ATF's spin game

[AKmoose]

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-...ke-of-devastating-press-reports#ixzz1FeP8pPBV


Now that CBS News has delivered its second definitive report on the scope of "Project Gunwalker"* and Senator Grassley has expressed his determination to not allow the Department of Justice to stonewall his investigations, the damage control at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have begun in earnest.

From one of the behind-the-scenes confidential sources advising Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars and this correspondent, someone who has been instrumental in bringing this story to light from long before major media became involved:

This just hit minutes ago. Panic and chaos are taking place at ATF headquarters in advance of the anticipated media releases today and tomorrow. Below is a message just sent from the subordinate of Jim McDermond from the ATF Office of Public and Governmental Affairs. An emergency request is being issued to all ATF Public Information Officers to find ATF stories with a positive spin to counter-influence was is expected today. Very insulting and very much the character of ATF management. Please respond to me that you received this. I think it will be critical to your stories and for Senator Grassley to further see demonstrated ATF’s continued desire to spin and cover up.

Here is the internal communication that was forwarded:

Public Information Officers:

Please make every effort for the next two weeks to maximize coverage of ATF operations/enforcement actions/arrests at the local and regional level. Given the negative coverage by CBS Evening News last week and upcoming events this week, the bureau should look for every opportunity to push coverage of good stories. Fortunately, the CBS story has not sparked any follow up coverage by mainstream media and seems to have fizzled.

It was shoddy reporting , as CBS failed to air on-the-record interviews by former ATF officials and HQ statements for attribution that expressed opposing views and explained the law and difficulties of firearm trafficking investigations. The CBS producer for the story made only a feigned effort at the 11th hour to reach ATF HQ for comment.

This week (To 3/1/2011), Attorney General Holder testifies on the Hill and likely will get questions about the allegations in the story. Also (The 3/3/2011), Mexico President Calderon will visit the White House and likely will testify on the Hill. He will probably draw attention to the lack of political support for demand letter 3 and Project Gunrunner.

ATF needs to proactively push positive stories this week, in an effort to preempt some negative reporting, or at minimum, lessen the coverage of such stories in the news cycle by replacing them with good stories about ATF. The more time we spend highlighting the great work of the agents through press releases and various media outreaches in the coming days and weeks, the better off we will be.

Thanks for your cooperation in this matter. If you have any significant operations that should get national media coverage, please reach out to the Public Affairs Division for support, coordination and clearance.

Thank you,

Scot
Scot L. Thomasson
Chief
ATF Public Affairs Division
Washington, DC
Desk 202-648-7089
Cell 206-730-0005

There of course, was no "feigned effort." ATF was approached for comment in the first CBS News report and declined. The desperation to spin this and deflect attention is blatant.

Senator Charles Grassley is committed to moving on, as evidenced by posting his latest letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on his website. Now is the time to redouble efforts to get Darrel Issa to open parallel investigations in the House of Representatives.

Let us see how the allegations raised by Mr. Thomasson fare against sworn testimony and documents entered into evidence. And as far as Presidente Calderón goes, why no reporter asked him about the role an officer in his own adminsitration played in supplying cartel arms seems a more than fair question. It's not like it's the secret those trying to exploit the Mexican situation to demand more restrictive U.S. gun edicts and hide their own culpability would like it to be.

Also see:

A journalist’s guide to ‘Project Gunwalker' for a complete list with links of independent investigative reporting and commentary done to date by Sipsey Street Irregulars and Gun Rights Examiner.
Vanderboeghs take: This just in from Waldo. Here's the first ATF internal spin-doctor memo on the Project Gunwalker Scandal.
*Note to newcomers to this story: “Project Gunrunner” is the name ATF assigned to its Southwest Border Initiative to interdict gun smuggling to Mexico. “Project Gunwalker” is the name I assigned to the scandal after allegations by agents that monitored guns were allowed to fall into criminal hands on both sides of the border through a surveillance process termed “walking” surfaced.

More:


Click here to review tonight's rlated webchat on The Truth About Guns.

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By David Codrea
Gun Rights Examiner.David Codrea is a long-time gun rights advocate and writer. A featured columnist for Guns Magazine, his articles and his online journal, The War on...
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Continue reading on Examiner.com: ATF begins spin in wake of devastating press reports - National gun rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-...ke-of-devastating-press-reports#ixzz1FfUgrdnd

 

[cjjtulsa]

An emergency request is being issued to all ATF Public Information Officers to find ATF stories with a positive spin to counter-influence was is expected today.

LOL - lotsa luck!

 

[Glocktogo]

It's to the point now that BATFE should be stripped of their law enforcement authority and restricted to regulatory enforcement only. They've been a continuing embarassment to federal LEO's for decades and in many cases, other federal agencies don't want to work with them due to their poor reputation. We simply don't need "gun cops" in America. Their LE duties should be assumed by the FBI and other federal LE agencies with better oversight and less "politicized" directives. BATFE is simply too vulnerable to administration whims and poor management.

I think I'll write a letter to our Senators and my Congressman to this effect. Enough is enough.

 

[HMFIC]

Thanks for posting this. Very insightful... and shameful on the part of the ATF.

Need they be reminded that their actions which started all of this resulted in at least one actual traceable death and who knows how many more and what else.

I'm appalled.

 

[Glocktogo]

There's little doubt that the guns they let "walk" are probably responsible for numerous deaths. You simply cannot allow a criminal enterprise to acquire fully functioning weapons, when you have the ability to prevent it. That they willfully and intentionally disregarded this most basic rule should open them up to criminal negligence charges at the very least. I'm appalled and disgusted by this wanton disregard for human life.

 

[MaddSkillz]

Looks like it's obvious which department should be cut from the budget of a bankrupt government, first.

 

[cjjtulsa]

Looks like it's obvious which department should be cut from the budget of a bankrupt government, first.

You're right - and take the IRS with 'em. Would be a good start on budget cuts.