On September 11, 2008, in anticipation of a speech that Sarah Palin would be giving at a ceremony for her son's deployment to Iraq, "Good Morning America" correspondent John Berman filed a report speculating that the Republican vice presidential candidate might be politicizing her child's military service (see picture at right). On October 3, 2008, Senator Joe Biden will be giving an address at a similar ceremony for his child's deployment to Iraq. The ABC program made no mention of this on Friday and certainly had no segments on whether the Democratic vice presidential candidate was guilty of politicizing his son, Beau Biden
During the September 11 piece, reporter Berman critiqued in advance Palin's speech: "And it [the speech] will be open to television cameras. It's such a drastic difference from the way her own running mate John McCain handled his own son's deployment." After observing that Jimmy McCain's tour of duty went unnoticed and that Senator McCain didn't discuss it, Berman added, "That stands in stark contrast to what Governor Sarah Palin told more than 40 million viewers about her son during the Republican convention last week."
The journalist also cited John Nagl, a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security. He complained that Palin's references to her son's deployment date could "impose, conceivably, some risks on the soldier and the unit."
The Washington Post on October 2 quoted an interview Senator Biden gave to "Entertainment Tonight" about his son where he acknowledged, "I'm proud, but I have to admit to you, I wish he wasn't going, I wish he wasn't going." Heartfelt sentiments, obviously. But considering that Biden has done interviews mentioning his son, that his son introduced him at the Democratic National Convention, why did ABC bring up the question of politicization only in regard to Palin? (It will be interesting to see how the Saturday edition of "Good Morning America" covers Biden's address to the deployment ceremony.)
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Biden's son
October 3, 2008 - 12:33 ET by RackieHe's a freaking military lawyer! How could you possibly whip that up?
Rackie, you're downplaying the dangers...
October 3, 2008 - 12:52 ET by SickofLibs... a 10-lb lawbook could 'accidentally' fall off a shelf and hit him in the head.
..or he could get lead poisoning from poking himself with a pencil.
The list is endless, and the dangers real.
The dangers of war.
October 3, 2008 - 13:30 ET by RackieRHIP. Biden the Younger could shtup an inbed.
The journalist also cited
October 3, 2008 - 12:47 ET by motherbeltThe journalist also cited John Nagl, a senior fellow at the Center for
New American Security. He complained that Palin's references to her
son's deployment date could "impose, conceivably, some risks on the
soldier and the unit."
Too bad liberals weren't thinking like that when they let slip the classified info that THEY decide the public has "a right to know." You know, like where enemy soldiers are taken for questioning, and what security measures are in place here or there...
The odds of "Imposing a risk" are pretty slim,
October 3, 2008 - 16:10 ET by IamTinmansince they mostly go to a deployment base where they stay until deployed. This is just more liberal bovine excrement.
LOL
October 3, 2008 - 13:17 ET by oilcanLOL, okay the NYT publishes a front page article of secret US military plans to counteract terrorism, go figure.
Lets hang her up do be flogged for revealing such sensitive information.
When most units deploy, the departure date and sometimes the destination point are publicised through the installation's public affairs office. Many local newspapers will publish this so friends and acquaintances can bid farewell.
It's where the unit goes after its destination that remains undisclosed.
Lets see how 'concerned' the MSM really are
October 3, 2008 - 13:27 ET by c5thenLets wait and see if they can keep themselves from publishing which exact unit he is in, where exactly in Iraq they are deployed and which barracks he is assigned to.
c5... I fully expect
October 3, 2008 - 17:41 ET by Clear thinkerc5...
I fully expect the media to pinpoint on a GPS unit where Sarah's son will be on a daily basis and keep Joe's kid a secret.
Insane Results From Palin/Biden Debate and the great eyelash controversy!
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
ABC joined MSNBC as news
October 3, 2008 - 13:28 ET by kgABC joined MSNBC as news "speculators" long ago.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Palin/Biden
October 3, 2008 - 17:33 ET by jaywlIt should be plain for all that Joe Biden would never come close to using his honorable son for political advantage. His honesty is legendary. One legend is that when he noticed similarities between his college work and others, he promptly asked his professor to investigate. In common with Barrack, his real estate acumen is so astute that certain questions arise and nothing has ever been proved. We all should know that Palin woman will do anything to be elected. Naturally then, when as commander of the Guard unit deploying to war she spoke to them, Well there you have it! She didn't address them last year for deployment and then she wasn't running for VP. I don't remember Roosevelt being at an Alaskan airport waving goodbye to Junior.
Oh! Never mind. I just saw Jolty Joe on television addressing his son's unit as they deployed. Sorry.
Gov. Palin is commander in
October 3, 2008 - 18:47 ET by cocodrieGov. Palin is commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard. These brave young people are her friends and neighbors. Some of them may not return home alive. The MSM has knows no shame and has no honor or integrity.