Blitzer left out Richardson's diplomatic credentials in report on North Korea meeting
On the December 14 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, in what host Wolf Blitzer called "a 2008 road-to-the-White-House edition," Blitzer did not report Gov. Bill Richardson's (D-NM) international diplomacy credentials, characterizing a scheduled December 15 meeting with Richardson and North Korean officials to discuss dismantling that country's nuclear program as Richardson "working on his foreign policy credentials." In fact, contrary to Blitzer's suggestion that the meeting constitutes an effort on Richardson's part to build his credentials, Richardson is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has, in the words of The Washington Post, "bargained for the release of captives" in several countries, including North Korea, and has negotiated with North Korea on nuclear issues. After Blitzer's report, viewers unfamiliar with Richardson's background could reasonably have been left wondering why the governor of New Mexico would be engaging in international diplomacy.
From the December 14 edition of CNN's The Situation Room at 4 p.m. ET:
BLITZER: Coming up, we'll check our "Political Radar." It's a 2008 road-to-the-White-House edition. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson working on his foreign policy credentials. And Iowa voters seem to have a thing, that is, for the former senator, John Edwards. We'll tell you what's going on.
And on the Republican side, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney takes another crack at his position on gay marriage.
Stay tuned. You're in The Situation Room.
[...]
BLITZER: On our "Political Radar" this Thursday: New Mexico governor and possible presidential contender Bill Richardson adding another line to his diplomatic credentials. The Democrat plans to meet tomorrow in Santa Fe with two North Korean envoys -- his ambitious goal, to persuade North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons.
What does Richardson plan for an encore? He is scheduled to meet with Democrats in New Hampshire this weekend.
A 1996 Washington Post article reported that Richardson "was on a one-day visit to Pyongyang in December 1994 to discuss a nuclear disarmament agreement when a U.S. Army helicopter was shot down over North Korea, killing one crewman. He negotiated the pilot's release." In 1996, Richardson "sprang an American from North Korea after the young man -- drunk and naked -- swam across a river into the country and was arrested as a spy."
The article also noted that Richardson has "bargained for the release of captives in Iraq, Bangladesh, Burma and Cuba."
Richardson was named U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and later secretary of energy. During his tenure at the Department of Energy, that agency expanded its non-proliferation efforts to include the National Nuclear Safety Administration, created to "promote international nuclear safety and nonproliferation" and "reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction," among other things.
Following his service as energy secretary, Richardson had further negotiations with the North Koreans, including a visit to the country in October 2005 to discuss nuclear disarmament at the behest of the Bush administration and a meeting in New Mexico with two North Korean diplomats in January 2003 in the wake of North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Blitzer mentioned none of this while reporting on the upcoming meeting, hinting at Richardson's prior experience only in his statement that "Richardson [will be] adding another line to his diplomatic credentials."
While it's true Wolf first remarked : "New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson working on his foreign policy credentials."
Wolf then said: "New Mexico governor and possible presidential contender Bill Richardson adding another line to his diplomatic credentials."
The FACT that he said "ADDING ANOTHER LINE", is IMO, Wolf giving Richardson's is due for having diplomatic credentials.
So what's the problem here?
Sorry MMFA but I don't see one.
...says nothing about the extent of his prior experience, only that he has some prior experience. The "headline" makes it seem as if Richardson was engaging in this only to improve his Presidential prospects byt adding to his foreign policy experience. However, perhaps he's involved because he happens to have significant experience in that arena making him one of the best for the job.
is written by MMFA soooooo I'm not really shocked that they'd word it and spin it to sound worse than it is...IF it's even bad at all.
And of course Richardson is looking to bulk up his foreign policy resume since it's likely he's running for President. Nothing unusual or unseemly about that.
I'm curious what would you have had Wolf say?
What is wrong with the way he expressed his description of Richardson? Again Wolf said:
"New Mexico governor and possible presidential contender Bill Richardson adding another line to his diplomatic credentials"
"adding another line" cleary indicates that Richardson HAS past diplomatic credentials.
What more do you want? [I'm not being snarky here, I'm honestly curious]
The wonderful thing about today's media is that you can adopt a "when in doubt, leave it out" policy and still fill this website to the rafters with right wing lies.
This one should have been left out.
I'm curious what would you have had Wolf say?
How about something along the lines of:
Former UN ambassador, hostage negotiator with North Korean and current NM governer will be making his 3rd trip to Pyongyang, bringing his proven skill and estensive experience in an attempt to.....
This is an incredibly weak effort Ryan Chiachiere...I'm sure the Jackson Hole News taught him better than this.
Also makes me wonder who's at the helm. Does Brock and Co. assign this type of story...or is Chiacheire demonstrating his own sharp acumen.
Maybe it's misinformation because on previous appearances, Blitzer has made mention of the fact that Gov. Richardson is a former UN ambassador. I mean, leaving facts out of a story is misinforming the public too.
This is not about leaving facts out of the story. To satisfy this childish stab in the dark by Chiachiere...you'd have to recite an entire bio on everyone involved...what a joke.