Top 3 stories: Thursday 10 September

These are the stories that have garnered my attention today.

3:  Republican Represenetative Joe Wilson of South Carolina last night shouted “You Lie!” at President Obama during his special address to Congress.  Today he apologised to the White House, and his apology was accepted.  He should be barred from the chamber for about 3 months or so.  In the UK, calling a politician a liar in the Palace Of Westminster is not allowed.  Offenders get named and shamed, ejected from the chamber, and then barred from returning for a length of time determined by his fellow politicians.  Joe Wilson got away lightly.  South Carolina’s electors should show their displeasure with him at the next election in Nov 2010.

2:  Another South Carolina Republican is in trouble.  Governor Mark Sanford held another press conference today in order to fight the growing calls for him to resign.  He even stated today that moves to impeach him should wait until an ethics investigation ends.  He will even take legal action to prevent a preliminary report from being given to state legislators.  HE could save all this trouble, and he should.  He should resign.

1:  The kidnapping of New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was a story that the paper famous for “all the news that’s fit to print”, didn’t want to print, and didn’t want anybody else to report.  Executive Editor Bill Keller told NPR’s Talk Of The Nation programme that he had conducted a campaign to keep the story out of the news.  This is the first time I’ve heard of this happening.  Usually news organisations bite the bullet and report anyway.  Bill Keller needs to rethink that strategy for the future.

Reporter attacked because she was black.

To say I am angry about this story would be putting it mildly. I am sickened by the actions of those who thought they could intimidate a local news reporter and scare her off a genuine news story, because the reporter happened to be black.

The reporter's name is Charmayne Brown, and she works for CBS-affiliate WSPA News Channel 7. Another news crew from NBC affiliate WYFF News 4 was also on the scene, and like WSPA's crew, they were covering a local story in Union, South Carolina about a murder of an elderly man in Spring Street in Union. The murder victim's grandson had been charged with that murder. It turns out, two of the people who attacked Charmayne, were relatives of the man charged.

Here's the video, courtesy of YouTube. But be warned, I do not believe that this video is suitable for anyone with a nervous disposition.



To me, this is media intimidation, or an attempt at it, with racial undertones at the very least, if they're not overtones. Both WYFF and WSPA report this story, and WSPA anchors Amy Wood and Tom Crabtree have both blogged about this story. I totally agree with Amy. You attack one journalist, you attack us all. We are supposed to be impartial observers, but I happily put my usual impartiality aside for this. I hope these people get the full weight of the law down on them. They have made for themselves more enemies around the world than you could ever possibly imagine.

The attackers names have been released by local police. So, Trina Vinson, Tousha Smith, Billie Taylor and Ronald Harris of Union, SC, you are today's Worst Persons In The World.