Action Alert: DSM Activist "Wingnuts" says WaPo's Dana Milbank

[Douglas Carpenter]

From FAIR-Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting:http://www.fair.org/

On June 8, Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank referred to Downing Street Memo activists--some of whom were offering a cash reward for the first journalist to ask Bush about the memo--as "wing nuts"...
"In part, the memo never gained traction here because, unlike in
Britain, it wasn't election season, and the war is not as unpopular here. In part, it's also because the notion that Bush was intent on military action in Iraq had been widely reported here before"

Milbank had reported the same day (6/8/05) that his paper's latest poll showed that only 41 percent of Americans approved of the Iraq
war--which makes one wonder when exactly the war would cross Milbank's threshold and become unpopular enough to make the memo newsworthy. Secondly, Milbank argued the memo isn't news because other similar stories were once reported--a peculiar explanation, to be sure.

See the whole article here including charge by L.A. Times Michael Kinsley that DSM activist are paranoid conspiracy therorist:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2545

ACTION:

Contact the Washington Post ombudsman Michael Getler and ask him if it is appropriate to label media activists "wing nuts" in a news story.
Also, ask Los Angeles Times editor Michael Kinsley to explain how
Downing Street Memo activists are peddling a "paranoid theory" that he also suggests is correct.

CONTACT:
Washington Post
Ombudsman
Michael Getler
Phone: [phone]
[e-mail]

Los Angeles Times
Editorial & Opinion Editor
Michael Kinsley
[e-mail]

As always, please remember that your comments have more impact if you
maintain a polite tone.

___________________________

Here is my letter:

Washington Post
Ombudsman
Michael Getler

Dear Mr. Getler:

On June 8, Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank referred to media activists as "Wingnuts" for suggesting that the media has not properly held accountable the Bush Administration for possibly deceiving the American people.

I would like to suggest Mr. Getler that the Downing Street minutes as well as numerous other documents and the words of numerous senior officials on both sides of the Atlantic might give even a dispassionate observer cause to believe that our country might very well have been mislead.

Is it not disconcerting sir, that the whole question of whether or not the Bush Administration deceived the American Congress, media and people in an issue of such grave importance has received so very little attention in the mainstream American press?

I do hope that the Washington Post, one of the world's leading newspapers, will pursue this matter with serious and in-depth investigative journalism.

On Thursday June 16, 2005, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room HC-9 of the U.S. Capitol Building, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and other Congress Members will hold a hearing on the Downing Street Minutes and other documents and pursue the whole question of whether or not the Bush Administration did or did not "fix intelligence" and engage in an intentional campaign of deception. I trust that the Washington Post will give full and fair coverage to this hearing.

I also hope that the Post will commit itself to thorough, independent and in-depth investigation of its own on the whole question of the Bush Administrations possible manipulation of intelligence. If it is true Mr. Getler that the White House intentionally mislead the nation--should not the Washington Post of all papers be leading the journalistic world in investigating this matter?

Sincerely,

______________________________





http://www.bernie.org

[JAbuchan08]

1. kick,

:kick: I've got these e-mail addresses saved so I can get to them when I have a chance.

[Cha]

2. Is dana milbank a tool

or a reporter?

Who cares if it was reported bush was intent on military action BEFORE? All the news needs to come out..this is just more of that disengenous writing that the mswm is resorting to in the age of neoconjobs.

Grreat letter Douglas, thank you!

[WePurrsevere]

3. Why is it that...

when people run out of logical discussion and facts and they know they're wrong and losing they stoop to an attack and belittle stagedy? :mad:

Of course if one thinks about it we could take that as a hopeful sign... ;)

Will send emails along :) ... although I'm not sure it will help considering the source.