Perils Of Partisanship

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Most everyone thought Norm Coleman’s concession speech was gracious and classy.  There were some risible exceptions (see previous)…

…and Charlie Quimby, who notes:

I heard an MPR reporter say that cameras from The UpTake were excluded from livestreaming Coleman’s announcement. Instead, the news service shot shaky video from a neighbor’s yard and posted it here — a mute commentary on the snub.The UpTake has provided the most in-depth video documentation of the various proceedings associated with the recount, but has been systematically stiffed by Coleman’s staff. If Coleman does decide to run for office again, he’s certainly not paving the way with citizen media.

Now, let’s see if we can get this straight:  Uptake, an avowedly “progressive” “news organization”, gets access to “document” the election process from election authorities led by a “progressive” Secretary of State; they do a decent job of covering the proceedings (at least, the parts where their editorial stances aren’t included), but they are unmistakeably in the bag for Al Franken throughout the entire process.

So how is Coleman wrong for ejecting them?

I have no problem with partisan media; I am partisan media!  I have no problem in particular with the Uptake, who I believe generally tries to do a good job (with a few notable problems endemic to its’ “everyone plays!” participation model). 

But being partisan media has consequences.

I am a conservative blogger and host; I can fairly easily get access to Governor Pawlenty, John Kline, Michele Bachmann, and the one good Senator Minnesota has had since 2000, Norm Coleman, at least in part because my allegiances and the audience are pretty obvious.  They all know that while there might be a tough question or two, there will be no ambushes, no smearing, nothing rebroadcast out of context.

On the other hand, last year I sent invites to appear on the Northern Alliance to Senator Klobuchar, candidate Franken, Representatives Ellson and McCollum, and RT Rybak.   Only Rybak responded (we had a good interview!); the rest didn’t even give the courtesy of a rejection.

“Well, of course!”, the standard response went.  “You’re conservative media!  The Uptake is…”

Um…what is the Uptake?

“They’re journalists!”

Well, sure – and by the same standard, so am I.

“Nooooo, Berg – you’re a fire-breathing talk show host! It’s different!”

Keep your stereotypes to yourself.  I’ll put the interviews that Ed and I (and King, and John and Brian) do up against anything on MPR.  Of course that’s a matter of opinion, but it happens to be correct.

So – why the vapors over the “progressive” Uptake’s snub?  Partisan journalism has its downside!

29 thoughts on “Perils Of Partisanship”

  1. Minnpost, another lefty “news source” just removed my comment, which was tame by my usual standards, but critical of Senator Scumbag (I didn’t use his official title in the post, just his name.)

    On the other hand, they seem to encourage their moonbat readership to post the most vitriolic comments they can come up with against Republicans.

    Hypocrisy; Democrat is thy name.

  3. “So how is Coleman wrong for ejecting them?”

    Let me help you out..

    First, time and again, Coleman’s lawyers sought to be in front of Uptake.

    Second, Coleman called Noah Kunin (sic) from Uptake as a witness.

    Third, they are a legitimate press organization, no less legitimate than YOU or anyone from The Patriot. They’ve certainly done a fine job of providing data – yes, they are partisan, very partisan, much like, oh, KTLK or Fox News.

    What Coleman did was petty and cheap – he wanted the microphone INCLUDING TheUptake, when it suited him, and now, he wanted to exclude them purely as a vindictive little snub. I know that doesn’t bother you, but that’s because being vindictive is a hallmark of the american right.

  4. By the way, opinions aren’t correct or incorrect, as you’ve noted elsewhere. You have yours, others have theirs. You are at least as partisan, and at least as much journalists, as the Uptake, though you don’t appear to do as much actual interviewing.

    Saying your opinion is correct is like saying you know what apple pie tastes like and someone else doesn’t – or so you’ve attempted to assert on MinnPublius.

  5. It is interesting to see Peev call Al Franken “petty and cheap” about his “vindictive little snub” of not responding to Mitch.

    BTW, peev, we disagree once again; Mitch is not vindictive.

    Now run along back to your Penisblog and continue your blind adoration of the Obamassiah.

  6. Mitch, Peev might be right… he’d know a vindictive little little snub when he sees one, considering his vast experience.

  8. Start showing that you have even an inkling of what the post is about, and try to understand the point of view of the man who posts it.

    The only logical reason one can assume that you entirely miss the point so regularly and consistently is that you are actually Mitch Berg pretending to be a left-leaner with a major axe to grind.

    That’s it… you ARE Mitch Berg, and I claim my $50 prize money.

  9. Hey Pen, are you gonna peel your “Selected, not Elected” bumper sticker off your Volvo to make room for a “Senator Franken” next to the “Never Park The Bus” bumper sticker?

    Can I have it?

    .

  10. By the way, opinions aren’t correct or incorrect
    Perhaps one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read. Peev, what exactly doe the the Supreme Court of the United States render on a regular basis?
    Somewhere Learned Foot is laughing his ass off.

  13. You’re making yet another baseless claim, Pernicious Peev… one that is tainted with ignorance and hate.

  14. Oh yeah, Badda, it’s baseless to say that the right says that the left is anti-semitic, and it’s hateful to say that the Dems have a big tent.

    How’s that exactly?

    Also, do you have something meaningful to say Bootlicking Badda?

  15. Brad,

    Unlike you, I’ve met the lady – she’s a twit. Perhaps you lust after 5’4″ overly made-up charlitans, but I don’t. That’s an issue for the drooling, fawning GOPers – your heroines are the likes of Ann Coulter, Laura Ingram and Michelle Bachmann – congrats.

    Also, Brad, Badda, ever try to respond to the comment? – you know, just a thought.

    Mitch, your apple-polishers are once again proving what a fun bunch of folks they REALLY are..gotta love em.

  17. Also, Brad, Badda, ever try to respond to the comment? – you know, just a thought.

    Is this an example of irony?

  18. Kerm,

    Actually, I agree with you, that’s one of the dumbest things ever said – but since Mitch said it about his view of Sotomayor on MNPublius, saying their claim that his opinion was wrong was not logical because opinions are ‘ones own’ and not wrong.. I’ll ask yoiu to direct your comments toward him.

    Meaning, Kermy, your complaint is with him, I’m just repeating his logic. Get it.

  19. Brad, unlike you, I’ve met the lady

    So you’re saying I haven’t met Rep. Bachmann? And you know this…how???

    I’m just needling you about how you wanted Mitch to ask Bachmann a bunch of questions when she was a guest on the NARN. Questions you could have easily asked yourself but didn’t because you’re a coward.

    And I love how you finger wag about sticking to the subject when you invented off-topic rants, strawmen and non sequiturs. But hey, keep ’em comin’. You’re the textbook definition of a “useful idiot”.

  20. K- Rod said “..” Penisblog ” – Mitch, that’s what I mean by filthy. Perhaps you find it not so?

    I do, but I rarely intervene in such things.

    And as someone who gets more than a few brickbats, I’ve learned to filter out the appelations that reflect less on the target than the sender.

  21. e Mitch said it about his view of Sotomayor on MNPublius, saying their claim that his opinion was wrong was not logical because opinions are ‘ones own’ and not wrong..

    Because my opinion of Sotomayor was about something that was largely qualitative and subjective rather than quantitative and measurable.

    Like my opinion that Ed and my interviews are equal to anything on MPR; how does one empirically determine that that is “correct” or not? It’s qualitative and subjective! And yet it’s possible to find things “better” or “worse” than other things by purely qualitative measures.

  22. So penigma is searching for meaning? Start your next search in a dictionary! Maybe you can learn what “neoconservative” means? The possibilities are endless!

  23. GOPers are anti-semitic? Because they repudiate angry, foul-mouthed little pornographers that the DFL choses to elevate to the US Senate?
    Alternate universe time.

    I’m just repeating his logic. Get it.
    Everyone “gets” what you’re doing, Peev. It’s not complicated.

  24. Unfortunately, Mitch, Charlie got the story wrong. And because you repeated it as the basis for your post, you got it wrong too.

    An MPR reporter did NOT report that The Uptake got kicked out. I did. I’m not an MPR reporter. Moreover, the context of why I brought it up is entirely missing.

    The context of it was about Coleman and Coleman’s campaign mood and tone. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that can only be assessed by when the camera is rolling. So you can stand before the cameras and talk about being at peace and relaxed and all that, and people should duly report that as they did.

    But if behind the scene a campaign is extracting its last chance at revenge against someone they consider a political opponent — even as the public talk is healing and coming together — that that’s an entirely legitimate thing to point out.

    it doesn’t have anything to do whether someone was right or wrong. It’s about whether the entire picture is going to be told.

    I think you and King do a fine job on the radio. Too.

  25. Bob,

    Thanks.

    Perhaps the post should be been called “Perils of second-hand quotes”.

  26. Pen’s right about one thing, the Democrats have Diversity. They have people of every race, creed and color, all licking the same boots.

    Boots, Swiftee. With a T.

    Geez, you guys.

    .

  27. Pernicious Peev,
    Your baseless claim, that seems to echo previous claims of yours, was “…unlike the repubs, we actually welcome diverse views. ”

    Ever going to substantiate it? Ever???

  28. “that’s what I mean by filthy.”
    Peev must not have learned about physical hygene. Try bathing more often.

    “Those darned anti-semitic Democrats”
    You’ve said worse, Peni:
    “put another nail in the coffin of the idea of Isreal” – penigma 01.13.09

    Now run along back to Penisblog and continue your blind adoration of the Obamassiah.

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