front page stories , and video, about yacht and JK

[MBS]

front page, above the fold, big photo .. and link to video of interview with JK
It's actually not bad; complete, real quotes, almost in depth. It almost even felt like Globe was somewhat sympathetic

Actual front page :



the main story (with link to video)(edited to add that video is NOT of interview itself, just of Viser talking about the interview)
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/07/30/kerry_says_he_always_intended_to_pay_tax/

side-bar article, pointing out JK was not always wealthy
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/30/senators_wealth_was_long_in_coming_and_not_always_carried_comfortably/

excerpts from interview transcript
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/07/29/john_kerry_transcript/

also, explanation about some of the financing issues. .
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07
/30/yacht_could_expand_couples_earnings_from_luxury_charters/

[MBS]

1. too late to edit, but wanted to add that

I thought the "side-bar" article, stressing that JK was not always wealthy, was particularly informative.

Overall, I think/hope that the completeness of this reporting will help JK get back to work on the things that matter.

[Luftmensch067]

2. Thanks for this very complete summary of the coverage (with links!)

But I'm livid over the fact that our local NPR station nevertheless just framed the story in their news roundup as JK finally agreeing to pay his taxes as if they were taxes owed! I woke up to this idiocy only a few minutes ago and I'm so angry! This is the very station (WBUR) which had an in-depth look on their On Point news discussion show YESTERDAY about the laziness of today's journalism which never does the legwork to get the **truth** about a story and just reports verbatim lies that are often created by the RW (this was E.J. Dionne's contention on that program, at least.) The Globe, in this coverage, has FINALLY done what everyone should have done as soon as the Herald printed that innuendo-laden filth on Friday -- insist on the full facts, from Sen. Kerry, and report it straight as they have now done. Even if it took a while to get it, the very LEAST they should have gotten before going with the story was what they've just gotten. The older journalists on this program I heard yesterday blamed the culture of wanting to get the story first and fastest without caring whether it's true for the state of "truth" in our national discussion today, leading to debacles like the Sherrod case.

JK has done what he should do: he has given a long, thorough interview with facts and evidence and an apology. And he has paid taxes based on politics and perception. The Globe has done what it should do, they've printed journalistic coverage worthy of their profession. And yet the shoddy coverage continues (from NPR, no less!) as if no attention has been paid. I am one who thinks anyone from now on who covers this story without acknowledging this Globe coverage and continues to frame it in terms of the Herald's original LIES, should be called out and forced to retract. In my mind, this is as damaging to the concept of truth and fairness in our media as the Swift Liars and what happened to Shirley Sherrod.

[MBS]

3. NPR has been getting lazier/sloppier lately.. or perhaps they've been getting

a lot of flack from RW, so feel compelled to indulge RW propaganda. I'm now a little sorry that I signed a petition to put NPR in Helen Thomas' seat. Better NPR than Fox News, of course! But I wouldn't want NPR to think that it's on the right trajectory. .

I agree that Globe did a good job. . . as you said, it's the kind of thing that newspapers SHOULD do.It's scary to think how rare it's become for major newspapers to do this kind of in-depth reporting. But, IMHO, it's the kind of reporting that will always justify the existence of real, old-time, journalism.. .and that , despite expense (which is why they've been doing less of it), I think it will be ultimately be the route to their financial salvation. It's the kind of reporting you just can't get by any other medium.

[wisteria]

12. The lies should be challenged when repeated, but unfortunately, it will

always be the original story the RW continues to tell. The facts get in the way of their agenda. For most people though, this will just be forgotten. Meanwhile, the GOP vote down a small business and job creations bill that was suppose to be a compromise bill, and there is no front page story or any outrage posted at the Boston Herald-or for that matter-anywhere else. Yet, Senator Kerry's story is one of the top stories on Yahoo News.

[ladym55]

21. npr is no longer what it used to be

I find both their national and local coverage to be slanting more and more to the right, thinking somehow that will please the major corporations that underwrite their stations.

Regularly I hear Cokie Roberts carry on about the importance of Obama "reaching across the aisle" or a breathless interview exclaiming how John BOehner could be OUR NEXT SPEAKER!!! (heaven help us) Here in Ohio, we get regular reports on what the Rethuglican candidate for governor has to say, but NO coverage of the current governor (who is in danger of losing his bid for re-election).

[ProSense]

4. Good.

The details of this story are not complex, but the RW hacks sure figured out a way to give the impression that Kerry, a prominent U.S. Senator with a huge boat who the RW intentionally targets, was hiding in RI.

Yeah, that's likely.

[Mass]

5. This seems t o be a purely Boston story.

I' ve been spending this past week in Springfield, and it is nearly a non-story here.

While I agree with TayTay it could have been avoided, it may be that it will be a very local story (or is it wishful thinking on my part?).

[wisteria]

13. Jon Stewart covered it the other night and it is one of Yahoo News top stories. n/t

[Blaukraut]

6. Thank you for these

The last link doesn't work anymore, but the other two were decent and honest. Kudos to the Globe, for a change.
In an ideal world, JK's personal life would not be subject to this ridiculous media scrutiny. News would report on his Senate work, his votes, his efforts made for his constituents. Sadly, we will see incidents like this one over and over again. Short of gutting today's media, reinstating some form of fairness doctrine, hate speech law and whatnot, the likes of Jay Severin, Limbaugh, the Herald et al will continue to wreak havoc.

[MBS]

7. try this link

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/30/yacht_could_expand_couples_earnings_from_luxury_charters/

weird-- link has disappeared from front page now, too. . but this one still seems to work

it's also in hard copy (page A11 if I remember correctly. .)

[TayTay]

8. This was a good move

and one that will irk the Herald no end. JK gave an exclusive to the Globe and admitted upfront that he could have handled this better. In turn, the BGlob put the story "above the fold" with a nice picture.

Those who like JK will move on, those who don't can't be pleased anyway. I think this is "over" as an active issue, but still there as a behind the scenes issue and still might have impact on the fall's elections.

JK should "disappear" during the August recess, go to Afghanistan and then do some vacation time.

[Luftmensch067]

9. I bow to your political wisdom, Tay

I can see your point re the August recess (and I, for one, hope he gets to relax a little!) but do you have thoughts, politically, on whether he should campaign for state Dems in the fall? As you know, I think he should.

[YvonneCa]

11. I think it could be hilarious if...

...after disappearing for August...he came to CA to campaign for Barbara Boxer. He could help her go after Carly for having TWO yachts... :7


But I know nothing about politics.

[wisteria]

14. LOL, yeah because it makes perfect sense for a family to have two yachts.

:eyes:

[YvonneCa]

18. ...

:)

[TayTay]

20. I think my political wisdom valve is a little rusty lately

LOL, i have not had a lot of time to think about politics lately. I really enjoyed reading all the comments in this group about this controversy. I think people in here had the story better than the press did. We can discuss differences without all that stupid crap getting in the way.

[sandnsea]

15. He should make the yacht available to kids

Sea Scouts for sailing lessons, cancer camp kids, etc.

[karynnj]

10. Shannon's comment at the end of the article on him not always being wealthy is a great summary of

what politics is today for a liberal.

"“It’s the sort of atmosphere where everybody’s on a trip wire,’’ he said. “All the people I know in politics are walking around, looking over their shoulders, for anything that can blow up in their faces and be blown all out of proportion.’’

In a way, a clue that the Herald knew the Kerrys probably intended to pay the tax was that they put the story out now. If they weighted until the end of the summer - if the Kerrys actually did avoid taxes, the story would hold better.

I can't believe that this will not be just a tiny bump by the time the general election starts in September. I would bet that he intended vacation to be on the yacht in August. He has never been as open about how hard the last year has been for Teresa - something that she spoke of at her conference. (Teresa speaks here - although the articles on her cancer mentioned that she suffered a concussion when she fell going to get cancer treatment, the reality was far more serious than I picked up from that comment. It's her opening speech - http://www.womenshealthpittsburgh.org/pages/multimedia )

[wisteria]

16. Thank you for posting this. OMG, she has had a couple of really bad years.

Teresa seems a bit tired, but that is to be expected after everything she has been through. She looks wonderful though. However, I am no doctor, but with all the falls she has had, there may be more to them than just clumsiness. I hope she is taking really good care of herself. She is such a wonderful and caring woman.

[MBS]

17. " " " " " "

I admit that even Sen Kerry's brief allusion to her health in the Globe story worried me a little. And karynnj's and your comments worried me a little more. I wish her a speedy and complete recovery. . she is such a treasure.

[ProSense]

19. Wow.

What a stressful year that must have been, and for Senator Kerry as well.

Teresa is wonderful. She has a terrific sense of humor.

I adore her and love hearing her speak. I pray that she fully recovers.