Breitbart was the problem, not "bloggers"

[Joanne98]

by kos

Breitbart was the problem, not "bloggers" Thu Jul 29, 2010

From the geniuses at CNN:

Should there be a “gatekeeper” regulating internet bloggers? In the aftermath of the Shirley Sherrod incident, that’s what CNN promoted on July 23.

Anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts discussed the “mixed blessing of the internet,” and agreed that there should be a crackdown on anonymous bloggers who disparage others on the internet.

“There are so many great things that the internet does and has to offer, but at the same time, Kyra, as you know, there is this dark side,” Roberts said. “Imagine what would have happened if we hadn’t taken a look at what happened with Shirley Sherrod and plumbed the depths further and found out that what had been posted on the internet was not in fact reflective of what she said.”

But Phillips replied that the mainstream media “can’t always do that.”

“There’s going to have be a point in time where these people have to be held accountable,” Phillips said. “How about all these bloggers that blog anonymously? They say rotten things about people and they’re actually given credibility, which is crazy. They’re a bunch of cowards, they’re just people seeking attention.”

Kyra? John? Last time I checked, Andrew Breitbart wasn't anonymous. Nor is he a blogger. So blaming "anonymous bloggers" for Breitbart's antics makes about as much sense as blaming CNN for them.

Yglesias:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/7/29/888579/-Breitbart-was-the-problem,-not-bloggers

[drm604]

1. How about CNN doing their job instead of blaming "anonymous bloggers"?

If the mainstream media had checked things out before running with the story then this wouldn't have been such a problem. Instead they want to somehow censor bloggers.

I'm not even sure what they want to do exactly. Have some sort of authority vet everything posted on the internet? (Good luck with that.) Will they submit their own reporting to such an authority?

[Bitwit1234]

2. I told you about them, it is a wonder they didn't put LIBERAL

in front of that word blogger. I think she should sue them also, they carried the story. AND if they were a reputable news station they would have found out it was false before they ran with it.

I think when these republican media outlets come up with this lying trash they should all be sued.

[Uncle Joe]

3. CNN believes the American People are in *prison and they should be the gatekeepers aka; guards.

Thanks for the thread, Joanne

*In a way, this is not surprising as the "Land of the Free" holds the world's record with the highest number of prisoners, many of them for non-violent drug offenses.

[bulloney]

4. Any good journalist would check sources for accuracy. Today's news media look for sensationalism

over accuracy. The fact that Breitbart is a RW blogger should make any news organization hesitant to proceed with the story, given Breitbart's agenda. Now, I'm reading where "news" organizations are attributing their information on the severity of the Gulf oil disaster to Rush Limbaugh. That's how much journalism has declined in our media.

[yurbud]

5. when someone says ''bloggers'' generically they are either ignorant or lying

[kimmylavin]

6. Talk about CYA!

“Imagine what would have happened if we hadn’t taken a look at what happened with Shirley Sherrod and plumbed the depths further and found out that what had been posted on the internet was not in fact reflective of what she said.”

Yeah... Imagine that.

I've got another imagining for him: imagine you had actually done your jobs in the first place, and investigated the story for yourselves.
But no.

Then you wouldn't have had a sensationalist story, tinged with the specter of racism, that could be used to further divide right from left, and left from left.

Rushing to judgment, based on a story from "anonymous blogger" Andrew Breitbart (and not calling HIM out as a crazy coward who was just seeking attention) was a much easier thing to do... Imagine that.