Granted, the coverage of the Duke rape matter on this morning's "Today" was heavily skeptical of the prosecutor's case. And yes, host Alison Stewart did preface her remark by suggesting that she "play devil's advocate here." Even so, it's hard to see any journalistic justification for a scurrilous suggestion Stewart made. Speaking with NBC legal analyst Susan Filan, Stewart said:
"Why would she change her story at this point? She told doctors, nurses and police that she had been raped. Yet now she says she doesn't remember. Could someone have gotten to this woman?"
View video of Stewart's suggestion here.
Filan didn't think so: "She's changed her story since the get-go. She's changed her story many, many, many times. We've never gotten a consistent version of 'the truth' from her, so it's not unexpected that it continues to change."
Filan had earlier opined that "It is time to drop the charges now."
This case is all about false charges. Why would Stewart add to the sorry mess by floating a totally unsubstantiated suggestion of suborning of perjury?
UPDATE: Good Morning America's coverage of the case this morning was slander-free. The guest expert was KC Johnson, the outstanding legal historian who has followed the case closely. He described the case as now being "fatally flawed," and referred to Nifong "an unethical prosecutor." The only devil's advocacy in which host Kate Snow engaged was the relatively mild suggestion that the remaining charges might be easier to prove. Johnson thoroughly refuted that notion.
By the way, Johnson has himself been the focus of a news story in the past. Despite his sterling credentials, a few years ago Brooklyn College initially denied him tenure because of his refusal to bend to PC notions on issues such as affirmative action. In the face of fierce criticism the college was ultimately forced to change its decision and grant him tenure. Read Johnson's account of his ordeal here.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Because the MSM Wants White Scalps!
December 23, 2006 - 07:56 ET by ChasvsThis will not die until some white guy gets screwed! The good thing is it might end up being the filthy DA Nifong that gets his just desserts. But the MSM wants the poor black underclass to conquer the uberclass of privileged whites!
Don't look for a fair assessment of this from the MSM. They don't believe in fair news analysis. They shape the issue to generate the most possible readership and to keep the story going.
Again, in fairness to NBC,
December 23, 2006 - 07:59 ET by Mark FinkelsteinAgain, in fairness to NBC, both legal analyst Filan, and Dan Abrams [head of MSNBC who had covered the case heavily when he had his own show] both were extremely critical of Nifong and the case in their remarks. Stewart's comment was the only pro-prosecution aspect of the segment. I can see the place for devil's advocacy, but not when it involves making another slanderous accusation.
One imagines what went thro
December 23, 2006 - 08:15 ET by sarcasmoOne imagines what went through the minds of the accused upon hearing that question. Answers like, "Yeah, Allison, in light of the DNA evidence apparently a bunch of guys 'got to' her, but not us!!" spring to mind...
JMR
Remember, the accused are whi
December 23, 2006 - 10:38 ET by winston smithRemember, the accused are white men, possibly even Republicans from Republican families for God-sakes. So, the fact that the accuser is a total fraud means nothing to the MSM --- It's the seriousness of the charge! Remember the Anita Hill dictum.
From what I've heard, this ca
December 23, 2006 - 08:07 ET by Indiana JoeFrom what I've heard, this case was a non-starter from the get-go. These guys should have actionablility against Nifong, at the least. No matter how this trumped-up situation turns out, they'll always be "those guys who beat the rape case." That's how it's been portrayed, and that's how it will be remembered.
Clueless
December 23, 2006 - 08:07 ET by allanfMy first reaction was that Ms. Stewart, clad in a skirt riding up, was trying to be provocative. Then I watched the video clip. She seemed absolutely clueless.
The Duke case will soon be over. . The MSM has reached its verdict. The question is, will Nifong retain his law license?
Stewart
December 23, 2006 - 09:42 ET by iveseenitallWith all due respect to people named Stewart, looks like there are two jackasses with that moniker on the MSM--one male, one female.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
NEVER, NEVER trust a liberal
Not to mention NASCAR!
December 23, 2006 - 09:46 ET by Mark FinkelsteinNot to mention NASCAR!
What else should we expect
December 23, 2006 - 11:12 ET by Jinx McHueWhat else should we expect from some hack who got her start on MTV "News?"
It's obvious that Stewart l
December 23, 2006 - 11:39 ET by MyKindaSpamIt's obvious that Stewart learned her journalism "skills" at MTV, where she got her start. At least she didn't strip down to a bikini and wash a car while she was interviewing Filan. Although, I'm sure that there would be some here that would be all for that. :)
It's obvious that Stewart l
December 23, 2006 - 11:43 ET by MyKindaSpamdp
Sure, Alison, the same member
December 23, 2006 - 12:28 ET by MikeBSure, Alison, the same members of the vast right wing conspiracy who got to Senator Johnson and caused him to have a congenital defect in the veins in his brain also got to the accuser in this case. They also tried in the Tawana Brawley case but failed. Alison, babe, you and Joy Behar need to stay on your meds.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
I've got no sympathy for thes
December 23, 2006 - 14:01 ET by RackieI've got no sympathy for these knuckleheads. These trust-fund Alpha dogs must have been thinking how cool it would be to go slumming with some local black trash. Rather than invite some fawning sorority girls to their party, they'd instead choose to pay 2 skanky black whores to "perform" for them. You can bet more than one of these jerkoffs were thinking how fun it would be to "get it on" with these two drunken haftwits. How Brahmin of them.
Their parents must be so proud.
boo-fucking-hoo!
You might have a point, Rackie, if you weren't so prejudiced.
December 23, 2006 - 14:58 ET by acaiguanaYou might have a point, Rackie, if you weren't so prejudiced.
It's the seriousness of the charge, huh? Screw right and wrong or innocence before proven guilty, right?
I think it is offensive to the site that you refer to the women involved here as 'skanky black whores." It is offensive to me.
Now, whether these guys were 'slumming' with the idea of going to the slammer with local black trash, as you so elegantly put it, or whether they made a gross error in judgement getting into such as situation as they found themselves would be a matter of perspective, now wouldn't it?
Let's take for a moment the perils of wallowing in sin here. Things in such circumstances can go horribly wrong. And that appears to be what happened. They didn't have any control over what might happen and everything to lose.
So, let's tear them down some more, huh? The entire LaCrosse team was disbanded and the sport suspended at the school. Great.
Must have been true. After all these guys were White.
Your comment here is a bit sickening, actually.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Ya can't win if ya don't play."
rpkinmd
December 24, 2006 - 12:09 ET by rpkinmdAnd have you forgotten that she had previously charged three men with rape and when push coame to shove she refused to testify. It appears to me that she has trouble with telling the truth over the years.
"You can bet more than
December 23, 2006 - 15:45 ET by ckc1227"You can bet more than one of these jerkoffs were thinking how fun it would be to "get it on" with these two drunken haftwits."
Wow, simply thinking about having sex with someone equals rape now? Sheesh, I better start saving for my defense fund then.
Didn't the friend of the acus
December 23, 2006 - 17:07 ET by VT Con ManDidn't the friend of the acuser come out and say she had staged the whole thing months ago? But wait, rich people just can't have their way with the downtrodden....even if only imagined by the downtrodden. Nice.
Got to?
December 23, 2006 - 18:30 ET by reelman46Looks like a lot of guys "got to" this woman (physically)... slutty is as slutty does... now all the libs want to add some X-Files to this case because reality is not their thing.
Alison Stewart is a disgrace.
December 23, 2006 - 19:48 ET by bigtimerAlison Stewart is a disgrace...always has been, geesh pull some one off of MTV and put them on msnbc and such then kerbam.... poof.... she fits right in. Perfectly!
This whole thing is a disgrace for women who are really raped, this whole thing is a disgrace for these young men, this whole thing needs to disgrace the accuser and the piece of shite Nifong by sending them to prison.
"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland
Oooo! Here's an idea:
December 24, 2006 - 14:27 ET by blackrain4xmasMaybe "the accuser" lied? Maybe she get nailed by a half dozen different guys in the hours previous, and needed money, and lied. That IS what the forensics suggest.
Just a thought.
what really happened
December 25, 2006 - 16:54 ET by CatherwoodThis whole case is about nothing but money. The hooker vicim saw a chance to make some big bucks off some rich, white fraternity dudes. She made up the whole story so the boys would be charged. She will soon sue in civil court and probably win even though nothing criminal happened. All it would take would be a black jury and a liberal judge. The hooker-victim was at least smart enough to see that part of it. Justice should be she''s charged with filing a false report and she's thrown in jail.