Late this afternoon, Bearing Drift’s Brian Kirwin posted about the State Senate GOP primary in SD14 (Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk), blasting conservative challenger Bill Haley for supposedly sending out an email claiming support from the Chesapeake TEA Party.
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TBE has come on credible information that, not only did Haley not send out the email- the Chesapeake TEA Party itself did- but that the TEA Party also sent out an email clarifying that it invites all candidates to submit messages to share with their membership (including John Cosgrove). They were merely sending an email from Haley to their list, independent of Haley.
Further, the clarifying email was sent earlier in the day…. meaning that, not only did Kirwin post erroneous information, but that he did so knowingly. Kirwin’s company has received payment in the past from Cosgrove, according to VPAP.
More to come tomorrow on this developing story. Hopefully, Bearing Drift rectifies Kirwin’s lie with an apology to Bill Haley, a retraction, and punishment for Kirwin for knowingly posting a false story.
Cross-posted to Virginia Virtucon
13 comments
Zzzzzzzzzzz…wake when it’s over….zzzzzzzz
Over at Bearing Drift (or the James Callender Society as I like to think of it) it might be useful to keep in mind that it’s okay to be honest about not knowing rather than spreading misinformation. If honesty is the best policy, silence is the second best policy, as falsehoods are like chickens, they always come home to roost. I have no expectation of course that any of this will be taken to heart by staff so readers might keep in mind that the only thing more frustrating than the spreaders of these type of tales is those foolish enough to listen to them.
On the Bearing Drift story a Tea Party member who was involved in this story has said the same things you are reporting here. She too has demanded a an apology but it’s not happening and it won’t happen. Bearing Drift never apologizes, no matter how reprehensible and false a story may be. Bill Haley deserves an apology. But it’s not happening at Bearing Drift. Shame on them.
I’m happy to apologize to Mr. Haley. It was the Chairman who asked that it be made clear that the use was not authorized. And since there was no disclaimer, many readers of the email took it as formal support. As it turns out, the Chairman wasn’t aware that the email was sent out by his own team.
Good.Have you removed your post and posted an apology to Mr. Haley?
I didn’t want to be accused of simply deleting the post, so I updated it and said the same in comments. The CTP can’t have it both ways. When the Chairman doesn’t know what emails are being sent out by his organization, and he asks others to spread the word that it wasn’t given permission, the organization has to take some responsibility that they confused people.
What was the point of the post anyway? Why pick on Haley? And the Tea Party?
Never mind. I think we know the answers to those questions.
Don’t you just hate it when irresponsible bloggers tell mistruths in service of a personal vendetta?
you made me smile there–was thinking the same
Do you have to post this during a tie ball game in the bottom of the ninth!?
Come on! We are tied Steve!
Yeah, and at least 3 of our readers care. You may come return later after the game. That might work for you.
In fairness, I wrote it much earlier and posted it then… besides, as it turned out we had a whole inning to go before the magic happened.