Reporter from the Concord Monitor fails to do her homework

Lauren Dorgan really wanted to make the story (vs. reporting the truth) this morning in her column by reporting this:

So, right-wing groups like the New Hampshire Tea Party Coalition (which is linked to Americans for Prosperity, a group founded by an oil-and-gas tycoon sometimes called the richest man in New York) urged folks who oppose the health-care reform bill now percolating in the Senate to attend the ordinary office hours held by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s staffers in towns including Grafton. 

She really wants to make the case that both sides are paid, so what’s the big deal?

Well, here it is –

PRETTY MUCH, WE DO THIS FOR FREE AND LOVE OF CONSTITUTION and COUNTRY

BUT YOU DIDN’T DO YOUR HOMEWORK and call, DID YOU?

I realize that many reporters are just plain lazy – not all, but many.  But how lazy does one have to be to just not call and just ask – "are you paid"? Or even go to the NH TEA Party Coalition site and look for herself?

We sure aren’t, and we’re pretty typical – AND NOT ONE INSURANCE COMPANY YET has answered my bleg for money.  Not one!  The pettiness of it all – not willing to share any of those billions Pelosi and Reid keep talking about (but do keep showing their stupidity about the difference between profit and a profit margin – the latter, in the aggregate, being about 3% – hardly better than the grocery industry at 1%).

Yes, the AFP group is part of the NH TEA Party Coalition (I listed it here) – but it is FAR from the only one and certainly is not the biggest one.  I certainly am not getting paid – if I was, my fingers would be touching a FAR newer and better laptop right about now (sigh – most people want a newer car, a new home – shows you where my head is at….). Pretty much, all of the groups that are listed are homegrown right here in NH – certainly the ‘Grok / Meet The New Press are (all two of us).

Unfortunately, it may not make a difference, as in the same column she announces that she, too, is leaving that sinking ship call Journalism:

This week will be my last at the Monitor and writing Capital Beat. I am shipping off to graduate school at the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts, where I plan to study Arabic, economics and more. 

So Lauren, in conclusion – thanks (not) for your volunteerism to the National and NH Democrat Party in continuing the liberal narrative from on high at Pravda by the Merrimack.

I doubt that there will be a retraction or correction (and if you read that rag on a regular basis and you do see one, please let me know!)