Media Lies about Public Option (Brian Friel, National Journal)

[DPBismarckND]

Media Attempts to Kill the Public Option:
• Brian Friel is a liar.

The grossly offensive absence of accountability in journalism around the public option must be exposed. It is not just Fox news that is misrepresenting public sentiment concerning the public option. Brian Friel of the National Journal is clearly guilty of propagandizing and misreporting events. His October 3rd article, Public Pressures, offended me because I personally emailed the Youtube links of this Conrad town hall meeting in Center, ND. This was sent to Brian Friel with the hope that someone would report honestly on the events. Now I see how naïve it was to hope for this.

Public Pressures by Brian Friel (National Journal):

“Conrad, a Senate Finance Committee member who has played a central role in the debate, heard criticism from one voter (Deb Pascua of Bismarck, ND) at an August 20 meeting in Center, N.D., because he has promoted a nonprofit cooperative insurance program, rather than a government-run plan. But when Conrad asked who in the crowd supported a public option, few raised their hands. “The fact is that the people of North Dakota are not supportive of a public option,” Conrad said. “Look, I represent the people of North Dakota.”

This is an interesting assertion. However, film of the “meeting” Brian Friel refers to shows that more than “few” raised their hands. About as many raised their hands in support of the public option as raised their hands in opposition to it.

See for yourself:

Senator Conrad Town Hall Meeting 08/20/09 in Center, ND (part 3 of 4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOVnHCFm0Gk (cue up to 03:54).

I emailed these links to Brian Friel, and after watching them, he had the following response: “One comment that struck me in the exchanges was that Conrad said a majority of North Dakotans are not for a public option.”

I wonder why this comment “struck” Brian Friel? Is it because the video clearly shows that about 50% in the audience raised their hand in support of the public option? Or is Brian “struck” because he is aware of the following: The Grand Forks Herald conducted an online poll about North Dakotan’s opinions about the public option and 55.4% of North Dakotans answered “yes” to the question: “Should a public option be included in health care legislation?”

We need to shine a light on the flagrant lies of reporters like Brian Friel. He should be ashamed of his journalism.


Contact Nathan Ness [email protected] for more information about the August 20th town-hall meeting or for more information about Brian Friel and his dishonest reporting.