By bminerly I never said, nor would I say, that the Democratic party is "pure", to use your word. However, the eagerness with which the media has taken to simply repeating RNC talking points on this scandal and the lack of any in-depth analysis on taking the Republicans to task is the latest sign (in my opinion) of a media cowed by the right wing. And Ms. Howell's nose-thumbing at her readers, the people for whom an ombudsman is supposed to advocate, shows her to be unfit for the job. It seems that when criticism of the media comes from any quarter other than the extreme right, the criticized parties get rather cranky and whiny.
Response from Douglas Cunningham [ADMINISTRATOR]
hi,
re, rnc talking points, i would draw a distinction between the supposed adoption of these talking points and the question of in-depth analysis and critical reporting. if you wish to criticize us or others for not enough analysis, fine.
but the idea that i have adopted the rnc talking points deliberately -- EVEN WHILE KNOWING THEY ARE WRONG -- and then communicated those IN A DELIBERATE EFFORT TO USE MY COLUMN TO MISLEAD, or because i am cowed by the right wing, that's just wrong. yet that's the message of some emails after my column on this. and, btw, that wasn't my first column on abramoff. i predicted some time ago, before abramoff pleaded, that this would be a hell of a scandal.
re, howell, it is relatively rare for the media to be comfortable with the level of criticism now in play. i think the issue for the post became the invective and obscenity, rather than the mere exchange of views.
best,
doug
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By allenstout How long do you think Middletown will be a district where parents send there kids to find out what is going wrong there versus a place to go and get an education? It is not just Middletown either.
Response from Douglas Cunningham [ADMINISTRATOR]
hi,
as in, how long does middletown remain dysfunctional? that's tough to say. i think a while yet. there are many systemic issues to be addressed, and i'm not sure there's general recognition of the problems. certainly, there wasn't in sigler's case.
re, not just middletown, i agree, i'm sure other districts have their own failings. the thing that strikes me is for how long, and how extensively, this district has failed its students.
and yes, i know there are many good things going on, and many valiant and hard-working employees. but surely, we can do better.
best,
doug
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By bminerly I'm well aware of Ms. Howell's misstatements, though I did miss the page 2 correction in the Record. However, you and Ms. Howell, along with many in the media, are lumping Abramoff and his clients together in order to tag Democrats as being participants in this scandal. What I don't see mentioned in many places is that the clients of Abramoff that were the victims of his ripoffs, Indian tribes, went from giving heavily to Democrats over Republicans before hiring him had those trends flipped on their heads after hiring him. NO one INCREASED donations to Democrats after hiring Jack Abramoff to lobby for them.
Response from Douglas Cunningham [ADMINISTRATOR]
hi,
i think everyone agrees that this is basically a republican scandal. it is not, however, entirely so.
re, your second observation, i'm not sure this is a sign of purity. is it possible, perhaps, that this whole area of enterprise and government -- gambling, the tribes, the approvals of gambling, and so on -- was problematic? i think it likely was.
doug
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By bminerly Do you or the Record intend to ever print a correction regarding your statements that lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave money to Democrats?
Response from Douglas Cunningham [ADMINISTRATOR]
hi,
we did print a correction, the following day, on page 2, where all corrections appear. we noted that abramoff personally gave money to republicans, but had not given money to democrats. and that others associated with abramoff, or clients of his, had given money to those of both parties. and that i had omitted this distinction.
i'd also commend to your attention the column in the washington post by deborah howell, relating to the fallout from a similar misstatement she made. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012100907.html?referrer=emailarticle
best,
doug
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