ABC Radio VP Supports Alito Filibuster?
Friday afternoon I received one of those forwarded emails from a buddy of mine. The subject: asking people to sign on to John Kerry’s petition to filibuster Sam Alito.
The email was started by a KaufNYC@aol.com, with the message “forward away, my liberal friends”. One of those who received the message was a guy named David Kaufman, a Vice President of Affiliate Relations for ABC Radio. He forwarded on the email with his own message: “Help stop the craziness!”
Oh yeah, one more thing. He forwarded the message from his abc.com email account. I contacted Mr. Kaufman by email and asked him if he would like to comment. I received a reply this morning telling me no.
Now, this raises an interesting conversation. Sean Hannity, employed by ABC Radio, could certainly say, while on the job, “You should not support this filibuster.” Mark Levin, while on the job, could say the same thing. Should Dave Kaufman be able to say the opposite while he’s on the job?
Jim: It amazes me what people do from their work computers. I was a legislation-summarizing reporter drone at Congressional Quarterly back in 1998, during the height of impeachment. CQ had a strict policy – they had a reputation for being nonpartisan, fair, detailed and perhaps a bit boring, and protected it with relish. Of course, every reporter who covers politics has opinions about the issues and people they cover – but at CQ, the world wasn’t allowed to know.
Well, some temp worker didn’t bother to read that memo or company policy, and one day mass-e-mailed an anti-impeachment e-mail petition to everyone in the company. (I think it might have been MoveOn.org.) This temp sent the e-mail at 10 a.m., and was fired by 11 a.m.
I don’t know if Kaufman’s e-mail is a firing offense at ABC, but companies have the right to set policy, and can warn their employees that if they behave in a manner that harms the company’s image, they’re out of there. At the very least, don’t do this kind of thing from your work e-mail account.
Marshall: To me, it continues to confirm what we already suspected about big media companies — they’re ranks are dominated by folks with a liberal point of view.
Was it inappropriate for Kaufman to use his work e-mail account for his personal correspondence? Depends on his company’s policy. But certainly, he ought to be cognizant of the implications for his employer when he does so.
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 4:28 pm
WHAT LIBERAL MEDIA?
Cam Edwards, over at the cool new group blog On Tap, exposes pro-Kerry activism by an ABC Radio vice president. The veep declined to comment….
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 5:12 pm
New Blog Goodness
On Tap: Not Looking out for you since 2006. I’ve always said that a good blog is like a well run party. This blog is more like a well run bar. In a seedy part of town. With the local…
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 5:22 pm
I’m against an Alito filibuster…I’m amzed at the people in MA and CA find Boxer, Feinstein, Kennedy and Kerry worthy of Senator status…
That being said, as dumb a move as it might be for David Kaufman to use his work e-mail to forward support for Kerry’s ludicrous and grandstanding stunt it’s hardly a reason for termination. Condemnation, yes…ridicule absolutely. But his lazines for not using a personal e-mail should not infringe on his right to free speech or is opinion
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 5:31 pm
A guy with nothing to lose
Cam Edwards reports on an email urging a filibuster against Samuel Alito forwarded by ABC Radio VP/Affiliate Relations David Kaufman — from his abc.com email account, yet — and wonders:…
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 5:33 pm
IME, in the corporate world, this would not be a firing incident. But only because he is at the rarified level of VP. A copy editor, research assistant or some other lesser position would be feeling quite a change in temp because of this.
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 5:43 pm
Put some WD40 on that, MM
Link: Michelle Malkin: WHAT LIBERAL MEDIA?. Cam Edwards, over at the cool new group blog On Tap, exposes pro-Kerry activism by an ABC Radio vice president. So an exec at ABC radio feels his pro-Kerry oats (that’s a pun for
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 6:03 pm
The main Media outlets have been on the left since I can remember. I am nearly 40 years old and it gets worse every year. This is no surprise. The media and the left in this country simply have no shame.
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 7:15 pm
why not publish Kaufman’s work email address? he’s apparently willing to put it on a chain letter, so why not?
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 7:24 pm
Quick someone page Al Franken and Johnathan Alter so they can comment spin this.
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 7:36 pm
One confirms what we already know.
Something like 65 or 70% of the public are in favor of Alito. A lot of people in media are biased in favor of the dems. They are not part of the mainstream.
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 7:39 pm
More Conservative Media Bias: ABC Radio VP Endorses Alito-Filibuster Petition
“Help stop the craziness!” he writes as he forwards the email along to a few thousand friends. He’s declined to comment on the email. Peter Daou immediately labled him a “tool of the Rovian Propaganda Machine.” But remember: It’s only…
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 7:55 pm
More Blogs need to Expose this ABC liberal bias. Yes, everyone is already aware of the bias, but this story still needs full Blog support to keep the conservative pressure on HIGH
Nice blog
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 8:57 pm
I’m stuck with ABC Radio news updates at the top of the hour on the local radio station. They are one of, if not THE most left-wing biased, Bush-bashing national news outfit. I think they can slide by without too much notice because its radio.
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 10:59 pm
“I want you to go to your windows . . . “
“Help stop the craziness!”: Friday afternoon I received one of those forwarded emails from a buddy of mine. The subject: asking people to sign…
January 30th, 2006 at January 30, 2006 - 11:44 pm
The trick is not to find liberal bias in MSM, anyone can do that. The trick is to find fairness in the MSM? Bet you a quarter you can’t do that! A dime?, A penny? Come on, don’t be chicken, bet me!
January 31st, 2006 at January 31, 2006 - 3:01 am
ABC Radio has nothing to do with ABC News heard on the top of the hour. They are totally separate divisions. David Kaufman works for ABC Radio and is no way bound by the standards and practices of ABC News. They make most of their money from two people — Paul Harvey and Sean Hannnity. While this was a stupid thing to do, sending a personal email these days is tantamount to making a personal phone call from work. Technically, it’s not allowed. But how can you fire someone who doesn’t even work for a news organization for being biased, when news organizations are increasingly coming under fire for their own bias — from the left and the right. And remember this guy oversees affiliate relations for ABC Radio which means he’s responsible for getting as many radio stations to run Harvey in Hannity. If anything, I think this shows that politics is put aside at ABC Radio when it comes to business. So if it’s not a news organization and bias is not part of the question, then all he’s really guilty of is sending a personal email from his company email address. Before we jump on that bandwagon let’s all think about whether we each would like to be under that kind of scrutiny. If we wish for it, we may just get it. And the bottom line in these situations is that if they want to get rid of the guy for some other reason, they’ll fire him. Otherwise, this liberal executive will continue to make Harvey and Hannity dollars for the ABC Radio, or perhaps by week’s end, Citadel Communications.
January 31st, 2006 at January 31, 2006 - 4:45 am
Disney / ABC have a very strict email and internet use policy. This situation probably violates it.
Nevertheless, because he is a VP, I doubt that Disney Corporate will do anything. If the guy was below Director status, he would gone in a minute.
January 31st, 2006 at January 31, 2006 - 6:00 am
ABC News for the Radio is laughable.
The Democrat bias is overt.
Ms. Compton and Ms. Preston should really be working for the DNC.
When President Reagan passed away, ABC decided to run (Democrat Presidential Hopeful) Senator Kerry’s statement repeatedly.
It was as if Sen. Kerry was President Reagan’s best friend, and had not opposed every aspect of President Reagan’s Administration.
It amazes, they present this garbage, as if the public is mindless.
January 31st, 2006 at January 31, 2006 - 2:48 pm
[…] Gosh! You don’t think that ABC is biased, do you? You silly person! They are as objective as Christiane Amanpour and Peter Arnett! […]