So, in the October 2, 2006, front-page story re Foley, there was a "hidden" error that is quite serious in the tone that it leaves behind. With a "simple" mistake, the Post made it seem as if the Republican House members are serious about trying to get to the bottom of the Foley sexual predator case. The facts are not so clear.
Here is the letter that I've sent the Post:
The article "FBI to Examine Foley's E-Mails" (Charles Babington and Jonathan Weisman) has a hidden -- but quite serious -- mistake within it
The article incorrectly repeats the story that "when Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi D-Calif. took the House floor to demand an investigation by the ethics committee, GOP leaders quickly agreed and the motion passed unanimously." If true, this would be quite serious as this would require a preliminary ethics report within ten days.
In fact, the House did not pass Pelosi resolution as the Republican House leadership maneuvered to set this aside. Congressman Boehners (R) immediately stepped in with a motion to refer it to committee and there was a voice vote. Despite the fact of many Democratic Party members shouting their objections, the vote was listed as unanimous.
The Post reporting makes it seem as if Republicans united with Democratic Representatives for an unanimous stance for a full investigation. This was not the case. The referral to committee means that it is being sent to the Ethics Committee to consider whether there should be an investigation -- rather than requiring an investigation.
The Washington Post's reporting -- inadvertently or otherwise -- serves to white wash the Republican House members for their responsibility in voting to delay -- rather than demand -- investigation.
The Republican procedural machinations in this case merit full reporting -- even more so since the Post has now put an incorrect reporting on the record in a front-page story.
Georgia10, a front-pager at Daily Kos, did an excellent analysis of what happend Friday in Republican Leadership Scandal: The Cover-Up Continues?
She ended her discussion as follows:
The GOP and its leadership could have embraced Pelosi's resolution calling for an immediate investigation and a timely report. Instead, the embattled GOP leadership chose to stall the inquiry.The question on everybody's lips is "why"?
Normally I don't correct Georgia10, but she made one major error here ... that last sentence should have read:
The question that should be on everybody's lips is "why"?
As long as The Washington Post believes its own reporting, they won't be asking the question, will they?
Now, Deborah Howell, The Washington Post's ombudsman (ombudsman@washpost.com), claims that she does not receive corrections and comments arguing that the Post is not covering Allen aggressively enough and suggesting that all she receives are negative comments from the Right. We should make sure to hold them to account -- especially re factual issues -- and keep a record of how many factual corrections are spoon fed to them.