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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (21899)	12/28/2003 1:55:51 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793575

Here is a followup from Sullivan on that Moyer's quote. MOYERS REFUSES THE AWARD: In a dramatic gesture, Bill Moyers has refused the prestigious Begala Award prize. Despite the fact that the Nation reported Moyers making the statement attributed to him, Moyers writes to say he didn't say exactly that. It's a mystery how the Nation reporter misheard it. Here's Moyers' email clarifying what he said: During a long life in journalism I have made my share of errors, most often when I pass on a second-hand report that I have not myself checked out. I trust that is what happened in your "Weekly Dish" of December 26 which also appeared as an op ed piece in the Washington Times. You quote me as saying something that I did not say. In bestowing on me the Begala Award [for excessive left-wing rhetoric], you have me saying "I think this [ the Bush administration] is a deliberate, intentional destruction of the United States of America." But I didn't say that or anything close to it. If you or your nominator had bothered to check, you would have discovered that that quote was incorrectly attributed to me by a journalist covering a speech that I made in Washington on June 4. Check it out yourself: "As a citizen, I don't like the consequences of this crusade, but I respect the conservatives for their successful strategy in gaining control of the national agenda. Their stated and open aim is to strip from government all its functions except those that reward their rich and privileged benefactors. They are quite candid about it. Their leading strategist in Washington, Grover Norquist, in commenting on the fiscal crisis in the states and its effect on schools and poor people, said,'I hope one of them' - one of the states - 'goes bankrupt.' So much for compassionate conservatism. But at least Norquist says what he means and means what he says. The White House pursues the same homicidal dream without saying so. Instead of shrinking the government, they're filling the bathtub with so much debt that it floods the house, waterlogs the economy, and washes away services that for decades have lifted millions of Americans out of destitution and into the middle class. And what happens once the public's property has been flooded? Privatize it. Sell it at a discounted rate to their corporate cronies. It is the most radical assault on the notion of one nation, indivisible, that has occurred in our lifetime. I simply don't understand it -- or the malice in which it is steeped..." As I say, I have made such mistakes in failing to confirm some second-hand reports that I did not myself substantiate; I have tried to the best of my ability to acknowledge them in the same venue where I made them, including on the air. I trust you will find a way in this instance to acknowledge that you erred, too. On second thought, let's give Moyers the prize anyway. I wasn't at the speech, so I'll take Moyers word against a reporter's. But the notion that the administration is deliberately and maliciously destroying the the public good for private interests is still juicy enough. It's new year - time to be compassionate toward the rhetorically-challenged. Moyers can keep the award. But next year, Bill, try a little harder. No help from the Nation, ok? andrewsullivan.com