CHARLES BABINGTON ... AP REPORTER.... WORST REPORTER EVER???

[RollWithIt]

He just got caught writing a review of a speech BEFORE the speech even took place. He even got the length of the speech wrong.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CVN_CONVENTION_ANALYSIS?SITE=NCJAC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Analysis: Obama spares details, keeps up attacks

DENVER (AP) -- Barack Obama, whose campaign theme is "change we can believe in," promised Thursday to "spell out exactly what that change would mean."

But instead of dwelling on specifics, he laced the crowning speech of his long campaign with the type of rhetorical flourishes that Republicans mock and the attacks on John McCain that Democrats cheer. The country saw a candidate confident in his existing campaign formula: tie McCain tightly to President Bush, and remind voters why they are unhappy with the incumbent.

Of course, no candidate can outline every initiative in a 35-minute speech - especially one that also must inspire voters, acknowledge key friends, and toss in some autobiography for the newly-interested. And Obama did touch on nitty-gritty subjects, such as the capital gains tax and biofuel investments.



BUSTED!!!!

[Thrill]

1. AGENDA

[Diane R]

2. He was obviously assigned to write a negative critique. I don't read the AP any longer.

[maseman]

3. Write the AP

I just did. Email the AP at:

[e-mail].

Tell them their partisanship in reporting is awful.

[Sparkly]

9. Their "Analysis" pieces are AWFUL

and Yahoo News puts them under "Politics," as NEWS, not under "Opinion."

(For that matter, they put Politico's crap as "news," as well.)

[Eric J in MN]

13. They should be labelled "Op-Eds."

NT

[Maven]

4. CHARLES BABBINGTON: STEPPED ON PIECE OF ARMADILLO SHIT?

As long as we're using questions as statements.

[Samantha]

5. He had to have written that pre-speech as opposed to post-speech

Probably wanted to leave early this evening, and penned it ahead to time to comport with predictions about the speech. Keith's advice that he needs to seek new work was great.

Sam

[liberalhistorian]

6. If he did, indeed, do that, write the review even before

the speech, he should be fired. No question. Unless he somehow managed to get ahold of an advanced copy, which I very, truly, extremely doubt. You never know nowadays, though.

[RollWithIt]

14. Advance copies were provided to the media....

They changed it only slightly.

[nyccitizen]

7. E-MAIL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: [e-mail]

[LibraLiz1973]

8. Keith Olbermann just went after him on the air when it came over the AP wire

Suggested Babbington "get a new job"

[Raster]

10. One word: HACK!

Another word: tool!
And finally, one more: owned!

[Eric J in MN]

11. When the Democratic acceptance speech has...

...details about legislation, the pundits can bash it as boring.

When the Democratic acceptance speech lacks details about legislation, the pundits can bash it for that.

[ellie]

12. Worst AP reporter ever?

I think he has some competition in that area. Almost makes me ashamed of being a journalist. Actually, we call people like that "hacks."

[Ammonium]

15. I have sent them the following email

To whome it may concern,

With all due respect to Mr. Babington, his editor(s), and the Associated Press, his article on Barack Obama's acceptance speech tonight has to be one of the worst written pieces of journalism I have ever read in my life. Not only did Mr. Babington miss the length of Obama's speech by over 7 minutes, but the characterization of Obama's speech reeks of something I would expect from Fox News. An article bearing the name of the Associated Press's, I expect better and you as a journalistic institution can do better.

Respectfully,

my name here.


I was probably too nice but I think that screaming at them like a lunatic doesn't help my case.

[msanthrope]

16. Note that Babbington Just Edited Story to "44 Minute Speech"--

Thus trying to conceal the fact that he probably didn't watch it....