2008.10.08
Election quote, take two
In a recent story, I paraphrased some e-mail comments sent to me by Montgomery County Republican Party member Ray Roberts. Roberts was unhappy with my reconstruction of his sentiments and wrote in to our editorial department asking for his full e-mail to be reprinted.
Editorial gets to make that call, being separated as it is from the newsroom. But in the spirit of the old Federal Communications Commission "Fairness Doctrine" principal, I'm reprinting it in full here:
"Blacksburg and Montgomery County represents the center of one of the largest precincts in Southwest Virginia that was a stronghold for Hillary Clinton in the Presidential primaries. Southwest Virginia will help carry the entire state and more than make up for Northern Virginia that will lean toward the left in the Presidential election." Just look where the Democrats have opened 33 offices and where their candidate started his quest for the presidency. Southwest Virginia will be firmly for John McCain and Sarah Palin as well as Virginia Beech and all the military bases in the Old Dominion. Virginia will be a red state as will most of the Eastern seaboard three hours before the polls close in California. Todays debate will anchor John McCain as truly the only President for this Country and our turbulent economy and as a true leader to carry us to victory in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Congressional Medal of Honor and highest decorated P.O.W. Bud Day said that "God chooses a President to lead America in each war and God has chosen John McCain."
Roberts' request highlights an interesting conundrum reporters and editors face every day. How much of an interview do I use, and how do I do justice both to the source and the reader of the story?
For example, I interviewed about a half-dozen people for the same story Roberts was quoted in. Some of the interviews lasted 20 minutes or longer. Some of the sources weren't quoted at all in the story, although they were all helpful to me in understanding the issues and ultimately helped me produce a better-informed story. From the others, I picked and chose quotes and paraphrases that best addressed the central issue of the story: What does the national attention focused on our area mean in the bigger picture? Will it translate to clout to help the state and Montgomery County get more federal and state funding?
Sources (or, for that matter, readers) aren't always happy with the decisions we make in these cases, especially when we paraphrase an interview, meaning we restate their quote. Most of the time, I paraphrase a quote because a person is talking too fast for me to write down every word verbatim. In cases like that, I normally copy down the keywords of the quote and reconstruct it without quotation marks but with the name of the source attached.
Other times, as with Roberts' quote, an interview (even one by e-mail) goes in several different directions and when it's over, I have to decide which comments will best help readers understand the overall issues I'm writing about, given the space limitations inherant to newspapers.
Again, sources aren't always happy with this.
Newspapers try to remedy this by publishing letters to the editor, guest commentaries, clarifications and corrections to let readers and sources "have their say," as it were. Success in that area varies, as well.
-- Tonia Moxley
McCain is right. We've become a "nation of whiners" whether it's about those junkyard dogs in the media or folks crying about the strong economy. Shame on you, Ms. Moxley. Don't be angry if you don't agree with me, because God told me to write this.
Comment by NRVA Citizen — October 9, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
Obama and 'friends'
Rev Wright
Tony Rezko
Michelle Obama
Louis Farrakhan
William Ayres
Bernadine Dorhn
Rashid Khalidi
Nadhmi Auchi
Frank Marshall Davis
Saul Alinsky
Father Pfleger
Kwame Kilpatrick
Rev Meeks
George Soros
Raila Odingo
Abongo Obama
Black Panthers
Ludacris
Jim Johnson
Franklin Raines
Ahmad Yousuf (Hamas)
Fidel, Raul Castro
Hugo Chavez
Daniel Ortega
Kim Jong Il
Change we can 'bereave' in
Vote FOR America ... McCain/Palin '08
Comment by Ray Roberts — October 12, 2008 @ 8:53 am
OBAMA WHO IS THIS MAN??????
Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independents, we need to know
the person who could be the next president of the United States.
WHO IS BARACK OBAMA? He has no family, no friends and the only
associations he has ever had are with questionable people such as
Rev. Wright, William Ayers, Louis Farrakhan and Antoin "Tony" Rezko.
WHY WON'T OBAMA TELL US MORE ABOUT HIS LIFE?
This election has me very worried. So many things to
consider.
About a year ago I would have voted for Obama.
I have changed my mind three times since than. I
watch all the news channels, jumping from one to
another. I must say this drives my husband crazy. But,
I feel if you view MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, you
might get some middle ground to work with. About six
months ago, I started thinking 'where did the money
come from for Obama'. I have four daughters who
went to College, and we were middle class, and money was
tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there
were lots of student loans.
I started looking into Obama's life. Around 1979 Obama started
college at Occidental in California. He is very open about his
two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting
his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did
not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry'(that
was the name he used all his life) during this time
had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid
Hamid, both from Pakistan. During the summer of 1981,
after his second year in college, he made a 'round
the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother
in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks
in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his
roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his
father's family. My question - Where did he get the
money for this trip? Nether I, nor any one of my
children would have had money for a trip like this when
they were in college. When he came back he started school
at Columbia University in New York. It is at this
time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not
Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia?
It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get
money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe.
AfterColumbia, he went to Chicago to work as a
Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago?
Why not New York? He was already living in New York.
By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony'
Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria, and a real estate
developer inChicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud
and bribery this year. Rezko, was named
'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the
Arab-American Business and Professional
Association'. About two years later, Obama entered
Harvard Law School. Do you have any idea what
tuition is for Harvard Law School? Where did he get
the money for Law School? More student loans?
After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko
offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take
a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland.
Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which
Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first
major financial contributors when he ran for office in
Chicago. In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for
Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland
claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his
U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in
Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than
asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where
did he get the money for the property? On the same day
Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty
lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi
Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezk $3.5
million three weeks before Obama's new home was
purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.
Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie
Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now
Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any
major decisions without talking to her first.
Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz,
Iran! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?
On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley
advisor to Obama was 'sacked' after the press
found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas',
which controls Gaza an is connected with Iran.
This past week, buried in the back part of the papers,
Iraqi newspapers reportedthat during Obama's visit to Iraq,
he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after
he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'.
Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that
where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet
campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money
coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could
it be from the Middle East?
And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008,
The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on
'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking
about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned,
'he made a mistake'. Some mistake!
All of the above information I got on line. If you
would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack
Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama
visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times -
September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.
Now the BIG question - If I found out all this
information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent'
members of the press been reporting this?
A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - 'Beware of
the enemy from within'!!!
I am currently an Independent and I am deeply troubled that Obama will
not tell us who he really is.
Can you honestly answer this question or are believing what they
want you to hear?
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
Comment by Ray Roberts — October 13, 2008 @ 9:08 am
I found this comment by Ray Robert posted the exact same way about 1,920 times. I looks like the republicians are very busy sreading lies and misinformation as usual. Scare tactics!! John McCain even said he was an honorable man. I wonder who actually wrote this? When you say I or me in an article is this you Ray did you write and post this 1,920 times on different websites. I doubt it.
Comment by Derek — October 13, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
So Ray you did all this research? I found it in over 1,000 places on the internet you have been Busy. Please Stop spreading Lies and do your own homework.
Comment by Derek — October 13, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
Derek you use "lie" to lightly! Is it just a word like "freedom" and
"patriotism" as your candidate whould have us believe. I have other
accomplishments like "Amber Alert" indexed 1,333,000 times on the internet. Yes I have been very busy for many years. You need to take
a moment and learn about your candidate and how he can switch idiologies
like you switch channels on your tv. You do have a tv?...maybe not for long in your Obama Nation. I will swear belief in our Christian God and allegiance to America on a Bible... will Senator Obama do the same?
Comment by Ray Roberts — October 14, 2008 @ 1:42 am
Derek you use "lie" to lightly! Is it just a word like "freedom" and
"patriotism" as your candidate whould have us believe. I have other
accomplishments like "Amber Alert" indexed 1,333,000 times on the internet. Yes I have been very busy for many years. You need to take
a moment and learn about your candidate and how he can switch idiologies
like you switch channels on your tv. You do have a tv?...maybe not for long in your Obama Nation. I will swear belief in our Christian God and allegiance to America on a Bible... will Senator Obama do the same?
I doubt it!
Comment by Ray Roberts — October 14, 2008 @ 1:43 am
Obama and ‘friends’ The list grows larger!
Rev Wright
Tony Rezko
Michelle Obama
Louis Farrakhan
William Ayres
Bernadine Dorhn
Rashid Khalidi
Nadhmi Auchi
Frank Marshall Davis
Saul Alinsky
Father Pfleger
Kwame Kilpatrick
Rev Meeks
George Soros
Raila Odingo
Abongo Obama
Black Panthers
Ludacris
Jim Johnson
Franklin Raines
Ahmad Yousuf (Hamas)
Fidel, Raul Castro
Hugo Chavez
Daniel Ortega
Kim Jong Il
Change we can ‘bereave’ in
Vote FOR America … McCain/Palin ‘08
Comment by Ray Roberts — October 14, 2008 @ 1:45 am
Ray, I'm surprised you were dissatisfied with how your views were reconstructed. Given your rather tenuous command of the English language (is proofreading one's emails too "elitist" in the new Palin-defined world?), I'd think you'd want all the help you can get. You and your fellow Republican fear-mongers are an embarrassment to everything this country stands for. I'd continue, but reason is clearly lost on any delusional fool who somehow thinks Barack Obama isn't a Christian.
Comment by Scott — October 15, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
McCain’s most out of touch statement of the evening for me was his claim that Sarah Palin, with her four month old child with Downs Syndrome, knows more about special needs than anyone else he knows. My 6 year old twins have autism and I can tell you, at four months I knew next to nothing about the joys and heartbreak of raising a child with a disability.
At four months these kids are much like typical babies --- sweet, full of hope, and we related to them the same way relate to every other child we know. Ask parents of adults and teenagers with down syndrome or autism about what they know --- it is a different world.
Comment by clara — October 16, 2008 @ 9:00 am
Ray, besides your spelling and grammatical errors, your timeline is incorrect, and most of your so-called "facts" are fiction. It's a shame that we aren't focusing more on how our candidates can lead successfully lead America into the future. She needs help, not conflict. Support the candidate who can provide the most assistance to her in these tough times and beyond.
Comment by dzim67 — October 16, 2008 @ 12:38 pm