Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Talking with JinC regulars - 6 - 27 - 06

(One of a series of posts in the original web log tradition: notes and "thinking out loud." These posts will be most easily understood by regular visitors and are written with them especially in mind. But others are welcome.)

Before the first item, a quick “thank you” to all of you who’ve made comments, especially ones that let me know you understand what I try to say. Recently that’s been especially helpful with regard to the Duke lacrosse case.

Now the Main:

Item number one: Do you know anyone in Durham County who hasn’t signed the petition to put Louis Cheek’s name on the ballot in November? Signed petitions need to be in by Friday.

If someone needs a link for petitions, tell them its here. The signed petitions need to be in to the Durham County Board of Elections by Friday, Jun. 30
http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/main/index.cgi?7664

I just posted on two news stories concerning Cheek. I hope you give the post a look.

Moving on.

I’m amazed at all the people who are falling all over themselves to praise media who only a few weeks ago were saying media“condemned those boys and ruined lives.”

Now those same people are worried the rest of us aren’t being nice enough to news organizations.

What’s important such people say is that we not offend MSM so that we get news organizations like the Raleigh N&O on “our side.”

Message to such people: You’re enablers. Main stream news organizations love you. You make it possible for them to function the way they do, including avoiding responsibilty for what they do.

I’m planning a post explaining why I think it’s important the public hold to account those individuals and news organizations that contributed to the Duke lacrosse witch hunt through their biased and reckless reporting.

Next:

There’s going to be a lot here in the next few days as follow up to the CrimeStoppers and “vigilante poster” posts from late May and through June 16. I’ll work later tonight and tomorrow to get a post up detailing the latest I’ve received from attorney Alex Charns.

The short of it: Charns’ has written the DPD again about the CrimeStoppers posters/flyers and said in effect: Give me more or tell me who destroyed records. I’m repeating my request for an investigation. What’s more, under NC libel law, I’m requesting from DPD “a press release correction and apology for the DPD poster in question.”

Local media are mostly ignoring what Charns is pursuing. I think the Durham Herald Sun ran a story but that was weeks ago. Media are making a mistake by ignoring the issues and questions Charns is pursueing. What Charns is looking into and the questions he’s asking will, at the least, be very important to a full understanding of how the Duke lacrosse case developed. And very likely a lot more.

Look for a post later today that will be titled something like: A reader asks legal questions. I'll say more about Charns there.

I'll end now because I don't want this Talking to run on. Or do you think it has already?

Anyway, thanks for you interest and support.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

We now know this matter began with an accuser with widely varying stories, a second dancer who said it was a crock, 46 witnesses who said no rape, no tox report, and a medical report that seemingly was no smoking gun.

On this basis, Nifong ordered the lacrosse team gang-tested for DNA.

Editor Sill said the testing propelled her headlines.

I'll be anxious to read where the poster fits in this timeline. This is one strange and scary story.

JWM said...

Joan,

You make many terrific comments.

This is another one.

Specific comments:

In your first graf you lay it all out nicely but for one thing, at least as I recall: Nifong didn't get a copies of the medical records until very late in March or in early April. He didn't have them when he asked Judge Stephens to order the DL players to submit to DNA testing and photos.

So it's likely Nifong requested the court direct the DNA testing without having the medical records.

That's even worse than the case you lay out.

So you have Nifong requesting and Stephens OKing. We need to keep asking questions.

You sure are right it's scary.

On another matter, isn't it interesting how Melanie is suddenly a free speech and full disclosure advocate.

It doesn't seem so long ago she was deleting comments and refusing to answer questions and fobbing readers off with statement like "We didn't have the conversation we should have had."

What hypocrisy.

I continue to admire your commenting at The Editor's Blog (I haven't been to Metro in about a week. Anything doing there?)

John