ALERT: Help advance Walt Starr's story today!!

[grasswire]

We can't count on the broadcast or print media to spread this story as it deserves to be spread. We have to GO AROUND the filter.


Go to your local newspaper message boards and start a topic.

Write a LTTE today, including the URL to the story at democrats.com or on DU home page (I can't remember if it's there).

Find military message boards and veterans message boards and ask a simple question: "I'm not a veteran, but I wondered about something. Is it bad for someone in the service to wear medals they haven't earned?" and then when the answer comes back, tell Walt's story.

Print out fliers and pass them out at the state fair and local concerts and festivals.

[janx]

1. kick

Hey. Has anyone forwarded this to the national media yet?

[dave29]

2. Got a response from KVUE in Austin, TX

"Thanks for the story idea"

We'll see if they run with it. I just sent a follow up as well linking to today's WP story about the AP having a hard time get more info from the Justice Dept about Bush's National Guard Service.

[NewJeffCT]

3. sent it to my local paper

Hopefully, the newsdesk there will run with it, but I doubt it.

[quaoar]

4. No newspaper or TV station

That is worth a damn is going to run that based solely on Walt's research, thorough as it seems. They will want to check all that info out on their own. You wouldn't want it to be any other way.

So it might be a few days or a week before it gets circulation. The key is to get a buzz going about it in blogs and/or some cable shows so that newspapers will hear it above the roar of all the other stuff being thrown at them. Get a newspaper to run it and AP should pick it up. Then it's everywhere.

I'd start with respected bloggers. I mentioned this on another thread, but I forwarded it to James Carville. If he can't use it on Crossfire he certainly knows folks who can use it elsewhere.

[grasswire]

6. yes, you're right

But it doesn't hurt to get it out there in the conversation.

Letters to the editor, of course, can mention the story without the newspaper bearing the burden of proof.

The blogosphere is incredibly important. Democrats.com is on the job, as is Bartcop. It's better not to break this on a Friday anyway.

[blm]

5. KICK

Send the info to your local papers.

[grasswire]

7. incidentally...

....notice that I suggest newspaper MESSAGE BOARDS. Take the time to post the story on a message board. You'll get traction there, whereas the story itself may never appear in the body of the newspaper.

Television stations have forums, too.

[eleny]

8. I used the DU blaster and heard back from the Denver Post

They wanted my phone number in case they want to print my email. So, when we send stuff, it gets read.

[Walt Starr]

9. I have a further update to the story here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x681285

[PfcHammer]

10. ** BUSH MEDAL STORY FLYER **

http://s93118771.onlinehome.us/DU/GWBAward.pdf