BCT Editorial – 9/1/08

This page was last updated on September 1, 2008.

Bits and bites; Editorial; Beaver County Times; September 1, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Deafening silence: Carnegie Mellon University Dean Mark Wessel resigned last month from the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management after the school awarded a master’s degree to an unidentified student who didn’t earn it. Despite the student’s anonymity, however, the school refused to disclose whether it rescinded the degree. The reason cited was student confidentiality. How CMU can violate confidentiality by revealing whether or not it took back an unearned degree from an unidentified student is too ridiculous to fathom. We would note, however, that confidentiality is often an excuse for people with something to hide.”

[RWC] I agree CMU not saying whether it rescinded the degree in question is odd, but that’s not the reason I address this piece. The editorial says “confidentiality is often an excuse for people with something to hide.” Remember this the next time the Times quotes an anonymous source and/or supports a “journalist” who refuses to disclose his sources.

“Gullible voters: Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, won an easy primary victory last week over six challengers, despite facing trial this month on charges that he concealed $250,000 in home renovations he received from a company with which he had a cozy relationship. Stevens, who has spent the last 40 years in Congress, is well-known and adored in his home state for delivering billions over the years in pork-barrel projects. That probably says more about him winning the election than anything else. He has a strong Democratic challenger in the fall, so his re-election is no lock. Still, it’s amazing how some folks can vote for and sometimes re-elect guys like this.”

[RWC] I’ve never been a fan of Mr. Stevens’ proclivity for pork, but so far he hasn’t been convicted of anything. That said, I agree that it’s amazing for whom people will vote. Other names that come to mind are Rep. John Murtha D-PA (an unindicted coconspirator in the Abscam bribery case), Rep. Alcee Hastings D-FL (impeached and convicted federal judge for corruption and perjury), and Rep. William Jefferson D-LA (indicted Mr. Jefferson was videotaped accepting a $100,000 bribe and $90,000 of the marked bills were found hidden in his freezer.) Also, let’s not forget New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin (D) whose incompetence before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina was staggering. Despite this incompetence, New Orleans voters re-elected Mr. Nagin.

Here’s something else the editorial omitted. Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain’s VP choice, supported one of Mr. Stevens’ opponents in the primary. Assuming MSNBC is correct, does anyone care to guess why the Times would omit that fact?