This is a little experiment to see if the Washington Times is capable of acknowledging and posting a simple addition to a story. Earlier today, at the top of the Drudge Report, a link referred the reader to a story about the suggestion on the part of Bennie Thompson (D-Miss), that the Congressional staffers of Robin Hayes (R-NC) who were accompanying him to the big race at Lowes' Motor Speedway obtain immunizations for blood-borne pathogens, such as Hepatitis A.
The original story contained this clarification:
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chairs the Homeland Security panel said:
"Since committee staff members are visiting hospital and other health-care facilities available at or near these venues, including areas where groups of people are detained before being transferred to other off-site facilities, I believe that the recommendation (not requirement) that our congressional staff receive these same immunizations was sound," in a letter responding to Hayes issued Wednesday.
"I am sure you would agree that providing immunizations to personnel involved in public safety is good public health policy, and there is no need to exclude staff from taking the preventative measures that the public health community recommends -- regardless of why and where mass gatherings are taking place,"
Look, guys, you aren't getting a free trip to the race (Woot!) -- you are going to see the #1 fastest emergency response team in the United States, which is affiliated with our local hospital, Northeast Medical Center -- and trying to learn what the Federal government needs to do to bring that level of care to the rest of the United States. You will, if you are doing your job, quite possibly be exposed to blood-borne pathogens. There have been several catastrophes at our racetrack before -- heaven forbid that they happen again -- but when a city of less than 100,000 is transformed into the largest city in North Carolina in the space of a few days, THINGS HAPPEN.
If you are doing your jobs, rather than hanging out in the hospitality suites, you ought to be careful.
Now, Drudge took the orignal article, which was balanced, and substituted this screed from the Washington Times, which could have easily included the statement of Bennie Thompson, if they had bothered to google for it.
Will they add my correcting comment to their "Comments" section? It is not a matter of opinion, but a matter of material fact.
Let's find out .....
And the way that we stop all of this nonsense, of course, is to give a little bit of cash to Mr. Hayes' opponent, Larry Kissell.