Al Franken smeared in Washington Post column by William Raspberry

[Eric J in MN]

Please write the Washington Post and mention that Al Franken can be heard on the internet.

William Raspberry wrote a column today saying Al Franken's show is "lies," while admitting he's never heard it. He used the excuse that it's not on his radio.

The Washington Post can be written at:
[e-mail]

Sending a letter could help publicize Al Franken's show, if they print one of the letters in response to the column.

The William Raspberry column is at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4445-2004Apr11.html

The Daily Howler,www.dailyhowler.com, says this:

How totally clueless is William Raspberry? Today, he opines about Al Franken’s radio show. But no, let’s be a bit more precise; Raspberry actually discusses “he Franken show, as I understand the concept.” Sadly, Raspberry has to be somewhat vague, because he hasn’t yet heard Franken’s program! Indeed, “I haven’t been able to find it on my radio yet,” he says, apparently failing to understand that the show only airs in a couple of cities. But despite his standard screaming ignorance, Raspberry types this astonishing passage:

RASPBERRY (4/12/04): Now, Franken is a funny enough guy, I suppose, as an entertainer. But to the extent he sees his role as countering right-wing misrepresentations with left-wing misrepresentations, my response is: Who needs him?
The answer to lies and partisan innuendo is not more lies but truth—truth at least to the best ability of journalists to uncover it.

Raspberry has never heard Franken’s show. He offers no quote about Franken’s intentions. Despite this, he accuses Franken of deliberately offering “lies” and “left-wing misrepresentations.” This is deeply offensive writing. This morning, Raspberry’s nastiness matches the rank stupidity he put on display last week.
We live at a time of great national challenge. Despite this, Raspberry just keeps phoning it in. His work is lazy, inept and worthless—an open insult to the Post’s readers. If Fred Hiatt were a real journalist, he’d never have published today’s awful column. But Hiatt isn’t so encumbered, as we have seen in the past.

[Cocoa]

1. why didn't he listen on the Internet?

Or get a tape of a show?

Or wrote about something else?

[Eric J in MN]

2. I assume he doesn't know it's on the internet, but

I assume he doesn't know it's on the internet, but if he had done some research into the show, he would have learned that, and he could have called the show and asked for a tape.

Most people couldn't get a tape of a show with a quick phone call, but a Washington Post columnist can.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. rasberry is a senile old hack

he spoke here at MU last week and was the most uninspiring, overrated speaker ever on campus

and he charged the university a 6figure fee for his half assed hour and a half speech

[LittleApple81]

4. I sent the following to him, and will send a copy to the editors:

Dear Washington Post:
I sent the following letter to Mr. Raspberry. But I think you also should know what people think of the Washington Post’s journalistic integrity when something like his column from today appears on your paper.


Dear Mr.Raspberry:
I cannot believe what our country has come to. That somebody like you, who implies to be left of center, criticizes a LIBERAL radio station and one of its programs WITHOUT HAVING LISTENED TO IT is so against any journalism standard that it is unbelievable. And that this column appears in one of our journalistic flagships is even worse.
First, Maher is NOT LIBERAL. He is a LIBERTARIAN. Second, Mr. Dennis Miller is a Bush shill (for your information, he used to lean to the left until he found that his career was in the pits and that the corporate media might need another rightwing shill). Therefore, if you are watching both of them, you are NOT listening to a liberal voice.
Second, Mr. Franken is liberal and outspoken. But unlike the right wingers, he is an HONEST person who researches before he propounds. He can back every statement he makes with correct and validated references. And, if by any chance—since he is human—he makes a mistake, he admits it and retracts in a timely fashion.
Air America and Mr. Franken are a breath of fresh air and honesty in this country of ours where the media are so corporate/Bush controlled that even CNN does not dare show the news it shows internationally here in the United States.
So, Mr. Raspberry: if you cannot find Air America on your dial, please get on your computer, go to the Air America site (http://www.airamericaradio.com/) and LISTEN. It will make you think and give thanks to independently minded people who dared provide America with a LIBERAL, HONEST point of view which, by reading your column as an example of “regular” journalism in a main media outlet, we have not been able to obtain before.
Sincerely,

[mzmolly]

6. Good letter...thanks!

;)

[Ferretherder]

5. I agree 100% on this one!

William Raspberry REALLY let me down on this one! He is usually open-minded and thoughtful on most things (read: liberal), but he SERIOUSLY dropped the ball on this subject. Hey, Will, my man, please fill me in, SPECIFICALLY, on some of Al's more blatant lies, hmmmm?

Please.

[Eric J in MN]

7. yes, if you're going to accuse someone of "lies," give at least

yes, if you're going to accuse someone of "lies," give at least one example.

[stellanoir]

8. there's only one appropriate response. . .

to someone named "Raspberry". . .

(I'm not sure quite how to type it but here goes. . .)

phthpthrrpthrrrrrrr......

should result in a copious amount of air born saliva

[Eric J in MN]

9. well, also send the Wash Post a brief letter to publicize

Well, also send the Washington Post a brief letter to publicize that Al Franken's show is on the internet.

That way some good can come of this.

[e-mail]

[trumad]

10. The Howler rips this Ho a good one

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh041204.shtml

[gratuitous]

11. Well, I haven't read Raspberry's column

But I do know that the remedy for character assassination is not more character assassination.

Wotta dope!

[LittleApple81]

12. They discussed it today in Majority report. They were pretty upset. n/t

[Eric J in MN]

13. Oh, I wish I had tuned in sooner. I'm listening to it now (nt)

nt

[chaska]

14. I haven't read Raspberry in years, but he is a good lefty. He...

screwed up here. Please do write him, but remember he's good man.