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Mainstream coverage of CO movie massacre

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    Panel debate media handling

  • Duration 6:04
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The Colorado movie massacre getting wall to wall coverage in the mainstream media.

Today's news watch panel is taking a closer look at some of that coverage Jim Pinkerton.

Is a contributing editor and writer for the American conservative magazine.

Alan Colmes -- host of the Alan Colmes radio show front and center guys we have to put the reporting by Brian Ross of ABC.

Who on the morning of the shooting that the shooting happened around midnight Thursday into Friday.

And Friday morning he goes on not Good Morning America with James Stephanopoulos.

And says.

-- could be a Tea Party link here they're here here's his exact quote there is a Jim Holmes of Aurora Colorado page on the Colorado Tea Party site.

Talking about him joining the Tea Party last year no we don't know if this is the same Jim Holmes but this is Jim Holmes of Aurora Colorado.

Jim.

Fingered him when he make -- Yes that was that George Stephanopoulos but by the way being in your your right and Alexander correction because I was brought -- back back back back -- -- -- that's the issue though it -- to the correction as the main thing that Ross got it wrong Google already looked -- obviously he went -- as -- -- -- -- -- too good to Jack.

So we went -- that it fits the Tea Party narrative that the media have that the media that the Tea Party behind Gabrielle Giffords getting shot to -- eleven -- -- a positive story for a few days back then.

This time around it's another Tea Party together -- and and ABC.

Doesn't correct it properly they -- Brian Ross my -- never apologize to the to the wrong.

James Holmes.

They they -- -- -- if -- traction but they put Brian Ross on ABC world news that night that Friday night.

Talking about something else about the story and never acknowledging that he made a hideous in my mind libelous slanderous mistake.

What what about it Alan I mean what if somebody had done that to you you've got -- sort of a common name.

-- -- -- kind of odd but.

-- and yes home to the more common name and Colmes only one letter difference but.

-- yes they do it should have been vetted more it was speculation.

It just simply because as someone with the name Jim Holmes and he happens to be in Aurora and it Tea Party member but -- anything this anything to corroborate that.

-- they jumped to -- collision.

Is unfortunate and I agree with -- that the correction.

Has to be front and center but within a nefarious effort to try to -- conservatives with a crime I can't go that far I don't.

Know that if it were a liberal group or some other group that they -- associated with his well that they were trying to -- was try to get identification.

And -- -- could have found another way to identify this person.

I don't think there was some plot you don't -- -- that was spared Tea Party.

-- -- I don't know evidence I don't know I don't that would right wingers would like you to believe.

You know they want to make a political issue out of this I don't think that's appropriate.

And there's no evidence to show that that's what's going not yes it was wrong yes the correction could have been more front and center but conservatives want to -- -- to play the victim and I think that's an appropriate.

Well and then there was the phone call that ABC made early in the morning to homes mother out in San Diego apparently woke her up at 5:30 in the morning.

Here is what her lawyer the family's lawyer had to say about how that phone call transpired.

This statement.

Is to clarify -- statement made by ABC media.

I was awakened by a call from a reporter from ABC on July 20 about 5:45 in the morning.

I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time.

He asked if I was Arlene homes.

And if my son.

Was James Holmes.

Who lives in a world call -- I answered yes.

You have the right person.

I was referring to myself.

-- ABC is standing by its reporting on and on that issue Jim made the suggestion.

Was -- that ABC and somehow taken her.

Yes you have the right person.

To suggest that yes you have the gunman who has done all these terrible things.

Exactly.

Every news media outlet as far as I can tell -- a site that ABC report.

By the -- which was the clear implication again I watched ABC that night to clear implication was that yes you -- caught me my son.

Is a crazy is a whack -- who who brought murder relative that was a clear way than that ABC set up an edit it.

Peers not to be true again.

I have ABC had a better record of credibility.

It would they'd they'd put apple fired Brian Ross has -- -- we're so serious was so.

Anxious not to make mistakes or make an example our Brian Ross then I put a lot more credence in what the -- -- easier portrayed as saying again that Brian rush have been fired over this -- Fired over -- Asia Asia Asian fighter -- -- resign in shame more I don't know.

-- people make mistakes people then hit any you know it could happen any one of us I don't think it's a fireball offense Al to make that kind of I'll hit the so as well as Raymond Donovan said where does Jim Holmes being Tea Party member for a drug go to get his good -- I -- -- -- that's a very good point and I -- remember what ray Donovan former labor secretary said.

And he made a very good point then to.

But the question is whether this a fire able offense you fire a reporter who got the story wrong and that is that correct they did a correction -- -- -- not satisfied with the correction.

I just disagree.

That that kind of extreme measure needs to be taken in this case that if they don't they don't do that then they don't have credibility that no credibility is about correcting when you get something wrong about firing every -- a reporter makes a mistake -- -- the anonymous none of us they weren't in this business and everybody was fired every time that happened.

Again -- part of the implication of the of the reporting on the mother's for the phone -- to the mother suggested that goal yet that she had somehow known in advance.

Her son was a loose cannon and and that's part of what his legacy -- that story we weren't there so -- is that she said they said situation we're gonna have to leave it there again lots of coverage to come of this terrible story.

Alan Colmes Jim Pinkerton thanks for discussing it with thank you.

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