"You Aren't Even TRYING to Hide It Anymore, Are You?" [View All]

[IdaBriggs]

I'm not in the DU Activist Corps, but here's my letter to the AP re: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x21766 and I join with Skinner and the DU Activist Corps in encouraging everyone else to share their opinions on this article with the AP at [e-mail] -- I'm still pissed, even after this rant to them!

I don't normally waste my time responding to all of the inaccuracies perpetrated by the AP, but this time you folks got my blood boiling, and I am responding.

In reference to your story, "Patriotic Camp Springs Up to Counter Peace Mom's Anti-War Demonstration Near President's Ranch" by Angela K. Brown (http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBFH5JNMCE.html), the LOWEST standards of journalism are displayed in not just the headline, but the entire article, which contains some of the most obvious lies, slurs, and non-clever innuendo EVER to disguise itself as "journalism." In fact, I think "PROPAGANDA" would better describe the article!!!

"Patriotic Camp" as a description in reference to the sparsely populated PRO-WAR group camped in Crawford has got to be one of the most insulting things EVER written, especially since THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS COUNTRY (INCLUDING THE MILITARY) are completely against this war and the way it is being run. According to your writer, we are NOT patriotic. Are you INSANE??? Or just STUPID? Our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms and dads are DYING FOR A LIE -- remember all those "weapons of mass destruction" that YOU FOLKS DIDN'T BOTHER TO FACT CHECK? Or how about that "freedom is on the march" nonsense that turns out to be Islamic fundamentalism instead? Or any of the other excuses for some of the WORST JUDGMENT BY A PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY that have got us into a disastrous QUAGMIRE??? And you think trying to FIX this mess isn't PATRIOTIC???

We have a man in the office of President who is not only a FAILED BUSINESSMAN, with a long history of DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE (documented by police record, and public admission), but apparently says CRUDE, INSANE AND STUPID THINGS like "I've got to get on with my life" as an explanation of how he handles the rising death toll in Iraq occurring while he is on HIS FIVE WEEK VACATION -- and your reporter writes AN OPINION PIECE INSULTING ANYONE WHO IS BRIGHT ENOUGH TO OPPOSE WAR???

The credibility problem the "Main Stream Media" is having is 100% due to this type of writing and editorial malpractice. You people didn't tell the truth, STILL don't tell the truth, and PUBLICLY INSULT the PATRIOTIC PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HELPED TO CREATE WITH YOUR REFUSAL TO REVEAL ANYTHING THAT MIGHT EMBARRASS THE "PRESIDENT!"

How dare you! You need to chastise not just the "reporter" who wrote this nonsense (although I personally believe that a demotion is in order until some basic journalism classes are passed), but also the EDITOR who let this DRIVEL through, and PUBLICLY apologize for the SLANDER you have perpetrated!!!

And in the meantime, I pray Dante is right, and that there is a special place reserved in hell for not just TRAITORS to their country like George W. Bush, but also for the enablers whose half-truths, innuendos and outright LIES have helped him to continue with the disastrous policies that are destroying our country!!!

In Utter Contempt,
I Remain,
Mrs. Ida Briggs