Internet Vandalism

Having been the recent recipient of an attack of “internet vandalism” I did what any respectable blogger would do and verified the story from both sides. Last week I received an e-mail piece from a military friend that is going around on the web attacking Martha Raddatz, the White House Correspondent for ABC. I happen to know her personally, since we met in Baghdad, Iraq in 2005. I immediately contacted her for her version on the e-mail I received. The e-mail in question is listed below:

My niece, Katelyn, stationed at Baluud , Iraq was assigned, with others of her detachment, to be escort/guard/ watcher for Martha Raddatz of ABC News as she covered John McCain's recent trip to Iraq . Katelyn and her Captain stood directly behind Raddatz as she queried GI's walking past. They kept count of the GI's and you should remember these numbers. She asked 60 GI's who they planned to vote for in November. 54 said John McCain, 4 for Obama and 2 for Hillary.

Katelyn called home and told her Mom and Dad to watch ABC news the next night because she was standing directly behind Raddatz and maybe they'd see her on TV. Mom and Dad of course, called and emailed all the kinfolk to watch the newscast and maybe see Katelyn. Well, of course, we all watched and what we saw wasn't a glimpse of Katelyn, but a hell of a view of skewed news.

After a dissertation on McCain's trip and speech, ABC showed 5 GI's being asked by Raddatz how they were going to vote in November; 3 for Obama and 2 for Clinton. No mention of the 54 for McCain.

The problem with the e-mail is it is not true. Ms. Raddatz was in Iraq at that time, but was traveling with Vice President Dick Cheney not Senator John McCain. She totally refutes speaking to 60 GI’s, and I believe her. I have found Martha to be a staunch supported of our military while she was ABC’s Pentagon Reporter and in her new role at the White House. She asks tough questions but is fair in her dealings with the Administration, unlike CBS or NBC.

It just goes to show you how fast a bogus story can travel thanks to this new media.