This weekend WJLA-TV announced that it had fired veteran anchorman Doug McKelway for a verbal confrontation this summer with the station’s news director. McKelway is a longtime journalist in the Capitol and his termination raised questions about the limits on fair commentary for anchors in political coverage.
In a brief story on environmentalists protesting the influence of the oil industry in Congress, McKelway referred to the small demonstration as “largely representing far-left environmental groups.” He went on to note that such protests “may be a risky strategy because the one man who has more campaign contributions from BP than anybody else in history is now sitting in the Oval Office, President Barack Obama, who accepted $77,051 in campaign contributions from BP.” It is, in my view, clearly wrong to suggest that the protesters were “far left” since many environmentalists are appalled with the level of influence of the industry in Congress and the Administration. The second comment, however, was fair game in my view and has been noted by other journalists in covering such stories — though it has been challenged on the grounds that it came from employees as opposed to company itself.
The second segment is more problematic. He added in a later piece that the Senate was unlikely to pass “cap-and-trade” legislation this year, because “the Democrats are looking at the potential for huge losses in Congress come the midterm elections. And the last thing they want to do is propose a huge escalation in your electric bill, your utility bill, before then.” That seems well over the line for reporting as opposed to commentary. It is the very talking point line put out by conservative advocates to justify more drilling and less regulation. It is greatly disputed and should not have been reported as a fact. However, the question is whether it justified termination.
That coverage led to a confrontation with ABC7’s news director and general manager, Bill Lord. In a letter to McKelway this week where McKelway was accused of insubordination and misconduct. It was the argument with Lord that was the direct justification for the termination decision.
McKelway has accused local news of having a liberal and pro-democratic tilt in the past. He comes from a long line of Washington journalists in his family. He also attracted criticism in 2009 when he was accused of threatening to punch a gay blogger over his practice of “outing” politicians who are in the closet.
McKelway is well known in my area not just as a newsman but as a musician. My family and I have enjoyed his performances with a local blue grass band that plays at restaurants and other venues. He is a very talented banjo player. It is a sad way to end a long career at the station, but McKelway is reportedly working on a book and could still find another venue as a journalist or commentator.
Source: Washington Post
Buddha,
Regarding your comment about women who are “so busy being subservient to the men folk.” I’ll have to tell that one to my husband. I already know his reaction.
P.S. My husband’s father was of an older generation–yet he cautioned him when he was young not to marry a subservient women. Of course, my husband took his father’s wise advice!
🙂
AY would be perfect, mainly because he’s reluctant …
By the way …. somebody is going to have to break this REAL Christian news to Buckeye and it ain’t gonna be me
the government? You dont understand at all. You just think you do. Use your logic and you can prove that a goat is a pig but not much else.
if your Venn diagrams intersect bullshit and horse shit what set is that? Hows that for logic?
Elaine,
You are, as usual, correct. It’s not enough to worship the same god, you must do it in the manner which they, the mortals, approve.
lol
“It should be a bunch of guys, because everyone knows women aren’t suitable for decision making decisions”
SB
“It should be a bunch of guys, because everyone knows women aren’t suitable for decision making roles”
This typo sponsored by Woodchuck Hard Cider.
Buddha,
“The ones who don’t understand our government here are the theocrats who operate under the delusion this is a Christian nation..”
Some people would qualify that statement with the term REAL Christian. To them, it isn’t just about being Christian–it’s about being the “right kind” of Christian.
Besides, it’s hard to be on a committee when you’re both barefoot and pregnant. Or when your expected social role is to be seen and not heard.
Blouise,
It should be a bunch of guys, because everyone knows women aren’t suitable for decision making decisions since they are so busy being subservient to the men folk.
Nah,
Anytime someone tells me that they are a christian, I check pocket to make sure my wallet is still in place and to make sure that is the only thing in my pocket as well…..
Awww. Isn’t Hubris cute. Calling people who rely on logic and precedent instead of unfounded unprovable beliefs Nazis.
The ones who don’t understand our government here are the theocrats who operate under the delusion this is a Christian nation when it was specifically founded as a secular nation.
The Separation Doctrine doesn’t just insulate religions from government, but government from religion.
If you want to live under a theocracy, Saudi Arabia and Iran are nice this time of year.
Blouise,
I doubt AY would volunteer for that committee. Then again, I shouldn’t speak for him.
AY,
What do you think about Blouise’s suggestion?
Blouise,
A committee of what? Self-righteous, holier than thou-ers?
Let’s try and get AY on the committee … he’d have a really good time
Elaine,
It’s gotta be a committee …
Hmmmmm…..I wonder if you would be willing to die for your religion….then that could be the test…..of faith….didn’t say a good one but…..
Blouise,
Don’t you wonder who is in charge of determining who is a REAL Christian and who is a FAKE Christian?
Elaine M.
1, September 20, 2010 at 9:36 pm
REAL Christians? That would mean that there must be FAKE Christians? How is one to tell one from the other? Things are so complicated these days.
========================================================
I suppose conservatives could require the fake ones to wear yellow cross patches
Speaking of Partisan stuff…..
Remember the Impeachment Hearing Resume tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. Sept, 21, 2010…….
Tootie:
I am a “lurker” and read what you write with interest. I agree with most of what you say, you appear to be some sort of Christian libertarian. And you certainly seem to take a good deal of heat, some quite nasty. Although you seem to give it back.
From what I can see most here do not understand our form of government very well even though they are lawyers(?). Or maybe they do understand it and just dont like it or have contempt for it? They also seem to be quite dictatorial in their pronouncements even though most are opinions and they also dont seem to understand that a good many precedents they refer to are nothing but opinions as well, some based on bad thinking. They seem to take them as gospel from on high. They question nothing except what they disagree with and they generally, like Nazis really, brutalize anyone with a differing opinion.
Your thoughts?
From the Media Research Center website:
What People Are Saying About the Media Research Center
Talk show hosts, authors, conservative politicians and even journalists have praised the MRC for its work in bringing fairness to the media.
http://www.mrc.org/membership/kudos.asp
Here are names of some of the folks who have high praise for the Media Research Center:
Rush Limbaugh
Ann Coulter
Cal Thomas
Robert Nowak
Fred Barnes
John Fund
Newt Gingrich
Phyllis Schlafly
Now there’s a line-up for ya!
*****
BTW, I’m so old that I remember when Diane Sawyer worked for Richard “I Am Not a Crook” Nixon.
😉