Why Won't Anyone Play With Bob?
Deseret News opinionist/reporter (oporter?) Bob “Combo Plate” Bernick opines/reports (oports?) that 63% of all legislative candidates did not respond to his questionnaire. (Though I’m being cheeky about it, Bernick truly is, simultaneously, a columnist and reporter for the D News; what’s better, he thrills to oport on, um, conflicts and integrity). My answers to the questionnaire can be seen here.
Regarding his snubbing, Combo Plate oports, “Perhaps they didn't like the questions. Maybe they figure that in today's online world, they can ignore a statewide newspaper.” A beat oporter should have a better grasp on his beat. Combo Plate either doesn’t know the reason or doesn’t share with his readers the real reason he got snubbed.
People on both sides of the aisle don’t believe that he or his newspaper is to be trusted.
Informing candidates about the questionnaire, Combo Plate reserved the right to edit answers and to use them in other stories. Given his willingness to make up stories out of whole cloth and his paper's willingness to back him in that practice, most candidates deemed it wiser to forgo that opportunity to get out their message than to provide Combo Plate with material for oporting.
As Democrat new media sensation JM Bell notes, Democrats don’t think Combo Plate plays it straight. (You betcha I threw JM a bone; darn right he’s smarting that Gov. Palin ;-) connected with the heartland again). JM writes to Combo Plate, “You use quotes, out of context and out of time, pulled from old notebooks when you can’t get someone on the phone, or, I guess, when you don’t feel like making the call.” Likewise, Republicans don’t think Combo Plate plays it straight.
Interestingly, in his comments, JM notes his confidence in Trib reporters Gehrke, Burr and Canham. I share that confidence, as I believe most Rs and Ds do. They can light up a politician as well as anyone can, but they dig for facts and work to inform their readers. Perhaps much “media bias” simply is a product of ineptness or lack of professionalism.
Also of interest, a commenter (1:20 p.m.) to Combo Plate’s oport says that the D News eliminated his/her comment explaining why the survey wasn’t answered. I’ve had that same experience with the D News, when I tried to submit a comment critical of the paper. For a group that quick draws free speech rights on a routine basis, it seems eager to suppress speech that questions its practices. By comparison, I’ve been blogging for just about 4 years, and I believe I’ve deleted 5 comments, none that were about me.
Regarding his snubbing, Combo Plate oports, “Perhaps they didn't like the questions. Maybe they figure that in today's online world, they can ignore a statewide newspaper.” A beat oporter should have a better grasp on his beat. Combo Plate either doesn’t know the reason or doesn’t share with his readers the real reason he got snubbed.
People on both sides of the aisle don’t believe that he or his newspaper is to be trusted.
Informing candidates about the questionnaire, Combo Plate reserved the right to edit answers and to use them in other stories. Given his willingness to make up stories out of whole cloth and his paper's willingness to back him in that practice, most candidates deemed it wiser to forgo that opportunity to get out their message than to provide Combo Plate with material for oporting.
As Democrat new media sensation JM Bell notes, Democrats don’t think Combo Plate plays it straight. (You betcha I threw JM a bone; darn right he’s smarting that Gov. Palin ;-) connected with the heartland again). JM writes to Combo Plate, “You use quotes, out of context and out of time, pulled from old notebooks when you can’t get someone on the phone, or, I guess, when you don’t feel like making the call.” Likewise, Republicans don’t think Combo Plate plays it straight.
Interestingly, in his comments, JM notes his confidence in Trib reporters Gehrke, Burr and Canham. I share that confidence, as I believe most Rs and Ds do. They can light up a politician as well as anyone can, but they dig for facts and work to inform their readers. Perhaps much “media bias” simply is a product of ineptness or lack of professionalism.
Also of interest, a commenter (1:20 p.m.) to Combo Plate’s oport says that the D News eliminated his/her comment explaining why the survey wasn’t answered. I’ve had that same experience with the D News, when I tried to submit a comment critical of the paper. For a group that quick draws free speech rights on a routine basis, it seems eager to suppress speech that questions its practices. By comparison, I’ve been blogging for just about 4 years, and I believe I’ve deleted 5 comments, none that were about me.
posted by steve u. at 10/03/2008
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7 Comments:
On Sept 13th Bob Bernick Jr. wrote the article “GOP has held legislative majority since mid-70’s.” (find on Desnews archives)
In the article Bernick references a Dan Jones & Assoc. poll that 62% of Utahns say they get “a lot” of their legislative campaign information from traditional media sources.
The last paragraph of the article Bernick stated, “Finally, some GOP senators have started a concerted effort to discredit traditional media sources in legislative reporting – and the 62 percent of Utahns saying they get “a lot” of their legislative information from traditional media is not a good number for that effort as well.”
Bob Bernick Jr. attempted to twist a poll of how people get their legislative campaign news to discredit GOP Senators efforts to hold traditional media accountable when they lie, mislead or even fabricate stories.
It must be good to be Bob Bernick Jr. and have the moral high ground on the state legislators since he doesn't have to debate or defend his statements.
Aaron,
My wife and I had some fun with that jewel of logical reasoning when it came out.
Our Bernick Logic Machine spit out: Finally, some legacy media members have started a concerted effort to discredit politicians -- and the majority of Utahns saying they vote for politicians is not a good number for that effort as well.
For fun, though, let's break out the logical hammers and wrenches and force Combo Plate's non sequitur to make sense. First, let's assume that we can extrapolate some relevant data from the vague umbrella term of "traditional media" that would apply specifically to newspapers. Second, let's then assume we, then, can further distill some of that broken out data to apply specifically to the D News. Stick with me here. You just think it doesn't make sense because it doesn't. Third, let's assume that we can squeeze out a connection of that traditional media data and the further-distilled D News data to Bernick's credibility. Bale it all together, and we get the formula that News readership reflects the creditability of Bob Bernick. With subscription numbers tanking, ya, Combo Plate is probably right about that.
Thanks for coming on Inside Utah Politics this morning, I hope the conversation didn't ruin your breathing pattern on the St. George Marathon. As for the pattern of logic he demonstrated with the Dan Jones & Associates poll on campaign legislative information, I wonder if deep down inside he knows that legislators don't want to do his little poll because of his pattern of deception?
Censorship is alive and well at the Deseret News. Don't say something they want to hear and they'll act like you never said.
You were right Steve. Here is a copy of my comment that the DNews censored:
"You know the funny thing is, I would not have bothered to read this story had Urquhart's blog not directed me here.
So let me tell you, Combo Plate, I guess we just don't need you anymore. And when I say "you" I mean you, Bob.
I have dealt with you before. You are dishonest. You lied about the legislature wanting to undo the referendum process and never made amends.
I don't subscribe to your paper anymore, and unless some blog refers me here, I stay away. "
Not in any way disagreeing with your comments about the Des News or "Combo Plate", but I was a bit surprised to find that, at least in the legislative districts I looked at (mine, my parents', and just for kicks, yours), you were the only Republican candidate who responded. None of the third-party candidates did. I did, however, find responses -- some of them very articulate -- from all of the Democratic candidates.
I can't claim to agree with all of your political positions (I lean more toward the Democrats most of the time), but you're due credit and considerable respect for being willing to have the conversation at all!
Thanks for the kind thought, anon 11:51.
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