The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 6 of 18)

br> -- Dan Mittelman br> Cherry Hill, New Jersey /p> p> Conservatives will not rally to McCain and he is going to lose the November election, barring some unforeseen skeleton in Obama's closet. He has undermined the conservative cause and stabbed conservatives in the back one time to many. I held my nose and voted for Bush I, Bob Dole and Bush II. I will not hold my nose and vote for John McCain, the stench of his betrayals are to overpowering. br> -- Paul Martell /p>

The New York Times article on John McCain hardly falls in the category of a cautionary tale, let alone being a valid story. It's a hit piece compiled by at least one reporter who's leftward tilt was clearly demonstrated about five years ago.

On March 31, 2003 the Times reported that Peter Arnett, NBC correspondent, was being fired for appearing on Iraqi state television. In his appearance, Arnett stated that his reporting about Iraqi civilian casualties "helps those who oppose the war." Arnett further stated "The allied war plan has failed because of Iraqi resistance." In an early version of the Times' account, deep in the article -- paragraph nine -- there was critical comment about Arnett's appearance attributed to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). Overall, the article seemed to be straight reporting by Times reporter Jim Rutenberg.

In a later version that day, March 31, essentially the same story plus political spin, Rutenberg stated in paragraph three: "The comments were likely to make Mr. Arnett a renewed target of Republican lawmakers, many of whom already contend that his reporting is slanted in favor of the Iraqis." In this version the comments of Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen had vaulted all the way from paragraph nine to being nearly the lead.

Then there is the article by Howard Kurtz, media critic for the Washington Post. It's also dated March 31, 2003. His piece showed that there were two members of Congress who criticized Peter Arnett and one of them was a Democrat. Apparently, Mr. Rutenberg and the Times editors missed the comments by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).

p>Some have said "But these ( Times staff) are good reporters." They have to be. It takes more talent to manufacture a scandal than simply report valid information -- sometimes referred to as "facts."

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