Why Are We Back In Iraq?

Some journalists aren't born or made, they just never were.

"Kerry Under Fire For 'Regime Change'" "by" Jeff Gannon was one of the first "original" articles posted on Talon News on April 4, 2003. I place quotemarks around "original" since some elements of Jeff/Jim's story originated as Glen Johnson's "Kerry Says US Needs Its Own 'Regime Change'" published in The Boston Globe on April 3, 2003 (link). Aside from the attributed quotes by Senator Kerry, most of the remaining elements were just copy-and-pasted from statements released by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Republican National Committee Chairman Mark Racicot.

The reason why I am posting this not-so-plagiarized example of Jeff Gannon "journalism" is to show how Talon Newsers sometimes changed the news they stole by adding or replacing elements to reflect their conservative ideology.

Glen Johnson: "By echoing the ''regime change'' line popular with hundreds of thousands of antiwar protesters"

Cub Reporter Jeff Gannon: "Kerry adopted the "regime change" line from the chants of anti-war demonstrators."

Glen Johnson: "He also joined the administration in blasting ''armchair generals'' who are criticizing the war plan."

Cub Reporter Jeff Gannon: "Despite his own second-guessing, Kerry blasted "armchair generals" who are criticizing the war plan"

Glen Johnson: "Taking aim at Attorney General John D. Ashcroft..."

Cub Reporter Jeff Gannon: "He took a shot at Attorney General John D. Ashcroft..."

Glen Johnson: "Despite pledging two weeks ago to cool his criticism of the administration..."

Cub Reporter Jeff Gannon: "Despite a recent pledge to tone down the rhetoric during the war..."

Glen Johnson: "...Kerry said in a speech at the Peterborough Town Library."

Cub Reporter Jeff Gannon: "...Kerry addressed the partisan crowd gathered in the Peterborough, N.H., Town Library..."

Glen Johnson: "...Bush committed a ''breach of trust'' in the eyes of many United Nations members by going to war with Iraq, creating a diplomatic chasm that will not be bridged as long as Bush remains in office."

Cub Reporter Jeff Gannon: "...Bush had committed a "breach of trust" among U.N. members that could not be healed as long as he is in office."

If Talon News was still open for business I'd say Happy Birthday, because it was born two years ago on April Fool's Day and right now the joke is on the National Press Club.

# posted by Ron Brynaert : 4/01/2005 09:05:00 AM