John Conyers on Balanced (??) Reporting:

[babylonsister]

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000403.htm


Balanced Reporting

The New York Times today wrote about Senator Feingold's censure resolution and how this is going to be a boon for the Republicans. It was an interesting piece of balanced reporting to be sure.

Essentially, we are told, that we have just handed the November elections to the Republicans. Who do we go to for this information? The spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee. Hmmm, that's funny because I was really expecting he would admit things to his party's supporters like, the polls suggest that widespread public dissatisfaction with our President is sinking our prospects for re-election. Or maybe he would have echoed the complaints of Republican Congressmen in his party who are publicly announcing that it is time to jump ship, like this article in the Washington Post titled, GOP Irritation at Bush Long Brewing.

Striking thing about both articles? Seldom was it thought necessary to include comments by Democratic Members of Congress for the story. GOP Irritation? No Democratic voices. Feingold's Censure? Democrats: Senator Feingold, Representative Pelosi; Republicans: Paul Weyrich - a veteran conservative organizer, Rush Limbaugh, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, Brian Jones - Republican Spokesman, Carl Forti - Republican Spokesman.

Perhaps more alarming is what the New York Times journalist, David D. Kirkpatrick volunteers as his sources in this article: "Paul Weyrich ... declared last month in an e-mail" or "The Republican National Committee sent the editorial out to its e-mail list of 15 million supporters" or "Rush Limbaugh told listeners on his syndicated radio program" or "The Wall Street Journal's editorial board, a conservative standard-bearer" or "Conservative Web sites and talk radio programs have lavished attention on the impeachment resolutions" or "for three days the Republican Party has sent radio hosts news bulletins."

Can we at least pretend to be unbiased here? Perhaps by doing a minimal amount of research. David D. Kirkpatrick mentions that I have

"proposed an initial inquiry into a censure or impeachment of Mr. Bush over the war. So far, the Conyers proposal has attracted support from about two dozen of the chamber's 201 Democrats."

About two dozen? This flippant account of what must count for research is alarming.

Well, there are a total of 32 Members of Congress on my resolution. Maybe that's about two dozen. Or maybe that's about more than 15% of the Democrats in Congress and a number that's growing every week. Maybe the author could have signed up for my email, or even called me or my staff if he wanted to know the facts. Or he could have gone to Congress.gov to find out who has signed up as a cosponsor. Or maybe he practiced what amounts to research and balanced reporting these days.

Blogged by JC on 03.16.06 @ 11:50 PM ET

[understandinglife]

1. Congressman Conyers is on the job, 24/7, defending the Republic.

Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[jsamuel]

2. Thank You Conyers!

See, Conyers knows this is no turf war!