ABCNEWS POLITICAL DIRECTOR MEMO SPARKS CONTROVERSY: BOTH SIDES NOT 'EQUALLY ACCOUNTABLE' (Drudge)

Drudge Report ^ | 10/8/04 | Drudge

[A2J]

ABCNEWS POLITICAL DIRECTOR MEMO SPARKS CONTROVERSY: BOTH SIDES NOT 'EQUALLY ACCOUNTABLE'

**Exclusive**

An internal memo written by ABCNEWS Political Director Mark Halperin admonishes ABC staff: During coverage of Democrat Kerry and Republican Bush not to "reflexively and artificially hold both sides 'equally' accountable."

The controversial internal memo obtained by DRUDGE, captures Halperin stating how "Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win."

But Halperin claims that Bush is hoping to "win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions."

"The current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done," Halperin writes.

Halperin's claim that ABCNEWS will not "reflexively and artificially hold both sides 'equally' accountable" set off sparks in St. Louis where media players gathered to cover the second presidential debate.

Halperin states the responsibilities of the ABCNEWS staff have "become quite grave."

In August, Halperin declared online: "This is now John Kerry's contest to lose."

x x x x x

Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004

It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave

I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.

The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.

Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.

We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.

I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.

It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.

[NewMediaFan]

"Is it conceivable that President Bush can survive the media onslaught, unprecedented in American history, that has been unleashed against him?"

ABC Bombshell: Media Bias Unleashed

[prometheus]

I heard Clintonite Halperin say months ago on the Charley Rose show, "No good news for Bush, no bad news for Kerry." He later posted these remarks on ABC's The Note. He was saying the MSM was going to go to work to re-elect Kerry because none of them wanted Bush as President. There were some other reporters on the program--one was with Time magazine.

Part of his bio on ABC reads, "In 1992, ABCNEWS Political Director Mark Halperin worked full-time as an off-air reporter assigned to travel with the presidential campaign of then Governor Bill Clinton. He covered President-elect Clinton during the transition in Little Rock and Washington and was assigned to White House coverage for the first two years of the Clinton Administration. "

[Chummy]

This is from the mouth of the man who wishes to be Commander-in-Chief and who Mr. Halperin appears to wish to shore up:


"...This president and his administration have told you and all of us it's not a question of when, it's a question of -- excuse me -- not a question of if, it's a question of when. We've been told that.

"The when I can't tell you. Between the World Trade Center bombing in, what was it, 1993 or so, and the next time was five years, seven years...."



Nope. No distortions there. No wood felled. This is straight from the mouth of John Kerry, he who wishes to be C-in-C, and who cannot recall the date of the first World Trade Center bombing...or even when the next and most destructive occurred.

Mr. Halperin, the dates February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001 (eight-and-a-half years later) are seared into the memories of a great many American citizens -- at least those who survived these terrorist attacks on our freedom.

[Moconservative]

I wonder who leaked the memo to drudge? Whoever you are thank you. We need identify these supposed journalists and run them out of business. Time to contact ABC and demand an investigation. This time CBS can report on ABC.

[A2J]

Sorry. I guess I got too mad when I saw this and wanted to post it. As I stated I did a quick search and found nothing.

Mr. Robinson, please pull this thread.

[Boazo]

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Only if this is proven to be "true" - Brit H. questioned it when it first came out - He knows the guy and didn't think he would so something like this -

So prove first that it was written and put out by this guy - then get the word out -

just my opinion -

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..could potentially be a bombshell."

We can hope!

[orangelobster]

Here is the first thing Kerry said in the debate tonight. Kerry and Halperin working together as a team.

"Cheryl, the president didn't find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, so he's really turned his campaign into a weapon of mass deception. And the result is that you've been bombarded with advertisements suggesting that I've changed a position on this or that or the other."

[Chieftain]

What LIBERAL media bias???????????????????????????????????

[VOA]

"I guess I got too mad when I saw this and wanted to post it."

I know the feeling. I wasn't playing thread-monitor...just pointing to the other thread
so our forces are concentrated!

We all know what happened when Custer split his forces!

[namvetcav]

For the record, ABC's website made some snide remarks about Drudge around 7/16/04 - don't exactly remember what. In any case, Drudge really got even tonight . . . and then some. Brent Bozell will use this for the next 10 years. It appears unwise to mess around with Mr. Drudge.

[JLO]

Here's a big can of whoopass.

[ClancyJ]

What he is saying is that he - the elite media - is to discipher for the masses what they should be able to read.

This is the whole thought process of the liberals. They are the designated elite leading class that "controls" the masses. Now we can see why they act the way they do - they feel that is their place in society. They are internationalists of the upper heirachy and the voters are just the lowly masses.

He has put into print the exact thought processes that direct the mindset of the big media.

And the masses should absolutely slam it back in his face.

I will not be "ruled" by a liberal media, I will not be told what is the truth I need to hear, I will not let them sway my opinion, provide me the news, or tell me "how" to interpret anything.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

No surprise, how quick do they go back and get videotape of what pubbies have said 5, 10, 20 years ago if it contradicts something they are stating now.

But when RATS do it, you never see it and you know Liberal media are covering up for them.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I read it this afternoon on Drudge and heard it right before the debate on FOX... then nothing more. Hope that's not the end.

[JLO]

Here's a quick search, LOL

[Ruth C]

This needs to have the same push to get the same coverage as the forged documents did. They need to be put under the same kind of attack they constantly give conservatives.

[Bush gal in LA]

Of course! Thats always been there mission to elect Kerry. They feel everybody for Bush is stupid so its ok to help Kerry and crush Bush. Truly despicable and an outrage!