Biased BBC reader David Preiser has written the following for us:
On September 17th BBC News Online featured a video report on the front page showing University of Florida student Andrew Meyer being tasered by campus security at a public event.
Meyer, was shown asking failed presidential candidate Senator John Kerry a question, then engaged in a scuffle with campus police, who at one point tasered him. The BBC video and a report are here:
Stun gun used during Kerry debate. The voice over informs us that the student:
“…was trying to ask a question when this happened. Up to four officers tried to remove the student who had reportedly been speaking for some time. He had been asked to stop and his mic was cut off.”
We are told he was asking Kerry why he hadn’t contested the election results after losing to Bush, and why Kerry hadn’t called for Bush’s impeachment. The BBC reporter implies that the student was suppressed for asking an anti-Bush question. The accompanying article says much the same. In both cases we are led to believe that someone was having his right to free speech violated simply for having an alternative viewpoint, specifically an anti-Bush one.
Except this is not the full story.
Meyer jumped to the front of the queue from further back, after everyone was told “last question”. The last question had already been asked, and Kerry was in the middle of answering it when Meyer leapt to the mic and asked Kerry about contesting the election and impeachment. Kerry tried to ask him to wait until he had a chance to finish answering the original last question. Not having any of it, Meyer became belligerent, and you can see what happened next. We are not informed that Meyer was deliberately speaking out of turn, or that he was given a chance to stand down. See Michelle Malkin,
Student tasered at John Kerry forum, for more.
Does this look like a bit of public theatre? That’s because it is. As fellow reader dave t comments, Meyer is something of an instigator and serial irritant, one who had planned this all along: Questions Raised Whether Tasered Student Planned to Stage Incident at Kerry Forum. More evidence that this was a stunt can be found in the local paper, Police: Meyer calmer off camera, something that escaped the BBC’s reporter.
The BBC report gets the story completely wrong, showing someone apparently being suppressed for making a noise and spouting leftie shibboleths. This distorts what happened and twists the facts. The sheer volume of more accurate reports that can easily be found is nothing short of embarrassing. Instead the BBC went with their instincts and produced an inaccurate report leaving the audience to draw anti-Bush and anti-American conclusions – a report quite different from the reality.
Thank you very much David for writing this up. Most appreciated.
The bottom line here is that a non violent person was Tazered at a public meeting by State Police who had the appearance of Storm Troopers.
Alex:
I’m pretty sure that Sirhan Sirhan would have been considered non-violent until he pulled the trigger!
alex,
No, the bottom line here is that this is presented as an innocent student who was merely spouting anti-Bush statements was tasered. You are mistaken when you say Meyer was non-violent. You also must have a very warped vision of what Storm Troopers are supposed to be if you think the campus cops acted as such in the face of someone deliberately trying to cause a physically violent confrontation.
Would it have been better if they just swarmed him and beat the stuffing out of him? The tasering looks very sexy, but he walked away unharmed, something he would not have done if the cops had used more conventional means of subduing him. You know, like real Storm Troopers would.
Or don’t you want to address the fact that this guy was speaking out of turn , and deliberately trying to cause a violent confrontation?
You might want to read what Meyer himself said to the cops afterward. There is a link in the main post, in case you missed it.
David
Whatever the rights and wrongs of it, this is a difference between our countries – the British police would be very heavily criticised and probably hauled before some Human Rights court for acting in the same way here.
Abandon Ship,
Since when does the BBC do reports merely because police procedure and standards are different from those in the UK? Oh, right, only when the US is involved.
If they had presented a true picture, then that is a legitimate point of discussion. But that’s not the case here.
Sure, British police are heavily criticized if they actually shoot someone, since the gun usage by law enforcement is dramatically different between our two countries. But tasering? If your local constable tasered somebody, he could only have done so if the taser had already become a standard piece of police equipment. I don’t know there would be so much public outrage in that case. Unless there was a political point to be made, perhaps.
I notice that the report describes him as a student, but fails to point out that he is a Journalism major:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/241904.html
I’m just sayin’.
Ha…journalism major?
Looks like he is already creating propganda rather than reporting news. That seems to be the newsman’s job these days.
Not at all suprised by the BBC’s spin on this story. But back here in the US there isn’t much sympathy for the jackass. Even the G4TV network is making fun of him, and they are a computer gaming network whose target audience are young males. If they don’t even feel sorry for him then you can be sure not many others do either.
Yes, spotted this story last night, watched the BBC clip, wondered how edited it was, went to YouTube and saw the whole thing which showed the story in a completely different light. It’s a shame when we have to get the real facts from other sources now, the BBC just cannot be trusted to give us the un-spun facts.
I don’t recall any outrage from the MSM last week when Vlaams Belang members were roughed up at their Brussels protest….
I don’t think this twerp should have been tasered, only because I think it’s what he wanted — he wanted to make a spectacle, and I bet he’s faking it with those screams.
I don’t recall any outrage from the MSM last week when Vlaams Belang members were roughed up at their Brussels protest.
Ted S. | 20.09.07 – 9:00 pm |
Excellent point.
Ted S.
Yes, the whole thing is an act. Read the report from the local newspaper. The link in the main post seems to be wrong [Fixed now – a missing “. Sorry!], so here’s the correct link:
http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070919/NEWS/709190335/-1/news07
He was performing only for the cameras. But of course, that’s just the word of alex’s Storm Troopers, right? Those fascists are surely lying in their statements. Or not.
The BBC have been aware of all the details for well over 36 hours at least, yet haven’t changed their report. And I bet they never will, either. I’m sure they’re in complete denial about misrepresenting the entire incident, taking the same line as alex or any other defender of the indefensible:
Tasering’s bad, m’kay?
Or maybe I’m just overly sensitive. After all, the BBC put the following disclaimer next to the video clip:
“Some viewers may find parts of this report distressing.”
Exactly.
Alex,
When this is news, why have the BBC not posted a video of this peacefull demonstration.
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com…/that- demo.html
David Preiser
You make my point for me. The man was a clown, he was a prankster, he was making a political or professional point, he was a bit thick, he was an attention seeker etc.
In Europe, he would not have had his rights to be all of those things at once violated. The United States has a serious problem with what they call “zero tolerance”.
The one thing that people on the margins need is tolerance. Dont ever sanction over zealous cops. Make thier work as difficult as you can and then you will have a free society.
In Europe, he would not have had his rights to be all of those things at once violated. The United States has a serious problem with what they call “zero tolerance”.
Really?
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2007/09/arrests-in-brussels.html
alex,
Are you able to address the actual point or not? Do you have any thoughts on the misrepresentation of the event? Any comment on the outright falsehoods stated by the BBC?
No? Just condoning violent behavior against “The Man”, eh? If you choose to become violent with the police, you are responsible for the violence. But never mind, the BBC won’t show the video properly anyway.
Anonymous – Thanks.
David – I think that we can take it as read that the BBC will misrepresent most of what passes through its hands. On tazering people who annoy Cops & Politicians I`m less sure.
I think this story was ‘mis-reported’ merely because it was seemingly not worth doing a proper job on it. i think it was a ‘filler’ story. Another view of America to show us how much of a ‘police stae’ is occuring. Sure they don’t perpetuate a ongoing thesis on the subject, but are not averse from propogating the myth. i read the article dated the 18th how edited that had become – i’m unsure. For me it was a waste of time the BBC reporting on it – if they miss the whole story – maybe it is the on line readers attention span ?.
matthew,
Agreed that they didn’t think it’s a story worth much effort. But they only jumped at it because they saw a version that fit the narrative. If the BBC researcher had seen the full version first, they wouldn’t have touched it. The full video was already posted all over the place before the BBC created their little piece.
But, surely even online readers with amazing powers of concentration and stamina wouldn’t know the truth if they watched the entire BBC video report and could recite the online article verbatim. So that’s no excuse for fibbing. The BBC, I mean.
alex,
You and I don’t need to agree on whether or not the police should have tasers. We may disagree on whether or not the police are allowed to do their jobs properly and subdue someone with minimum damage who initiates physical violence against them.
The fact that the BBC once again acted in a totally unprofessional manner, and have since deliberately failed to amend serious inaccuracies has nothing to do with any of the above. The only reason it’s a story to the BBC is because the clown was spouting anti-Bush inanities. The video voiceover was probably recorded in a studio at White City with a BusHitler poster on the wall.
But wait – there’s more. Not only was Meyer holding a book written by a BBC journalist, but that same BBC reporter has offered him a job!
http://www.gregpalast.com/greg-palast-offers-job-to-tasered-journalism-student/
http://www.gregpalast.com/author-of-tasered-students-mystery-book-points-to-irony-in-incident/
Check out Palast’s blog for other outrageous observations, e.g. his story on Abu Risha. Your taxes at work!
I am always amazed at the amount of coverage a story like this gets in your media. I am always amazed at the number of European/British journalists who cover the United States and actually live here and still have no idea what they are talking about.
Forgive me, but frankly it’s creepy to have this constant anal exam by other nations’ press corps. It is bad enough that the American media make such fools of themselves by endlessly hyping non-stories without the foreign media joining the fray. That the story has been skewed and distorted by the BBC is not anything other than what we are used to from that extremely shoddy and highly overrated organization.
I’ve personally witnessed crazy conspiracy-therorists go apeshit at UF’s speaking engagements in the past. They are usually wearing sweatpants; eyes as red as stoplights they slur out how they found this obscure internet site that can prove direct corrolation between IBM and George Bush’s cooperation with Nazi Germany.These people are usually sad, tragic figures that get out their question with a mental eyeroll from the speaker and a spattering of snickers from the audience.
I know that this video will be politicized like hell over the following days as an arguement platform for both liberals and conservatives. It will most likely be taken out of context and replayed in the light that fits the agenda of whoever it is that’s showing it.
I’ve seen people ushered off by the event staff, but never like this…
I guess my take on the whole fiasco is that while I admire the kid’s tenacity, he was kind of a moron. Sure he made everyone feel a little uncomfortable, but sometimes that’s what it takes to get an “honest” answer out of politicians. But it’s like, “Hey kid! Dude, if you’re going to get yourself arrested AND tazed, make sure it’s for something other than looking like a huge crybaby.”
MY BLOG
“I am always amazed at the amount of coverage a story like this gets in your media. I am always amazed at the number of European/British journalists who cover the United States and actually live here and still have no idea what they are talking about.”
Equally amazing is the lack of coverage given to similar events when they occur in Europe.
“Equally amazing is the lack of coverage given to similar events when they occur in Europe.”
I did search in vain for a report on the recent “dust up” in Brussels. It never made the news over here, what with OJ, Britney, and all those other important subjects dominating the headlines. I marvel at the media’s priorities on both sides of the pond, but then I guess they are just giving the sheeple what they want.
In the US the media business is just that a business, and their bottom line is profit. They are answerable to their stockholders not the public that they supposedly serve. But the BBC? You are the stockholders, you pay the bills and they owe you much, much more than they have been giving you.
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I think this link adequately sums up the whole incident and the quality of the BBC’s coverage of it.
And you get to have a wee dance to it into the bargain.
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“But the BBC? You are the stockholders, you pay the bills and they owe you much, much more than they have been giving you.”
Well said Media Kritter!
David Preiser:
No you are right – with out the story in context and fully reported.
It would be unclear how it really was. i always thought it took time and dedication to be this middle of the road – clearly it takes no effort at all.
I don’t think they fibbed per se – they just ommited certain facts – wich is worse.
Curt B.
Meyer initiated a physically violent confrontation with campus security. The last question of the day had already been asked, and he decided to start his little bit of leftoid drama. Your comments – both here and on your blog – give him more credit than he deserves. Further, if you find the struggle and tasering to be “disturbing”, maybe you should think about other incidents when people are physically violent with police but no taser is involved.
Ever seen video of a beat down with batons? That’s disturbing. Ever seen somebody get put in a choke-hold until their face turns blue? That’s disturbing. This was nothing. Meyer walked away unharmed, even quite chatty with the cops afterward. The video looks sexy, but that’s only because most people aren’t used to seeing a taser in action yet, and your brain makes you think it hurts much more than it actually does. But you have been deceived.
You give it way too much credit, but it’s really nothing at all compared to reality. Just imagine what the video would have been like if the cops didn’t have a taser and just used their fists and nightsticks. All instigated by the so-called “victim”. The video of Meyer getting tasered and arrested is not disturbing at all.
I find it rather interesting how many of the comments either condemn or try to engage with the student himself. After watching the video, and after reading David’s article, what became apparent is our willingness to accept either one side of the story or another. The Media, especially in the present state it is in at the moment, should always be taken with a grain of salt. I can however tell you my take on the whole business.
The manner in which this all took place (and being informed that I do not agree with the interpretation of this student as a so called prankster, moron, attention getter, or the like but I do agree he loses some credibility because of his lack of composure) really is a testament to society’s appetite for certain stories in the media. In this case, if he orchestrated this whole mess, then at least as some point there was some sort political dialogue, taking place among the public about these serious issues occurring in the United States. If he was, even after deciding to wrongfully push himself ahead during the question period in the forum, a genuine speaker for those issues, and not wanting to make a scene, then I honestly believe that he simply did not do it in the best manner and should have controlled his emotions.
I find it sad, that we are willing to believe that he is nothing but an attention getting nonconformist, who lacks any credibility whatsoever, or that he doesn’t actually care about the issues he is addressing, rather that he is being a sensationalist. I ask you, is that so much more believable? In his address to the Today show, he makes a point about how so much in the media has led to personal attacks on his character that have caused some discredit, and also that the use of the taser was the main focus, rather than the issues he was trying to raise. Has anyone asked why these particular stories have been written in the manner that they have been? I’m not alluding to some government cover-up or some “crazed” interpretation of some sort of blatant attempt at distorting the facts, but rather questioning the tone in which these stories are written. One the one hand, we can peg him as a childish radical, who went off on a diatribe on video in order to get some attention for himself. On the other we can peg him as a victim, and condemn the actions against him. I have to wonder, if it’s possible not to be a complete cynic or totally gullible when addressing this issue. He wasn’t completely right, but he wasn’t completely wrong either. He got me thinking in the least about those issues, I just don’t agree with the manner in which he conducted himself. I just find it really interesting how much society has an appetite for extremes when it comes to accepting information from the media
Furthermore, I found it refreshing in at least a small amount that for a brief moment in time, the media was addressing an issue as multi-dimensional as this one. I think that is what is missing from this picture. I don’t think condemning someone or praising him will do anything. There’s more value in asking the right questions about stories such as this one, about questioning our leaders, and addressing the manner in which information reaches us through the media. In some small form, you have to stop and ask, why do I accept one interpretation over another, or why am I seeing just this one version as either truthful or contrived?