As reported by NewsBuster Richard Newcomb, an interesting clash between the anti-war group Code Pink and the pro-military Move America Forward occurred at a United States Marines recruitment center in Berkeley, California, on Wednesday.
Although one of the local newspapers did a fairly balanced report of the confrontation - including quite surprisingly beginning the piece "Flag-waving demonstrators far outnumbered a group of peace advocates" - the Bay Area's CBS-TV affiliate, KPIX, painted quite disparate pictures of the leaders of the organizations involved.
In particular, MAF's Melanie Morgan was depicted as an evil, intransigent warmonger after she was asked the following (video available here):
ANN NOTARANGELO, KPIX : Do you think you could ever sit across, with a cup of coffee, and talk with somebody from Code Pink?
MORGAN: No. Never, ever would I ever speak to any of those individuals other than the most disparaging manner possible.
This came moments after Code Pink's Medea Benjamin was shown saying:
I feel sorry for that level of aggression that they have. I've tried to dialogue with them. I've tried to invite them into our house.
Interesting contrast, wouldn't you agree? Benjamin was depicted as a calm, thoughtful, open-minded individual while Morgan was shown to be totally closed off to discussion and filled with hatred.
But that was just the beginning, for moments later, Morgan was shown saying, without any context, "To go straight to hell." No such brief snippet of Benjamin making aggressive statements of any kind was offered.
As a result, Bay Area viewers were left with the impression that those on the anti-war side of the debate are marvelous individuals all just worried about saving innocent lives.
Contrarily, the picture of pro-military supporters was as typical an ugly caricature of crazed minds in love with everything related to war.
How sad.
For those interested, KTVU-TV in the Bay Area created this astonishing video of the confrontation in Berkeley that day. Viewers should be advised that the footage is raw with some vulgarity.
Also, for a more neutral report on this event, here is a video from ABC-TV affiliate KGO.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Oh yeah, "People who like
October 20, 2007 - 14:50 ET by drillanwrOh yeah, "People who like this war ..." Good one, Mister.
Also, like how the reporterette didn't mention Code Pink's vandalism on the Marine Recruiting Office ... Or how they called them traitors. (Remember ... It's A-OK to call the actual military "trators", but don't DARE point out "phony soldiers" ...)
Mel, I don't know how you held yourself back from putting your fist into Benjamin's mousy little nose ...
drill, I guess we are
October 20, 2007 - 15:05 ET by motherbeltdrill, I guess we are supposed to take solace in the fact that they actually referred to Medea Benjamin as the "liberal" head of "Code Pink." I had to replay it to make sure I heard right.
I still want to know why they consider our soldiers "children", but a 12 year-old old enough to make decisions about sex and abortions without their parents knowledge.
I'd like to see these Code
October 20, 2007 - 15:11 ET by drillanwrI'd like to see these Code Peptoes call the Marines I know "children" to their faces.
The only children I see are the mental midgets wearing Pink ... And isn't there some comfy BINGO game being held someplace with free coffee for some of those poor folks carrying heavy signs?
What you can do with editing
October 20, 2007 - 15:48 ET by KC MulvilleIn the report, they show the snippets of the two women, asking them about their views on mutual conversation. The anti-war Code Pink woman is shown first, being warm and friendly. Cut to the strident conservative, declaring that she would never sit down at a table over some coffee.
How do you think this contrast happened, in reality? Was it ...
It's easy to stage these things, isn't it?
But even more curiously, think about the context. This started with Code Pink showing up to protest, and attempting to shut down, a Marine recruiting office.
Sorry. Don't buy it.
By the way
October 20, 2007 - 15:52 ET by KC MulvilleDid anyone notice that:
were all female?
Maybe we're making some progress about equal time for women. On the other hand, maybe it would show even more progress if no one else noticed it ...
I was on MAF website
October 20, 2007 - 16:27 ET by RebelAnd it said that code pink had given $600,000 to insurgents in Fullujah.they screamed that we were killing children and they gave our enemy money to kill the American men and women that serve to protect them.why don't they just move over to the ME and live.they would be the first to be killed.I must go going to a cook out.
the Rebel
Go WVU
Never vote for Byrd
The coverage was typical
October 20, 2007 - 23:21 ET by maggieqpublicThe coverage was typical MSM bias, but I am gratified by some of what I saw and heard on various videos. The anti-troop proponents were generally middle-aged, unregenerated hippie student-types from the ‘60s/’70s or young people unburdened by higher education. Where were the current Berkeley students? Not on Shattuck Avenue. If the cause is just, and the demonstration is taking place one block from campus, the students will have a substantial presence. They did not, and that is a good thing.
Too bad the MSM is currently under the control of the middle-aged, unregenerated hippie student-types from the ‘60s/’70s.