Here's how the Associated Press's Matthew Brown chose to open his organization's initial story (HT Michelle Malkin) on the Montana plane crash where 14 people died, including seven young children, their parents, and the pilot:
Because, y'know, the victims' presumed "ultrarich" socioeconomic status was sooooo important.
Incredibly, Brown's report was not an isolated incident, as the AP played the class card at least two additional times. The first came almost three hours later, as seen in this item carried at TMC.net, as more information about the nature of the crash came out:
Finally, in a much longer dispatch about six hours after Brown's initial report, AP reporters Matt Gouras and Joan Lowy stuck with the theme in their third paragraph:
Here is a photo of the Jacobsens (found at this link), one of the families who perished:
May God be with them and all who died, and may He provide strength to their surviving relatives and friends.
I'll let commenters elaborate, lest I engage in language I'll regret later.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
*****Updated by Noel Sheppard at 4:20 PM: I wanted to make sure that people looked at Michelle's piece that Tom hat-tipped. These families weren't ultrarich. What is ultrarich? These were doctors, dentists, and nurses serving the communities that revered and loved them.
Is this where Obama's attacks on upper-income wage-earners are heading: to a point where doctors, dentists, and nurses are hated in this nation because they dare to make money?
What is happening to this country if being a doctor, dentist, or nurse is now considered greedy? Are there any avocations the left reveres other than public school teachers and Democrat politicians?
Lord help us.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Yes, goodness knows those
March 24, 2009 - 08:36 ET by moderncommentaries83Yes, goodness knows those dear children deserved to die because their parents were wealthy.
My son is 2. I can only imagine the terror and fear of those last moments on the plane, where surely the parents knew the end was there and nothing they could do would save their childrens' lives. It was probably terrifying beyond description and painful. They were all babies; all of them will never grow up. And there are parents out there who not only lost TWO daughters and sons-in-law, but five of their grandchildren.
But, hey, they were "ultrarich" so it's no big loss. If they hadn't dared go on vacation during such economic hardship, they'd still be alive so, no doubt, they got what they had coming to them (and yes, this is bitter, angry sarcasm).
Just an FYI - "ultrarich" people don't overload a puddle-jumper. They demand private jets...just like Nancy Pelosi.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Tasteless, uncouth, and blatantly hateful.
March 24, 2009 - 08:49 ET by dborschjr68This is truly beyond contempt.
======================
Brace yourself
For the backlash
Of your ignorance.
Disgusting and transparent
March 24, 2009 - 10:05 ET by MeowMeowWhat a SOB. His ultrarich remark was totally irrelevant, to say the least.
To be sure, this little reporter has been a have-not his whole life and truly hates people who accomplish more than he does.
Obama: A glittering jewel of colossal ignorance. --RL
Pride vs Humility
March 24, 2009 - 12:42 ET by deerjerkydaveFeeling diminished because somebody else is succeeding is pride.
If others do good and you think it makes you look bad, it's pride. If you tear down others to make yourself look good, it's pride.
The better principle and attitude is humility.
If you rejoice in the success of others, it's humility. If you lift those who are below you to your level or higher, it's humility.
Pride is selfishness. Humility is selflessness.
Where does the AP fit in this equation?
The AP
March 24, 2009 - 12:44 ET by well99They fit in at 5 mark alley.
Pride? I don't think so.
March 24, 2009 - 18:52 ET by cheefloPride, as defined in Merriam-Webster, is the quality or state of being proud, as: a) inordinate self-esteem, conceit; b) a reasonable or justifiable self-respect; c) delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship.
Your examples of pride suggest low self-esteem, if not outright self-loathing, envy, resentment, hatred of the good for being good, jealousy, bitterness, and a general ill-will toward everyone and everything. Pride is not the appropriate word to describe those attitudes. Pride, in a proper sense, is an earned and motivating attitude.
A rational self-interest is a good thing. Selflessness leads to self-immolation. A proper hierarchy of values tempers the former, and prevents the latter. There is no such thing as rational selflessness.
Rejoicing in the success of others, or assisting those who are below you to elevate themselves can only come from pride -- yours and theirs.
Humility resides in knowing one's own limitations, not in self-sacrifice.
The reality
March 29, 2009 - 05:38 ET by Kelly72"Feeling diminished because somebody else is succeeding is pride.
If others do good and you think it makes you look bad, it's pride. If you tear down others to make yourself look good, it's pride.
The better principle and attitude is humility.
If you rejoice in the success of others, it's humility. If you lift those who are below you to your level or higher, it's humility.
Pride is selfishness. Humility is selflessness. "
*applause* Now THAT was well stated.
We could all use more humility and selflessness. The world in general has lost contact with this most basic premise.
The reality is that, if humility and selflessness were valued and practised by each one of us... each one of us would be vastly better off...
That is reality; however, the world in general has lost its grip on reality.... so we all suffer for it...
Thanks for posting the lovely family photo
March 24, 2009 - 08:49 ET by mom_roxTo compare, I don't recall any 'class-envy' language in articles on the death of the son of Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James (and two other passengers?). As I recall, it was a plane crash (a private plane) departing from the Telluride ski resort area.
See what a difference a few
March 24, 2009 - 12:31 ET by SpaceManSpiffSee what a difference a few years makes? It's full-on, open season on anybody with assets.
I didn't see where there were any comments
March 25, 2009 - 02:41 ET by thebutlerdiditmade about the recently deceased Natasha Richardson. Did they refer to her family as ultra-rich? Elite? Did they call the resort she was at ritzy? It was a horrible accident, just like this was, but no one should be labeled in such a way as to lead a reader to consider them rich or poor. Have they called those people that have the missing 5 yr old in Florida "trailer trash?" "Ignorant hillbillies?" I haven't seen a thing like that, I was able to form my own opinion. As for these people, I guess I am confused. If the plane was big enough to hold 11 full size adults, then wouldn't it take 2 or 3 of those little kids to match up to the weight allowance?
What a beautiful young family. May God help their families cope with this tragedy.
All a Democrat needs is the upper-story window of public attention and the chamber pot of rhetoric. How else to explain the rise of Joe Biden? P.J. O' Rourke
Sad
March 24, 2009 - 09:00 ET by taocpaWhat a good looking family. It's a shame.
It's sad that AP had to stoop so low as to mention "ultrarich" in their story. It's wholly unnecessary of course, but it makes for a better story, I suppose during these times. What's better than a few dead, rich, white people?
My heart goes out to the family and friends of those lost loved ones. My heart also grieves for loss of those precious children. They are with the Lord now.
Tom
Hating people. Why? Because they were successful.
March 24, 2009 - 09:04 ET by UnsaneDoubtless these hate-filled reporters are quite angry that they died in a plane crash. Angry, because when they look at that picture, they don't see a family as you or I do.
They see KULAKS.
Here's betting the reporters would much rather have seen the husband and wife strung up on telephone poles with signs around their necks reading "KULAK", "EVIL RICH B****", or whatever.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Class Hatred
March 24, 2009 - 11:59 ET by merlin61This is the "new" being pushed by the Democrats
in power now. Anyone who earns a good living,
not only the "rich" and "ultrarich" will be condemned. Only the poor, downtrodden, people
they choose should be adored. But, the "rich and
ultrarich" politicians, from the President and his
Democrat compadres will be adored also. Welcome to the new socialist republic according
to Obama and his mentors. This unsympathetic
article on a horrendous accident is intolerable.
it'll get worse
March 24, 2009 - 12:48 ET by UndercoverConservativesoon, anyone who is independent enough, or works hard enough, to pay their own bills, meet their own obligations, and take care of themselves without being beholden/controlled/supported by Government will be reviled as well.
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is like calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same&quo
Some information
March 24, 2009 - 09:08 ET by zachlindDon’t forget, Tom Curley, former president and publisher of USA Today, a liberal newspaper known for its color pages and shallow articles, is CEO of Associated Press. Perhaps this email address will be of some assistance – info@ap.org.
zachlind...
March 24, 2009 - 09:29 ET by dborschjr68Thanks for the email address. Mr. Curley will be receiving some interesting emails, I'm sure, from several NB posters.
Nicely done, zachlind.
======================
Brace yourself
For the backlash
Of your ignorance.
Copy of email I just sent
March 24, 2009 - 09:40 ET by dborschjr68Copy of email I just sent to Mr. Curley posted below.. Not my best work, but I think it said enough.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Sir,
I recently read the AP article, written by Matthew Brown,
and I felt compelled to write this email to you in response to the
"ultrarich" reference.
Mr. Brown, by using this word, has only
served to foment the "mob rule" class war so cleverly started by the
current elected officials in DC right now.
As the CEO of this once unbiased company, you must be awfully proud of your journalists.
For
shame, sir, for shame. Real people died on this flight. Real people
had their lives taken from them due to circumstances beyond their
control. Yet Mr. Brown felt it necessary to throw in the word,
"ultrarich", inferring that these people deserved it. Let's be honest,
thanks to Congress and Obama, being "ultrarich" is NOT a positive
lifestyle in today's day and age.
Please see fit to pull this
article and revise it by removing this "ultrarich" reference. Please
do the right thing, and stop instigating the ignorant sheep of the MSM
towards more undeserved anger against successful people.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Donald Borsch Jr.
Bethel, CT
======================
Brace yourself
For the backlash
Of your ignorance.
→ Excellent dborsch
March 24, 2009 - 09:49 ET by Cool ArrowExcellent letter. I hope he heeds its message.
On a lighter note, I was sort of hoping you were really Arnaud de Borchgrave, posting under a truncated name.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Good for you
March 24, 2009 - 17:57 ET by jdlybrandI commend you for this. I wish more folks had the courage and took the time.
Ultrarich?
March 24, 2009 - 10:05 ET by GeneralAlOnce again, the MSM lead by the Obama Press, formerly known as the Associated Press shows who the mean spirited elite really are! Hey you Main Stream Morons, fourteen people died! You are the people that worry about the torture of terrorist, the rights of animals, cruel and unsual punishment of hard core criminals and have the audacity to mention the ultrarich! Did you happen to notice that Mr. Jacobson was a doctor? Did it ever occur to you how long it took him to finish medical training and pay for it? Did it ever occur to you that while you Mainstream Morons make a living destroying people, this man made his living restoring the health of people? While you're at it, what did his wife and children ever do to you? Absolutely nothing, you bunch of phony frauds! Instead of destroying other peoples lives, why do't you scumbags get a life? You make me sick! May GOD please grant peace and comfort to all these families! The souls of those lost will now face his righteous justice!
The AP Sucks b**ls
March 24, 2009 - 10:08 ET by AgentAmericanThe disgusting term "ultrarich" is used to describe people who withstood various difficulties, made the RIGHT decisions in life, made the decision to grow up and mastered the crucible that is medical school without cracking, like Dr. Jacobson. Of course, the word is from the point of view of the hate-mongering left.
2010: A GOP Hill
Envy is a sin for a reason...
March 24, 2009 - 10:09 ET by Franklins_LockeThis is insidious. They were people, not some statistic. That is what the Left does by making us “rich,” “middle class,” and “poor.” We are people, not little groups to manipulate.
This family was rich, so what! I am glad they were rich. I hope they were extremely rich, as I hope all of us to have more of everything. I, unlike the Left, want more wealth for everyone and “wealth” could be anything.
I pray for them and their family.
http://franklinslocke.blogspot.com/
Tragedy hits Family Again
March 24, 2009 - 10:17 ET by stunnedMr. Felkamp who leased the plane and lost his two daughters, two son-in-laws and 5 grandchildren in this tragic accident had already lost a grandson three years ago this week. Baby Chase, his son's child, slipped between the matress and bed while napping and died. Keep telling us how privleged this family is you envious pigs at AP. I can not imagine the agony this poor family is going through at this time, I would not trade places with them for any amount of money. These reporters should have kept their classless comments to themselves.
credit Kudlow
March 24, 2009 - 10:18 ET by sawing battahe was one of the first to call out the Obama administration's "War on Prosperity"
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OGRmOTJjOTk2NmYwZDAwYWUzM2MxNDY3ZjYwNmZmM2I=
The AP is but a puppet. maybe they've been dialed into the Rahm Emanuel, George Stephanopoulos, James Carville morning calls, too.
Class Warfare
March 24, 2009 - 10:27 ET by slickwillie2001Look, the sad truth is that the liberals are pushing class warfare for their political gain. In order to do that effectively, it has to come at us from all directions in the news, culture and entertainment. To win they cannot be bounded by any sense of taste or decorum or legality. I expect the moonbats over at Koss are celebrating the crash.
Truly Despicable
March 24, 2009 - 10:32 ET by YahooWatcherThe only thing that would have made the MSM happier about this incident is if the plane was headed to an AIG convention.
Don't Tax Me, Bro.
Rush is right
March 24, 2009 - 10:40 ET by NorthCoasterConservatives look at people. These Liberals are more concerned with class envy and hatred than in the human loss........Shameful!
Class Wars
March 24, 2009 - 11:10 ET by malefecent928This climate of hating those that have a better job, are paid more, that have a better house, that have more money, is becoming disgusting not to mention scary. There will always be those that feel entitled to have others pay for or support them in everything - like their education, their food, their living arrangements, health care, etc. Or better yet...a class of people that feel entitled to have whatever someone else has that they themselves don't.
As it was demonstrated this last weekend with the ACORN bus trip to the PRIVATE homes of AIG execs! If the people on the bus (short bus??) had gone to school and gotten an education, they too could have been making the kind of money (or contracts) that would have allowed them to have homes like the execs. or the other luxuries that they were ogling and commenting on. I believe there was one "bus" woman, reported on in an AP piece (her home was in foreclosure), that commented that "it was like another world". No one held that woman's hand as she signed the loan papers on a home that she couldn't afford! Or if she could afford it at the time, getting a loan where the payments would increase to the point of inaffordability. (See! College and that Math class would have helped!)
So this is the end result...to care more about the financial status of a person or family that was wiped out in a horrific, tragic accident, than in the fact that when the end came, these people felt the same terror and pain as the most unfortunate person on the planet. It seems as if everyone, all of a sudden, has gone crazy! Where is compassion?
When my parents escaped from their countries and fled to Canada and then 10 years later were finally admitted to the USA, they had to sign a document stating that they would never be a burden on the country. Their mentality (that was FIRMLY ingrained in us)was that you were always striving to be the best; for the best education...the best job...the best place you could AFFORD to live, etc. I would NEVER want the govt. or someone else to support me, nor do I want to take anything away from someone that might have more than I (and that would be A LOT of people!) I want to EARN what I have! And I would also like to KEEP what I have and not have THE ONE, and his punch-drunk frat brothers (and cheerleader-sister, Pelosi etc) in office with him, tax it all away! I truly don't understand (or like) what is happening to this country recently.
I hope the people lost in this tragedy are now truly at peace and that the end came mercifully and quickly. I'm glad they don't know the slime job that the mainstream media is attempting to do to their memory.
There is no excuse
March 24, 2009 - 11:12 ET by well99For that bs.Who cares what they had.This is a tragedy and to bring up the income status is sick.Who cares.My heart goes out to their families.That yutt Brown is a twisted piece of garbage.
<sarcasm>Rich people
March 24, 2009 - 12:40 ET by suzycreamcheese<sarcasm>Rich people deserve to DIE! in Obama's utopian society.</sarcasm>
Looks like these people worked hard and they can spend their money any way they see fit, even at "ritzy" resorts.
*sigh*
March 24, 2009 - 12:48 ET by katainkentThe dehumanization of people with money. How else can we take it from them without thought or shame. It just breaks my heart.
_____________________________________________________
Obama does not perform as advertised. I'd like a refund.
Taxed Enough Already.
I don't have a problem with AP's...
March 24, 2009 - 13:13 ET by PrairieSky"ritzy" description of the resort where these families were headed...It is a "ritzy" resort. I use the term "ritzy" as I'm sure many do, to describe a fancy hotel, restaurant, etc. I don't think that "ritzy" has an implicitly negative, class-associated implication attached to it. It's just more of a descriptive term.
But, the use of the word "ultrarich" carries a negative, class-associated connotation with it, that I'm sure was used intentionally.
It is interesting that by the time that the last news release was made, the term "ultrarich" wasn't used..."ritzy" was used instead...A coincidence, or did someone either complain or think twice about their wording??
Par for the course for the lefty AP...
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
I could care less how
March 24, 2009 - 13:09 ET by TheConservativeChemistI could care less how wealthy they were...good for them for working hard and being smart, I hope to be the same way eventually. I feel terrible that their lives and those of their beautiful children are ended...
The difference between conservatives and the monsters who call themselves human beings on the Communist/Democrat/Fascist (redundant, I know) left is they have no respect or honor for human life...to them it's about status, envy, greed, jealousy, anger, self-loathing...not about the person involved...
I'm not convinced that the
March 24, 2009 - 13:35 ET by stratmanI'm not convinced that the aircraft was "overloaded" due to 14 people onboard a plane designed for 11 people. I thought people counts were an estimation based on average weights of adults, something that is quite variable in real life. Also, I thought it was not only weight but the distribution of that weight that matters as well.
Half of the occupants were small children. Even with their luggage calculated, those children probably contribured same or less than 4 more adults that the occupancy count recommended (11 total).
Maybe some of our resident pilots and flight enthusiasts can speak on this matter.
How much lower can this
March 24, 2009 - 13:58 ET by bigtimerHow much lower can this country sink?
Absolutely horrendous...deplorable, despicable, most of all...disgraceful.
There is a place where the sun doesn't shine for evil people like these two writers of this article....and they won't be getting any ice water.
My prayers went to the people who perished when I first heard the news...how deplorable to do something like this...where is the outrage in the msm...oops....the majority of them agree with this filthy sentiment.
Sold their souls long ago.
Fascism not socialism
March 24, 2009 - 14:13 ET by MortimerI'm not nearly as scared about socialism as I am FASCISM.
The AP article points the way. We are not really headed toward socialism, but rather facism instead. The events of 1917 & 1933 seem to be circling closer than I'm confortable with.
Separation of the classes is one of the tools being used, and many in the media are helping them along. Once there is enough hate for those that have, the hammer will fall on us all, and those with less will rejoice in victory over the evil rich. Unwhittingly allowing the Dear Leader to save us... (take complete control).
It has worked well in the past, and with the lack of historical knowledge prevalent in todays society, why can't it work again?
I'm not a conspiracy nutjob, but I have a little bit of knowledge in history. I see it happening, as it has happened before.
ALARM - ALARM - ALARM!! (at least in my opinion)
A man should be upright, not be kept upright - Marcus Aurelius
( he wasn't taking about the infirm)
Lower
March 24, 2009 - 17:09 ET by jdlybrandJust when you think they couldn't sink any lower. Lord help us indeed! Wonder how it would have been reported if an ACORN bus wrecked on the way to the AIG execs homes?
Rich kids
March 24, 2009 - 17:18 ET by Kat Outta the BagSure, not one of those kids were on this earth for a full decade, but hey...they obviously lived a full life anyway because their parents were "ultrarich"! Gag.
Save me...save me from tomorrow. I don't want to sail with this ship of fools.
~World Party
The two sisters, who died
March 24, 2009 - 22:04 ET by GrannyGrump42The two sisters, who died along with their husbands and five children, were indeed among the "super rich" if you count family money. Their dad, Irving M. "Bud" Feldkamp III, was the CEO of a California racetrack.
Here's one little detail the MSM will never give you: "Bud" bought out "Fast Eddie" Allred's Family Planning Associates Medical Group -- the largest chain of for-profit abortion mills in the world, and responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of babies, and at least a dozen abortion patients including a 13-year-old girl overdosed on Brevitol.
You have to be superrich to simply buy a chain of abortion mills that big. But WHY? "I'm looking to diversify my portfolio. Let's see... Death! That's one that's recession-proof!"
His daughters and their husbands and friends didn't deserve it, but it looks like Bud's child-killing chickens came home to roost.
BTW, the motive might have
March 24, 2009 - 22:07 ET by GrannyGrump42BTW, the motive might have been to press upon people that wealth can't buy you freedom from heartbreak, not the idea that they deserved it.
They shouldn't have had a "motive"
March 24, 2009 - 22:11 ET by Tom BlumerThey should have stuck with the facts and kept the judgmental words to themselves.
I didn't see it as
March 24, 2009 - 22:31 ET by GrannyGrump42I didn't see it as judgmental. I saw it as "Tragedy strikes the rich as well as the poor."
Though given that Grandpa was a massive abortion investor -- and the plane crashed in a Catholic cemetery right near the Tomb of the Unborn -- adds a level of eeriness to the whole thing.
Prolifers praying that Feldkamp sees opportunity to repent
March 25, 2009 - 01:10 ET by PharmerAP might have seen it as hateful to mention the particulars of Bud Feldkamp's successful business investments.
Pro-lifers are aware that Feldkamp bought Family Planning Associates about 4 years ago. That's the largest for-profit Abortion Chain in the U.S..
We're praying that this most recent, grievous, life event presents an opportunity for Feldkamp et. al. to remove themselves from the abortion business, and repent.
A hefty proportion of people would consider a call to repentance to be hateful, or insulting. Rather than being ill-timed, this call has been on-going.
The AP offense is nothing compared to ours, I guess.
Death
March 25, 2009 - 09:17 ET by sevenSo the crash is in a cemetary near the tomb for the unborn. (abortion)
None of the MSM are covering the wealth from being the biggest abortion chain in CA.