Hey,
By now you all probably have read or heard about Tom Curry's unfair story on MSNBC called "Democrats to use debt xenophobia as 2006 issue", or have read the diary on the recommended list entitled "Fuck MSNBC". I emailed Tom Curry, got a very, very quick response like within 15 minutes, and I just wrote back(hastily). What do you guys think?
To: Tom Curry
From: Brandon L.
Hello, just read the story "Democrats test xenophobia as campaign issue" on http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7294906/.
This story is so biased, so non though provoking, and truly does not reflect the character usually seen on stories from msnbc.com.
Brandon
weathercoins@aol.com
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Email: From Tom Curry, to me
You do not cite any specific sentence in my story that you think is biased or inaccurate.
If you can cite one or more specific sentences in my story that you think are erroneous or biased, please do & I would be happy to respond.
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Email: From me
To: Tom Curry (bold face is from his article, normal type is what I said).
Hey,
Firstly, thanks so much for the fast response! Never before have I seen such a fast response from any source of media about a potentially biased news story etc. (I am 15 years old, so I guess do not have too much experience in writing to the media :).)
From your story:
WASHINGTON - Democratic candidates have begun to test market a new theme: America is losing control of its economic destiny due to excessive government borrowing from foreigners.
This is purely opinionated. Perhaps Democrat's stand for something! I have never seen an article from MSNBC or any other (non political) news source stating "President Bush seems to be test marketing a new theme to help Republicans in 2006: Syria.", or things like that. Next... Nelson is running for re-election next year. .. "Foreign governments and individuals are footing the bill for our wasteful spending, and the more of our debt they own, the less control we have," Sen. Evan Bayh, D- Indiana, a likely 2008 presidential contender, said two weeks ago.
Tom, so far you are stating that the only reasons Democrats have actually taken a stand on something is... Because they are running for re-election. This article implies that "there go those Democrats again... wherever the polls go". Just look at the title! "Democrats test debt xenophobia as 2006 issue". Because Democrats are concerned that our national debt is sky-high, does not mean that we just want to be re-elected.
As I said, I believe the overall premise of your article is clear. Democrats are taking this as only a campaign issue. Later in the article, you state this:
Democratic candidates in 2006 will link voters' concern about Social Security to the debt "because much of the borrowing that jeopardizes Social Security is also from foreign countries," said Lake(a Democratic pollster)
Was that really needed or appropriate to add in a news story about Democratic concerns about our debt level? I have come to enjoy much of MSNBC and your articles and opinions. This goes way too far. This was front paged on MSNBC.COM. I would expect better.
Looking to hear back from you,
Brandon L., weathercoins@aol.com
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