Coverage of rally about Arizona immigration law

[Mr. X]

My shop's coverage of a rally calling for a federal immigration law and repealing Arizona's SB 1070 included a paragraph about a community college student holding a sign calling Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer "the next Hitler'' and a quote from the student saying she thought what Brewer is doing in Arizona is similar to what Hitler did in Germany.

I thought there should be an effort to get a response from Brewer, but was over-ruled, with the rationale being that was just "over the top rhetoric" that "says more about the speaker than Brewer."

Was I wrong in the need to seek balance or was the slot man right in just calling it "over the top rhetoric?" To me, what Hitler did in Germany was kill Jews and there is nothing in the Arizona law about starting concentration and death camps.

It could also be said that comparisons with Hitler are often best to be avoided.

 

[Jersey_Guy]

Well, let's start with this: Do you work for a weekly in Montana or a news outlet that actually stands a chance of getting a reaction from Brewer?

 

[Mr. X]

Company is a daily organization, not in Arizona, which has heard back from the White House on a same-day basis when a request has been made.

Just thought the better approach should have been asking for comment from the county's leading opponent of illegal immigration, a longtime elected official.

 

[Jersey_Guy]

If you're outside Arizona and you're not the NYT or of similar stature you're just going to get a PR person. Not worth the trouble on a Saturday IMO.

 

[Ace]

Technically, this is exactly the kind of thing Hitler did as he was rising to power.

I mean, you gotta start somewhere. You can't just shove undocumented workers into ovens.

 

[Boom_70]

Technically, this is exactly the kind of thing Hitler did as he was rising to power.

I mean, you gotta start somewhere. You can't just shove undocumented workers into ovens.

Maybe this law is a good thing then. When the temperature in AZ hits 110 the illegals will be in air conditioned cell instead of cutting grass.

 

[YGBFKM]

My shop's coverage of a rally calling for a federal immigration law and repealing Arizona's SB 1070 included a paragraph about a community college student holding a sign calling Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer "the next Hitler'' and a quote from the student saying she thought what Brewer is doing in Arizona is similar to what Hitler did in Germany.

I hope the reporter asked her to explain herself. If not, it's terrible reporting to write what she said and leave it at that.

 

[fishhack2009]

Personally, I would have cut the quote. We'd be doing the country a favor if we stop giving the nuts on both sides more ink than they deserve. As long as we're breathlessly quoting their every outrageous statement, the wack jobs on both fringes will keep it up. It's really time to start ratcheting down the rhetoric.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Technically, this is exactly the kind of thing Hitler did as he was rising to power.

I mean, you gotta start somewhere. You can't just shove undocumented workers into ovens.

That's just a ****ing idiotic thing to say. You're no better than the wingnut they quoted.