Daniel F. Haggerty – 9/10/06

This page was last updated on September 10, 2006.

Times editors are ‘appeasers’; Daniel F. Haggerty; Beaver County Times; September 10, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In their editorial on Islamic fascism, the editors are ‘uncomfortable’ with this phrase suggesting that it may offend Muslims and their sensibilities.

“They choose to quote a know-nothing columnist from the Philadelphia Inquirer to support their baloney, rather than rely on the considered judgment of President Bush or Senator Santorum in framing the struggle America finds herself in; ridiculous to say the least.

“For the editors to devote an entire column to insist the proper term is Islamist fascism rather than Islamic Fascism is truly an example of not seeing the forest for the trees.

“That is precisely the reason why liberals cannot protect us in this war on terrorism.

“And no, I would not be offended if someone linked my Christianity with fascism, if that were truly the case.

“In similar fashion columnist J D Prose goes after the straight-talking Rumsfeld, a man who properly and objectively frames the struggle America is in, an historic struggle against terrorists and those who appease them just like those who called for appeasement of Hitler in the 1930’s.”

[RWC] Here are a couple of points missed by Mr. Haggerty.

First, Mr. Prose is actually supposed to be a news reporter, not an opinion “columnist.” I’ve spoken with Mr. Prose when he was covering a story and you’ll regularly see his name on what are supposed to be news articles. When a person writes both news articles and opinion columns on the same subjects, how are readers supposed to know where fact ends and opinion begins?

Second, the columns to which Mr. Haggerty refers are published in the “Top Stories” portion of the Times website news section, not the opinion section. It’s bad enough for news reporters to write opinion pieces, but it’s at least equally bad to classify those columns as news instead of opinion.

In Media Bias, I presented examples of “how editorial policy crosses over into news reporting.” The Prose columns are another example.

“Secretary Rumsfeld rightly believes that we can only be beaten from within by those who appease and sympathize with the enemy.

“More than just dissenters, they embrace the propaganda and the cause of the enemy.

“J D Prose is just such an appeaser, who has drunk the liberal Kool-Aid and attacks from within.

“He is consumed by Secretary Rumsfeld’s sleeping habits, and mocks those who have died, been wounded, or work at the Pentagon.

“In fact, his entire column is one ‘snarky’ remark after another, to use his own non-word; short on truth and long on rhetoric and snipe.

“Frankly, I am heartened that the secretary sleeps well because this indicates he is clear about his mission and will not be deterred.”