Scrivener.net

Tuesday, October 12, 2004


... and the Media.

Speaking of maggots and leeches, we turn to their dark side, asking: What liberal media? ABC News edition.

Last week saw the leak to outside ABC of a memo by ABC News Political Director Mark Halperin (now available at Drudge) instructing his news minions that they will "serve the public" if they do not "reflexively and artificially hold both sides 'equally' accountable" for the truth as the election approaches.

As the NY Post editorialized ...

Halperin, described by the network as "responsible for the planning and editorial content of all political news on the network," issued new orders. Both sides distort the truth, he said, adding in effect that Kerry's lies don't matter — but that George W. Bush's most certainly do.

"Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win." In contrast, he wrote, "the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done"...

Then came the instructions:

"We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides 'equally' accountable when the facts don't warrant that.

"It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest, now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right."
Halperin here makes not only the judgment that the distortions and mistakes made by Kerry "all the time" are less important than those of the other side, but also one that the public is incompetent to realize this for itself if the errors of both sides are pointed out to it.

Thus, it is the duty of all of those at ABC news "with the skill and strength to help voters" to make this evaluation for them, and to educate them accordingly... "and do that right."