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Dan Abrams Sinks to 60 Minutes Level

By Quin Hillyer on 2.26.08 @ 10:21AM

I just don't get it. Have ALL standards gone out the window? Are there no requirements left for balance and fairness in TV news? After 60 Minutes did was I thought was the worst piece of journalism I have ever seen, Dan Abrams last night on MSNBC equalled the 60 Minutes depths of journalistic slime. He put on the air both Siegelman's attorney and the Rove accuser, Dana Jill Simpson... but he refused, utterly refused, multiple offers to put on the air anybody who would refute their stories. (He noted one written statement from the Alabama Republican Party, but would not give anybody on their side any air time.) Moreover, just like 60 Minutes, he allowed Simpson to make her nutty allegations without ever asking any of the obvious follow-up questions -- not just obvious, but basic question utterly demanded by ordinary journalistic ethics -- of the sort I outlined in my post-60 Minutes blog entry. Again: Where was the meeting with Rove? Exactly when was the meeting? What was the purpose of the meeting? Was anybody else there? Is there any other corroborating evidence? Why did Rove approach her, of all people? Etc., etc., etc.