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ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 11:20:41 2020

Washington Post tries so hard to discredit, but looks dishonest while doing so.

ABC News suspends correspondent David Wright after comments about Trump coverage, socialism, in Project Veritas sting

By Paul Farhi
February 26, 2020 at 9:53 AM EST
ABC News suspended one of its veteran correspondents late Tuesday for unguarded remarks he made in a video by operatives of Project Veritas, the conservative group that records “undercover” footage of mainstream journalists to bolster its accusations of media bias.

The network disciplined David Wright, who reports for ABC’s signature news programs, including “World News Tonight,” “Good Morning America” and “Nightline,” several people confirmed late Tuesday.

The choppy, poorly shot video, released Wednesday morning by Project Veritas, captured Wright on what appeared to be a hidden camera, seeming to complain in general terms about political coverage.

“I don’t think we’re terribly interested in voters,” he said, echoing gripes about the superficiality of some aspects of White House and campaign coverage that have been raised by journalists for decades. Also: “Commercial imperative is incompatible with news.”

At one point he says, “We don’t hold him him to account. We also don’t give him credit for what things he does do.” In subtitles, Project Veritas indicated that “him” stood for President Trump. He refers to Trump at another point as “the f------ president.”

But ABC likely was also alarmed at Wright’s criticism of ABC News, which is owned by the Disney Co. At another point, he raises another longstanding critique of ABC News — that it blends news with promotion of Disney-owned movies and TV programs.

“Like now you can’t watch Good Morning America without there being a Disney princess or a Marvel Avenger appearing,” he says. “It’s all self-promotional.”

In a statement Wednesday, ABC News said, “Any action that damages our reputation for fairness and impartiality or gives the appearance of compromising it harms ABC News and the individuals involved. David Wright has been suspended, and to avoid any possible appearance of bias, he will be reassigned away from political coverage when he returns.”

In the video, which the group said was taken while Wright covered the New Hampshire primary, a voice asks the reporter if he considers himself “a Democratic socialist,” and Wright seems to reply, “more than that, I consider myself a socialist.”

Wright didn’t respond to several requests for comment Tuesday.

Project Veritas’s founder, James O’Keefe, teased the release of the video on Twitter on Tuesday with the hashtag #ExposeABC. He tweeted that his group “will expose ABC News’ agenda to mislead voters and push their own narratives” and said in response to the upcoming release that ABC News had suspended “the correspondent involved.” He didn’t identify Wright or provide details.

Wright, 56, is one of ABC’s most seasoned and versatile correspondents, having joined the network nearly 20 years ago. He has covered the White House and was “Nightline’s” lead political reporter during the 2016 presidential campaign. He has also periodically reported from the Middle East and Europe, including covering the Notre Dame cathedral fire in Paris last year. He shared a 2004 Emmy Award for his reporting from Iraq and shared a Peabody Award for reporting in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Project Veritas conducts undercover “stings” of journalists and others it considers allied with liberal causes or organizations. Its operatives often befriend the organization’s targets using aliases and lull them into casual conversations in bars or restaurants that are then surreptitiously recorded. The videos are edited and released publicly in an effort to show what O’Keefe calls liberal bias or allegedly corrupt practices.

Although O’Keefe has defended the organization’s methods as journalistically sound, mainstream news organizations have largely abandoned the practice of infiltrating businesses or organizations to record video without a subject’s knowledge or consent. News organizations generally consider the practice deceptive, and doing so can subject them to criminal trespass penalties.

O’Keefe’s group has targeted media organizations such as CNN, NPR and the New York Times, as well as Democratic political operatives.

The Washington Post was the target of a Project Veritas sting in 2017 when a woman, later identified as Jaime Phillips, approached a Post reporter with allegedly damaging information about Roy Moore, then a Senate candidate in Alabama. The Post discovered the woman’s apparent affiliation with Project Veritas and that her story was a hoax. The Post recorded video as she attempted to plant the false story.

ABC, coincidentally, was involved in perhaps the most famous case involving undercover video. The Food Lion supermarket chain sued ABC in 1996 after it aired a segment about unsanitary practices at the stores on “PrimeTime Live.” To get footage for the story, two ABC News producers obtained jobs at Food Lion stores using false references and altered work histories. An appeals court eventually rejected Food Lion’s fraud claims but upheld a jury’s $2 award for breach of loyalty and trespass.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 11:27:52 2020, in response to ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 11:20:41 2020.

Journalists are allowed to have personal political opinions, expressed in private, which is where he thought he was.

I suspect he got suspended for his opinions of his employer.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:45:51 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 11:27:52 2020.

I agree. A journalist's right to their own personal, private opinions does not end when that reporter signs on with a news agency.

This does not appear to be a violation of any ethics or conduct clauses that would normally be included in a contract with a television network. ABC is likely on shaky ground in suspending their journalist here. Sting operations carried out by conservatives aren't grounds for off-the-clock discipline.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:47:25 2020, in response to ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 11:20:41 2020.

ABC likely was also alarmed at Wright’s criticism of ABC News, which is owned by the Disney Co. At another point, he raises another longstanding critique of ABC News — that it blends news with promotion of Disney-owned movies and TV programs.

Thereby breaching the wall between editorial and corporate.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 11:52:42 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 11:27:52 2020.

One of the rare times iawtlp.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 11:54:39 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:45:51 2020.

One of the rare times iawtlp.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Mitch45 on Wed Feb 26 11:57:56 2020, in response to ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 11:20:41 2020.

You don’t mess with the Mouse.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:58:58 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 11:54:39 2020.

Thank you

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 12:04:21 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:58:58 2020.

OK, you're welcome.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by Dave on Wed Feb 26 12:28:20 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 11:27:52 2020.

IAWTP.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 12:43:11 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:45:51 2020.

ABC is likely on shaky ground in suspending their journalist here.

He disparaged his employer. That's usually not shaky grounds.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 13:30:23 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 11:27:52 2020.

LOL! Not even the Washington Compost said that! Your brain is fried from too much Beobachter Slimes.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 13:31:11 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by Dave on Wed Feb 26 12:28:20 2020.

Then why doesn't the WaPo say that in their headline, eh? Even they know it's not the case.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 13:32:38 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by JayZeeBMT on Wed Feb 26 11:45:51 2020.

So you admit that the WaPo headline is correct?

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 13:33:46 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 11:52:42 2020.

You need to use your brain. Why didn't the Washington Post put emphasis on that, instead of going after Trump and admitting to be a socialist?

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Feb 26 15:32:27 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Mitch45 on Wed Feb 26 11:57:56 2020.





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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by Train Dude on Wed Feb 26 17:19:51 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by AlM on Wed Feb 26 12:43:11 2020.

Hell just froze over. I agree with AlM.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 17:44:04 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by Train Dude on Wed Feb 26 17:19:51 2020.

AIM is an idiot.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by Train Dude on Wed Feb 26 18:08:03 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 17:44:04 2020.

Yes bet even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer

Posted by Train Dude on Wed Feb 26 18:09:04 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by ChicagoMotorman on Wed Feb 26 17:44:04 2020.

Yes but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 19:41:50 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him disparaging his employer, posted by Train Dude on Wed Feb 26 17:19:51 2020.

You'd better not, because he's FOS. Not only does the WaPo headline contradict his pontificating, but so does the ABC News statement concerning Wright:
Any action that damages our reputation for fairness and impartiality or gives the appearance of compromising it harms ABC News and the individuals involved. David Wright has been suspended, and to avoid any possible appearance of bias, he will be reassigned away from political coverage when he returns.
Nothing about his feelings about ABC or Disney.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Wed Feb 26 22:04:38 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 13:30:23 2020.

His comments about Disney ("Wright: “You Can’t Watch ‘Good Morning America’ Without a Disney Princess or a Marvel Avenger Appearing.”) are what did him in. But that's even less principled than claiming he was suspended for bias, so that's what they're going with.

The full transcript.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Wed Feb 26 22:08:40 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 19:41:50 2020.

Alright, after a decade of distrusting the MSM on virtually everything, *now* is the time you take their word on something? He disparaged cross-promotion between Disney (Princesses and Avengers) and GMA. Disney fired popular actors from LOST over things unrelated to their on-screen performance, this is par for the course.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 22:12:40 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Wed Feb 26 22:08:40 2020.

Alright, after a decade of distrusting the MSM on virtually everything, now is the time you take their word on something?

That's a desperate kind of way to take AlM's word on something, and no, it's not a contest between the two as to which is least honest. The "MSM" here has their backs against the wall anyhow, reacting to the notion of them being "biased", lol, so their hand is shown too quickly.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 22:14:32 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Wed Feb 26 22:04:38 2020.

His comments about Disney ("Wright: “You Can’t Watch ‘Good Morning America’ Without a Disney Princess or a Marvel Avenger Appearing.”) are what did him in

That's what prompted ABC to say that they aren't biased? Yeah OK.

Posting the whole transcript is irrelevant; it's the part that ABC reacted to.

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Wed Feb 26 22:20:21 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 22:12:40 2020.

I argued with a far left co-worker today, he said "this is bullshit, everyone knows the media has bias"... I'm like "no, we know because we follow this stuff, but a good chunk of America still thinks they're getting the unvarnished truth".

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Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Feb 26 22:27:20 2020, in response to Re: ABC News’ David Wright gets suspended after video shows him admitting to being a socialist, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Wed Feb 26 22:20:21 2020.

Far left? He wants the entire Manifesto with the Ten Planks implemented? Wow.

It's certainly true that many are unaware of the media's bias.

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