Nnnooo, The Media is Not Left Leaning

[rushmc 23]

The story speaks for itself. Can anybody defend this bullshit?

With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story...


Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 4:06 p.m. EST
Times Cuts Patriotism from Marine's Letter


The New York Times cut patriotic comments from a letter written by a U.S. Marine before he was killed in Iraq.

The family of Cpl. Jeffrey Starr slammed the Times for selectively excerpting the letter he wrote to his girlfriend, intending for her to read it in the event of his death.

A November 2 Times story about soldiers killed while serving multiple tours of duty mentioned 22-year-old Starr, who was serving his third tour of duty when he died, and included this excerpt from his letter:

"I kind of predicted this ... A third time just seemed like I’m pushing my chances.”


In fact, the letter read in its entirety (emphasis added):
"I kind of predicted this, that is why I’m writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I’m pushing my chances. I don’t regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it’s not to me. I’m here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark.”

Starr’s mother Shellie told the New York Post that the "part of the letter about freedom and dying for it was much more important for him than what they wrote from the letter.”

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[billvon 3,116]

A paper EDITED A LETTER? My God! Next thing you know, editors will be TELLING their reporters they need 1000 words and not 1200! They will start actually not printing all the letters they get! Why, I once wrote to a newspaper about a politician - and they didn't even print it. Clearly the left leaning pinko liberal papers are all trying to destroy poor GWB.

[kallend 2,148]

Quote

The story speaks for itself. Can anybody defend this bullshit?

With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story...


Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 4:06 p.m. EST
Times Cuts Patriotism from Marine's Letter


The New York Times cut patriotic comments from a letter written by a U.S. Marine before he was killed in Iraq.

The family of Cpl. Jeffrey Starr slammed the Times for selectively excerpting the letter he wrote to his girlfriend, intending for her to read it in the event of his death.

A November 2 Times story about soldiers killed while serving multiple tours of duty mentioned 22-year-old Starr, who was serving his third tour of duty when he died, and included this excerpt from his letter:

"I kind of predicted this ... A third time just seemed like I’m pushing my chances.”


In fact, the letter read in its entirety (emphasis added):
"I kind of predicted this, that is why I’m writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I’m pushing my chances. I don’t regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it’s not to me. I’m here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark.”

Starr’s mother Shellie told the New York Post that the "part of the letter about freedom and dying for it was much more important for him than what they wrote from the letter.”

Humbug. The NYT excerpted what they needed that was relevant to their article.

Do you quote all of Shakespeare when you want a relevant one line quote from Hamlet?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[ReBirth 0]

The media does that all the time. It has nothing to do with leaning one way or the other. It's called manipulating info to make a better story. They do it to the benefit and detriment to both sides of the political spectrum.

[wmw999 2,588]

In this case that doesn't make it necessarily right, either. It might have been better not to include the material in that particular letter rather than to excerpt it quite that way. It's not really taking the quote out of context, but it's perilously close to me. That's probably why I don't work for a newspaper, huh.

Best is to say it's pretty tacky.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rushmc 23]

OK, so pushed it a little But I did find the ommision a little stinky at best.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rickjump1 0]

I thought we were supporting the troops no matter what our political views were. Censorship of our KIA's is a slap in the face.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[rushmc 23]

Thanks wmw999. I was out on the edge a little but this did poke me a bit. I feel kind of lonely in here sometimes

I guess I am feeling a little rambunkous tonight however

Dam, I love Rogue Dead Guy Ale

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[skydyvr 0]

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OK, so pushed it a little But I did find the ommision a little stinky at best.

You didn't push anything. Editing a letter for brevity or grammar is fine, but editing motivated by a political agenda stinks badly.

. . =(_8^(1)

[Lindsey 0]

Pretty stinky editing. But it sure doesn't equal the media being left-leaning. The NYT is left-leaning. Fox news is not. I suppose we could make a list for those who aren't up on Who's Who in the Media....lol.

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[rushmc 23]

Dam, that is a good point.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

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Quote

OK, so pushed it a little But I did find the ommision a little stinky at best.

You didn't push anything. Editing a letter for brevity or grammar is fine, but editing motivated by a political agenda stinks badly.

(I didn't think I had any alies in here)

Very true, I guess the reason I said I pushed it is to some extent it goes both ways. But I do believe (and there are many studies out there supporting this opinion) the main stream media leans way to the left

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[DaVinci 0]

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Humbug. The NYT excerpted what they needed that was relevant to their article.

Exactly, and only what they need.

Ever see the "Daily Show"? They take interviews and edit them to make the person look stupid.

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Do you quote all of Shakespeare when you want a relevant one line quote from Hamlet?

No, but if I quoted Hamlet it had to have been in the proper context or my Professor would have killed me for it.

Yes he said he thought he was going to die. But he also said he did not regret it and gave his reasons. That did not fit the Times's article so they left it out.

If I had used "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." Hamlet (I, iv, 90) to show that the streets of Denmark smell bad due to grabage collection, well I would not pass.

Context is everything.

[wmw999 2,588]

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If I had used "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." Hamlet (I, iv, 90) to show that the streets of Denmark smell bad due to grabage collection, well I would not pass.

That's only because you didn't have little tongue-in-cheek icons

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[ReBirth 0]

Quote

Dam, I love Rogue Dead Guy Ale

No shit...that's good stuff.

[rushmc 23]

Again, a good point. I didn't expect the thread to go this way but it is a good discussion.

Thanks

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

Dam, I love Rogue Dead Guy Ale

No shit...that's good stuff.

Hey! We agree on something!!!!

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kelpdiver 2]

the key detail missing here is the context of the NYT story. If they were writing that soldiers are getting sent back over and over again till they die, against their wishes, then it's a pretty blatant chop job on his words. If they're just writing about their fears as they go back, it's not bad, though I'd agree it shows some bias.

But in the greater sense, get real. You know the NYT's reputation has been obliterated and its no longer appropriate to use them to represent the vast media choices available.