On Palin: A Fair Game Attempt By The MSM
While this blog has been critical of the MSM and its treatment of GOP Vice-Presidential candidate Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, a report published in WaPo may qualify as fair game. As published on UPI’s website, the report suggests some may have a problem with Palin’s practice of charging the state of Alaska for trips on official state business. The reason for citing the UPI’s publication of the story is the same as in an earlier post here about an NYT story that required registration to read online. There is a reluctance here to register to read content from the MSM (or any other content provider).
If the UPI version mirrors the original WaPo report a few problems are associated with the story. The report states that ‘officials’ indicate the expenses are permissible. Yet others in the report suggest such practices by others were labeled as ’scam’ or the practice was discouraged or disallowed by some government offices. Well, which is it? The prudent rule would suggest avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. But the WaPo report indicates a Palin spokesperson called the expenses ‘not of the ordinary’. Okay, what does that mean? Were they reasonable as expenses because they were extraordinary or were they wrong because they were not of the ordinary type that should be reimbursed?
Not that this report necessarily ranks as MSM abuse of an individual but the problem of being understandable on its own demonstrates at least the fair criticism of media failures to provide quality reporting. The report puts Palin’s airfare expenses for 2007 at $93,000 compared to Frank Mukowski’s 2006 bill for $463,000. She sold the state jet to a private buyer and has an airfare bill less than 25% of Senator Mukowski’s. Seeing that contrast, how bad could Palin’s practice be? However, if there was a problem with Palin’s practice, the amount does not lessen the impact as wrong is still wrong. Drawing a conclusion based on this report is impossible if one is to be fair. But the topic is certainly fair game if presented correctly and completely which it is not.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
below the excerpt and link to the UPI report followed by the WaPo report….
Palin billed Alaska for nights in own home
Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home: Taxpayers Also Funded Family’s Travel
James V. Grimaldi and Karl Vick, Washington Post - A01
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