"Irresponsible Journalism"

That's what House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Zuckerman [P-Burlington], called on-air remarks by "Vermont This Week" Host Stewart Ledbetter on Friday's broadcast, remarks suggesting he had not been telling the truth in comments published in last Wednesday's "Inside Track" in Seven Days.

Ledbetter [left] is a veteran reporter on WPTZ-TV, the Plattsburgh, NY-based Hearst-Argyle affiliate with a Vermont bureau in Colchester. He replaced Chris Graff this year as the host of the weekly news discussion program on Vermont Public Television that airs Friday night and is repeated Sunday morning.

One of this week's headlines was: Election '08: Is Anthony Pollina The Democrats’ Best Hope?

And what Ledbetter the Host said to the statewide audience was:

"As we look ahead in the off-year to Campaign ‘08, we saw a couple of dueling blogs this week, which certainly caught our attention for their implications and what they say, sort-of, about the back-story negotiations between the Progressives and the Democrats. And the issue was whether or not the top Democrat in the state senate, Peter Shumlin,  was sort of acknowledging in private conversation that maybe Progressive Anthony Pollina might be an acceptable consensus candidate between the Progressives and the Democrats to run against Jim Douglas, who Peter Shumlin would like very much to see replaced."

Then the panel batted it around for a couple minutes and Ledbetter dropped this stink bomb:

"Or maybe the story that Shumlin was pushing Anthony Pollina is simply not true."

Hello?

Maybe the Moon is made of green cheese?

First of all, I missed the "dueling blogs" that Stew's referring to, just comments by "odum" in the Green Mountain Daily blog last Thursday [link in column right].

The story of Sen. Shumlin suggesting Democrats consider backing Pollina in a race against Gov. Scissorhands of the GOP broke in last Wednesday's Seven Days. That's a Vermont-owned weekly newspaper and last week's was a healthy 128-pager. And the source for the story, pictured here with his wife and wee daughter at Saturday's Farmers Market, was clearly identified and on-the-record:

Progressive State Rep. David Zuckerman of Burlington told yours truly that Shumlin first broached the subject of a Pollina nomination last April.

“He came up to me at an event in Montpelier,” said Zuckerman, “and said we’ve really got to talk about how we’re going to get rid of Jim Douglas, and I think Anthony Pollina should really consider running.”

Dave the Prog, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said Shummy told him he would “be willing to talk to other Democrats about getting behind Anthony if we don’t have someone else.”

More here in "The Pollina Possibility?"

Informed in the park on Saturday of Mr. Ledbetter's on-air comments on "Vermont This Week,"  Rep. Zuckerman, at first, appeared a bit shocked. Ledbetter had not spoken to him about it.

"I respect Stewart Ledbetter," said Chairman Dave, "but that's irresponsible journalism."

Does he stand by what he said in "Inside Track?'

"Absolutely, 100 percent!" Zuckerman replied. "I will stand behind that for eternity."

Trust me. He meant it.

Meanwhile, I still haven't had the voice messages left on Sen. Shumlin's cell-phone last Tuesday returned. If it wasn't true, don't you think Shummy would have called by now?

And VTW Host Ledbetter has not, as yet, responded to my Sunday e-mail seeking comment.

Stay tuned.

Comments

[John A. Burgess]

Peter:
No need to stay tuned. Your credibility does not require confirmation from anyone. Your years of reliable, accurate report are you credentials.
Further, the story has been current around the Democratic Patrty for months.
I think your are entitled to an apology.
John Burgess

[Old School Democrat]

Let's get something straight. You don't have to be a Progressive to know that Zuckerman is an honest guy and Pete Shumlin is a dishonest crook. John Odum took Shumlin at his word, and that's just naive. Enough said.

[odum]

Cool! We're dueling! High drama! Who knew?

[John Burgess]

To be clear, it is Vt. This Week that I feel should apologize. Odum simple quoted a perhaps self-serving source. Ledbetter drew an unwarranted conclusion about another person's conduct as a journalist.
John Burgess

[Burlapped]

Just curious - what benefit does Farmer Dave realize by spilling the beans of an internal Prog-Dem conversation to Peter Freyne other than publicity for himself?

Surely his whistle-blowing will annoy Dem leaders who wanted the courtship kept quiet for the time being. He also may have cost the Progs a chance at the governorship, if all the recent talk is enough to make Shumlin (and others?) decide not to support a Pollina candidacy.

I think Farmer Dave plays politics first and foremost (which is not a statement on his level of honesty per say, but on his motives).

[JPC]

Zuckerman seems to be pretty sensitive for a politican. I didn't see the show, but if Ledbetter simply questioned whether or not the Shummy story was true then Zuckerman shouldn't have been upset. Jeez, Shamlin has used Simpleton as a pawn all last session, what makes Suckerman think he didn't get conned by Shamlin too.

[row]

Back in '02 VPR was interviewing Shumlin who was trailing in his race for LG. He said he was confident because he had a list of Southern Vermont towns in his shirt pocket that would be the difference. When the reporter asked to see the list, Shumlin said he must have given it to an aide. I'd never call him a dishonest crook as the writer did above. He's just misunderstood.