Donate and feel great
Posted on 08/06/2011 8:51:17 AM PDT by markomalley
A spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party has threatened to sic union bullies on an independent news organization whose reporting he thinks is "biased."
Graeme Zeilinski was upset that a WisconsinReporter.com reporter noted in an interview with the Heritage Foundation think thank that Wisconsin had, according to U.S. Department of Labor data, created nearly half of all the new jobs created across the country in June.
In an email titled "What Happens Next," Zeilinski warned WisconsinReporter.com that:
“What happens next is that I contact the publishers and editors of the papers that publish you as ‘unbiased,’ and let them know our deep concern about the obvious bias that permeates your entire operation,” Zielinski states in his email.
“Then, we let our activists know which papers publish you, and they write the publisher and editor. Then, we contact the Capitol press pool and let them know about our concerns about your credentialing. And we continue on until you actually admit to the truth of your operation.”
Of course, Democratic Party "activists" in Wisconsin consist primarily of public employee union members who earlier this year repeatedly jammed the state capitol with screaming protestors in an effort to intimidate legislators into not approving collective bargaining and compensation reforms sought by Gov. Scott Walker.
Zeilinski's email could easily be read as a threat to organize union demonstrators against Wisconsin newspapers that publish reporting provided to them by WisconsinReporter.com's staff. And his vow to go after WisconsinReporter.com's capitol media credentials is an obvious effort to silence a news organization with which he disagrees.
When WisconsinReporter.com asked Beth Bennett, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspapers Association, for comment on Zeilinski's threats, she characterized them as "out there" and unlike anything she's seen previously during her career in Wisconsin government and media.
“To have a party official put something in writing like that is pretty out there,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of emotions. Politics are bubbling to the surface in a way we don’t normally see with editorial products, but this is uncharted territory.”
WisconsinReporter.com is an independent news organization associated with the Franklin Center for Government and Public Intergrity, a non-profit foundation devoted to encouraging quality news reporting on state government and politics.
“Wisconsin Reporter’s content is trusted by tens of thousands of individuals in Wisconsin who get our stories, whether through our newspaper partners, our website, or they read it on Facebook or Twitter,” said Jason Stverak, Franklin's president.
“The people of Wisconsin have come to rely on Wisconsin Reporter for trustworthy and credible content so they know what’s going on, not only in Madison but across the state,” Stverak said.
Stverak's group has helped organize reporting groups like WisconsinReporter.com in 40 states across the country in the past two years. It is an example of a growing trend in the journalism world of independent journalism being backed by non-profit foundations.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I am a member of an advisory board of mainstream media journalists who assist Stverak and other Franklin officials in their work.
I hate Wisconsin Nazis.
Graeme Zeilinski is the perp here.
Thanks markomalley.
Interesting the way Beth Bennett dodges around the question.
“Out there.”
“Despicable” would be a better way to put it, but she doesn’t want to offend the unions who are attacking the members of her press association.
Fun to do a Google search on the antics of this piece of work.
The papers will get the roughing up the Fair got
That's even more telling: she's not even talking about the threat itself, but seems more surprised that the unionista was audacious enough to put it in writing!
This is the same thing that the Nazi Party did in the 30’s, in Germany.
We are heading that direction at full speed now.
I’m so glad my grandfather, who lived through Germany in the 30’s, didn’t live to see this happening in America.
Is that your GSD?
That is a wonderful looking animal. We have one, our 6th. Would never be without one.
Yep, he posted on Twitter a few weeks ago:
“It’s Medicare’s 45th birthday. Celebrate by punching a Republican”
In a same world, he would be denounced, forced to resign his party position, and perhaps even charged for inciting violence.
I have to brag a little, I have two GSD (brother and sister) 3 1/2 yrs old. Thwy are fantastic.
Stifle the Tea Party, stifle the free press what is next?
It is not.
That entire post was assembled by Lady Jag, and the picture of the GSD is from yet another FReeper.
I agree that it is a gorgeous animal, very appealing.
Flash mobs of all kinds are being invented as we speak..
As Beck said.. “Bottom up, top down,,,,, inside out..”
Cloward-Piven works and is maliciously genius in its scope..
One would imagine that he’d have no problem with MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS or any other MSM.
It’s only those pesky, terrorist, right-wing-extremist people with views that go counter to his and the Progressive’s agenda.
(Why does the word “scu&bags” come to mind with reference to these people?)
IMHO
Yes they are. I have never met a person who can consistently meet the level of loyalty, affection, patience and who can come close to giving the unconditional love which dogs routinely give us (unless of course you REALLY piss them off and they are Pitt bulls)
WE have had GSD for 40+ years and the best way I can describe my feelings for them is to say they bring a smile to my heart.
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