AP Reporter Pickler Stumps for Sen. Clinton?
I’m not generally in the habit of writing FOX News-esque rhetorical-question titles like the one above. But then again, I’m not Associated Press reporter Nedra Pickler.
An AP article by Pickler and published this morning in the Washington Post is entitled “Is Obama All Style and Little Substance?” — but it has some serious substance issues of its own, particularly when it comes to Sen. Clinton.
In an attempt to reinforce the image of Sen. Obama as inexperienced, Pickler falsely claims that John Edwards is “the only other candidate to serve less time in elective office than Obama.” Edwards was a US Senator for six years; Sen. Obama has served in the US Senate for over two years, following eight years as a state senator in Illinois.
But what about Sen. Clinton? She was reelected to the US Senate last year, and has served for just over six years — nearly exactly the same amount of time as Edwards. This is her first time holding elective office. So why does Pickler not include her among the ranks of candidates who have served less time in elective office than Sen. Obama?
Perhaps it’s for the same reason that she lets Sen. Clinton off the hook for not having a written health care plan yet, while with the other hand she attacks Sen. Obama for the same infraction. Here is her stunning justification:
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton doesn’t have a written plan yet, but no one questions her expertise, since she was the chief proponent of the issue during her husband’s presidency.
No one questions her health care expertise? Seriously? I’m not in the business of attacking fellow Democrats, but I do expect an AP political reporter to have at least some familiarity with political history.
Pickler doesn’t exactly have a clean slate when it comes to covering Democrats. Sen. Obama’s policy proposals will undoubtedly come in time, and talking about their absence in the meantime is certainly fair game. What’s deplorable is that Pickler has chosen to do so by distorting the facts about other candidates in order to paint Sen. Obama in a negative light.
UPDATE: Media Matters takes Pickler to task for her claim that Sen. Obama has “delivered no policy speeches” and “provided few details about how he would lead the country,” noting the utter inaccuracy of those assertions.
March 29th, 2007 at 6:46 pm EST
Glad to see this. I got a link from another article I was reading about how the blogs and us readers hit back hard the attack articles on Senator Obama.
I have a feeling these were orchastrated by the Clinton Camp. The timing of them all coming the last week of fundraising and right after the Think Different video.
I hope Senator Obama knows he has those of us online who are supporting him and doing hit back as well.
thanks
diane lake
April 1st, 2007 at 6:45 pm EST
I am in complete agreement with Diane Lake’s reply to the article about Nedra Pickler’s “reporting”…the only person standing between H.Rodham Clinton is Barack Obama and she is quite aware of that fact….I don’t think the attacks, questioning of experience, etc. is a coincidence either….the BIG fight is going to be for the nomination….If we can get Obama NOMINATED as THE Democratic candidate then the election is a sure thing, he WILL win! Forgive me, I am preaching to the choir. L.K.Price
April 16th, 2007 at 2:50 pm EST
It is out of desperation that the “Clintons” and the “Clintons’” supporters are doing this. It will be all over when the debates start and people will see Hillary and Barack head to head. I hope that thru all of this Barack and his “people” will see fit to let the other camp dig their own grave, so to speak, with their negative campaigning and negative press, and not join in the game.
We saw Barack in Tampa yesterday. He was great!!!! When everybody takes the time to learn about the candidates and get to know them, they will understand what we already know.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:59 pm EST
What a difference a few months makes… Hillary is clobbering Obama in the debates (what happened Theresa?), and he keeps making gaffes on foreign policy. He’s feeding the very weakness of his campaign, his inexperience.
As far as Nedra Pickler is concerned, she wrote stump piece for Obama today. After this I don’t think anyone can question her.
Fact Check: Obama on Afghanistan
January 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm EST
I came across this website by chance, after searching for more on Nedra Pickler. Initially, I was curios if she was affiliated with any party since I got the sense, after reading a recent article, that she was giving Obama much credit and discounting others. Imagine how surprised I was to find that the Obama camp thinks just the opposite. I wish the candidates would focus on issues and not personality and popularity contests. I have no knowledge whatsoever of the candidates’ plans to rectify anything in this world–which is to offer that touted “hope” and “change.” As voters, we should demand this of the candidates and not be fooled by an enthusiastic message.