An interesting news item
Consider the following paragraph:
Over the weekend the FBI announced that it was investigating Joe Iosbaker for possible connections to overseas terror groups. Iosbaker and his wife Stephanie Weiner, both anti-war activists, are suspected of activities �concerning the material support of terrorism.�
Variations of the above are being reported in the major Chicago news outlets.
What is not being reported is that Mr. Iosbaker is an SEIU Union Steward -- basically a middle-level manager.
From Warner Todd Huston at
Breitbart's Big Journalism:
Chicago Media Omit Fact That FBI Terror Suspect is Chief Steward for SEIU
One might think it would be big news that a Chief Steward for a local chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is being investigated by the FBI for possible connection to overseas terror networks. Apparently, though, several Chicago news outlets didn�t see a reason to add this little fact to their stories.
And even if it wasn�t big news that the FBI is investigating a union member, one would think that his profession would at least make an appearance somewhere in properly formulated coverage of the story� right?
A bit more:
According to the SEIU Local 73 website, Iosbaker is listed as the Local 73 Chief Steward. Iosbaker was also quite active earlier in the year protesting the closing of the Republic Windows & Doors factory that made the national news. Iosbaker was then listed as an executive board member of the SEIU.
It is interesting to note that this fact escaped most of Chicago�s TV coverage. Michelle Gallardo of ABC 7 TV seems to have forgotten to mention the union connection, CBS channel 2 also missed this fact, WGN TV channel 9 also forgot to mention the SEIU, and Channel 5 NBC also missed it, all accidentally I�m sure.
But it isn�t just TV that missed this fact. The Associated Press also seems to be blind to the fact that Iosbaker is a union operative.
And the media wonders why their numbers are down and why FOX is cleaning their clock...
Posted by DaveH at September 28, 2010 6:48 PM