“Ignorance And Distortion”

I’m used to seeing left-leaning writers like David Brauer tossing kudos on Twitter to DFL legislators.

But when I saw him punching up this op-ed here by GOP representative Dean Urdahl, responding to the Strib’s Jim Souhan and his pro-stadium, fact-challenged hatchet job earlier in the week?

That was news.

Urdahl:

Jim Souhan’s attention-grabbing April 18 column (“No point in dumbing down stadium issue”) has generated much discussion — even more since readers have learned elsewhere that I voted “yes” in a House committee to advance a Vikings stadium bill.

Citizens also have been interested to learn that, while quoting me, Souhan omitted key sentences that would have made my legislative intent clear.

Why would this happen?

Because it’s very much in the Star/Tribune’s interest to get a public subsidy for the Vikings.  Because the Vikes are a huuuuuge moneymaker for the Strib and its owners, who have a large and ill-advised investment to protect.

It appears that Souhan neither attended the meeting about which he wrote, nor listened to the audio from it, nor reviewed the transcript before penning his column. He also did not contact me before taking great leaps in asserting what my thought process was.

The sad truth is that Souhan ended up with a column based on a false premise and filled with ignorance and distortion.

Urdahl proceeds to shred Souhan.  Read the whole thing.

5 thoughts on ““Ignorance And Distortion”

  1. A reporter for the Strib omitted facts and accurate quotes, took something out of context and distorted the meaning?

    The problem is this is not news, this is the norm. When the telemarketing team from the paper called me to juice their subscription numbers by taking a week or two free, I hung up on them in 4.5 seconds. Let’s see if I can beat that next time.

  2. Souhan’s column was Godawful. Masterpiece by Urdahl in reply. I don’t agree with his stand on the stadium, but Souhan needed to be cut down a peg and Urdahl cut him down three.

  3. Souhan has come to us for damage control, always a bad sign. for him. 😀 $$$ for us

  4. Speaking of “Ignorance and Distortion
    Wow! No word yet on any wake or funeral:

    From Penigma:

    “The commenter formerly known as K-Rod”

    R.I.P.?

    Van Jones Town? Or a new bounty out? Maybe a post or two before it is over…..
    Go wolverines! Or bring in the
    http://grumpyoldmen3.blogspot.com/

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