What people really think of those idiots in the dinosaur press

First, read this obnoxious little diatribe from a wannabe important reporter.

Then keep reading all the reader comments underneath it...

UPDATE!

The weasel actually thought he could just delete it and no one would know.  Well, thanks to bloggers on the ball, his original rant is preserved forever.  Hmmm... I think I'll post it here, as well:

Simply Simpatico
Date October 23, 2007

Lima is beautiful in the spring, when it’s not too hot, I was told. Machu Pichu is a must see, too.

My visits to the Green Zone are always a joy when I pass through checkpoints manned by Peruvian troops, with whom I have established a rapport. Sure, they are sticklers for rules, but unlike Ugandan troops — who have the warmth of armed robots — the Peruvians are simply simpatico.

They are a friendly group with easy smiles. They’ll chat you up while being frisked — a pad down with benefits. They’ll engage you in conversation once they discover you speak their language.

The experience isn’t nearly the same with other multinational forces. The Ugandan troops are often terse. While not mean, their reticence often makes one feel like one of the many sheep being herded through Baghdad’s many checkpoints.

The Americans, however, are the absolute worst. I had a testy exchange Tuesday with an American soldier at an entry checkpoint into the Green Zone.

Most of my entries into the Green Zone had been by car. I was running late to cover a news conference (because one of my security folks was late for work), and we decided to take a short cut through the Green Zone, instead of driving all the way around to get to the Iraqi foreign minister’s office. We had no trouble getting in. (Read the story here.)

We parked the car, and I headed out of the Green Zone (along with one member of my security staff) to attend the news conference. Getting out is seldom ever a problem.

When the news conference was over, we headed back.

That’s when trouble started.

At the first check point, a pair of Ugandan soldiers asked for identification. We showed our military-issued badges. Unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to be carrying an additional form of ID.

He asked for a passport. I told him I didn’t have it on me. (The advice is to lock up your passport once in Baghdad and never take it out until departing.) He asked for another form of ID, and I replied that I didn’t have anything else.

The American soldier assigned by the U.S. military to oversee this particular checkpoint came over to investigate the problem.

He asked if I had a driver’s license on me. I told him I didn’t have one. He looked incredulous. Why would I need a driver’s license in Baghdad; I wouldn’t be driving, I told him.

He took offense at my response.

Then he looked at the second ID of my companion. It was a badge issued by our newspaper. He said it wouldn’t do. Besides, he asked, what is Knight Ridder?

“I never heard of it,” he said. He probably would have never heard of McClatchy, either. (We use Knight Ridder because it already had a bureau in Baghdad before the chain was bought by the McClatchy Co.)

I explained that it’s one of the largest newspaper companies in the United States. It owns the Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, the Kansas City Star.

“I know the Miami Herald, he said. I used to live there. But I never heard of Knight Ridder.” He began to chuckle, pronouncing the company as Knight Rider. Perhaps his chuckles stemmed from memories of the 1980s television show “Night Rider.” He then seemed to mock us.

We couldn’t call for an escort, because he wouldn’t let us switch on our cell phones. (Cell phone batteries need to be removed at most checkpoints.) If we wanted to use our cell phones, we would have to make the far walk beyond the barricades and razor wire. We would have to put ourselves in danger by standing out in the middle of downtown Baghdad where I could become a potential target. (As required, I was wearing my body armour, despite the heat.)

With nothing to lose I decided to get pushy.

I asked him how he could not possibly know that Knight Ridder was one of the country’s largest newspaper chains. I told him that we’re bigger than the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times.

“I’m from Atlanta. I only know the Journal,” he said.

“I thought you said you also knew the Miami Herald,” I retorted.

“We’re bigger than the Journal,” I replied. “You never heard of Knight Ridder?”

He didn’t want to be embarrassed. He already looked irritated. He asked me if I knew the number of the military’s media office.

“I would if you’d let me switch on my phone,” I snapped. “What’s the use of these media badges if people like you aren’t going to honor them? Is this for nothing? Why don’t you call? That’s your job, isn’t it?” I made it known that I was jotting down his name.

My security man was struggling with a smirk on his face. He knew my plan. I was going to bully my way back into the Green Zone.

The man with the gun glowered as I continued my barrage of protests. The Ugandan soldiers were oblivious to the commotion, despite the growing line behind me.

The American soldier called another soldier on his radio to ask if he had ever heard of “Knight Ridder.”

To my relief, the voice said that, yes, Knight Ridder is one of the country’s biggest newspaper companies, that it owned many of the country’s largest newspapers.

The soldier in front of us explained the situation to his colleague. The voice on the other side suggested that we be let through, that the media office would only instruct him to simply confirm if the pictures on our media badges matched the ones on our shoulders.

When you’ve got nothing to lose, I told my security officer, you do what it takes. He nodded in agreement.

So writeth Bobby Calvan, (soon to be former) Knight Rider reporter...

UPDATE #2!

Now Bobby has apparently taken down his whole website, comments and all.  Good thing I saved all 197 comments in this Word Document, so you all can see the whole story...

Comments

[John Eyler]

Wow, what a find, the comments were really cool.

[Claire]

the little toad edited the post -- admitted it -- and left the comments.

*scratches head*

[Gullyborg]

Don't worry, lots of us captured his original. I'll post it in an update.

So... are we still supposed to believe journalists writing all the bad things about our war in Iraq are UNBIASED?

[Gullyborg]

oh... and I have all 197 comments complete with hyperlinks saved in a Word doc, just in case...

[docweasel]

Wow, thanks for the link :)
I saved the original page because I figured Calvan would do something like that. As soon as I sort out the CSS linkage (all the formatting on my local copy is wack) I'll post it with a link on my blog.

I did exchange some emails with him (see the post following the one you linked above) and he seems contrite.

Maybe he'll think twice next time and maybe he'll educate himself about the military's job, and how it makes his seem quite insignificant and safe comparatively. But I wouldn't bank on it. More likely he repented because he thinks if enough people complain he'll get canned, or at least removed from Iraq for such behavior. We'll see.

[docweasel]

The link is 404'd now- I guess Bobby Calvan figured he was in for trouble when his boss reads all the angry emails tomorrow, so he pulled down the entire blog-
However, obsessive types (like me) saved the entire page (with all the comments)
http://docweasel.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/bobby-caina-calvan-blog-the-comments-preserved/

-d

[Brett]

Would you believe Calvan is 42 years old?

[SGT Jeff (USAR)]

Hmmm, this is the second reference to this "incident" I've seen this morning (and I've already read through the whole post on Doc Weasel)... and I haven't even gotten to the Instapundit!

Bobby's gonna have a bad day.

[Gullyborg]

Time to make all the comments available...

[Army Vet]

I find Bobby Calvan's blog post to be disrespectful and insulting to the brave men and women who are in harm's way. His behavior toward that soldier was reprehensible and then to gloat in such a public display demonstrates a lack of professionalism, deccency and class.

But what goes around comes around. As a means of pressuring Mr. Calvan and his employers into publicly apologizing to the soldier who was the recipient of the brow beating, I have registered the domain www.bobbycalvan.com and have posted Mr. Calvan's blog entry in its entirety as well as replies and more importantly, the contact information of his employers at The Bee and The McClatchy Company.

You can assist with the Help Bobby Calvan Apology Campaign by posting the www.bobbycalvan.com link on other message boards. I'm not receiving any monetary gain, just saw an opportunity to make a point for only $10 and took my shot.
___________
If you have story ideas or thoughts you'd like to share with Mr Calvan he can be reached at [email protected]. One can only imagine the amount of work and pressure he is under and as such he may not be able to respond to each and every one of your emails.

In case of such an event, you can direct your thoughts and story ideas to the conglomerate that employs Mr. Calvan. I am certain they will pass along your comments and questions. Operators are standing by.

To reach the folks at The Bee:

The Bee: 2100 Q St., Sacramento, CA 95816 | P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95826 | (916) 321-1000

Joyce Terhaar, Managing Editor: 916-321-1004
Mort Saltzman, Deputy Managing Editor: 916-321-1012

The Bee's Public Editor, Armando Acuna, investigates complaints of unfairness, unbalance or inaccuracies in The Bee's news reporting. His conclusions are his own. To make a comment,

Send mail to P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852;
Call him directly at (916) 321-1250;
FAX: (916) 556-5690; or
Send e-mail to [email protected]

Likewise, the folks at the Bee may very well be overwhelmed with fire coverage (our thoughts and prayers are with the Californians) and as such they too might not be able to respond to your thoughts and suggestions. Just in case, here's how to reach the corporate head honchos that Mr. Calvan so thoughtfully alluded to in his blog.

The McClatchy Company
2100 Q Street
Sacramento, CA 95816-6899
916-321-1855
[email protected]

Financial/Investor Inquiries
Elaine Lintecum, Treasurer
916-321-1846
[email protected]

General Inquiries
Peter Tira, Communications Director
916-321-1941
[email protected]

[Gullyborg]

Dude, you are awesome!

[Flag Gazer]

It is up again - sans comments -
but, you have to read the 'apology' http://blog.calvan.net/?p=14
what a crock!

[Gullyborg]

He should still be fired. Not because he was an ass to the troops (although he certainly was), but because he did something publicly, connected it to his employer, and made his employer look bad.

Any employer in that situation should (and most would) can the idiot.

Let's see if McCrotchy cares more about business than about opposing the war.

And by the way, whenever a liberal says "I support the troops but oppose the war," remember THIS is what they mean by "supporting the troops."

Anyone care to bet this guy has a bunch of anti-war stickers on his car back home?