Posted on 07/10/2003 10:04:40 AM PDT by Jean S
Edited on 07/10/2003 10:17:45 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Recently, this web site discovered it has been played as a sucker by a source that was used in seven stories that ran in Capitol Hill Blue from September 2002 until July of 2003.
The person in question was quoted as an unnamed source in six of the seven articles and by name (Terrance J. Wilkinson) in the seventh. We later learned the name was bogus even though I had known (or thought I knew) the person by that name for more than 20 years.
We have turned all our information on this source over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and, at their instruction, will not discuss the matter publicly until they have concluded their investigations. When those investigations are complete, we will publish a full accounting with every piece of detail that we can produce or uncover about the individual involved. We owe that to our readers.
The six stories that quoted this individual as an unnamed source have been removed from our article database. A search of other news sources through the Internet and on Nexis finds no evidence that any of those six stories were published elsewhere. If a further search uncovers evidence of those stories appearing on any web site or in any publication, we will contact that web site or publication and instruct them to remove the stories.
Some have suggested we should list the stories and keep them on our site with an explanation. Had we found any trace that the stories were reprinted elsewhere, that might have been an option, but our legal counsel advises us that the best course of action is to purge the stories from our database so that any information in them is not picked up and misused elsewhere.
The quotes attributed to the individual by the bogus name have been removed from the story, which ran on Tuesday of this week and we have run multiple searches through the Internet and Nexis to find locations where the story might have been printed. Many had already picked up the retraction we published on Wednesday. Those that had not were contacted and asked to do so. We will continue to monitor the situation and take the necessary corrective steps whenever and wherever we find the story used with the incorrect information.
Journalists have long depended on unnamed sources to break major stories. Without such sources, Watergate, Whitewater and the Monica Lewinsky story might never have come to light.
But we live in a different era now. Technology makes it easier for people to pull together enough information to create a story that sounds credible on the surface but still have hidden agendas underneath.
Many journalists have told me they cannot do their job without unnamed sources. I used to agree with them but events of this past week have caused me to rethink that philosophy.
A line has to be drawn somewhere. Somebody has to stand up and say "I'm not going to be used anymore." We're taking that stand. Effective immediately, Capitol Hill Blue will no longer publish stories that quote unnamed sources. When we do use sources for a story, they will be quoted by name, title and background. That background will be verified before the story is published.
In addition, we are reviewing every story we have run in the past involving unnamed sources and requiring the writers to go back and verify key pieces of information. If we find a problem, we will take any and all action necessary to correct the situation. We will also re-verify the backgrounds of named sources used in articles on sensitive issues.
Does this mean we will miss some major stories? Of course it does. But I'd rather miss a story or two than ever get taken for a ride again.
Related threads:
It is getting better. Check this out [Truthout trying to hide stealing a fraudulent article]
BREAKING: Conned big time "CIA Witness" to White House Lying about Intel story found to be FRAUD
Did Capitol Hill Blue Post An Article With Fabrications?
White House admits Bush wrong about Iraqi nukes
Which is why whole articles should be posted when it is possible rather then excerpting and linking.
They can pull and deny all they want but if the article is posted here where it is dated and time stamped the proof will always be at our fingertips.
In this case it would be a simply process of elimination to find the six articles by comparing what is here with what is left at CHB.
(if any articles were pulled at all
)
No more unnamed sources - Doug Thomson - Capitol Hill Blue
Did Capitol Hill Blue Post An Article With Fabrications?
The TRUE Capitol Hill Blue story the PRESS IGNORED:'Dems plan to undermine America to beat Bush'
The madman of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue- CAPITOL HILL BLUE
BREAKING: Conned big time "CIA Witness" to White House Lying about Intel story found to be FRAUD
See post #16 above for a list of threads on the Capitol Hill Blue article. There's also a small amount of discussion on this at the end of the older thread Capitol Hill Blue Sold.
I think the J. Wilson fellow is part of a coordinated effort to falsely cast scandal on the White House.
Please bump.
I think the J. Wilson fellow is part of a coordinated effort to falsely cast scandal on the White House.
Please bump.
I think the J. Wilson fellow is part of a coordinated effort to falsely cast scandal on the White House.
Please bump.
I think the J. Wilson fellow is part of a coordinated effort to falsely cast scandal on the White House.
Please bump.
I think the J. Wilson fellow is part of a coordinated effort to falsely cast scandal on the White House.
Please bump.
I don't nag! I remind, preach, teach, plague, upbraid, prod, annoy, badger,scold, berate, bother, chivy, needle, carp, noodge and pester but I never nag!
There is no denying that the press followed talking points re. the war - a script detached from reality, that didn't match the facts on the ground in Iraq.
The DNC wrote their script BEFORE the war ever started, according to Doug Thompson's own claim - with quotes. Every Senate Democrat signed on, though some reluctantly?
Undermining our nation during war time is a serious offense. The people have a right to know more about this story, Mr. Thompson, and the major American Party and Press who conspired to deceive the world, to willfully weaken America on the world stage and endanger our troops just to bring down a President.
Please tell us, Mr. Thompson, who gave you this story and are they reliable? In hindsight, we know the PRESS and the Democrats DID follow these talking points.
The article was written in January, before we ever marched to Baghdad.
The TRUE Capitol Hill Blue story the PRESS IGNORED:'Dems plan to undermine America to beat Bush'
FR - thru Capitol Hill Blue ^ | January 6, 2003 | DOUG THOMPSON
Democrats plan to undermine public confidence in President George W. Bush by challenging his credibility and raising doubts about America, sources within the party tell Capitol Hill Blue.
A multi-pronged attack against Republicans and the President will focus not only on economic issues, but question American values, raise doubts about how this country is viewed by other nations and question the patriotism of Bush and his party.
The extensive campaign, developed by senior Democratic consultants and party leaders, was launched last week with attacks on the Bush economic plan by Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Richard Gephardt.
In coming weeks, Democratic elected officials will question the Presidents intentions on the pending war with Iraq. Writers and broadcasters friendly to the Democratic cause have already been provided talking points suggesting the war is about oil, not terrorism. The talking points were developed before the end of last year and sent out to operatives and friendly media, one Democratic consultant confided. No Democratic member of Congress will question the Presidents patriotism openly but we will use the media and other surrogates to raise doubts.
Capitol Hill Blue obtained a copy of the talking points when the Democratic National Committee sent them to a news outlet recently acquired by CHBs parent company. The talking points outline a strategy to raise public doubts of the Presidents real intentions, including: --Saying the war is about oil and will be fought to benefit oil companies that have long supported Bush and the Republican party;
--Claiming the Bush administration has manufactured evidence against Saddam Hussein and used that evidence to encourage Britain and other allies to join the American fight against Iraq;
--Suggesting a wartime economy is the only way the administration can revive the countrys lagging economic situation.
It is clear that the current approval ratings of the administration are tied directly to strong American feelings toward traditional values, the talking points say. To counter this, doubt must be raised as to Americas true position within the world community and the true intent of the Bush administration in waging war.
Some Democrats admit privately they are uneasy with the party strategy to undermine American values in an attempt to get Bush.
My boss doesnt want anything to do with it, one senior Senate aide told Capitol Hill Blue on Monday. You dont undermine this country to win elections. Others, however, are willing to try anything to put the White House and Congress back under Democratic control. The real war isnt in Iraq, one Democratic consultant said. Its right here at home, at the ballot box in 2004.
Among the other points Democrats hope to make in the coming weeks:
--Both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are controlled by oil and defense industry special interest groups.
--The war on terrorism is a failure because Osama bin Laden is still at large.
--America is unprepared for another terrorist attack because of White House preoccupation with Iraq. --War will increase the countrys economic woes. --Bush will be forced to raise taxes to finance the war.
Its time to take the battle to the people and make them understand just how dangerous George W. Bushs policies are to the future of America, the talking points conclude.
Democratic sources say the talking points were developed by Democratic Chairman Terry McAuliffe, former Clinton campaign strategist James Carville, Senate Majority Leader Daschle and former House Democratic Leader Gephardt.
This is a classic, Jim Carville, scorched earth campaign, crows one DNC staffer. Take no prisoners. Thats how you win elections. Democratic party spokesmen would not return phone calls seeking comment on this report.
© Copyright 2003 Capitol Hill Blue
The Orwellian press is daily held to the fire by FreeRepublic truth seekers.
We don't forget, we won't countenance lies and we relish the opportunity to expose the hypocrisy.
from another thread....could it really be Joe Wilson?
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