Don’t leave it to Cleaver, part 12

Yesterday we received an email message from McClatchy News DC investigative editor James Asher promoting a current McClatchy story. Of all the news outlets that covered the fabricated March 20 story of Reps. Carson, Cleaver, Clyburn and Lewis regarding the racial abuse to which they (Carson and Lewis, anyway) were subjected by Tea Party/Obamacare protesters on Capitol Hill, McClatchy’s “Tea party protesters scream ‘nigger’ at black congressmen” may have been the worst.
In response to his message, I asked Asher if McClatchy News was ever going to investigate its own “Tea Party protesters scream” article of March 20. This was Asher’s response:

There is no reason to. The criticism is based on a video tape that depicted a different time and not the incident. And we feel confident that the congress members would not concoct their stories.
But thanks for reading mcclatchy.
J
James Asher
Investigative Editor
McClatchy Washington Bureau
[contact information omitted]

I commented on Asher’s response here, pointing out his patent unfamiliarity with the relevant evidence as well as his touching faith in the politicians peddling the story. There are several videos of the congressmen coming and going from Cannon on March 20. We hear many voicings of “kill the bill.” We hear one “you arrogant prick.” We hear no n-word.
A few readers followed up with Asher on their own. A Miami reader copied us on this message to Asher:

I just read your email to Power Line, wherein you are quoted as writing that there was “no reason to” investigate the March 20 story referenced above. You write that the “criticism is based on a video tape that depicted a different time and not the incident.” Most shockingly (or perhaps not, considering McClatchy’s hard-left bias), you write that you “feel confident that the congress members would not concoct their stories.”
I have to say that not since 60 Minutes used forged documents to support a hit piece on President Bush have I seen a news agency so willfully bury its head in the sand. Have you followed Andrew Breitbart’s reporting on this? Are you aware of the fact that multiple videos have been published online, showing the congressmen walking to and from the Cannon building on March 20, and that none of them provide any support for the congressmen’s story?
Your expression of confidence that these “congress members would not concoct their stories” speaks volumes, of course. Ever since McClatchy bought out the Miami Herald, it has been obvious that McClatchy is the most hard-left of U.S. news bureaus. The fact that your confidence in these hard-left liberal congressmen is so high that you don’t even see the need to investigate a highly inflammatory and dubious accusation, confirms my long-held belief that McClatchy is a stable of left-wing, partisan hacks.
This is the main (although not the sole) reason why I only read the Herald, online, for local crime reports, and the marine weather forecast.

We are not aware of any response to this message, but Asher responded to the following message from reader Thomas Wictor:

Here is what you said to Power Line in response to them asking if you would reexamine your article claiming that the tea party protesters had called members of the Congressional Black Caucus “niggers”: “There is no reason to. The criticism is based on a video tape that depicted a different time and not the incident. And we feel confident that the congress members would not concoct their stories.”
You are incorrect. There are several videos of the incident.

This is why newspapers are dying. The new media gives us the real story, while the old media carries water for the government. The watchdog has become a lapdog.
The funny thing is, the government laughs at you for your doglike loyalty. The CBC is tickled pink that a formerly respected newspaper runs with their lies out of racial guilt.
It may be news to you, but black people have the same ability to lie as white people. They’re people, after all.

Here is Asher’s response:

U sir have the wrong journalist to harangue about being a lapdog. Your quick-to-insult response give me ample proof that you are better at bullying than having a rational conversation.
Case is closed.
J
James Asher
Investigative Editor
McClatchy Washington Bureau

I’m a devout believer in civility, but It’s almost comical how Asher plays the sensitivity card in defense of a story that paints Tea Party protesters as racists. He really ought to be able to do better. Asher’s declaration that the case is closed is even lamer than his proclaimed sensitivity. If it is closed, it is closed with a verdict finding McClatchy negligent.
Reader Abby Misemer puts herself in Asher’s place and does the talking for him in this mock message:

I’m aware of the Breitbart tape; aren’t we all aware of Breitbart? But I’m not interested in facts; my mind is made up. I have an agenda; a narrative.
And “arrogant prick” is not racially specific. The n-word works so much better.

Thanks as always for clearing that up.
I responded to Asher’s message to me yesterday as follows:

Mr Asher: Thanks for your response. There are several videos of the congressmen walking through the crowd, to and from Cannon, and not a single one or any other eyewitness supports their story (or stories), despite your “confidence.” On what do you base your “confidence” despite the lack of corroborating evidence under circumstances where such evidence should exist?

I didn’t insult Asher in any respect, yet I didn’t even get a declaration from him that the case is closed. I deduce that Asher shares at least one thing in common with Reps. Carson, Cleaver, Clyburn and Lewis. This usually loquacious gentleman is acting out of character. He has clammed up.

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