Mr. Even-handedness:

Thursday on PBS' News Hour there was a segment about the Swivt Boat Veteran's charges against Kerry. Two guests were interviewed: John O'Neill (anti-Kerry) and Tom Oliphant. We thought the segment was very interesting, particularly since Oliphant seemed to be quite angry, but kept that completely under control. Towards the end of the segment, Jim Lehrer looked at o'Neill and said to get "the story" and "to know about this", they should read "Unfit for Command". Turning to Oliphant, Lehrer said, "If somebody wants to know the complete story from your perspective, in other words fill in the gaps you claim that are in this book [Unfit for Command"], where do they go?"

We were surprised at the way Lehrer characterized both positions. O'Neill gives you "the story" to let you "know", while Oliphant has a "perspective" and makes "claims".

MINOR POINT? In the transcript of the program that exchange, where O'Neill was silent but Oliphant was responding to the last point, it reads as:

JIM LEHRER: Finally, before we go, you think the story is in your book? If somebody wants to know about this, they can get your book.

If somebody wants to know the complete story from your perspective, in other words fill in the gaps you claim that are in this book, where do they go?

TOM OLIPHANT: Well, you would want to ...

Which makes it look like Lehrer was only addressing Oliphant for the entire time. Not true.


posted by Quiddity at 8/21/2004 02:57:00 PM