Counterpunch

[Tim Bousquet <chicoexaminer@xxxxxxxxx>]

IndyMedia has removed the Nancy Oden story from their
web site, but CounterPunch is still running it. I'm
kind of perplexed by St. Clair's attitude on this. I
mean, we all make mistakes, and it's especially
difficult to stay on top of articles that are merely
re-posted. I pointed out some problems with the
article, and instead of addressing those, he attacks
me and my efforts. I'm the first to admit, though,
that I sometimes miss the standards that I strive for,
and that retractions and corrections are in order.
Seems like the right attitude to take.

If anyone still cares, the article struck me as
implausible for several reasons, not the least of
which is the fact that hundreds of very visible
anti-war folks are flying all over the country and the
world without being subjected to any more hassle than
anyone else. I just got of the phone with David Cobb,
the General Counsel for the Green Party of the United
States, and he is rather upset about the whole deal.

?I appreciate your reaction [to the story] as a
serious journalist,? Cobb told me. ?We try not to get
involved in this sort of nonsense, and that?s why we
issued the clarifying press statement. We want to be
serious and credible.?

Cobb went on to say that ?there?s many people who are
much more vocal, much more active [than Oden] who are
flying all around the country with no problems. I?m
one of them. I?m publishing op-ed pieces in the
Houston Chronicle against the war, and I?ve flown to
New York, to Washington DC, even after the Patriot
Bill was passed, and have had no problems whatsoever.?


The Green Party press release is at
http://www.gpus.org/press/pr_11_04_01.html

Oh, and someone asked what the type of ticket purchase
was-- the folks at Bangor Airport said they were
"pretty sure" it was an internet purchase.

My guess is that they have the same problems with
their security staff there as a lot of other airports
have, and this incident got out of control because
there was on the one hand a couple of underpaid surly
guards and on the other hand a self-absorbed difficult
person. Hardly worth the controversy it has caused.

E-mail reaction sent directly to me, though, has been
about thirty in support of my posts, and exactly one
(St. Clair's) against.

tim


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