Originally posted 11/13/09, updates below
After botching initial coverage of Governor Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue: An American Life, and having one of their mistakes regarding a legal bill go viral. They keep at it. Today there is blatant editorializing in their article that was up at the Anchorage Daily News site:
NEW YORK — Sarah Palin’s new memoir describes heart-wrenching anguish about her teen daughter’s pregnancy playing out before a national audience. But the 413-page tome doesn’t contain a single reference to the father of her grandson, soon-to-be Playgirl model Levi Johnston.
In "Going Rogue," which will be released Tuesday, Palin also laments about everyone in her entourage being forced to wear fancy clothes she couldn’t afford — preferring simpler, cheaper garb. But it’s as if Johnston, who was among those hastily spiffed up to appear at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., had never left Wasilla.
The tactic does appear to have merit; Johnston, who has sparred repeatedly with his former mother-in-law-to-be, continues to warn that she should leave him alone, or he might dish some serious dirt that "will hurt her." (emphasis mine)
It appears to have merit? Yes, after reports about what was said during her Oprah interview, after receiving his “Fleshbot award” in New York for his upcoming Playgirl spread he reiterated this. Let that sink in for a moment.
Perhaps the better answer is that she doesn’t want to destroy the father of her grandson (who is doing a good job of that all on his own). Perhaps she’s doing that for the benefit of her grandson who may later on read the book. Perhaps she doesn’t want to rehash all of the stupid things this kid has done or said after the break-up. This kid has lost all credibility and most on the left see that he is a complete liar, but in the AP’s mind, it has merit. Oh brother. If he had something on her we can be sure it would have been discovered by now.
I really didn’t want to blog on this kid again, thanks AP.
They are in full-blown attack mode “fact-checking” her book. And their fact-checking needs fact-checking. Did they ever do this with President Obama’s books? How about the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s memoir? Then sources (we have sources here!) say this book is policy-lite. But Rush predicted the tactic we see being used:
I talked to her yesterday, I’ve got the book, I have it right over there and I’ve had a chance, I just got it a couple days ago, three days ago, and I’ve had a chance to go through it, and I made a prediction to her when I talked to her yesterday. I said, "You’ve got enough in here that people who get hold of this, like the AP or any of the State-Controlled Media, they’re gonna focus on the soap opera aspects of your book, and they’re going to ignore what is truly one of the most substantive policy books I’ve read."
This woman, Governor Palin, clearly is jazzed by policy, particularly environmental policy and energy policy, as well as taxes and so forth. I talked to her about the future of the Republican Party, what she thought about New York-23, how she deals with the character assassination, not just of herself, but of her entire family.
Now it is a memoir, it isn’t going to be all policy and become a wonkish tome, but to say it doesn’t tackle any policy issues at all doesn’t wash. Especially if you’ve been reading her Facebook notes of late.
Obviously this is the type of “news” organization that the White House likes, but if you’re wondering about her book, keep your powder dry, you can read it yourself this Tuesday.
Update: You must read Mark Steyn’s post – “Rogue’s Eleven.” These folks are an embarrassment to journalists everywhere.
Update 2 (11/14/09): Pigs do fly. Alaska Democrats & Obama supporters defend Palin on pipeline record that AP says was “flawed” (isn’t that opining anyway? Is the AP supposed to do that?). A snippet from the Juneau Empire, that I thought was especially telling:
The AP story quoted only two legislators, Senate President Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, both in the minority who voted against the TransCanada deal.
Juneau Rep. Beth Kerttula said AP reporter Burke talked with her, but didn’t include her defense of Palin.
"I don’t believe Gov. Palin should become vice president, but I don’t think this story was fair and accurate," she said.
Wielechowski called it a "hit piece" on Palin’s record on the gas pipeline.
The story said the oil companies were unhappy that Palin did not support their request for 45-year tax and royalty freezes but didn’t say that Palin and most legislators think that is not allowed under the Alaska Constitution. (emphasis mine, be sure to read the whole thing)
Instead of calling themselves the Associated Press, I think Another Prevarication would be better suited. AP can now be filed under news you can not trust. Putting another nail in mainstream journalism’s coffin.
3rd Update: I goofed, that story in the 2nd update was from 2008. Sorry! Just a little detail. I’ll leave my mistake, with this correction, up. Unlike AP.
Lesson learned: look at the date closely. One thing this article does do, however, is provide some anecdotal evidence of a pattern.
But I still feel like a schmuck. Ugh, well one mistake like this in three years of blogging isn’t too bad.
4th & Final (11/15) Update: Sarah Palin gives Conservatives 4 Palin a shout out for their fact checking of AP.