It's ABC's Turn...

...to be scandalized.



Matt Drudge has published Mark Halperin's internal memo to members of the ABC news staff. We now know that, along with CBS, ABC will officially do all of your thinking for you, which means that they will be pulling for John Kerry. In the memo, we see clearly at ABC takes editorial direction from the New York Times:

The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.

Because this premise originates from the Times, it is accorded the status of Holy Writ by Halperin, who then goes on to say:

Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.



We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.

Read: Both sides lie, but we're only going to one side accountable.



Now for the real laugher:

It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.

ABC News serves the public interest, but only by helping Kerry win.



With this memo, ABC now joins the list of major news organization that no longer have my trust. The pantheon of shame now includes:

• NBC, for the fraud they perpetrated against General Motors during an episode of "Dateline."
• CNN (and "Time" magazine), for the fraud they perpetrated in their "Operation Tailwind" story. And let's not forget the NY Times op-ed piece written by Eason Jordan, who disclosed CNN's complicity with Saddam Hussein by refraining from reporting systemic rape, torture, and oppression in Iraq.
• cBS, for their obvious disregard for truth during the recent Memogate scandal.
• The New York Times for the Jayson Blair scandal.

Visit Jeff for his take on the scandal, which includes a helpful link to a list of ABC affiliates.