Should the Media Have Covered Pastor Whatshisname?

In our age of phone-cams, YouTube and the Internet, the odds were extremely good that someone would have attended the burning, recorded and posted it. THEN it becomes a story whether one likes it or not and the media have no choice. Likewise, all the notables like the Pres., Gen. Petraeus and Sec. Gates must speak up because of what is at stake. I have no problem with Pastor Jones exercising his free speech rights. But, with freedom comes responsibility and that is where Jones failed miserably. Just because you THINK you have something important to say doesn't mean that you should go ahead and say it.

The pastor is and should be protected by freedom of speech. But does the media really think that a nut-job's wacky rantings is newsworthy? Talk about an industry that has lost its way. If reporters want to report on totally goofy stuff, they should just go to places where people with mental illnesses are, and report on some really fascinating stuff.

I would 'love' to have the leads to the information about the Jones being a Pastor in Germany and that he was 'slated' for coverage on the Chris Mathews show several weeks ago, and that the government knew about this man and threatened him by freezing/ closing his accounts/ mortgage - and are auditing him???? I'm going to start some searches.... Oh and Kudos to jtzeph - Puma - for their totally rationale and truth telling views!

These so called 'religious leaders' of Afghan/Iraq that have gained tons of wealth power and position (much with our money ... who now have the ability to alter, change the atrocities in their own countries... do nothing in helping their women and their peoples way of life! and this 'Inman Raul" of the Manhattan mosque, with his construction of this compound for a mosque/YMCA/study center/ hangout is one that has made incredible wealth. Well, Preacher Jones has his right to 'media coverage' just the same as you; at least he got a result and brought about a reaction in this Inman... comments that should give you a telling truth about this Inmans true ugliness! Inman Raul and company knew exactly the implications of the decision to place the mosque in area of ground zero...." Know this (you can mark my words) to underestimate the abilities of this artificial NAIVETE" will be the downfall of the United States ... and if this man didn't foresee the consequences of this decision then his WISDOM -->Judgement is in question as a 'spiritual Leader' ... according to doctrine of jihad, muslim men/women are religiously responsible to follow the orders of their religious leaders!hummmmm and know Psychological behaviour will impact and far outweigh the physical --->EVERYTIME!

Absolutely. Whatever it takes to legaly make a buck. This is a capitalist country.

If anyone die because of it. It was the people doing the killing, and the media for getting them worked up who are the murders. When his freedom were imposed on others freedom is wrong. Like the hurting families who ask for respect of the families grave site.

The electronic medium does not know what news is. The youngsters who work it know what a story is but not what is newsworthy. When we were engaged in the Cold War we could use a large number of media people. Now we make work by turning stories into news and repeat the stories over and over.

I remember my grandparents being offended when people assumed they were mafia because they were Sicilian. I suppose there were those who at one time thought all Irish people belonged to the IRA. Time has shown that those assumptions were totally incorrect. It is time that we remember that only a small percentage of either of those two groups belonged to radical organizations. It is the same with Muslims. Let's avoid painting them all with the same brush. The vast majority of the world's people just want to live in peace and care for their families. Showcasing a "Pastor" demonstrating such hatred is counterproductive on so many fronts.

We don't have to agree with the Pastor but Freedom of Speech is on his side. When we step in and suppress one persons rights, we will eventually be faced with someone who wants to suppress our own rights. As far as media coverage is concerned, I think that balanced journalism is a thing of the past so I don't really pay a lot of attention to what the talking heads have to say anyhow. I do my own research so that I can draw my own conclusions about a particular subject.

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!