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Last Wednesday we looked at a group of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives employees who are fed up with corruption and incompetence. On Thursday, we saw a convenient way we could demand hearings into ATF corruption allegations.
But here's the thing: the "authorized journalists" in traditional media outlets don't even appear to have this story on their radar, and very little is likley to happen without the exposure they can provide. Before I jump to the conclusion that this is yet another in a long line of what economist and columnist Walter Williams calls "sins of omission," I thought it best to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Here's what I sent several of the nation's largest and most influential newspapers on Friday:
Disgruntled ATF employees have launched a website called CleanUpATF.org "to promote restoration of integrity, accountability and responsibility to ATF's leadership, and regain the trust of the American taxpayer."
Why? According to them it's because "Managers, Counsel, Internal Affairs and staff of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE or 'ATF') have repeatedly given false testimony, concealed substantial waste, fraud and abuse, abused their lawful authority, and waged systematic campaigns of reprisal against their own employees that dare to speak out."
I have not seen any coverage from you on this. Or from any other major media outlet.
Why is that? Are these not serious allegations about a powerful government agency? Don't you think it at least warrants being investigated?
Also see:
I hope you see the importance of turning a spotlight on ATF so that the people responsible for the current state of affairs can be identified and held accountable. I also think identifying and holding media outlets who know about this but choose not to report on it is something we ought to make known.
As of Friday, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and the Chicago Sun-Times can no longer claim ignorance. If we don't see anything from them over the next few weeks we can probably assume they're not interested in informing their readers.
Time was, a fundamental purpose of a free press was to be a watchdog over government abuse. I encourage regular Gun Rights Examiner readers to help spread the word by contacting other newspapers and networks and challenging them to cover this important story.
Filed by David Codrea/Gun Rights Examiner: 13 September 2009
Comments
I think you're going to find this a tough sell, but not for the reasons you expect - it's simply too complicated for the average reporter to understand, especially in the downsized news world where no one has time for real investigative work anymore.
Second, it really needs a "face" - an agent willing to go on the record, documents in hand, to explain it all.
Rather than contact the papers, search for specific reporters who have done similar things in the past - they have a better understanding of how to FOIA documents and build a story.
Or try contacting one of the newer investigative reporting organizations that have sprung up, like ProPublica - they may not care about gun rights, but government fraud, waste & abuse is right up their alley.
(And no, I can't chase this story. I'm in a different career path right now and would have a serious conflict of interest.)
And do they really spend $180,000 per PCS move? That's about a power of magnitude more than the military.
Please send this toward someone who can do something with it. Surely it would only take you minutes. GSR you have the contacts that most of us do not. Do the right thing.
Talk about setting yourself up for failure. If you REALLY want the lamestream media to cover this story, you need to send it to newspapers OTHER than four of the five most liberal, gun-hating outlets in the country (you forgot the Boston Globe).
How about the Washington Times, the Arizona Republic, the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Vin Suprynowicz would have a field day with it), the Orange County Register, the Jewish World Review, the Manchester Union Leader, the Pittsburgh Tribune...?
How about some help?
Lou Dobbs' TV show?
Sure. As I wrote:
"I encourage regular Gun Rights Examiner readers to help spread the word by contacting other newspapers and networks and challenging them to cover this important story."
Folks, I tap myself out doing the research to develop and promote these, along with the other stuff I do independent of Examiner. I've sent this to some media outlets in addition to what I mentioned here and have sent out feelers to some of the ones you bring up. But there just isn't enough of me to do everything.
I ask the regular readers here who feel there is value in this to take a few minutes and join my effort.
These columns don't do any good if people already in nominal agreement read them and then nothing else happens.
I appreciate all efforts to spread the word, pass on links, and take action when it's appropriate.
David the main stream media is bought and paid for by the big foundations and Wall Street bankers.
On Sept 12, 2009, 2 million people went to DC to protest and the media reported the number as being in the thousands.
Remember the Million Mom March where 30-50,000 gathered in DC and the media reported 1 million
The bottom line is the media is our enemy just like the Elite
Which doesn't mean we give up before trying. If nothing else, it establishes undeniable documentation that they suppress stories they're aware of. That may prove useful information to exploit down the road. And if we don't contact them, we hand them an excuse.
I quote Mr. Churchill: "If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
You got it, David. Hopefully if enough of us write to our favorite media outlets at least one will dig in and find out just how big a cesspool ATF is.
I have emailed a couple of friends in other States. Hopefully their local newspapers can pick this up. Tried the SacBee which, as you know, is pretty useless. Emailed Lou Dobbs and think that kind of show, via radio or tv, are the most likely to pick up this story....
David, hang in there! I heard this morning that a recent national survey revealed that 2/3 of those responding did not think the news media accurately reported events, so there is hope!
And thanks for the blog, it is important!!!
A better question would be why are they silent on everything that has to do with truth, justice, and the American way?
Here is the first half of the note I sent our two local fishwraps (The Pioneer Pravda and The Star-and-Sickle), our local TV stations and a friend of mine who works for Public Radio International:
I am forwarding a copy of a letter written by David Codrea because he frames the issue much more eloquently than I could:
Disgruntled ATF employees have launched a website called CleanUpATF.org "to promote restoration of integrity, accountability and responsibility to ATF's leadership, and regain the trust of the American taxpayer."
Why? According to them it's because "Managers, Counsel, Internal Affairs and staff of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE or 'ATF') have repeatedly given false testimony, concealed substantial waste, fraud and abuse, abused their lawful authority, and waged systematic campaigns of reprisal against their own employees that dare to speak out."
I have not seen any coverage from you on this. Or from any other major media outlet.
Why is that? Are these not serious allegations about a powerful government agency? Don't you think it at least warrants being investigated?
Also see:
examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Even-ATF-employees-fed-up-with-corruption-and-incompetence
examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Demand-hearings-into-ATF-corruption-allegations
Bruce again; Given the BATFE's expanded responsibilities in the post 9-11 world, I feel that charges of waste and abuse absolutely should be investigated thoroughly. I have written to my legislators, but they are faced with so many issues I do not think they will take the time to deal with this one absent vocal demands that they do so. Your papers can inform people who will then supply the vocal demands.
I thank-you in advance for your time and efforts on behalf of me and your readers.
Peace,
Bruce W. Krafft
Passing this to all my folks here in Alabama. I was one of the 1.7 million in DC on Saturday, and you will never hear the truth about that day from the mainstream media. What a shame, you used to be able to trust the media back in the day when Walter was the most trusted man in America. Now, I wouldn't trust most of them to water my plants!
and we wonder why the newspapers are dying? Is it because that no one will no longer bother to buy and read the garbage they publish?
the corruption that we tolerate as a people is amazing.we are lambs to the slaughter, really.
The case 8CA10541 says it all. Why is this tolerated and where is the outrage!!!!!!
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