Call the Associated Press out on its blatant insulting of Cindy Sheehan!

[Roland99]

Here's what I sent to:

[e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail] ; [e-mail]





To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my dismay at the subjective rhetoric placed into an article from your news service. The Dallas Morning News is running this article:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestne...

which contains the passage:

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who has used her son's death in Iraq to spur the anti-war movement, was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.


Is it the place of the Associated Press to inject reasons why Cindy Sheehan is engaging in her anti-war protests? It would seem to me that that would be the purview of the TV and print pundits, not a news source.

Please remedy this situation by editing out the subjective and pointed rhetoric "the California woman who has used her son's death in Iraq to spur the anti-war movement"

Thank you.

[Child_Of_Isis]

1. We really need a march against the media. eom

[Jon8503]

3. That is something I think we should consider. If it could get pulled

off, it could at least bring it to light to a much larger number of people that might pay more attention.

[wtmusic]

2. That is pretty sick

"Using her son's death". Even "the anti-war movement" is a fabrication--should be the "anti-IRAQ war movement".

[bertha katzenengel]

4. The AP just sucks more and more and more.

Who is running that POS these days? Karl Rove?

[nofurylike]

5. thank you very much for making that so easy to do, Roland99! eom

[elehhhhna]

6. mine-

You should immediately retract... (blah blah etc.)

It’s insulting to the, oh, say, 70-ish percent of us who think your corporate war is bullshit. Are you not “using” her son’s death to backhand her? We know you surrendered your freedom of the press rights LONG AGO. Get over it.

Do NOT begrudge an American citizen and Gold-Star Mother the exercise of her rights under the Constitution. If you’re jealous and sorry because you gave your up, reclaim them.

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. I must be missing something

Is it "used" that's drawing your ire? If so, while I agree the word can be taken out of context, I don't think most people would do so. This is a straightforward news lede. What's the objection?

[wtmusic]

9. Wholly misinterprets her intent

1. The callous assessment that she "used her son's death" is derogatory and has no basis in fact.
2. Sheehan has not once stated her intent is to "spur the anti-war movement". Her intent is pure and simple--to end the American occupation of Iraq.
3. The implication that Mrs. Sheehan is "anti-war" is a fiction invented by the AP writer. Sheehan is anti-Iraq war, and the distinction was deliberately avoided to lend legitimacy to the current fiasco.

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. No misrepresentation

1. The callous assessment that she "used her son's death" is derogatory and has no basis in fact.

I think you're taking this out of context. Can you suggest another way to put it, or would you drop it altogether? (One of the rules of journalism is to never assume readers know what you mean. That's why she isn't identified simply as "Cindy Sheehan.")

2. Sheehan has not once stated her intent is to "spur the anti-war movement". Her intent is pure and simple--to end the American occupation of Iraq.

The story mentions nor implies nothing about Sheehan's intent.

3. The implication that Mrs. Sheehan is "anti-war" is a fiction invented by the AP writer. Sheehan is anti-Iraq war, and the distinction was deliberately avoided to lend legitimacy to the current fiasco.

Sheehan isn't anti-war? That would be news. You're splitting some very fine hairs. And I won't even discuss "deliberately."

[wtmusic]

18. Wha?

1) See your own post (#14)

2) Saying she "used her son's death" explicitly implies intent.

3) Main stream media typically characterizes any demonstration against the Iraq war generically as an "antiwar" demonstration, even though a large majority feel that war is necessary in some circumstances. This characterization is just another attempt to paint the source of any dissent as loony left, pie-in-the-sky fringe elements.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

16. I see your point BUT

when I read it I really didn't pick that up. So hopefully it won't be seen as critical.

Once you pointed it out, my consciousness was raised to the wording.

[donheld]

8. A march on the Media is exactly what we need

It will soon be too late, i'm afraid.

[mcscajun]

10. Three leads....pick one:

WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who has used her son's death in Iraq to spur the anti-war movement, was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.

WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose son's death in Iraq has inspired her to spur the anti-war movement, was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.

WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who, since her son's death in Iraq, has spurred the anti-war movement, was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.

A) Opposing rhetoric
B) Supporting rhetoric
C) Just the facts, ma'am.

[Roland99]

11. Looks like it worked!!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050926/ap_on_re_us/war_demonstrations

[wtmusic]

12. Yo Roland99

today you made a difference

:headbang: :yourock: :headbang:

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. Yes, this is a better lede

WASHINGTON - Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who became a leader of the anti-war movement following her son's death in Iraq, was arrested Monday along with dozens of others protesting outside the White House.

It leaves little or no room for inference.

[Roland99]

15. Ba-da-bing! It wasn't just me! It was ALL of us!

[cbear70]

17. I had written too thanks to you

It feels so good to make a difference...I love being a part of DU!!!!!

:yourock: :headbang: :yourock: :headbang:

[win_in_06]

19. Stated so matter-of-factly by the AP