Cheney versus Edwards

One of The BBC's "core values" states:

Impartiality and diversity of opinion - reporting facts in their context rather than opinion, and testing the evidence with a wide range of views.

So how well does Justin Webb, BBC correspondent in Washington, adhere to this important "core value"?

Here is what Justin had to say about Cheney and the F word.

So there was some raising of eyebrows when the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, strode across the Senate floor and told a Democrat to "F*** yourself".

Mr Cheney is widely believed to have lost the plot in recent months.

That's right, a BBC reporter just said the second most powerful man on the planet has gone mad. What arrogance! The nerve of a BBC reporter calling the Vice President of the United States, crazy.

Where are the facts Justin? Did you read your new "core values"?

Just to help you with some American history Justin, far worse has happened in the Senate before; albeit some time ago.

Senator attacked

In 1856 a House member from South Carolina used his cane to attack an abolitionist senator from Massachusetts, bloodying the Senate floor and leaving the man near death.

Justin continues his opinionated attack, on Cheney and in a not so veiled reference to Bush.

He does not receive messages from God - at least not ones he talks about - which gives him a reassuringly rational air in an administration which has more than a tinge of zealotry at its core.

BBC reporting at its' finest. No facts. Just opinions. First Justin says Cheney is losing the plot, then getting messages from God and now he calls the President of the United States a "zealot".

Notice how Justin throws in that "at least not ones he talks about" line? Justin is trying to lead us to believe that Cheney gets messages from God but just doesn't tell anyone.

Do you know the definition of zealotry Justin?

Zealotry - excessive intolerance of opposing views

I'm sure you do Justin old boy.

He has taken the rap for the mess in Iraq; taken the rap for the absence of weapons of mass destruction; taken the rap for the impressive sums of money being paid to his old company Halliburton for its part in supplying the troops.

"Mess in Iraq", Justin? You might want to read Chrenkoff's Good News Iraq series. Or maybe you should listen to the Iraqis themselves.

Four out of every five Iraqis expected that the new government will "make things better" for Iraq after the handover, with 10 percent expecting the situation to remain the same and 7 percent anticipating a decline, the poll shows.

Four out of Five Justin. These are facts Justin not opinions.

No weapons of mass destruction, eh Justin? Look here for all the WMD's and other things that have been found.

So which of the two Vice Presidential candidates does the BBC, er Justin, back?

That is the date on which in Cleveland, Ohio, the vice-president - elderly, bald, ill, cross Dick Cheney - will debate with the Democratic challenger for his position - the youthful, tousle-haired, healthy, radiantly happy John Edwards.

Since when are "elderly" and "bald" negative traits in a politician?

I know former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer was not a politician per se but he was Bush's press secretary. Look what they had to say about bald Ari:

OAKLAND, Calif. A new national sex symbol is emerging from an unlikely source: Washington, D.C.

"You are so damned hot... And smart, too! I ... am enthralled by your ... adorably handsome appearance."

"You are so cute and intelligent."

"I believe he is the first bald man I have ever been attracted to!!!"

And let's not forget that Ronald Reagan was elected at the age of 69, the oldest ever to be elected President. Cheney is 63.

Speaking of Edwards message, Justin makes this pronouncement:

It's giddy-making stuff. It either turns you on or horrifies you, and most Americans, it seems, are - at the moment - in the first camp. Does it matter, though, what people think?

Really Justin? What "facts" do you have to back up your claim that "most Americans" find Edwards message "giddy-making stuff"? Certainly not recent polls.

An AP-Ipsos poll released Thursday offered an early hint there would not be a post-Edwards bounce for Kerry.

And Justin, you might want to check out what Mark Steyn and the LA Times have to say about Edward's message. But be warned Justin, just like "most Americans", you won't like what you hear.
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