Hannah Bayman, a BBC journalist, well known to longstanding BBBC readers, has her own blog at bayman.blogspot.com. Hannah’s posts are usually quite banal, but yesterday’s post, reproduced here in full, offers an interesting glimpse into the thoughts and objectivity of a doubtless up and coming BBC journalist:
Only hours to go before the Land of the Free starts to vote and I already have butterflies in my stomach.
My mother emigrated from the US to Britain in 1966 when she was 21, after falling in love with Harold Wilson and The Beatles. My brother and I are both joint passport holders and the three of us registered to vote for the first time especially for this election.
I registered at my uncle’s house in Philadelphia, PA, and have since found out that Pennyslvania is one of the key three swing states, with Ohio and Florida.
But who knows if the vote I posted for Kerry and Edwards last week will even be counted.
Another close family member has voted for Nader. With most polls I’ve seen so far putting Bush 49%, Kerry 48% and Nader at 1%, I’m struggling to see this as anything but a vote for Bush.
Yeah, yeah, Kerry and Bush are both baddies if you’re a left-wing purist, but they are the only two horses in the race.
There is only one question in this election: do you want Bush in or out of the White House?
Let’s hope the US chooses a candidate who stands for international relationships, abortion rights, medical research, secular values and taxes on the richest…
…instead of a warmongering, oil-grubbing, vote-rigging, drink-driving – haven’t you seen Fahrenheit 9/11? – weapons-of-mass-destruction-buying, Kyoto-smashing, bible-bashing, chimp.
Fingers crossed polling is fair as possible. If, as predicted, there is not enough time for everyone to vote in some precincts, or many find themselves wrongly barred from voting lists, there could be serious unrest.
So who are you rooting for? Or if you have a vote, which way is it going?
I wonder how typical Hannah’s opinion of George Bush (“a warmongering, oil-grubbing, vote-rigging, drink-driving – haven’t you seen Fahrenheit 9/11? – weapons-of-mass-destruction-buying, Kyoto-smashing, bible-bashing, chimp”) is among BBC journalists? And given Hannah’s opinion of Bush, is it appropriate for her (or anyone with similar views) to report on anything to do with Bush or matters relating to the US or US policy without at least declaring their opinion up front? Can one hold such strong views and yet remain impartial and objective?
Moreover, given that Hannah was born (if I recall correctly from her past comments here), brought up and educated in Britain and continues to live and pay taxes here, it surprises me that she feels it appropriate to cast a vote in the US election, even if it is legal for her to do so under US law (if the situation were reversed I don’t think she could legally vote in the UK) – and I doubt very much that Hannah will desist from voting in the next UK general election either.
Remember, to paraphrase Rageh Omaar, it’s not your BBC, it’s their BBC!
Update: A couple of excerpts from Hannah’s follow-up posts, first, this charming effort:
So it is all about Ohio, the third of the swing states. NBC and Fox have already called Ohio for the chimp, but I think I will wait for my colleagues at BBC News Online (remember Fahrenheit 9/11).
Ah yes, better to wait for a reliable news outlet Hannah. And the tear-jerking:
I was woken first thing by two pessimistic texts from a colleague working the early shift at BBC Telly Centre, saying it would take a miracle for a Kerry victory
Oh to have a fly-on-the-wall webcam inside the BBC’s Newsrooms this morning!
P.S. While we’re on the subject of leftie journalists, if you will indulge me a little, congratulations must go to The Guardian for their splendid Operation Clark County – in 2000, according to The Grauniad, the good people of Clark County voted for Al Gore by a margin of 1% (~324 votes). Following the combined letter-writing efforts of Guardian readers I’m pleased to report that Clark County voted for Bush this time, by a margin of 2.4% (1,622 votes, by my reckoning). To paraphrase another newspaper in another election, it was The Guardian wot won it!
Sorry – just posted as anonymous – hit the button too quickly!
“Out of interest redken, why did you choose the particular site you’ve quoted?”
It was the first one I came across from Google.
“In fact most of the sites I’ve looked at (majority are muslim) are not very strong on providing references.” Are you suggesting its all lies?
M. Gill: “Anything post Industrial Revolution? Or even post-Renaissance?”
Isn’t a bit strange that you choose two Western events to define a timescale for M East achievements? But anyway you don’t have read this (as I know you won’t) but the links at the bottom are very good.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1123787,00.html
Ghost: I chose those events not because they are “Western” but because they are closer to our own era. You continue to point to links with inventions that are 8 or 9 centuries old which only highlights what little progress the Arab world has made in the last six hundred years.
Other non-Western countries like Japan and South Korea with major cultural differences to Europe and the US are nevertheless embracing western inventions and ideas and despite a lack of oil resources they are leaving the Arab world behind economically.
So, to bring all this back to Kilroy and the relevance to this blog, neither you nor Derek Brown can point to fundamental inaccuracies in Kilroy’s article. Oh sure, the polemical tone of his article might be disagreeable, but the Arab contributions you cite are centuries old. But Kilroy’s views meant that he could not remain at the BBC. An organisation where Hannah “W is a chimp” Bayman remains employed.
I didn’t agree with Kilroy’s sacking (unless they cited the grounds of him being a smug arse) but neither do I agree that the Arab world is devoid of substance. It’s a diverse and vibrant society that seems to be tainted in some people’s eyes by the actions of a very small minority. I’ve had many a happy time there and the people I’ve met there I’m proud to call my friends. And you’re not going to convince me otherwise as don’t believe you’re speaking from any empirical experience. Prove me wrong.
redken:
“It’s a diverse and vibrant society …”
You must be talking about Bayswater Road. Try this; when you are next in the middle east, mention to the locals that you are homosexual and you think their religion is a nonsense. Tell them that there is no Allah and Mohammed was a violent, misguided fool.
See how you get in that ‘diverse and vibrant society’.
From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/16/nmed116.xml
“Could the BBC be facing another “Tom Paulin moment”? The corporation has long faced accusations that it is more forgiving of Left-wing bias by its people than it is of the Right-wing variety. Remember how it sacked Robert Kilroy Silk over anti-Arab comments – and its refusal to do anything when Late Review regular Tom Paulin suggested killing Jewish settlers? Now, the Radio 4 presenter Jeremy Hardy has been reported to the police – by civil liberties campaigner Gerald Hartup – after telling listeners of Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation last Thursday: “If you just took everyone in the BNP and everyone who votes for them and shot them in the back of the head, there would be a brighter future for us all.” Hartup says that the statement breaches the Public Order Act.”
Is Jeremy Hardy out?
I’m delighted you’ve had a happy time in your Arab travels. I also enjoyed my stays in Egypt, Jordan, Abu Dhabi and Dubai as well as my time(s) in Muslim Turkey.
But when I apply the Kilroy test (“apart from oil – which was discovered, is produced and is paid for by the West – what do they contribute? Can you think of anything? Anything really useful? Anything really valuable? Something we really need, could not do without?”) to my own western lifestyle I’m afraid that I cannot think of anything.
If there is anything inaccurate about the rest of his article then please let us know.
Pete: “Try this; when you are next in the middle east, mention to the locals that you are homosexual and you think their religion is a nonsense.” I could go to Utah, say the above, and get much the same reaction. I think you’re being a bit silly now…
Kebabs?
BTW, Kilroy presents himself as a serious political columnist, while Jeremy Hardy is a comedian. Therefore, everything Kilroy says in his columns should be taken as genuinely reflecting his beliefs; the same is not true for Mr Hardy.
If Mr Hardy were a serious current affairs presenter, then his comment would quite rightly have got him sacked, and probably arrested.
“Kebabs” in response to Michael, not RedKen.
Michael: “But when I apply the Kilroy test…” The ‘test’ seems to be just ‘renowned exports’ though. In which case a lot of countries would fail the test – especially oil-producing ones. If oil is your major export then you don’t really need anything else! Look at Russia…and I don’t think I own anything that was made in Australia or Poland (for example) but that doesn’t make Eastern Europeans or Australians worthless.
The Democrats are more concerned with Gays than they are with ordinary, working Americans.
That is why they failed.
Funny how Muslims views on family and homosexuality are very tolerable to the Metro Elite, yet working class rural Americans are apparently stupid fascists.
There’s one rule for Muslims, one rule for Christians, it seems.
The ‘test’ seems to be just ‘renowned exports’ though.
Not at all • can you tell us what Arab invention/contribution/development that exists that you, in the words of Kilroy, “could not do without”?
John B,
Kebabs can be argued to be Greek, as well…
Another difference between Jeremy Hardy (whom I find hilarious) and Kilroy-Silk: Hardy made his comments in the context as an employee/contractor for the BBC. Kilroy-Silk did not use the forum of his show to make those pronouncements. On the other hand, however, Kilroy-Silk to Hannah…
Kilroy-Silk is a Nationally known personality, who, at the time, was known primarily for his role on a BBC programme named after him. Although he made his comments in the context of his column in a tabloid newspaper, one can argue people read the column due to his national celebrity stemming from the BBC. I suppose from an image point of view, people read Kilroy-Silk’s column because he was on the BBC. Hannah Bayman? Who she?
Jeremy Hardy and Tom Paulin are more accurate comparisons to Kilroy-Silk.
Also, I once went to a kick-ass rave in an old mosque in Sintra, Portugal. Beautiful building, fantastic acoustics.
James
And both Jeremy Hardy and Tom Paulin still appear on the BBC. Jeremy Hardy’s income would still come ultimately for such an appearance from the BBC (and therefore from the extorted licence fee payer). Tom Paulin’s weekly appearances on Newsnight Review, though, are unforgiveable. Kilroy ‘merely’ questioned the contribution of Arabs to the world for a millennium. Paulin openly advocated the murder of Jews.
Michael: “Not at all • can you tell us what Arab invention/contribution/development that exists that you, in the words of Kilroy, “could not do without”?
FECKING MATHS!!!!
Sorry, but I’ve already said that twice.
con’t …
No BBC-groupie can defend the action taken by the BBC while Paulin is still allowed through the door.
“Pete: “Try this; when you are next in the middle east, mention to the locals that you are homosexual and you think their religion is a nonsense.” I could go to Utah, say the above, and get much the same reaction. I think you’re being a bit silly now… ”
Mormons stone people or bury them alive for their sexual proclivities or religious speech? Not that I’ve ever heard. Mind you, a traveler expressing such views would undoubtedly meet with an argument, maybe even some hostility, but state sanctioned violence? I don’t think so.
“FECKING MATHS!!!!
Sorry, but I’ve already said that twice.”
It cannot be denied that a few medieval Arabs did fine work in mathematics. Nor can it be denied that that work was based on Greek and Indian knowledge looted during their imperialistic expansionist phase.
There has never been a time when Moslems treated non-believers as equals but there was a time when they didn’t hesitate to use their knowledge. Unluckily for the Arab world this time ended back in the Middle Ages.
“FECKING MATHS!!!!
Sorry, but I’ve already said that twice.”
Sorry to be pedantic but Arabs did not ‘invent’ maths.
Much of their work was done on the back of Greek achievements…
“the texts were studied in Arabic translations and fundamental new work was done.”
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/vatican.exhibit/exhibit/d-mathematics/Greek_math.html
List of gay/lesbian night clubs in Salt Lake City, Utah
“List of gay/lesbian night clubs in Salt Lake City, Utah”
Fantastic! Let’s see if Ghost can Google an equivalent list in Jeddah or Tehran! I won’t hold my breath.
But why would say it in the first place? And you seem to be ‘shoehorning’ again… Some areas of the Middle East are very secular, like Iraq, or at least it was. Do they publicly execute people in the UAE? No. Do they in Saudi? Yes. It’s as flimsy a generalisation to bracket all of the M.E. countries together as it is to compare the UK to Romania (for example). They’re nothing alike even though they’re both in Europe!
I find it quite amusing that you believe you’ve proved Utah is more tolerant than the entire Arab world because it has 3 Gay clubs. What a yardstick by which all society is judged!
As I’m at work I’m not going to put “Arab Gay clubs” into Google so I’ll concede on this point.
I think a lot of societies would fail the ‘gay bar’ test though, Cuba and Jamaica off the top of my head…
Shoehorning? I chose a Shiite city as well as a Sunni one, but no matter. If you can Google a list of gay nightclubs in the whole Arab/Islamic world that matches Utah, whose supposed bigotry you derided well let’s see it.
The increasing desperation of your posts makes it obvious that Kilroy was on to something, and for speaking his mind on these matters the BBC kicked him out.
The contrast with the Paulin case is startling.
Gay Pride Week Celebrations in Salt Lake City, Utah
Hanging out with Salt Lake City’s “Flaming Lesbians”
I’m not desperate, and if you refuse to believe that Arabs were at least partly responsible for inventing maths then there’s not a lot I can say to convince you. If you really think Kilroy talks a lot of sense then you’ve either:
a.) Never seen his show.
b.) Not taken your lithium today.
c.) Just donated a substantial amount of money to UKIP.
d.) All of the above.
If Kilroy is an all-knowing prophet of wisdom, does that make Trisha Jesus?
“Hanging out with Salt Lake City’s “Flaming Lesbians”
Susan, what you do in your spare time is completely up to you.
Ken: Not very witty, are you? Maybe you should quit hanging out with that barrel of laughs, Sheikh al-Qaradawi, and find some people who actually have a sense of humor.
Tune in to Clive Anderson’s hilarious new show this evening at 1opm on BBC Radio Two and you will hear the delightful former royal correspondent Jenny Bond describe Bush as “looking like a chimp and talking like a baboon”.
Do you think she has been reading my blog? Or this one?
Other guests on the chat show tonight are comic Jeremy Hardy and ex-pat New Yorker Paul Gambaccini. They thought it was rather funny too.
True, I have never watched Kilroy (or Trisha) in my life. Nor do I donate to or vote for UKIP. Nor am I on medication.
His views on some subjects are disagreeable to me.
But this *specific* article that got him sacked from the Beeb is what I am commenting on and you are seemingly unable to refute.
Hello again Hannah. I’m be sure to tune in to Clive Anderson’s hilarious new show this evening at 1pm! 😉
If Jenny Bond says that, all of the above applies, if she’s still on payroll.
By the way, can you post on your site that I think Arafat looks like a fish? Even better, do you think you could wrangle me a slot on air so I can say Arafat looks like a fish?
Hurry, he’s about to turn up is gills.
I read someone somewhere describe Kerry as a “mournful giraffe” yesterday. How true.
It’s like the Cadbury’s Your Happiness ads – we must all have an animal doppleganger.
PS Red Ken
I googled “Gay Pride Week in the Middle East” and the only hits I got were all about Israel. Funny that. The apartheid state has a Gay Pride Week and Gay Pride Parade, but strangely enough, no such animal seems to exist in Egypt or “Palestine.”
Hey Hannah,
Can I post on your site that Michael Moore looks like a damp, smelly hippo and grunts like a pig in heat? Can I talk about how the thudding from his frequent jogs to the local Krispy Kreme donut shop were mistaken for small earthquakes in my neighborhood?
Oops, the show is of course this evening at 10pm.
If you miss it, or are abroad, or have no television and only a computer for fear of the pernicious detector vans… you can listen any time at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/
Look for Radio 2 Comedy link on left hand side.
Susan, Mike Moore is surely a cuddly, snuggly, furry bear in a baseball cap, clutching a big honeypot of fun and good ideas.
Oh, so I guess the word is “no” then? I thought you BBC folk believed in a “diverse” media! Also what was so bad about what I wrote about Fat Mikey? He’s fat, he sweats a lot and he probably does grunt quite a bit as stuffing yourself with piles of food does tend to make odd noises emanate from one’s tum-tum.
Political opinion at the BBC: it runs the gamut from “A” to “a.”
Hmm. I thought you were joking. Do you really hate fatties so much, or is there perchance something else about Mr Moore that has caused your ill-feeling.
You are welcome to write a post on my blog. Under 300 words if possible, email me. Ta.
I was joking. I just wondered if you would be able to keep your job at the BBC if you allowed posts like that on your website?
I have nothing against fatties. What do you have against chimps?
Chimps are lovely. In fact, some people say I have insulted them.
I have just read the above 134 comments. Guys, leave Hannah alone, the real scandal is that the vast majority of BBC journalists share her left wing views. Is there one who doesn’t? Andrew Neal perhaps.
I am amazed that no-one has commented on the performance of ITV on the tuesday night news. All their journalists were quite convinced that Kerry had won and the air of elation was palpable. Even Jon Snow hid his feelings better than the ITV journalists!
A day later an air of depression had descended and no reference was made to the previous day’s performance.
Do no conservatives go into media studies or whatever qualification is required to become a TV or radio journalist?
Sky, ITV, and Channel 4 all spout the same world view as the BBC.
If Sky made the policy decision to become another Fox TV its revenues would jump sky high.
Incidentally Fox TV was far less biased than our media giving plenty of air time to Kerry supporters.
Hannah
My heart breaks. I may have to miss Clive Anderson. Instead I’ll of course be riveted to the BBC 10 O’Clock News 😉
What about my request to say that the BBC’s favourite terrorist and child killer … whoops! I mean ‘militant’ looks like a fish?
The Arabs did NOT invent Maths. They synthsised stuff already developed in Persia, India and Greece.
Just check it out.
Oh – they didn’t invent anything else either. They merely acted as a conduit for ideas to pass around the Med.
That was in the days when they were – to an – extent – tolerant of external ideas. Not blinkered, paranoid like now.
It is typical tghat Jeremy Hardy – a left-wing nutter – gets lots of airtime.
His “jokes” fit the leftie views of the Corporation.
By the way – whatever happened to Michael Moore since the election ? Imploded ?
Tonight Mr Hardy will advocate shooting BNP members in the back.
JohninLondon
Do you mean this Michael Moore?:
http://www.michaelmoore.com
He may have surfaced. There he blows:
http://www.blogolution.com/images/mooremosaic.JPG
It doesn’t really look like Moore without the empty Krispy Kreme donut package clutched in his chubby, sweaty fingers.