Spring Break
Partisan bickering
Drudge dropped the ball when he reported unsubstantiated claims about Kerry
By: Collins Ezeanyim
Issue date: 2/24/04 Section: Opinion
Of course, conservatives such as Limbaugh say the lack of reporting on the Kerry rumor betrayed a liberal bias on the part of the media, according to USA Today. Conservatives say there's a double standard between the way the Kerry rumor was handled and the current media frenzy over Bush's attendance during his National Guard duty.
But Leonard Downie, The Post's executive editor, explained best how the media should handle such rumors: "One: Is it true? Two: Is it relevant to that person's performance or public life?" he told USA Today.
Unfortunately, this is not the only attempted Kerry smear that originated online. A photo depicting Kerry with anti-Vietnam War activist Jane Fonda at a speaker's platform created animosity toward Kerry among many
Vietnam veterans.
There's a problem with the photo, however; it is a complete forgery. In fact, the photo is a doctored amalgamation of a photo of Kerry taken in Mineola, N.Y., on June 13, 1971, and a photo of Fonda at a rally in Miami, Fla., in 1972. Furthermore, the photo was attached with the AP logo to make it appear authentic. It is OK if someone doesn't like Kerry, but to fraudulently use copyrighted works in an attempt to defame him is not only wrong, but immoral.
The most likely reason why conservatives are so intent on smearing Kerry is because they have a genuine fear of him. He is an intelligent person, a war hero and a four-term senator with a moderate voting record.
President George W. Bush, on the other hand, has had a terrible 2004. His State of the Union address was full of feckless content. Also, David Kay concluded that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Conservatives and liberals alike thought Bush performed poorly on his "Meet the Press" interview with former Ronald Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan, stating for opinionjournal.com, "The president seemed tired, unsure and often bumbling." Not to mention the National Guard flap that the president and his handlers can't make go away. It is not surprising some conservatives would do anything to bring Kerry down.
Even if what they come up with is totally false, the Internet has the power to spread these falsities worldwide with unprecedented speed. Web surfers should be extra skeptical of any fantastic Web rumors. Here's a good litmus test: If Fox News passes on the opportunity to report on something negative about a Democrat, it must not be true.
But Leonard Downie, The Post's executive editor, explained best how the media should handle such rumors: "One: Is it true? Two: Is it relevant to that person's performance or public life?" he told USA Today.
Unfortunately, this is not the only attempted Kerry smear that originated online. A photo depicting Kerry with anti-Vietnam War activist Jane Fonda at a speaker's platform created animosity toward Kerry among many
Vietnam veterans.
There's a problem with the photo, however; it is a complete forgery. In fact, the photo is a doctored amalgamation of a photo of Kerry taken in Mineola, N.Y., on June 13, 1971, and a photo of Fonda at a rally in Miami, Fla., in 1972. Furthermore, the photo was attached with the AP logo to make it appear authentic. It is OK if someone doesn't like Kerry, but to fraudulently use copyrighted works in an attempt to defame him is not only wrong, but immoral.
The most likely reason why conservatives are so intent on smearing Kerry is because they have a genuine fear of him. He is an intelligent person, a war hero and a four-term senator with a moderate voting record.
President George W. Bush, on the other hand, has had a terrible 2004. His State of the Union address was full of feckless content. Also, David Kay concluded that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Conservatives and liberals alike thought Bush performed poorly on his "Meet the Press" interview with former Ronald Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan, stating for opinionjournal.com, "The president seemed tired, unsure and often bumbling." Not to mention the National Guard flap that the president and his handlers can't make go away. It is not surprising some conservatives would do anything to bring Kerry down.
Even if what they come up with is totally false, the Internet has the power to spread these falsities worldwide with unprecedented speed. Web surfers should be extra skeptical of any fantastic Web rumors. Here's a good litmus test: If Fox News passes on the opportunity to report on something negative about a Democrat, it must not be true.
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