Four, count them, four ABCNews.com reporters hacked out a three-page April 30 article for the alphabet network's Web site that dealt with new steamy text messages between Democratic Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his then-chief-of-staff Christine Beatty. Kilpatrick, indicted on twelve criminal counts including perjury and obstruction of justice, could see time in prison thanks to these text messages which would prove he lied under oath about his affair with Beatty.
Here's how the Kwame Quartet of Vicki Mabrey, David W. Scott, Mary-Claude Foster and Katie Escherich opened their story:
More steamy text messages sent between Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff reveal intimate details about their relationship, and further indicate the mayor played a part in the dismissal of a police officer whose lawsuit brought their affair to light.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓In the newly released messages, sent between 2002 and 2003, Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty discussed their sexual encounters, their romantic feelings and the possibility of marriage, often using the n-word to refer to one another. Kilpatrick and Beatty, both 37, were married with children at the time of the affair.
So these new texts are strong evidence of corruption, abuse of power, adultery, and the gratuitous use of the N-word. So surely Kilpatrick's political party affiliation will be mentioned in the article, right? Wrong. Not once in the article was the relevant D-word mentioned in the 50-paragraph article.
For more NewsBusters coverage of the MSM ignoring Kilpatrick's party affiliation, click here.
AP photo of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D-Detroit) by J. Scott Applewhite via ABCNews.com. Photo accompanies the article, "Text From Mayor to Chief of Staff: 'I Love You.'"
Original caption: "Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick testifies before the House Committee on Natural Resources on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008. Kilpatrick's testimony concerns two bills that would pave the way for new casinos in southeast Michigan by two Upper Peninsula Indian tribes."
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
If we started calling the
April 30, 2008 - 13:56 ET by NewsbusterbrownIf we started calling the Dems the No Party Label Party, do you think the MSM would finally start labeling them Democrats then?
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
I think they are waiting to
April 30, 2008 - 14:58 ET by bigtimerI think they are waiting to be labeled as Progressives....the new age name they seem to like now...(which is really old in reality.)
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Long Term Strategy...
April 30, 2008 - 16:51 ET by unkeeafThis is a long term strategy by the MSM to make it very difficult to find a history of corruption in the Democrat Party. Five years down the road, when regular people are doing a Lexis-Nexis or google search, they'll find abundant proof of Republican corruption, but virtually none of Democrat abuses because they aren't labled in news stories.
Just more proof of their wickedness.
OK, Jer. 50 paragraphs
April 30, 2008 - 14:12 ET by sarcasmoDoes NB have a point? I think so...
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
They apparently assume all
April 30, 2008 - 14:49 ET by mattmThey apparently assume all black people are Democrats.
That's racism, folks.
"The wickedness Democrats ascribe to Republicans actually describes the Democrats." - Publius
GMTA matt... I'm glad I
April 30, 2008 - 14:53 ET by motherbeltGMTA matt..
I was about to post "Well they didn't want to be redundant...he's a black mayor..what are the chances that he's a Republican?"
Does that make me a racist?
No, but...
April 30, 2008 - 15:00 ET by sarcasmoIt's pretty good evidence there's some of racism out there somewhere in the system, whether or not political types only seem capable of selectively-noticing it for their own short-term benefit.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
You would be if you made
April 30, 2008 - 15:10 ET by mattmYou would be if you made that assumption. I'm saying the media are making the assumption that all Blacks are Dems, which is why they leave off the label. This shows them to be racist.
They also assume that everyone else makes that same assumption. So, they are both racist and presumptuous.
(Can you tell I don't like the MSM very much?)
Ok, granted on the assumption, maybe...
April 30, 2008 - 15:15 ET by sarcasmoBut I'm a gambler, and I can see what she's saying. You've got to admit it's a pretty good bet, sadly enough. But saying it's a good bet is no excuse for the media's non-identification in this case or any other.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Sometimes you have to hear what I'm not saying.
April 30, 2008 - 16:01 ET by mattmI don't actually think the MSM are racist in assuming that a Black politician is a Dem...that would just be statistics.
I'm just trying to point out, in a subtle way, that the same people who make racial generalizations (if that's what they're doing) would be the first to scream "racist!" at someone they don't like if they were to make the same kind of statistical generalization.
I don't consider it racist
April 30, 2008 - 17:01 ET by motherbeltI don't consider it racist to observe that most blacks are Democrats. Democratic Presidential candidates win the black vote to the tune of 90% and more. Take a look at the the Congressional Black Caucus
I'd say that offers pretty good odds that a black politician is a Democrat. Yeah, I know, mayor is different than Congress, but I don't see any reason to predict a major distributive ratio at the local level.
Been Over This...
April 30, 2008 - 15:08 ET by the curatorMr. Shepherd,
You've raised this issue about media outlets not reporting a mayor's party affilitation many times.
I'll say the same thing I've said before... media professionals (of which I am one)... do not report mayoral party affiliations because more times than not the offices of mayors are non-partisan.
That's not to say the people holding those offices aren't politicians... just that the office itself is meant to be a non-party job.
I've worked TV news in 6 different cities now in my career. Not once have we ever referred to a mayor in concert with a party.
Which is different than how you refer to other politicians.
Example...
Gov. Jennifer Granholm
(D) MICHIGAN
as opposed to...
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
DETROIT
If the office that a person holds doesn't recognize party affilitations... media outlets don't recognize them either.
So, please... let this one go.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
tc... You are part of the
April 30, 2008 - 15:15 ET by bigtimertc...
You are part of the msm...lol...you are a perfect example as part of the problem, from the various posts I have read of yours here over time.
JMHO
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
What Problem?
April 30, 2008 - 15:19 ET by the curatorFirst, when you say "main stream media," to me all that means is I'm a paid professional.
Bloggers are not journalists. Being 'main stream' in no way impacts the objectivity of my work.
And, since you never seen a single story I've aired, I'd have serious reservations about your opinion of my work.
I've had positive working relationships with both sides of the political aisle my entire career.
One of my jobs was secured by a letter of recommendation from a politician of the opposite party to which I subscribe.
So, I don't what problems you could possibly have with me personally.
As for the mayor's issue... take a look at these mayoral homepages and see if you can find - anywhere - a party affilitiation.
http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.beb0d8fdaa9e1607a62fa24601c789a0/
http://www.atlantaga.gov/Mayor/Default.aspx
http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/mayor/
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/mayor/
http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
Difference is
April 30, 2008 - 15:32 ET by UphillABC News is part of the national media and not just local.
And to add...
April 30, 2008 - 15:56 ET by UphillI read the Detroit News every morning to get my daily dose of corruption and I never thought about them not mentioning the mayor's party. I guess that might be due to it being a local paper covering a local politician. However, if it were the USA Today or some out of state paper I hope it would be mentioned.
...and adding s'more...
May 1, 2008 - 08:30 ET by RightOfMostIt's not just that the "D" is left out almost EVERY time; that would be OK if the "R" was left out when Republican politicians do wrong.
But when the gop does wrong, the "R" is prominently mentioned in EVERY article, it is in almost EVERY headline too. In addition, the degree of the crime matters; the dbm will IGNORE Dem misdemeanors and RAG MERCILESSLY on a GOP jaywalker.
Hey, Mr. McCain, real Republicans know they must fight the other side to win! Stay out of their way!
And...
April 30, 2008 - 16:23 ET by the curatorABC News is part of the national media and not just local.
What difference should that make at all? Ethics are ethics no matter your market size.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
In my opinion the national
April 30, 2008 - 17:38 ET by UphillIn my opinion the national media should let me know the parties of the politicians that are not in my area. Case in point would be Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans after Katrina since the blame game was being played.
That's *not* where to look.
April 30, 2008 - 15:34 ET by sarcasmoTake a look at any cache of each mayor's campaign page for political parties. Once they're in office they're allegedly supposed to serve everyone, even members of the other party, so it makes sense that they'd downplay partisan affiliation on those pages. For how you should be covering their scandals right, look how they run for office. Chances are, most of the time, it involves an "R" or a "D," and further (here's the antilibertarian bias angle, but as you'll see, the media's bias goes far beyond that to third parties in general here!) if any scandal ridden mayor like Kwame were to somehow have either an "L" or a "G" or a "New Alliance" or...well, you get my drift...After his/her name, the chances are 100% we're gonna see a party designation in the article. 100%.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Sarc
April 30, 2008 - 15:38 ET by UphillI'd certainly want to know if a black mayor of Detroit was a Libertarian!
Understood.
April 30, 2008 - 15:45 ET by sarcasmoJust as I'd want to know if he's a member of a political party, and believe me I don't blame you. But do you agree with me that if Kwame for some reason actually had been a large-L Libertarian that the news media couldn't have done a 50 paragraph story without mentioning it at least 5 times? I don't think it's possible.
Hmm. Mary Ruwart's gotten me feeling partisan-Libertarian again, assuming she gets on the ticket. Such a great lady. I guess I should change my registration back to L. instead of "No Party Affiliation," but I don't know when/if I'll get around to it. Anyway, like I just said, professional journalists should cover scandals in office with an eye toward how the crook in question ran for office, and that almost always means a party designation these days despite the excuses we've seen.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Thanks but no thanks on the
April 30, 2008 - 15:51 ET by Ken ShepherdThanks but no thanks on the advice.
Often these politicians, particularly in large cities, have aspirations for higher office and are active members of political party organizations, hence party affiliation is germane.
I Don't Entirely Disagree
April 30, 2008 - 16:18 ET by the curatorOften these politicians, particularly in large cities, have aspirations for higher office and are active members of political party organizations,
I don't disagree that they are often after larger political offices.
But, that doesn't mean media should be required to report someone's political affiliation in a non-political office just because you think so.
A journalist who doesn't report a personal political affiliation when it doesn't apply (mayor's office) is a journalist who's doing their job.
As a blogger, feel free to do whatever you'd like. But, you can't accuse a journalist of not including the "D." They're not supposed to. And in this instance that's not an opinion... it's fact.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
Not buying it
April 30, 2008 - 16:31 ET by mattm"A journalist who doesn't report a personal political affiliation when it doesn't apply (mayor's office) is a journalist who's doing their job."
In my City, the municipal offices are all designated as nonpartisan, but all the candidates run under a Party banner (usually Democrat), so the party label definitely does apply.
The obvious fact here is that it's a scandal, and it is very reasonable to say, based on past MSM behavior, that if this guy were a Republican, the (R) would be all over the place.
The "doesn't apply to mayor" argument is just a diversion. In fact, the whole 'nonpartisan' office thing is just a structural set-up designed to keep Republicans out of city government and to keep Democrats insulated from criticism when things go haywire.
Please Link
April 30, 2008 - 16:39 ET by the curatorit is very reasonable to say, based on past MSM behavior, that if this guy were a Republican, the (R) would be all over the place.
Please link to a story proving this claim.
Could you also please link to your hometown newspaper or stories so I can see how local media covered the politicians in your city during their election cycles.
the whole 'nonpartisan' office thing is just a structural set-up designed to keep Republicans out of city government and to keep Democrats insulated from criticism when things go haywire.
This is pretty 'consipiracy theory' of you. But, if its the case... then why don't republican politicians change this policy once they become mayor? This just too outlandish for words, actually.
You really believe city gov'ts were set up in a way to keep democrats from being tarnsihed in local media so they can stay in power? Really? That's what you're saying?
I digress... if you could still link to your hometown newspaper so I can see how they covered city elections (did they actually name candidates by party), I'd appreciate it.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/page
April 30, 2008 - 16:49 ET by mattmhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hiddenlife/
But, if its the case... then why don't republican politicians change this policy once they become mayor? This just too outlandish for words, actually.
We haven't had a Republican mayor in my City for 30 years. Besides, the City Council would have to approve it, and they've been under Dem control for at least as long as that.
Outlandish? You don't know what the hell you're talking about.
... if you could still link to your hometown newspaper so I can see how they covered city elections (did they actually name candidates by party), I'd appreciate it.
Not that I have to prove anything to you, but the last mayoral race in my town featured two Democrats...if the local papers didn't mention that, then they were derelict in their duty.
P.S. Your smugness is showing.
Exception to the Rule
April 30, 2008 - 16:59 ET by the curatorThe story you linked to is the exception to the rule.
In public, he was a conservative politician who had co-sponsored legislation forbidding gays from teaching in public schools. But in private, the paper reported, West spent hours trolling for young men on the Internet, sometimes using the trappings of his office as bait to lure them into more intimate relationships.
When you have a conservative politician who signs laws against gay rights... then turns out to be gay himself, his political identity becomes relevant.
And, I'm looking for what you were referring to earlier... local headlines.
We haven't had a Republican mayor in my City for 30 years. Besides, the City Council would have to approve it and they've been under Dem control for at least as long as that.
Now you're not making any sense. You're telling me the CITY COUNCIL decides whom the mayor will be... not the voters? Seriously... give me a link to your city's web page to see for myself.
And, I'm not trying to be smug. I apologize if it's coming across that way.
But, you refuse to provide any type of a link to your city's media for proof of what you're claiming... and now you're making even more outlandish claims that your city council picks your mayor.
There aren't any parlimentary municipal gov'ts in this country that I'm aware of.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
Media professionals are
April 30, 2008 - 15:59 ET by kgMedia professionals are quick to attach a 'Republican" label. If not in the headline, it is almost certainly in the first few words of the first paragraph. The 'Republican' label is also included with mayors, city council members, sheriffs, and even fund raisers. On the rare ocasion when a 'Democrat' label is printed it is usually towards the end of the article thus keeping that information from the casual reader.
Perhaps you would like to look at the very long list of articles with no mention of a 'Democrat' lable found on just this sight alone.
Nice try in justifying the label game though.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
OK...
April 30, 2008 - 16:21 ET by the curatorMedia professionals are quick to attach a 'Republican" label
Feel free to link to any story where a mayor has been embroiled in controversy where the media has reported his republican political affiliation. (or democrat for that matter)
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
Here's one:
April 30, 2008 - 16:38 ET by mattmHere's one: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hiddenlife/
I guess I could find more, but maybe Republican mayors are less likely to be involved in scandals than Dems are...which would be something Democrats, who make up 90% of the media, in the media would be anxious to keep hidden...
I guess I could find
April 30, 2008 - 17:04 ET by the curatorI guess I could find more
I'd appreciate it if you did. I just explained to someone else that this is the exception to the rule.
When you have a mayor that signs laws against gay rights... and turns out to be gay himself... his political identity comes into play.
In the case of Mayor Kilpatrick... its a sex scandal involving himself and someone of the opposite sex. Something I don't believe he's signed any laws prohibiting.
maybe Republican mayors are less likely to be involved in scandals than Dems are
Oh, I'd say no one is more likely than the other. PBS has one republican you just linked to. And Kilpatrick is a dem.
Democrats, who make up 90% of the media
Care to attribute that to some study I could look at... instead of you randomly throwing out numbers?
the media would be anxious to keep hidden...
Just like they're keeping the Kilpatrick story hidden. Boy, I haven't heard ANYTHING about that. Good thing the liberal media isn't reporting on it.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
While he's looking
April 30, 2008 - 17:29 ET by sarcasmoMight you address my point above regarding looking for partisan designations applicable to scandals in office on the crooked politicians' campaign rather than official websites (and is it time for me to start making cracks about "the cloak" again?) regardless of party? And perhaps, while you're at it, address the equally-cloaked pro-duopoly bias issue?? Thanks.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Feel Free
April 30, 2008 - 17:39 ET by the curatorlooking for partisan designations applicable to scandals in office on the crooked politicians' campaign rather than official websites
I'm of the belief that media don't have it in for one party or the other.
If you think there are partisan designations regarding scandal by the medai, then the burden is on you to find it and provide a link.
But, you further make my point... their "official" websites don't list parties. Which drives home the idea that if it's a non-party office... the media should report a party.
address the equally-cloaked pro-duopoly bias issue??
And, I'm sorry... but, I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'pro-duopoly.'
I'm out for a little while... if you'd like to respond I'll try and catch up later tonight, guys. .
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
Hell, just read NB for a while
April 30, 2008 - 17:46 ET by sarcasmoI'm in no way "fact free" if these conservatives get to continually rag on you media people as a result of your obvious bias. Believe me, I give various conservatives here hell when they deserve it, too. I call 'em like I see 'em here. You were trying to get away from partisan labels by directing people to look at official rather than campaign websites, where the labels WILL be found, just as I said in the formerly cloaked post. The place to look for party labels is where they ran for office, rather than official websites.
Scandals should be covered just like campaigns, and I think truly professional journalists know it. The duopoly is a word that references my still-cloaked point about the obvious antilibertarian/green/etc. bias inherent in all of this conversation, in addition to the underlying anti-Republican bias the masthead would like everyone to notice to the exclusion of the antilibertarian bias that's my specialty here. It didn't work. The media's bias shows here. Develop better standards or expect continued jabs, your choice.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Cue crickets chirping...
May 1, 2008 - 03:03 ET by sarcasmoThis is funny. He's logically pinned, IMO. The nonpartisan "evidence" of official websites is belied by various blatantly-partisan campaigns and campaign websites. I suspect he knows it and knows therefore that NB has a point in this instance, but he's continuing to try to defend his position despite said point. This means more humor very soon, if my guess is right.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
No (R) from FOX
May 1, 2008 - 15:41 ET by the curatorSorry this isn't timely... but FOX News.com is running a front page headline about the DC Madam committing suicide.
In it, they refer to two politicians - both republicans - who were implicated in the prostitution scandal.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353758,00.html
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and former deputy secretary of state Randall L. Tobias both were tied by investigators to Palfrey's high-end prostitution ring.
Notice - no indication of a political party. And, unlike a mayoral seat - at least the senate seat here is a political office.
Mr. Shepherd, will you be the first to denounce FOX for doing exactly what you're chastizing other media outlets of doing to democrats?
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
No (D) here either
May 1, 2008 - 16:02 ET by mastersofdeceithttp://www.fosters.c...
" Ethics are ethics no matter your market size."
You're more right than wrong.
May 1, 2008 - 17:30 ET by the curatorWhile the story is negligent in not citing her as a democrat in the text, she is at least captioned in phoots as a democrat twice.
But, I agree totally. Dems should be labled just like Repubs when they break the law... if their office lables them as partisans. Yours and mine are two perfect expamles.
However, Mr. Shepherd's column here is not at all.
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000
Curator, It refers to (I
May 1, 2008 - 17:39 ET by mastersofdeceitCurator,
It refers to (I believe) The Fosters Daily Democrat
See top left corner. Or here
http://www.fosters.c...
Good Spot...
May 1, 2008 - 18:59 ET by the curatorIf that's the case, then yeah... the the story, journalist, editor AND the paper are completely out of line.
Very good catch... and thank you!
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000