What is going on over at The Buzz and Naked Politics? Is the merger wreaking havoc on their work, or do they think that having a blog entitles them to lose their integrity? Because they really pissed a lot of people off today.
No, people aren't mad at either of these well read media run blogs because they steadfastly refuse to acknowledge our existence (or even the awesome but misguided State of Sunshine) even after linking to our McCollum video. We are mad at the ridiculous changes they made to the post about Charlie Crist and the budget cuts today. (Here is the Naked Politics version if you want to play along)
What was wrong with it?
Well the first time around when it was titled: "Crist denies, then announces 4th quarter budget cuts" now it is titled "Crist announces 4th quarter budget cuts." That change might be justifiable, but with a blog you should tell us why you made the change.
Since then, they added the quote he gave the Miami Herald/Times reporter -- meaning that he technically have not denied it was going to happen, since they are now quoting him as saying "Not that I've been briefed on yet," Of course, if that isn't a lie, then his freelancing budget Director probably violated a few laws after having sent out a letter to Agency Directors two days ago letting them know their budgets would be cut 15% for this quarter or 3.2% for the year.
Then the post also had this mysterious line added: "Crist told reporters. He had just ended a 40-minute roundtable with film and entertainment industry officials. Crist's office believe he was referring to "
Why was it updated? When was it updated? Was it changed after a call from a Crist press flack or a Crist lackey at the RPOF like our favorite -- Katherine Gordon? And finally, what does the Goveror's office think he was reffering to (no, that wasn't our typo)? Or, what does the Buzz have against complete sentences? Naked Politics also has the partial sentence. So color us very confused.
But to put the proverbial "cherry on top," they added a completely unrelated but very Crist anecdote from a meeting with industry executives. The part that was added to a post about budget cuts read:
Two hours before the budget announcement, Crist met with film and entertainment industry executives, who pleaded for more money for incentives to produce movies in Florida. 'I'm going to be a shameless promoter of a great movie,' he said, holding up a poster for 'Marley & Me.'
Wow. What does that have to do with Charlie cutting education funding for more than 3% for the year? What does that have to do with anything of the post at all? Or, is he just going with the Michael Steele, 'I like puppies' defense.
I know, I know. Its a blog, and this is a lot about one post. But truthfully, the reason we didn't pin it all on Mary Ellen Klaas is because this has been typical of their coverage of Charlie Crist and many of the Republicans. They are probably like the press with the Bush Administration (or sometimes with the Obama campaign) they are too scared pissing off their press shops to do their jobs.
So lets hope this helps give what have been, for the most part, great sources of information decide to do their jobs and hold Charlie accountable too.
And - don't start the "you have no credibility as a partisan blog" crap. Having an opinion doesn't automatically mean that you can't be taken seriously. We do research and fact check our work before we post it, and we won't add crappy content just cause politician wants it like they did. So if Charlie or one of his press flacks calls us up to complain, we won't change this post. (But, we will just write a very very funny new post about the conversation. So please ... call!)
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