Obama has honor, and burden, of Nobel award

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Every U.S. president secretly harbors dreams of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

I saw the headline about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The reporter writing about the event starts off the article with pushing out his own opinion, that every U.S. president secretly longs to win a Nobel Peace prize.

How does he know this? He writes about it as if it is fact but it is totally unsubstantiated. Maybe he should back up that claim with interviews from every one of America’s past presidents saying “I want a Nobel Peace Prize”

Arthur

Sorry, but I have no problem with that statement. The piece was clearly labeled as Analysis, which means a certain amount of opinion is to be expected. I think it is perfectly reasonable to presume practically anybody who knows what the Nobel Peace Prize would want to win one.

Besides, if we backed up the statement as you suggest, with interviews with past presidents saying they wanted the prize, then these would no longer be secret dreams, would they? GBU Editor

U.S. President Barack Obama smiles after making remarks in the East Room at the White House, October 9, 2009. REUTERS/Jim Young

Join the Good, Bad, Ugly Facebook Blog Network

Senate denies funds for poverty group

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A poverty-rights group that has drawn the ire of conservatives suffered another setback in Washington on Monday when the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to deny it access to federal housing funds.

Are you kidding me?? The headline makes it appear as if our government is withholding funding from an orphanage full of poverty stricken and parentless babies rather than an organization that has been embroiled in controversy for much of the past year (at least).

Why the misleading headline?

M.P.

Does the headline of your article on the ACORN corruption really fit the content of the article?

Scott W.

How can you refer to ACORN as a “poverty Group?” They have been under investigation for voter fraud, voter tampering, and many other illegal things and now the videos show them helping a prostitute and pimp!! POVERTY GROUP!!??

M.D.Y.

Reporting ACORN as a poverty group (sounds touching does it not?) is very biased reporting. Come on and tell the truth!!!

R.D.C.

You have got to be kidding! This is the most embarrassing “news” piece I have every seen published on Reuters. We know that ACORN lacks integrity. It is becoming painfully obvious that Reuters lacks it as well.

THEY WERE GIVING ADVICE ON HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE IN SEX TRAFFICKING!!!

It’s hard to call it a “gotcha” campaign if it happened at three separate offices. Repugnant

Brentzel

I try to read Reuters News on a daily basis due to your normally unbiased reporting, but I am now having second thoughts about my decision. I find it hard to believe that there wasn’t a HEADLINE story on the ACORN scandal covered by Reuters. This is very troublesome and appears that your reporting decisions are questionable, at least. A news agency with such stature should be reporting news, not covering it up. I’m ashamed of Reuters on this one.

R.D.

You need to get out more often. The poor poverty group you portray in the title of your piece makes it seem as though some group you never heard of has been set upon by the Govt. The poor group has been involved with voter fraud in many cities and now the latest video’s showing them trying to give advice on how to defraud the govt. Is this the same group that just lost the contract to do the CENSUS.  Get out and smell the roses.

M.A.

A number of readers objected to our shorthand description of Acorn in this headline, as well as to what they considered insufficient coverage of the controversy surrounding the group: GBU Editor

Above: Demonstrators from ACORN’s Home Defenders rally outside the foreclosed home of Marie Elie in Elmont, New York, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Below: A participant holds up a pamphlet as he listens to a speaker during a Congressional rally held by The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) on the foreclosure crisis, in Washington, March 11, 2008. REUTERS/Molly Riley

Join the Good, Bad, Ugly Facebook Blog Network

Obama warns against scare tactics over healthcare

Protesters in Washington brandished American flags and home-made signs venting their anger at Obama and the Democrats who control both houses of the U.S. Congress, accusing them of pushing the country toward bankruptcy with reckless spending.

“Taxed Enough Already!” one man shouted, while others listened to speakers and traded leaflets. The crowd appeared to be one of the largest rallies against Obama since he took office, although it did not come close to matching the turnout on the National Mall for his inauguration in January.

I’ve not been able to find, on online Reuters, news on that huge protest demonstration in Washington, D.C. on the 12th. I searched news stories in the U.S. section and the Politics section, for the last 7 days. Where should I look? Thanks!

Ted W.

You call yourselves a news organization. But you did even mention the largest march on Washington in years. You are obviously in the Obama camp, hook, line and sinker. How shameful.

Rik

Where is the coverage of the Tea Party across the country? Same as all the other lazy no common sense news organizations. Dont have a clue as to whats really happening.

Kris

One million or more people protest in DC. Where is the coverage? Would be nice to see some old fashioned reporting.

Wodun

A number of readers wrote in looking for our coverage of the weekend taxpayer protest in Washington, DC.

We folded two paragraphs on the event into a larger story about a Minneapolis appearance by President Obama on Saturday, but did not have a separate text story.

We did have a video report, but likewise combined it with the Obama story, and the headline, “Obama healthcare plan on the road,” was not exactly user-friendly for readers trying to follow the protests : GBU Editor

Join the Good, Bad, Ugly Facebook Blog Network

Thousands of demonstrators gather on the plaza near the U.S. Capitol to participate in a “Taxpayer March on DC” protest against President Barack Obama’s fiscal and economic policies including the administration’s health care reform plans in Washington, September 12, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Theiler

Cheney says cooperation with CIA probe “will depend”

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney said he might refuse to speak with a prosecutor investigating suspected CIA prisoner abuses, a probe he branded as political and bad for national security.

Asked whether he would talk to prosecutor John Durham if eventually sought out, Cheney told “Fox News Sunday”: “It will depend on the circumstances and what I think their activities are really involved in. I’ve been very outspoken in my views on this matter.”

I was disappointed to see that three reporters and one editor allowed a story to be printed that contained obvious bias.

The story contained the following biased story lead:

“Former Vice President Dick Cheney said he might refuse to speak with a prosecutor investigating suspected CIA prisoner abuses…”

The actual quote (which appeared later in the story) can be presented with positive or negative bias:

negative bias: “might refuse”
positive bias: “might cooperate”

The reporters chose to present a negative bias in the lead, rather than creating an unbiased lead that incoropates the actual quote.

I.K.

Sorry, I don’t agree.

In my opinion the basic news nugget in this story is that the former vice president might refuse to speak with a prosecutor, and that’s what belongs in the lead. Probably in the headline, as well. The presumption would be that a former ranking elected official would offer his full cooperation: GBU Editor

Vice President Dick Cheney, January 6, 2009. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Join the Good, Bad, Ugly Facebook Blog Network

Head U.S. overhauling immigration detention policy- NYT

Immigration reform has been a contentious issue in U.S. politics. Congress has failed to pass reforms amid differences over how to deal with about 12 million legal immigrants in the country and demands border security first be address.

Hi, in the last paragraph of your article, it says “12 million legal immigrats” where it should be illegal.

Arash

Yes. We corrected: GBU Editor

A U.S. Border Patrol agent looks for illegal migrants at the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, in a 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo

Join the Good, Bad, Ugly Facebook Blog Network

Senator holds up U.S. anti-drug aid to Mexico

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mexico has not yet met human rights requirements laid down in U.S. law for the release of millions of dollars in U.S. anti-narcotics aid, a Democratic senator said on Wednesday.

Senator Patrick Leahy said in a statement that it would be premature for the U.S. government to issue a report affirming Mexico is respecting human rights in its war against drug traffickers.

The editorial bias in that headline is disgraceful. The article shows that Sen. Leahy has simply called for honest enforcement of the law, as he is sworn to do, and you try to make him sound like some troublemaker harming the country. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

K.L.D.

A gold-plated Colt .45 pistol seized from suspected drug hitmen is displayed to the media at a military base on the outskirts of Monterrey, northern Mexico May 8, 2009.  REUTERS/Tomas Bravo

Mayors, rabbis arrested in NJ corruption probe

NEWARK (Reuters) - Dozens of New Jersey politicians, officials and prominent rabbis were arrested on Thursday in a sweeping federal probe that uncovered political corruption, human organ sales and money laundering from New York to Israel, officials said.

The 10-year investigation, dubbed “Operation Bid Rig,” exposed influence-peddling and bribe-taking among a network of public officials and a separate multimillion dollar money-laundering ring that funneled funds through charities operated by local rabbis, said the U.S. Attorney’s office in Newark, New Jersey.

The cast of the 44 arrested featured Hoboken, New Jersey, Mayor Peter Cammarano, who took office three weeks ago in the industrial city visible across the Hudson River from New York.

Get real. If this was a group of Republicans the party would be splashed all over the place. I am assuming that most of these were Demoncrats because no mention was made about the political parties. SHAME SHAME.

L.S.

We got several reader e-mails along these same lines. The party affiliation of the key players was relevant and should have been mentioned in our story. The two mayors in the excerpt above are Democrats: GBU Editor

A man identified as Daniel Van Pelt, a New Jersey Assemblyman, tries to shield his face as he exits federal court after being one of the more than 40 people were arrested in a federal investigation of public corruption and international money laundering, in Newark, N.J., July 23, 2009. REUTERS/Chip East

Join the Facebook Good, Bad, Ugly Blog Network

Obama looks to rebound from tough week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama will look to rebound from one of the most difficult weeks of his six-month presidency, one in which his legislative priority, healthcare, stumbled and he got caught up in a racial controversy.

The remark intensified the controversy and eventually forced Obama to back down in a surprise appearance in the White House press briefing room on Friday in which he said he regretted the remark.

The story above stated that Obama “regretted the remark.” I have yet to find a quote where Obama could be remotely accused of “regretting the remark.” Can someone at Reuters direct me to the quote/story where Obama expressed his “regret” as it pertains to his remark?

Greg J.

Several readers objected to the r-word, which we also used in the headline of another story: Obama regrets remarks in racially charged case.

That story carefully explained that Obama “did not say he had apologized to Crowley, but his words were regretful.” Further, the president said he “could have calibrated those words differently.”

All of this sounds fairly regretful to me, and the president doesn’t usually make a surprise visit to the press briefing if there’s nothing weighing on his mind: GBU Editor

President Barack Obama makes remarks at the daily briefing after a surprise visit to the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, July 24, 2009.REUTERS/Jim Young

Join the Facebook Good, Bad, Ugly Blog Network

Both U.S. political parties offend “Joe the Plumber”

HOLLAND, Ohio (Reuters) - “Joe the Plumber,” who came to symbolize U.S. taxpayer frustration during last year’s election, sounds even angrier now at what he sees as excessive government spending on the economy and healthcare reform.

“The politicians in Washington are spending trillions of dollars of our money. When are Americans going to stand up and say enough is enough?” said Joe Wurzelbacher, 35, in an interview on Friday at his modest suburban Ohio home.

Reporters later learned that Wurzelbacher did not have a plumbing license, was behind on his taxes, had a real first name of Sam, and was unmarried with a teenage son.

“Reporters later learned that Wurzelbacher did not have a plumbing license, was behind on his taxes, had a real first name of Sam, and was unmarried with a teenage son.” Why, that’s more information that reporters were able to dig up on Barack Obama during his run for the Presidency. Very impressive!

Swiss

Why is it necessary and of what value is it to note an interview was conducted in his “modest” suburban Ohio home?  What’s with the class distinction? What significance does that have to the subject or his opinion? I find it offensive and an attempt to diminish Joe’s stature in the eyes of the reader.

J.S.

Nice slime job.

Bugs

Do you add ad hominem material about Ted Kennedy when reporting on him? Like including references to Chapaquiddick?? Your reporter’s bias is showing!

Martin S.

“Joe the Plumber” must have an agent, because I can’t imagine Americans craving his opinion on anything other than a leaky faucet,broken pipe or defunct water heater and yet he gets plenty of press for his political opinions. Enough please!! This guy’s nothing more than a prototype for a subspecies of human that incessantly worries about “What’s in it for me?” and very little else. Put a plug in him.

J.E.

We got a lot of feedback on this story, divided between readers who thought we were too hard on him by adding that background information, and those who are tired of him and wondered why we bothered. I tend to side with the latter group: GBU Editor

Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) (L) is joined by Joe Wurzelbacher, also known as “Joe the Plumber,” at a campaign stop in Elyria, Ohio October 30, 2008. Senator McCain is on a two-day, campaign bus tour through the state of Ohio. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Join the Facebook Good, Bad, Ugly Blog Network

Alaska Gov. Palin to leave office with cloudy future

Palin made a surprise decision on June 3 that she would resign, raising questions about her next move and whether she was planning to mount a run for president.

Actually, it was July 3, not June 3.

Avo

Yes. We corrected: GBU Editor

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announces that she will resign and will not run for re-election as governor, in Wasilla, Alaska, July 3, 2009 in this video frame grab. REUTERS/KTUU-TV

Join the Facebook Good, Bad, Ugly Blog Network