Blogs Breaking News
‘Liberal MSM’ Ignoring Beauprez Flight Suit Story
By Howard Rothman, 2-03-06
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It was fascinating on Thursday to watch as the story of Bob Beauprez and his flight suit hit the web with a bang – and was totally ignored by traditional media outlets. Literally minutes after a group called Veterans for Progress emailed an incriminating photo accompanied by a press release that complained about the GOP candidate for Colorado governor's inappropriate choice of attire at a 2004 event, the pic appeared on a variety of local and national blogs (led by Richard Martin's first post here on New West) under headlines that called Beauprez everything from a poser to a chickenhawk. Hundreds of comments were posted on these sites by early evening, with angry anti-Beauprez sentiments far outnumbering the handful of apologists who blamed everyone from Republican competitor Marc Holtzman to undeclared Democrat challenger John Hickenlooper for the release. Despite the hubbub, however, Colorado's major newspapers and TV outlets had still not acknowledged the initial story or subsequent outcry by Friday morning.
Here's a brief chronology of how the story hit the blogs:
The initial email from Veterans for Progress was sent out at 10:56 a.m.
ProgressNow (which facilitated the original email) simultaneously posted the full story along with a petition asking Beauprez to apologize.
In short order, the news appeared on New West, Beauprez, You’re No Vet; ColoradoLib, Veterans vs. Bob Beauprez; and Colorado Political News, Beauprez in trouble for playing Dress-Up.
Just after noon, DailyKos brought the story to national attention when Kos (himself a military veteran) posted Earning the right to wear that uniform. Then, over the next few hours, it was picked up by more local and national blogs including Soapblox Colorado, 'Both Ways' Plays 'Dress Up'; The Try-Works, Take it off Chickenhawk; Really Important Stuff, Bush’s Beau (which also included an accompanying photo of the President in his Mission Accomplished flight suit); True or Better, Nice Flight Suit, Bob; and MaxSpeak, Let’s Play Soldier.
More than 300 comments were posted on these and others sites before the end of the day, but as of this post traditional newspaper and television outlets in Colorado (aka, the liberal mainstream media) remained silent on the controversy.
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Comments
" Led by Richard Martins story here on News West "
(( QUotes from the last article on the FRONT PAGE ? ))
I saw only 8 comments , most of them on the side of Mr. Beauprez. Is this paper into self glorification. Nice when one writer gives another writer from the same paper credibility for a story that was uneducated, politically motivated, and rediculous.
Mr. Martin, would you like us to stop having Fly Ins open to the public. I mean , only Pilots should wear flight suits right. Military or not. I was in the military and I wouldnt feel appropriate walking around the base in a flight suit. ( My boss the pilot might see )
Perhaps the flight museums should stop selling those patches for flight suits to anyone without an Active Duty military card and a flight line pass. AND QUICK >>> SHUT DOWN ALL MILITARY SURPLUS STORES ...
There goes my kids next Halloween costume.
Perhaps we should arrest the Village People. One of them wears a cop uniform. ANd there must be a charge for impersenating a gay indian. Round up every male stripper as well. WE know they have a security guards outfit.
I suppose anyone who is not from the renesaince should not wear their costume to the Ren Fair either. They might upset the people who used to wear those clothes. Not fair to the English to wear Armour and mock joust if you have never been to england. And whats with the guys carrying swords. When was the last death by swordfight ?
By the way, you seemed to make a point as to Bobs inability to be drafted. Did either of the writers of these articles serve ?
We are in a time of war, wheres the same merit from yourselves ? I served , as did my Dad, his Dad, and His Dad ( not to mention all of my brothers ). Its ok if you didnt, knowones perfect, but GLASS HOUSES gentlemen, GLASS HOUSES.
The fact of the matter is that you are not even covering the war from the middle east. You sit at you desk in BOULDER ( which is like a different planet ). You watch the war on CNN, FOX and spend HOURS ALONE on the internet entertaining the opinions of other LAME DUCKS like yourselves.
The fact of the matter is that at least Mr. Beauprez is at least serving his community in some manner as a public servent. What service does biased journalism without research offer to the average american. Nothing but increased ignorance.
I am beginning to question the quality of education they are providing there in Boulder. The property values in no way represent the level of intelegence this paper has diplayed.
THANKS , Your average vet
>By the way, you seemed to make a point as to Bobs
>inability to be drafted.
Inability? He *evaded* service, just like your spineless C-in-C! There are grievously wounded servicemen lying in Walter Reed who want nothing more than a chance to go back (http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=25445&archive=true), but don't ever expect that kind of bravery from your gang of chickenhawks in DC protecting their kids while getting rich (financially and politically) off everyone else's sacrifices.
>Did either of the writers of these articles serve ?
What the hell does that have do with Beauprez? These writers aren't campaigning for higher office by pretending to be veterans. They're not disingenuously taking advantage of the gullibility voters seem to suffer from in believing only Republicans can defend us or take us to war. These writers aren't trying to make fools out of us, they're trying to save us from being made fools of. Big picture, my friend, can't you try to see it? Or are you waiting with baited breath for the next decorated, honorable vet who speaks out to get smeared by Rove and the Swift Boaters?
Thank GOD for these writers. They're trying to hold thieves and cowards like Beauprez accountable since people like you have been taken hook, line and sinker, dazzled with their flight suit theatrics and calculated soundbites. Without them, all you'd have giving you the news are Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, George Will, Bill Bennett, Brit Hume, Matt Drudge, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Hastert, Rove, Rice, Cheney, Bush... NONE of whom served, several of whom got deferments (Cheney with FIVE and Limbaugh for a boil on his ass) and ALL of them gleefully supporting a $250 billion war based on utter bullshit.
But none of that matters, right? John Kerry didn't earn those medals, so say the Swift Boaters. John Murtha didn't deserve his medals either, Max Cleland blew himself up, John McCain had a colored child, and David Hackworth dared to question Army leadership. You go ahead and rip on these honorable ACTUAL veterans and stick by your gutless crooks like Bob Beauprez, who should apologize to all Coloradans, veterans or otherwise, immediately - and drop out of the governor's race in shame.
That is, if he has any. I doubt it.
KAF in Aurora