WTF is this NYT article about Biden's "inappropriate" invocation of Beau's memory?!

[DickKessler]

Apparently our President does not always bring up his deceased son at the “appropriate” time and a handful of people are getting a bit sick of it—which is apparently news that is “fit to print.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/04/us/politics/biden-beau-afghanistan.html

Is this REALLY important “news?”

There’s manufacturing consent but there’s also manufacturing DISSENT. Some in the media seem intent on manufacturing as much dissent and controversy as possible against Biden and the Democrats in general, regardless of what most Americans actually think. It drives me mad.

[Oneironaut]

1. This is beyond sick.

Imagine telling a mother to “Stop bringing your dead daughter up so much!”

Journalism is beyond dead at this point. There a permanent dissent machine now because outrage gets clicks.

[DickKessler]

4. "Outrage gets clicks" is an understandable motivation for a tabloid or FOX, Breitbart, etc.

But you would THINK that the New York Times would be above that kind of thing.

I guess not.

[NCDem47]

6. If a media outlet is for-profit...

They're in it to make $$$. The NYT answers to shareholders at the end of the day. They're publicly traded. No doubt they are pushing the envelope to keep clicks and views.

[Phoenix61]

2. Liberal media my ass. nt

[gulliver]

5. Nothing wrong with the report

People are going to differ on whether they think it's appropriate to talk about your own loss when discussing someone else's loss with them. It's similar to saying, "I've been there too," to someone who is grieving or is feeling bad. Some take it for how it is meant; some may take it wrong.

Mark Schmitz, the guy who lost his son, Jared, to the ISIS-K attack, may not have wanted Biden's son brought up. I think Schmitz's response to Biden's reaching out and sharing was inappropriate. But Schmitz just lost his son at the tail end of a war he thought was over, so everyone should cut him some slack. In matters like this, everyone should cut everyone some slack.

[wellst0nev0ter]

9. Mark Schmitz appeared on Faux Nooze's Hannity show

These people are goop operatives. Don't give them airtime.

[stopdiggin]

15. A lot of military - and a lot of military families ..

A certain amount of this has to be expected. On the other hand, this one father was not the real focus or extent of the article.

[tritsofme]

21. He's a grieving man who just lost a 20 year old son.

Most people see it in that context. Yours seems like a pretty sick take.

[ThunderRoad]

24. Cindy Sheehan

Reminds me of Cindy Sheehan, a grieving mother who lost her son in Iraq. She received national attention. Her pain was a reminder of the costs of war.

[George II]

10. Nothing wrong with the report, but the original headline (which they surreptitiously edited) was....

....pretty obnoxious, implying no one wants to hear about Biden's son anymore.

[stopdiggin]

13. here's another in complete agreement.

Grief is an wrenching and intimate ordeal. And offers of comfort, and 'empathy' and understanding are not always appreciated or processed in the way they are intended. "I understand" and "I've been there" are things that people automatically want to say - but all too often strike a jarring note with a very personal grief. From both directions, this is just people being people - and once people have enough time to right themselves and find their balance again - will be recognized as such.

I'm with you in that I think this father's 'beef' is out of proportion - but, given the circumstances, not at all surprising. He's entitled (in the appropriate sense of the term). It's an agonizing time, and no one is really at fault here - including the Times.

[blue cat]

8. His compassion is his strength

So that’s why they attack him for it.

[Blue Owl]

11. Written by their new columnist Wayne Kerr

[GoCubsGo]

12. It's not news. It's a hit piece.

And, the NYT loves to publish those when they're about Democrats. The sack of crap that wrote it graduated from my alma mater What an embarrassment to the rest of us. She's getting reamed for this garbage on Twitter, deservedly.

[stopdiggin]

14. The article has a great deal more depth

and a heck of a lot more to say than just 'inappropriate invocation.' If that's all you came away with after reading the entire piece ... Then you're pretty focused on being offended. Wasn't a fluff piece, but it was certainly balanced and informative as to the extent that the president still carries his son around with him.

[George II]

16. A lot of the annoyance about this article has to do with the obnoxious original headline, not....

....so much the content of the article.

I forget exactly what it said, but it had something to do with people not interesting in Beau anymore.

[stopdiggin]

17. and I missed that. thanks for the heads up. -(nt)-

[George II]

18. It's being discussed all over the place on Twitter. If I get the original headline I'll post it here

[George II]

22. Correction: THIS is the original headline, which is why people are angry with the NY Times:

[stopdiggin]

25. that does have a bit of sting ..

I think that would have engendered sympathy in most ...

Still think that it's quite a leap to label this a 'hit piece.' You?

In response to the OP: "Is this REALLY important “news?”
I'd opt for, "Yep. Pretty decent journalism."

[struggle4progress]

19. "Next we'll see him wearing white after Labor Day!"

[MFM008]

23. Sad sick

Typical conservatist Republican bullshit.

[harumph]

26. Our leaders have flaws and sometimes are tone deaf.

However, their principles are decent and in stark contrast to republicans.
This is non-news & yes, somewhat of a hit piece pandering to a demographic that
jerks off over nothing burgers. Same as those pieces about Biden allegedly checking his
watch when the deceased service members were flown in. People want the US
to be Mayberry R.F.D. This isn't news - it's a gossip column.
I'm sure it's hard as shit to be flown or driven around from place to place
- appointment to appointment every fucking day at 78 years of age.