing his three year blind support of our current Commander in Chief’s incompetence in war. President Bush declared war in Iraq without the 4th Infantry, our most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division in the world,” added Hancuff.
This mistake lead to the atrocity of Al Qaqaa. Iraqi insurgents stole hundreds of tons of high explosives to be used as weaponry.
“These are the explosives being used by Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda to perpetuate the war in Iraq.”
“I am distressed that the same issues ignored by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 are being ignored again in 2006,” said Hancuff adding, “Americans, American soldiers and their families deserve better.”
“Without these critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief, our American troops would be home with their loved ones, with honor, right now.”
On October 1, 2006 Hancuff be at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena located in Johnstown Pennsylvania for Larry Bailey’s Swiftboating of John Murtha rally. It is there Hancuff will continue his wait for Mr. Bailey to recall the values of honor and integrity taught him by our US Navy.
There is a youtube.com video online at:
YouTube – Rovian Architecture Unplugged
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jcyHokFyE
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
-30-
September 30th, 2006 at 11:18 PM
Just why did Murtha leave the impression hang for days?
Hmmm.