Eric Boehlert: The AP has a Ron Fournier problem

[babylonsister]

The AP has a Ron Fournier problem

by Eric Boehlert


You never know what nuggets congressional investigators will uncover when they set off on official inquiries.

Last week, we learned that while investigators for the House Oversight Committee were looking into the 2004 death of Cpl. Pat Tillman, the former NFL player whose story was promoted by the White House before it was revealed that he had been killed by friendly fire, they discovered that top political aide Karl Rove had exchanged emails with the Associated Press' Ron Fournier on the day the news of Tillman's death broke.

In one email, Rove asked, "How does our country continue to produce men and women like this?" Fournier responded: "The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish. Keep up the fight."

That sign-off, which seemed to indicate an allegiance between the two men, raised hackles all over the Internet. That kind of correspondence ("Keep up the fight") between a reporter and a partisan White House aide during a campaign year lands way outside the boundaries of acceptable newsroom practices.

But Fournier, now the wire service's D.C. bureau chief, shrugged off the embarrassing revelation, conceding only: "I regret the breezy nature of the correspondence."

Of course, Fournier wasn't simply being breezy. "Have a great weekend" -- that's "breezy."

Instead, Fournier was declaring sides. That was the implication of Fournier's note: "Karl, you might think the media are liberal, but you can trust me. And give me access and return my emails. Because I'm on your side."

The Fournier revelation came as no surprise to anyone who has read his recent campaign work, which has routinely been caustic and dismissive of Democratic contenders. In two "Analysis" pieces and a column, Fournier questioned whether John Edwards was a "phony," announced the Clintons suffered from "utter self-absorption," and claimed that Barack Obama was "bordering on arrogance." That's the right of a pundit. But at the same time, Fournier avoided raising any doubts about Sen. John McCain, and in fact rushed to his aid in print during the senator's time of campaign need.

more...

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200807220006

[AndyTiedye]

1. The MSM is so Totally OWNED!

[FrenchieCat]

2. AP is a problem .....

biased opinion journalism trying to disguise itself as a balance news wire service.

It ain't working.

Now, it is worse!

[Eurobabe]

3. Biased hack

I complained to AP today.

[nichomachus]

6. Save your breath

-- seriously.

The AP is a cooperative that is owned by its members newspapers. That means the owners are the corporate media themselves.

The head of the AP is one of the most despicable corporatists imaginable -- Dean Singleton, a truly disgusting individual who has no regard whatsoever for working people or anything else, except lining his own pockets.

[Karenina]

9. You can't spell CRAP without AP.

[enough]

4. Very good article. Hope this gets wide circulation.

[Mabus]

5. Damned proud to give this OP K&R #5

Boehlert remains one of my favorite writers. I'm so glad he works at mediamatters and is able to have the freedom to write the truth about other reporters.

[glitch]

7. Fournier is so very new american century. aka wanker to the world. nt

[tblue37]

8. Today's "analysis" by Fournier says that by choosing Biden,

Obama shows how "weak" he is. Partisan much?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080823/ap_on_el_pr/veepstakes_analysis

In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness — inexperience in office and on foreign policy — rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.


<snip>

The picks say something profound about Obama: For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator worried that he couldn't beat Republican John McCain without help from a seasoned politician willing to attack. The Biden selection is the next logistical step in an Obama campaign that has become more negative — a strategic decision that may be necessary but threatens to run counter to his image.

<snip>


So the question is whether Biden's depth counters Obama's inexperience — or highlights it?

Fournier is an a**hole.

[babylonsister]

10. That's the rethug meme of the day; I've heard it several times.

So Obama was supposed to choose someone who would weaken the Dem ticket? Sometimes, they make no sense-at all.

[CitizenPatriot]

11. I wrote the these clowns and here's their addys

Gentlemen,

I'm writing to tell you that the public's faith in the 160-year-old AP will be gone if Ron Fournier is allowed to continue his slanted articles against Democrats and for McCain. What this country needs and DESERVES is a healthy, free press. The American voters need to be informed accurately about both candidates. Please rethink the clear and obvious bias you have allowed to infiltrate the AP through Mr. Fournier. If he continues to report with such inaccuracy for the AP, I will no longer be able to consider anything from the AP to be true and accurate. It is a sad day when the American people can't expect more journalistic integrity from a reporter such as Fournier than they can from a rumor and gossip hound like Corsi. Shame on you, Mr. Fournier.

Thank you for your time,

_____________

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[autorank]

12. What a fool this guy is. k*r

He'll probably say that he was trying to curry favor. I can see police being allowed to lie to get
information out of a defendant, but not journalists. So that excuse is nonsense.

Now the "Keep up the fight" is a good quote. Robert Parry talked about U.S. journalists committing
war crimes through the process of lying to support an illegal war. Maybe this is evidence? Maybe
someone should ask him.

His denial is pathetic, btw.

Great grab sister. You're cookin'