Channels 12, 49 show “truth” is relative when it comes to the media

Channel 49 Topeka aired a story Monday about a recent campaign ad from the Roberts camp. The story was an attempt to sort out the “truth” in the ad, something that has become somewhat of a pass time with the Kansas media.

Just a little selective editing

The story begins with a review of a YouTube video of Senator Roberts pledging to campaign for the office rather than against his opponent.

Channel 49 fails to include the end of the video, where Senator Roberts also “reserves the right to set the record straight.” Why would KTKA fail to include this part of the video in their story? Wouldn’t it have been prudent to include this as part of the story? Isn’t it a valid claim of the Roberts campaign that they have the right to inform the public of Slattery’s record as a paid lobbyist?

Apparently not, according to Channel 49.

To attack or not to attack, that is the question

The story continues with this statement:

He actually goes after Democrat Jim Slattery even though Slattery hasn’t won the party nomination yet.

Why was this included in the story? Does Roberts not have the right to set the record straight until after the primary election? Does Roberts not have the right to respond to attacks from Slattery until after Slattery’s won the primary? Does that also mean that Slattery doesn’t have the right to attack Roberts until after August 5th? Is the reporter, Liz Zamura, aware that Gov. Sebelius has made an endorsement of Slattery, “even though Slattery hasn’t won the party nomination yet?”

Doing lobbying work…but not a lobbyist

The story continues by analyzing this statement from the Roberts campaign:

“His opponent, Jim Slattery, for the past fourteen years, he was a Washington lobbyist,”

Here’s how Channel 49 goes about “investigating” to find the “truth”:

Slattery Press Secretary Abbie Hodgson says the part about Slattery being a lobbyist is a bit of a stretch. “Yes, he did do some lobbying. We’ve disclosed a list of all of his clients and the work that he’s done,” she said. “But his primary occupation was as an international trade lawyer.” We did some checking on our own and found out that Slattery was employed by a Washington DC law and lobbying firm working on some heavy duty cases as a lawyer and not as a lobbyist.

Not as a lobbyist? Now, am I crazy, or did Slattery’s Press Secretary just say, “Yes, he did do some lobbying.” What kind of checking did Channel 49 do to conclude that he didn’t do lobbying work when the Slattery campaign told them he did?

Perhaps a quick google search by 49 would have revealed a list of 40 different clients Jim Slattery admits to lobbying for. Forty clients…yea, that doesn’t sound like a real lobbyist…you need at least 45 to be called that!

49′s conclusion of the statement: half-truth!

Unfortunately for 49, Channel 12 in Wichita also did a story analyzing the Roberts ad and came to a very different conclusion.

Channel 12 had this to say about the Roberts claim of Slattery being a lobbyist for 14 years:

Fact. Slattery served six terms in Congress and lost a bid for Kansas governor before returning to the private sector 14 years ago. He was a partner in a Washington D.C. law firm and a registered lobbyist.

Wow! I guess they didn’t check the same sources as 49. Isn’t it funny how the truth in Wichita isn’t the truth in Topeka?

Slattery paid $4 million…but not paid millions

Now let’s see how 49 does with this statement:

“Slattery worked for special interests. He was paid millions, over $4 million in one year.” “That was his salary,” says Slattery’s Press Secretary.

49′s conclusion: True!

But wait! What about Channel 12? What did their “Fact Finder 12” story decide?

Misleading. Slattery did make over 4 million dollars in 2006.

Wow! The truth monster strikes again…only this time what’s true in Topeka isn’t true in Wichita.

Channel 49 surprised Roberts won’t talk to them

Liz Zamora and Channel 49 seem surprised in this follow up story on Roberts reaction to their piece and his refusal to do an interview with them.

Tonight, we’d hoped to bring you reaction from the Roberts campaign. They declined our request for an on-camera interview. But Roberts’ Communications Director Molly Haas sent us a written response. “If Slattery was only a lawyer and not a lobbyist, he would not have to file OFFICIAL lobbying disclosure forms with the U.S. Congress. Slattery’s camp is misleading you. If he was just a lawyer, he would not have to file those official federal forms.” We will continue to ask for an interview from Roberts’ campaign.

Why would Channel 49 be surprised that Roberts didn’t want to do an interview with them after deciding Slattery’s work as a lobbyist didn’t make him a lobbyist? Why would Roberts want to talk with a reporter who “did some checking” on her own and concluded that filing as a registered lobbyist with the US Congress doesn’t make him a lobbyist? What could Roberts possibly say to a reporter like Zamora that would change the lies she’s already decided to put on the air?

Links and information:

Channel 49′s original story
Channel 49′s follow up story
Liz Zamora’s contact information: 785-215-8524 or email here
Channel 12′s original story
A list of Slattery’s clients as a lobbyist
Donate to Robert’s campaign