During a live press conference in Bagdad, Senators McCain and Graham were heckled by CNN reporter Michael Ware. An official at the press conference called Ware’s conduct “outrageous,” saying, “here you have two United States Senators in Bagdad giving first-hand reports while Ware is laughing and mocking their comments. I’ve never witnessed such disrespect. This guy is an activist not a reporter.”Senators McCain and Graham flew into Iraq and drove into Bagdad, making stops at an open market and a joint Iraq/American military security outpost before appearing at the press conference.
This is not the first time Michael Ware has taken issue with Senator McCain’s comments about early progress in Iraq. Last week, after Senator McCain told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he needed to catch up on the news coming out of Iraq, Michael Ware responded, saying:
“I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad.”
Michael Ware has also publicly expressed his views on the war last year in an interview with Bill Maher, saying, “I've been given a front-row ticket to watch this slow-motion train wreck … I try to stay as drunk for as long as possible while I'm here … In fact, I'm drinking now.”
SDA Flashback: Here's another.
This email (CNN Pressroom) is probably more direct than the online feedback interface, should you feel like doing a little heckling of your own.
MONDAY UPDATE - Ware denies incident as reported, Video and commentary at Hot Air.
Related - a drive by smear by someone at Associated Press, who decided to tack on a little extra information about Newt Gingrich's marital history to fill out a story on "bilingual education" - an hour after the original version appeared.
The practice of ending news reports with negative, unrelated "reminder reporting" is a fairly common with a number of news organizations. I don't have to tell you who the favourite targets are. Keep an eye out for it - you'll be surprised at how often they show up.
TUESDAY UPDATE - Though Ware is not mentioned by name, this Associated Press report confirms the behavior reported by Drudge.
Posted by Kate at April 1, 2007 7:51 PMTrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/5028
hey, the CBC needs this guy
Posted by: aj in calgary at April 1, 2007 10:24 PMDrudge makes up stuff again. American soldiers have made fun of McCain's comments all week.
Meanwhile, 6 US soldiers die near Baghdad as John McCain goes shopping.
McCain's 'safe' stroll in Baghdad market... wearing body armor, flanked by 100 American soldiers, 3 Blackhawk helicopters, and 2 Apache gunships.
Posted by: dave m at April 1, 2007 10:29 PMWhy is the media such a magnet to these beer and popcorn guys?
Posted by: nomdenet at April 1, 2007 10:30 PMThe problem is that now instead of reporting the story, the media tries to be the story.
Posted by: Reid at April 1, 2007 10:47 PMnomdenet said: "Why is the media such a magnet to these beer and popcorn guys?"
"B&P guys" is a good way to describe them. It's been my experience that journalists and MSM types in general are mostly a bunch of elitist, effete "Marie Antionettes" lecturing the great uneducated masses on how they should live and think.
(Does anyone remember that wonderfully snobbish Globe& Mail slogan; "ANYONE can have an opinion, but IS IT INFORMED?")
When you have a huge attitude and an enormous desire for fame and authority but no actual skills or talents you become a journalist.
I also *LOVE* this line from Micheal Ware. "I try to stay as drunk for as long as possible while I'm here … In fact, I'm drinking now."
ARE **ALL** journalists pissed pants staggering drunks or is only 99%?
Five years ago in online communities, I was totally told to F off by American participants with my questions about how this war could be won.
Today, I believe it only can be a drunk journalist that can report on this mess that the US has created.
Posted by: ltr at April 1, 2007 11:11 PMItr said: "Five years ago ... I was - told to F off by American participants"
That's ok Itr. I'd be more than happy to tell you to F--- Off *RIGHT NOW* if you're missing it.
Posted by: john at April 1, 2007 11:29 PMItr said: " I believe it only can be a drunk journalist that can report on this mess that the US has created."
April Fools. Right?
CNN.
Official newschannel of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move on.
Posted by: JJM at April 2, 2007 2:43 AMIt's A-holes like Michael Ware that make the other 98% of journalists in Bahgdad look bad.
Posted by: a different Bob at April 2, 2007 8:09 AMMore misinformation from CNN and the Communist News Network
Posted by: spurwing plover at April 2, 2007 11:32 AM'Different Bob' and all the other knuckledraggers here...
Drudge makes shit up. Get your facts straight assholes.
Posted by: Kevin Simms at April 2, 2007 2:14 PMIt seems like a fair enough comment to me. If the truth hurts, shoot the messenger.
Posted by: Jose at April 2, 2007 2:35 PMAlthough the press conference was inspirational, the charge of heckling seems to be an outright lie...
View it here:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/CNN_reporter_slams_Drudges_charge_that_0402.html
I like hot air's clarification:
"He denies having said anything at the press conference — but strictly speaking, he wasn’t accused of having said anything."
So, he was making faces? Are you kidding me? The video "appears" to support ware? Then just to throw more doubt on it, they note that the video comes from a "fan site" of Ware? Really? The fan-site recorded that video? They're in Iraq? That's a committed fan.
There has got to be something more substantial than this fabricated story to be infuriated about right now. No?
Posted by: Mithrandir at April 2, 2007 5:22 PMMithrandir said... "There has got to be something more substantial than this fabricated story to be infuriated about right now. No?"
Yes, there is. Stephane Dion has French citizenship. I mean Like France French. We're all going to die.
Posted by: Crabgrass at April 3, 2007 9:54 AMYet another "fake but true" story. Keep pumping these stories out, there's still a few people who take you seriously.
Posted by: Jose at April 3, 2007 10:13 AMAhhh Jose
The little man with nothing to say.
You sir will die with less then what you entered this world with.
Posted by: missing link at April 4, 2007 2:19 AM