Where’s the “Truth Squad” story?
A reader emailed me a link to a newsbusters.org article by Tom Blumer on the controversy over prosecutors and a sheriff being on Barack Obama’s Missouri Truth Squad. Blumber wonders why the print media has ignored the matter.
The reader who sent me the email wonders the same thing. So did a caller: “It was a big story Friday and it’s still a big story. I open up the paper and nothing’s there.”
Members of Obama’s “truth squad” outlined their goals in an interview by KMOV Channel 4’s John Mills. Others doubt their honesty and question their tactics.
Political reporters Jo Mannies and Jake Wagman addressed the topic Saturday in the Political Fix blog on STLtoday.
Their first post reported that “Obama’s Missouri Truth Squad members include St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, among others.”
It went on: “The inclusion of such officials has led to Gov. Matt Blunt, among other Republicans, to accuse the Obama camp of planning ‘to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.’ “
Mannies noted that the controversy “has even ignited a Web fight between the Drudge Report and the Daily Kos.”
A second posting on the Political Fix Saturday evening reported Joyce’s reaction to being criticized.
There can be honest debate over how big a controversy, how big a story this is. But, at the least, the back-and-forth is interesting and we’re working on a story for tomorrow’s Post-Dispatch.
Steve Parker is the deputy managing editor for news, and oversees the Post-Dispatch's front page. STLtoday's online news editors are on his newsroom team. Parker has been at the paper since September 1980. 
How pathetic is it that this story that broke last Tuesday still has not been addressed by the PD. It is extremely telling of the quality of the news reporting ability at the PD. I guess they needed more space to attack Gov. Palin.
The funny thing here, is that we would have had caustic outrage from Eric Mink had this been U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway abusing her power if she had Deb Peterson and Amy Gwin arrested for their false smear character attack against Gov. Palin on Aug. 30th. Those two should be arrested under the Missouri Ethics Law.
The PD has jumped the shark for their partisan, non-objective reporting.
Cnetrist–What makes you think that there is any abuse taking place? I havn’t heard any evidence to support that accusation. Just Blunt’s hysterical (but politically expedient, no?) accusation. I will await the story with interest.
centwist…
if you don’t like the paper…
watch faux news or listen to rush the blowhard…
quit your complainin’!!!
…oh, and get a life
My issue with this “truth squad” is simple:
Why are they only taking this stance against false claims made against Senator Obama?
I like the idea of having an organization out there that checks out the claims made for or against political candidates and then presents the facts to the people (all be it the tiny minority of the public that actually pays attention). That was what the media used to do and what Factcheck.org tries to do now.
What I don’t like is seeing my own elected County Prosecutor (whom I supported and voted for) using his official position in this fashion.
If this “truth squad” is not going to address the various lies out there about Senator McCain as well as Senator Obama then they are nothing more than the local propagandist and my next vote for County Prosecutor will reflect that.
They say they’re there to make sure untruths are not spoken, but how do THEY know what the truth is? There have been so many UNTRUTHS and inconsistencies coming out of Obama’s mouth, how does one sort through truth from fiction? I don’t think even Obama can! And these people are supposed to censor what THEY feel is untrue? Um…does anyone but me find a huge problem with this???