BBC bush bashing impartiality
I notice the BBC is leading with:
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | New Florida vote scandal feared
A secret document obtained from inside Bush campaign headquarters in Florida suggests a plan - possibly in violation of US law - to disrupt voting in the state's African-American voting districts, a BBC Newsnight investigation reveals.
By Greg Palast
Reporting for BBC's Newsnight
Not a reporters name I recognised so I followed the link to his site:
The Greg Palast where being a good little capitalist he sells stuff - top seller is:
The Joker's Wild: Dubya's Trick Deck by GREG PALAST
an EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER
Make a small donation of $25 or more to the Palast Investigative Fund and get a personally signed deck of these unique cards.
This is your opportunity to support our cause, fight with us to fight them and at the same time enjoy a fun game of poker with your friends.
Read these special cards and arm yourself with Greg's devastating insight and knowledge. You will learn why it is so crucial that we fight on, who's on our side, and who/what we are up against.
I think you get the picture without needing to go throught the rest of the stuff.....Still I'm sure he is impartial when he is "Reporting for BBC's Newsnight" after all we know "who's on our side".
Comments
So? None of that suggests that Palast's report is fabricated.
You are guilty of what the Adam Smith Institute calls the Genetic Fallacy. You don't like where the report has come from, but that doesn't mean its erroneous.
'Every time you dismiss an argument or opinion because you dislike its source, you commit the genetic fallacy.'
www.adamsmith.org/logicalfallacies/000627.php
Posted by: Stephen Newton | October 27, 2004 9:56 AM
Did I say is going to be fabricated or erroneous?
No I said "I'm sure he is impartial" and that he is a good little capitalist....
All the best
Tim
Posted by: tim![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 27, 2004 11:00 AM
Note that the only actual facts about the document included in the report is that it includes a list of names and addresses. The assertion that it will be used to challenge potential voters appears to be spin placed on it by the reporter.
Posted by: Simon Jester | October 27, 2004 12:14 PM
I saw about the first 30 seconds of Newsnight as they trailed their lead item: "The BBC has obtained documents from inside Bush headquarters etc etc" and swiftly turned over - the last thing I need is yet another heavily slanted BBC attack on President Bush. I've yet to see them come up with anything remotely negative about Kerry.
Palast (the American journalist who brought Newsnight this story) does have previous. He has been denounced by Tony Blair and The Daily Mirror (who called him 'The Liar'). LeftWatch have some interesting articles on him: http://www.leftwatch.com/FAQ/People/greg_palast.html
Posted by: David H | October 27, 2004 1:33 PM
Have you read the report Simon? The term 'caging list' is taken from leaked e-mails so it's much more than an assertion, then there's the private dectective.
Interesting that Newsnight introduced the piece with a reminder of alleged electoral abuses by the Kennedy campaign way back in the 1960s. Perhaps they are anti-Kerry?
Poor old David H! LoL. Resorting not only to ASI'a genetic fallacy, but name calling as well.
Posted by: Stephen Newton | October 27, 2004 1:45 PM
I have read the report, Stephen - have you?
The only mention of the words "caging list" appears in the following sentence:
'Two e-mails, prepared for the executive director of the Bush campaign in Florida and the campaign's national research director in Washington DC, contain a 15-page so-called "caging list". '
Note that the article does *not* say that the e-mails called it a "caging list".
Note also that the private detective claims not to know who he is working for.
Take these factors away, and all you are left with is spin.
Posted by: Simon Jester | October 28, 2004 1:23 PM