Hartford Courant subtlely shields Nancy Johnson from potential scandal

[Atman]

There is a front-page story in the Hartford Courant today about representative Nancy Johnson, and a trip she took to Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands (with her husband), paid for by The Nature Conservancy. Lots and lots of quotes by Nancy about the educational value of the trip, and even why her husband, a retired physician, went along because of his "expertise" in plants and biology. The newspaper doesn't seem to be sure whether it is reporting on potential scandal or not. Headlines seem to imply so. The story gives Nancy lots of chance to defend actions in accepting the nearly $18,000 trip, and why it is not considered lobbying paid for indirectly with federal funds.

I suppose the Courant just assumed all Connecticut residents were well aware of Johnson's party affiliation (R), as it failed to mention it even ONCE in the entire article. However, down in paragraph 18, it does manage to point out the names of two Democrat senators from other states who took the trip. This is subtle, admittedly, but it really ticks me off, and seems to be just another indicator of the bias in the right-wing controlled media, doing whatever it can to shield its own from bad PR. The Courant is a Tribune Media company paper, whose reporting is often heavily slanted to the right, and twice endorsed Chimpy (even while calling him, essentially, a failure during the 2004 race -- "we hope he'll do better.") *sigh*

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Johnson's Trip To Ecuador Raises Eyebrows
Tour Was Paid For By Nature Conservancy, Which Receives Millions In Federal Funds
October 12, 2005
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, And MARK SPENCER Courant Staff Writers

WASHINGTON -- The Nature Conservancy, which gets millions of dollars in federal money to help fund its conservation projects, spent $17,900 to send Rep. Nancy L. Johnson {notice, no party designation!} and her husband to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands to observe its work.

The nonprofit group spent $4,400 on lodging, $1,200 for meals and $12,300 in transportation expenses for the couple's trip, which began May 28 and ended June 5.

Johnson said the excursion was highly productive and typical of others she has taken throughout her 22-year House career. "I pick knowledge-based trips. I ask myself whether this is a subject I need to know about," she said, "and whether I'll be a better congressman if I know more."

She said this visit was "the first I've ever had the chance to go on that involved gaining a better understanding of international environmental issues and how they impact America."

<snip>

{this is paragraph 18 -- suddenly they remember who belongs to which party, but not Nancy!}
The Nature Conservancy, which gets about $42 million in federal government grants per year, spent a total of $64,227 on the trips of the members - Johnson and Reps. John M. Spratt, D-S.C., Sam Johnson, R-Texas, and Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., - and their spouses.

<snip>


http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-johnson1012.artoct12,0,6424950.story?coll=hc-headlines-home

[zbdent]

1. Somewhere, in one of the seven levels of Hell

Goebbels is smiling . . .

[bigscott]

2. Hartford Courant

is a POS newspaper - when i buy it (for the sports:donut: ) i dont even read the front page or editorials - if you want to read some hysterical stuff read the letters to the editor!! CT is a blue state but we have Lieberman as a Senator:wtf: ! go figure. It is not wonder newspaper readership is in the toilet - at least on the Internets I don't have to read their biased BS

[Atman]

4. But they also publish the supposed "alternative" papers

It makes their bias even more insidious. They'll do a story about GOP corruption in the free rag they give away at liquor stores, but for some reason, they don't feel the same story is newsworthy for the only major daily covering half the state. They totally control the media here, including three of the television channels. They are just a PR firm for the GOP.

Oh, and scott...WELCOME TO DU! :bounce:

[calico1]

3. The Courant is very pro right wing so

that is not surprising. The only good section is the recipe section and I borrow that from a coworker who brings the paper in. I'd never buy it myself.

[bigscott]

5. thanks Atman

good to be onboard - gives me something to do while I am at work!!:bounce: