On Friday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent Steve Hartman made fun of Texan Robert Havercamp, who helps monitor border cameras via the internet as part of the virtual border fence: "Whether you think I'm naive or he's paranoid, this is a story that will astound you regardless...It's about how concerned citizens like Robert Havercamp, a truck driver from south Texas, are taking on illegal immigrants and drug smugglers from the comfort of their own computers...Although it's hard to say exactly how much safer he's really making us...Paranoid? Maybe. Patriotic? Unabashedly."
In addition to mocking Havercamp’s efforts, Hartman criticized the funding for the virtual fence program: "Donald Reay oversees the project...He runs the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, which got a $2 million grant to put up the cameras and run the web site for a year...And yet, so far the program has only produced eight arrests and four drug seizures. Not much bang for the buck." Following his report, Hartman remarked: "After the grant expires, the coalition hopes to keep the site up by selling ads, and since it is a virtual stakeout, the first sponsor they're hoping to get is Dunkin’ Donuts." Anchor Katie Couric chimed in that people like Havercamp could be rewarded for their work with: "Maybe a free doughnut at some point?"
However, NewsBusters called up Mr. Reay and asked him if he had a donut discussion with Hartman. Reay replied: "None. It never came up. The truth of the matter is that most of the towns that we serve don’t have a Dunkin’ Donuts....In El Paso, Dunkin’ Donuts went broke here. Sorry, it wasn’t cute." Reay said the interview wasn’t that jokey: "We had a very serious discussion of close to three hours with him" and said "considering some of the publicity we’ve gotten, it’s not that bad." He tried to persuade Hartman of the seriousness of fighting crime on the border with concerned citizens. Reay also said "The Daily Show" has been calling around, trying to do a segment. Apparently, there’s nothing but comedy in border vigilance.
Prior to speculating on Havercamp’s paranoia, Hartman asked: "When you see video of illegal immigrants coming into this country, what do you immediately assume they're carrying? What’s in the bags?" Havercamp began to reply: "I don't know what's in those bags but there’s a good strong possibility there’s-" Hartman interrupted: "That it's clothes." Havercamp responded: "It could be clothes, it could be marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine. Or it could be bits and pieces of a bomb. We were invaded in 2001. Do you want that again?"
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
6:55PM SEGMENT:
KATIE COURIC: Who's guarding our border with Mexico tonight? Virtually anyone who wants. Here's Steve Hartman with tonight's 'Assignment America.'
STEVE HARTMAN: When you see video of illegal immigrants coming into this country, what do you immediately assume they're carrying? What's in the bags?
ROBERT HAVERCAMP: I don't know what's in those bags but there's a good strong possibility there's-
HARTMAN: That it's clothes.
HAVERCAMP: It could be clothes, it could be marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine. Or it could be bits and pieces of a bomb. We were invaded in 2001. Do you want that again?
HARTMAN: Whether you think I'm naive or he's paranoid, this is a story that will astound you regardless.
HAVERCAMP: Somebody's got to catch these people.
HARTMAN: It's about how concerned citizens like Robert Havercamp, a truck driver from south Texas, are taking on illegal immigrants and drug smugglers from the comfort of their own computers.
HAVERCAMP: All I can do is report what I see.
HARTMAN: On the internet you can now monitor 15 live cameras hidden on utility poles and pointed at various sections of the Texas/Mexico border. If you see something-
HAVERCAMP: Right here, see the two people walking?
HARTMAN: -you write something.
HAVERCAMP: This is what I'm going to do.
HARTMAN: Your report goes to a sheriff's deputy, who in turn dispatches the appropriate authorities.
HAVERCAMP: Every now and then I pull one of those all nighters' because the bad guy's going to wait until late at night to do anything-
HARTMAN: And if you went to sleep-
HAVERCAMP: They could easily get into the country.
HARTMAN: That's just a lot of pressure to put on yourself.
HAVERCAMP: No, it's dedication.
DONALD REAY: Yes, we call those folks virtual deputies.
HARTMAN: Donald Reay oversees the project.
REAY: This is a virtual wall.
HARTMAN: He runs the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, which got a $2 million grant to put up the cameras and run the web site for a year. It's been a couple months and already 35,000 people have registered as virtual deputies. This is just some of what they've seen. And yet, so far the program has only produced eight arrests and four drug seizures. Not much bang for the buck.
DONALD REAY: But I am so convinced that this is money well spent. The potential is unlimited.
HARTMAN: Robert sure isn't ready to give up. He dispatches deputies almost daily. Although it's hard to say exactly how much safer he's really making us.
HAVERCAMP: What I saw that day was a lot of buzzards circling and going right down to the ground right here.
HARTMAN: Okay.
HAVERCAMP: And that's telling me there's something dead there.
HARTMAN: It could be a rabbit.
HAVERCAMP: It could be an animal of any sort. It could be a person.
HARTMAN: Paranoid? Maybe. Patriotic? Unabashedly. After the grant expires, the coalition hopes to keep the site up by selling ads, and since it is a virtual stakeout, the first sponsor they're hoping to get is Dunkin' Donuts.
COURIC: Meanwhile, do these people get paid anything if they do see something and notify authorities?
HARTMAN: No, they're thinking of maybe sending out, like, a little certificate, but as of right now, you don't even get a thank you.
COURIC: Maybe a free doughnut at some point?
HARTMAN: At some point.
COURIC: In the future.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Steve Hartman is a joke
February 9, 2009 - 12:51 ET by SouthJersey1953Not sure how he ever got a job in journalism.... (his "sister" Mary Hartman has more talent!!)
It's exhausting trying to
February 9, 2009 - 13:11 ET by HelenSIt's exhausting trying to keep up with the depths to which these dreks continue to sink.
I think I'll have to re-state how I feel about them: they dwell in the depths. They don't sink to them anymore. It's where they live and if we spot them at all, it's because they've risen briefly to mingle with the other floaters before they sink out of site again.
They are disgusting.
Me - "The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years. The cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil."
Perspective, CBS, try it for once
February 9, 2009 - 13:12 ET by ThisnThat"And yet, so far the program has only produced eight arrests and four drug seizures. Not much bang for the buck."
Let's see; go back to September 10,11 2001. If we could have spent $2M and caught 19 hijackers, Mr. Hartman, do you think it would have been worth the money? Do yourself a favor, and just quit your job. That way, if you ever apply for another job, anywhere in the real world, you won't have to lie about "being a total ass on CBS".
As for Couric -- honey, explain to us all -- exactly why are you in the anchor seat there? Certainly not to lend perspective to this nation's security needs, is it? You're not cute; not pretty; dumb as a bag of stones; and totally useless. Unfortunately, you won't be able to hide your resume when you seek your next job.
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
"As for Couric ... You're
February 9, 2009 - 13:31 ET by HelenS"As for Couric ... You're not cute; not pretty; dumb as a bag of stones; and totally useless."
And I would just like to add that I've seen more decorum on a cartoon hyena than on this woman. What is up with that ghastly rictus grin she keeps breaking out in!? It's disturbing!
Me - "The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years - the cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil."
TnT, it won't ...
February 9, 2009 - 13:34 ET by SentryDanTnT, it won't matter as long as she keeps applying for jobs with the MSM. Look at how many of those liberal democratic mouthpieces have been hired and rehired by the MSM the last 10 years. And the liberal parade goes on and on and on.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
That was my first reaction
February 9, 2009 - 13:51 ET by HypocriteHaterThat was my first reaction as well. How many times do liberals tell us "if it can save one person, it's worth it" about their latest nanny state law to protect us from ourselves, but when it comes to the cost of preventing potential criminals from entering our country illegally and causing harm to our citizens, all of a sudden they're cost conscious.
Too bad they don't apply the same spending standards to our porkulus spending bill.
See B.S.
February 9, 2009 - 13:37 ET by jdubyaThat is why I stopped watching anything on this station. Remarkably that started in 1996 or around those parts. I actually got a house with my newlywed wife and noticed Fox News on cable. I have not watched any of the Big three channels since. They all suck.
Better programs exist elsewhere.
Katy Couric is a Media Whore.
This other weasel will be selling time shares at the community potato farm soon.
More MSM elitism
February 9, 2009 - 13:38 ET by SeftonTypical elitist reporting from the MSM.
The minuteman approach to defending this country doesn't register with these types. The government always knows best, especially our current one; private sector and Constitution be damned.
Couric is a stupid liberal whore
February 9, 2009 - 13:56 ET by Lord ErondSorry, TOS violation or not, I'm sick of these leftwing garbage spewers. They mock the effort of committed, hard working people trying to make a difference. I loved HelenS's post about sinking vs. dwelling and it was a marvellous point. More disgusting is that poor gentleman in AZ that's being SUED by this garbage. They're in this country illegally, destroying US Citizen's property and HE'S being sued? If I was a lawyer I'd happily represent this guy pro bono in a lawsuit against the Mexican illegal fund whatever the hell it is.
And Couric and Hartman are garbage. If they were lying bleeding in the street, I'd spit on them. Traitors all.
"What you can not enforce, do not command" -Sophocles-
A solution to the problem
February 9, 2009 - 14:18 ET by DaleMcCA solution to the problem would be to locate Hartman and Couric's residence and the drop those nice illegals at their doorstep. Ring the doorbell and run.
Funny, it doesn't seem like a problem when its not yours.
Bang for the Buck??
February 9, 2009 - 17:16 ET by Wineguy13Half a millilon per drug bust is about what we are paying for each 'job' created by the stimulus bill. Why do people not understand that the benefit from the virtual fence just may be the fact that there are so few busts! One would think an impartial observer would consider this, but alas, they are absent from the equation.
BTW-I remember the Dunkin Donuts on Mesa St. in El Paso, too bad it closed.
WHEN, NOT IF...
February 10, 2009 - 09:41 ET by danybhoyIt is just a matter of time before Mexico evolves into what Columbia was back a few years back. They are turning into a narco fascist state & it will require a military solution. The war, & it is a war, on our southern border is scary. It is not getting the coverage it deserves outside of Glenn Beck & Bill O'Reilly, & for this @$$clown from See-BS to be so flippant about it really pissed me off.
Look Hartman, start doing some real investigative journalism, go along the border towns on either side. Start looking into all of the murders of Mexican gov't officials, you know, cops, mayors, & other elected officials. What you will find is this, the honest ones are dead. If they are alive, they are in the pocket of the drug cartells. Also, start looking into all of the people who are being kidnapped along the border, & why. You might be shocked, you could also go to laredomissing.com & see some of the faces that NEED to be part of the story.
Then again, I am wasting my time trying to explain something to someone like Stave Hartman, or anyone in the MSM about this. Leave it to pros at FoxNews, & talk radio. I would'nt want see you all in Manhattan & the Beltway to actually worry about something as unimportant as our border security. Again, LEAVE IT TO THE PROS.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth