We Came, We Rallied, But What Did The Media Say?
2009 April 16
First of all thank you to everyone. This was your rally! We were there, we know how great the turnout was. We know how respectful everyone was and how much fun we had!
But what did the media have to say about our rally? Here is a round-up of the media coverage after the rally. Please feel free to comment and if you see something written about the event, post the link in the comment area so we can see what media outlets reported our event accurately and which ones did not!
Local:
- underestimated crowd numbers
- said our rally “wasn’t about concrete facts”, huh?
- Email Tom Lyden at tom.lyden@foxtv.com and let him know what we think of his journalism skills
“Thousands gather in St. Paul for modern-day tea party”
- accurate and fair reporting
- Email Kare 11’s Joe Fryer and thank him for accurately reporting our event.
- Said hundreds (instead of thousands) when talking about attendance.
- Later on in the article, stated that Sue Jeffer’s estimated it at 8000, but that this could not be confirmed.
- Inaccurately attributed a quote that Sue Jeffer’s made to John Salsbury of the Constitution Party.
- Write Bill Salisbury (bsalisbury@pioneerpress.com) and tell him what you think of his article.
- excellent pictures and video
- A Must See!
Star Tribune (aka Star Fib)
Star Tribune (aka Star Fib)
- 1st shows the “Tax the Rich” Rally earlier in the day, then ours
Blogs:
- Written by Leo Pusateri
- Written by Matt Abe
National:
PJTV Michael Patrick Leahy (CNN – “Not fit for family viewing”)
Charlie Makidon sez:
“I guess if Washington doesn’t get accurate numbers, they can downplay the rallies. Then we can have another rally and another rally and eventually violence will break out. Just what they want.”
I believe you are correct Charlie. I believe in my gut that Barack Hussein Obama intends to transform this country into a Socialist nation, and that he understands that this can never happen unless his opposition is fully discredited and removed from participation in the political process. He will push, and push, and stomp on our freedoms, until one day, violence will break out against the Socialists. Then, he will be able to justify whatever draconian measures he envisions in his sick, megalomaniacal mind.
What I emailed Tom Lyden:
Here is what a fair reporting job looks like: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=618746
I am disappointed in you!
I had someone checking with police and they estimated numbers at 4000 before the rally even started and later at 8000. Looks like your policeman could not count.
Although, I loved the Sky Cam video footage. I would love a copy of it.
Cinn
I spoke with Thom Fladung, editor and VP for the Pioneer Press. He is responsible for news coverage. I mentioned to him that year after year, at the Jason Lewis Tax Cut Rallies and Wednesday at the Tea Party, the count is always under estimated. We had a long discussion and he claimed that they will no longer include in future stories an estimate of the number in attendance. He also mentioned that the State Capitol police no longer do it claiming that they always get in hot water for doing so.
So any news stories that were printed or aired quoting the State Capitol police were probably not to credible.
I think it is ironic because at 4:30 PM I had someone check crowd numbers with a Policeman and even before the event started the policeman estimated attendance numbers at 4000. Then they were asked again later (around 6:30 PM) and they gave a crowd estimate of 8000.
Whose estimate seems more accurate, the one I am reporting or the one they are reporting?
The Pioneer Press reported in Thursdays paper, B section, front page, under large photo “more than 1000 people”. I guess so. Try 10,000. Lets downplay it a little for the boys in Washington, right. Also, headlines under the photo state “Hundreds of protesters rallied”. In a space of 2 news lines, it went from 1000 people to hundreds. I called Tom Fladung, editor and vice president, responsible for news coverage, and questioned him on his numbers. After a heated conversation about his accuracy, he told me they got their numbers from capitol security. After a call to capitol security and a talk with the 2nd in command, he told me that they stopped estimating crowds many years ago as it was impossible to make accurate estimates and the Pioneer Press did not get their numbers from capitol security. Well, who do you believe? I’ll put my money on believing capitol security as it would not benefit them to lie and they are responsible professionals, more than you can say for Tom Fladung and the Pioneer Press. I guess if Washington doesn’t get accurate numbers, they can downplay the rallies. Then we can have another rally and another rally and eventually violence will break out. Just what they want. Maybe another Kent State before Washington wakes up. Call Tom Fladung at the Pioneer Press and lay it on him. His number is: 651-228-5487. The media, Minnesota included, is one of the biggest trouble makers in the nation. It’s to bad more of them don’t go out of business. Bye Bye Strib.
Yesterday, I wrote of the appalling national TV bias in “tea party” reporting.
However, one media bright spot was Duluth’s WDIO-Channel 10. Channel 10 gave decent coverage of Duluth’s tea party and should be given its due. I can’t speak for the other Duluth channels, didn’t have time to watch.
Unfortunately, the Duluth News Tribune was another story. Third paragraph down was the statement —and I quote—“Whipped up by conservative commentators and bloggers, tens of thousands of protesters staged similar tea parties around the country Wednesday to tap into the collective angst stirred up by a bad economy, government spending and bailouts.”
I would like to meet the conservative commentators and bloggers who “whipped up” my angst. I don’t seem to remember any.
How about the rest of you?
And by the way, the exact same paragraph was used in the Star and Trib., only embedded later in its article, word for word. Interesting…
Hey KMSP, investigate this! You are no longer journalists if this person (Tom Lyden) is your voice !!! There are a couple words you ave “forgotten” – impartial” and “accurate”.
For those of you that would like to send some similar comments,
Here are some KMSP addresses:
KMSPInvestigators@FOXTV.COM
and
tom.lyden@foxtv.com
I want to let the media know that if they inaccurately reported our event, they are going to get letters, calls, and emails.
I have already heard from many people that have done this!
Why would this year be any different? They have “mis-reported” the Tax Cut Rally that has been held here in Minnesota for the past 9 or 10 years. See this post. http://www.wilgeno.com/index.cfm/2008/4/13/2008-MN-Tax-Cut-Rally
Hi,
I was there last night with two friends. We thought it was really cool. I was impressed with the behavior of such a large crowd, compared to what I seen at the RNC. The main stream media tries to label us as conservative extremists but we know what we feel and believe. We CARE about our country and the direction it is going. I do have to say that the comment from Nancy Pelosi was a compliment as far as I am concerned because if she liked what we did, we then would know we are on the wrong path. I am wondering where and when the next big movement is going to be. Maybe a 4th of July, Freedom Party.
Here’s the story that wasn’t printed. I was there! At the MN state capital. It seemed around ten thousand people (although the local TV channel 9 man-on-the-scene said 2,000… I guess he and the STRIB started counting before 5pm.) Curious who are those people yelling “tax the rich” in that video on this web site? They weren’t at the rally I was at. I guess journalism doesn’t have to be accurate. My 17 year old son came with me and had a great time. I saw a lot of families on the scene, and I saw a lot of smiles on faces. No anger, just really concerned citizens that work for a living, (and I would assume not for Minnesota’s largest employer.) People made signs and poked at these very serious issues facing us while our liberal Congress continues to strip of us our freedoms and place us into a debt we may never be able to repay – unless of course we —- raise taxes! I just can’t understand how that thread is so difficult to follow.
Then on our way home we hear some liberal screaming on the radio about all of the “people who hate government” were at this rally…. well we don’t hate government, but we sure could use less of it. Why would the press take such a peaceful gathering of 10,000 and call it hateful? These are people who care about this country. These are my neighbors. I would be honored to call these kind people – friends.
I see now I have been classified as a terrorist by homeland security because I believe in states rights, probably because I took the time to read the 10th amendment – more than homeland security bothered to do. So we allow homeland security and the “liberal media” to turn this into hate, but it wasn’t. I was there.
Regarding those pesky taxes, our 1040 claiming 0 dependents requested another $2500+ on top of the thousands my wife and I already paid in withholdings. I dropped it off just before the rally. I pay my taxes and am not saying we shouldn’t, but we sure don’t want to pay any more. Congress is spending faster than drunken sailors (that was one of the homemade signs – remember? I was there !)
And here’s something to really get you liberals fired up in MN. Citizens please let’s keep encouraging Coleman to keep fighting that idiot Franken and his Wellstone machine. At best Coleman could win, and at worst, at least for a while – we have one less MN liberal voting for more spending in Congress!!! Amen to that !!!
The jokers at Fox 9 have not even BEGUN to see me angry.
I attended the rally. IT was pro-USA! It was nice and everyone was great! Then I watched Fox 9 news…I have to say I don’t watch Nine alot…what are they now, the National Enquiror? Manipulating the facts to the extreme. They kept emphasizing how ANGRY we were (trying to make it sound like we were crazy mad) and even said, “where’s all this anger going to go?”) and had the nerve to compare us to violent rioters…if I wasn’t there at the Tea Party and had just tuned into the news, I would have thought that some roit had broken out there. It was very liberal, sneaky journalism on their part!
I then watched channel 4 at 10 pm. They brought it up that the Tea Party happened…not much more. Why can’t people with morals and a conservative view (on anything really) have a fair and equal representation on our local news stations? You know if this was any liberal agenda type rally, there could be riots and the media would air it with positive reviews and edit it to make it seem perfect. Really, how ridiculous!
I agree! I could not believe Fox9. I liked how they had to put the ol’ Liberal 1 2 in there about the deficiet “Inheretied from the Bush Aministration”. Does it matter anymore?? It’s like school yard bullies, “your mom’s fat” “no YOUR mom’s fat!” What don’t they get? The fact is, it’s there, doesn’t matter who put it there. Why don’t they do their job as media and cover facts? They need to put aside stupid liberal pride and do their job, and hey, maybe use their power for good? nahhh, it’s way more fun to call people angry and sore loosers then run facts and let the rest of America in on the attrocities that are happening! Anyway, I am writing a very ‘polite’ letter to Fox 9 (which will be brushed off as a nut job right-wing boohoo letter I’m sure) telling them just what I stated above. If you can’t give facts and deal with it, then GET A NEW JOB!!!!
As a tea party participant, here is my take on the Main Stream Media Tax Day Tea Party coverage:
Oh really?
The Tax Day Tea Parties held all across America were not grass roots, not home grown?
Tell that to the 38 people who met on the steps of the County Court house in my home town of Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Do not tell me we were manipulated. We came together on the strength of a last minute letter to the editor in the local newspaper, written by a few local people who felt deeply about the direction in which our country is heading. I had planned to drive 110 miles to Duluth to protest but joined my neighbors when I read the letter.
We were a diverse group: different ages, religious beliefs, political views, but we were sincere, and we were not organized by any TV personalities or politicians. During the hour-long demonstration, we shared our concerns and listened politely to one another. We were non-partisan but strongly united in our apprehensions.
So, when I tuned in a major network news program that evening and heard its prominent newscaster describe the nationwide “tea party” protests as possibly organized by some TV personalities and/ or politicians, I was stunned.
For the first time in my 66 years of life, I personally felt the effects of “The Big Lie.” My small town protest, along with thousands of others, was dismissed and demeaned with a few, well chosen but untrue sentences.
I thought about the hundreds of thousands of Americans, watching the evening news and trusting in its integrity, who now believe that the tea party protests were simply a right wing political manipulation.
It was chilling.
Joan Crosby
April 16, 2009
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Tea_Party_Minnesota_Capitol_Apr_15_2009 I thought KMSP had pretty biased coverage. “This rally really wasn’t about concrete facts.” True he was talking about the number of attendees but it was ridiculous. Really? Really? The defecit isn’t exploding? GEEZ!
KSTP was very fair. Like news used to be. Just the facts.
I wrote a short piece at my blog about what I saw at the rally and what I saw for news coverage when I got home. It was pretty slim coverage considering all the news stations were there and two helicopters were hovering above. KSTP had fair coverage. http://kstp.com/news/stories/S880317.shtml?cat=1
Thank you for your comment. I checked out the video and they did a great job at being accurate and fair. Thank you for sharing this with us.