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Tip: know what you are forwarding

E-mail Lesson #27: If you are going to forward a YouTube video, watch it first.

An administrative aide to state Rep. Laura Wiley learned the hard way, after she sent out a video critical of President Barack Obama featuring pictures of German SS officers at Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp, Joe Neff reports.

The email, sent from a General Assembly e-mail account, eventually landed in the inbox of Adam Searing, the director of the Health Access Coalition at the N.C. Justice Center.

Searing, an advocate for affordable and universal health care, said he was offended for professional and personal reasons.

"My great uncle on my mom's side — Everett Peterson — died on Omaha Beach on June 6th 1944 in Normandy fighting those guys in the photos," Searing said. "He didn't die so that 65 years later somebody could equate the evil he fought and defeated with a policy proposal to expand health coverage."

More after the jump.

—————

The text of the email starts off, "You MUST listen to this - THIS IS GENOCIDE!"

The audio is a talk radio excerpt in which former N.Y. Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey charged that the health care plan calls for mandatory euthanasia counseling every five years for senior citizens. (It doesn't: the AARP has labeled McCaughey's claim “rife with gross, cruel distortions.”)

The video shows a series of photographs from a photo album maintained by SS officer Karl Hoecker, who was the second in command at Auschwitz at the end of World War II.

Edna Pearce, the legislative aide, said she listened to the video but never watched it.

"I clicked on the YouTube, it was a black screen and I was listening to it for a couple of minutes as I checked email, and I forwarded it," Pearce said.

Pearce said she never saw the images until contacted by Dome.

"I almost had a heart attack," she said. "Let me assure you, it was completely innocent."

Wiley agreed, saying her aide would never knowingly send such a stupid video.

"She did not see what was on it," said Wiley, a Greensboro Republican. "I will tell you this about her, she's a very proper woman."


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Re: How to recognize a double standard, part 1

Very well said "Double Standard, Part 1"
What a double standard we live with in these times. Everything has to be "politically correct"--what happened to our constitutional right of freedom of speech? What a shame that someone should start such a fuss because someone disagrees with them. Apparently the person that started this is quite feeling his personal and professional "importance." Speaking of how our tax dollars are used, does he have no better thing to do with his time (that, by the way, we as taxpayers are paying him for) than go after a poor individual state worker for having an opposing opinion to his own? I do not know the individuals involved here but it sounds like this poor woman meant no harm to anyone. But let us remember she has a right to free speech, as do we. The fact that it was sent from a state email, I'm sure she now regrets. I am not a state worker; however every place I have worked through the years--everyone I know of has sent personal emails. Whether they are political or something else really is irrelevant. I would imagine everyone on this blog has sent at least one personal email from work at one time or another. Anyone who hasn't let them raise their hand now. All I can say is that if this woman is hurt because of this, what a travesty of justice that would be. I agree with "Double Standard"--grow up people, get over yourselves and your petty differences.

Re: How to recognize a double standard, part 1

Well said!

Re: How to recognize a double standard, part 1

You are right, both sides do resort to this sort of behavior. I have worked in an agency where tax payers pay the salary of government employees. I have seen the lack of work ethics; cheating on timesheets, not doing an 8 hour work day, taking extra long lunch hours, hall chatting, office chatting, meetings where nothing was accomplished, and so many more things. Each person alive has to live with themselves and will have to answer for themselves. Many times we only hear about government workers, but if I were a betting person, I would say this happens in many work places, not get government places. How about all the time that has been spent in Washington with the HEALTH CARE BILL, and still Congress has not read it. I would have to say there is always two sides to every coin. So how can you judge one individual for sending an email? There is bigger fish to fry than pick on a woman who did not intentionally send the email out to hurt anyone. If someone takes offence about any particular subject, I think it is up to that person to work out their own offenses within themselves instead of using power to get this in the news or their power to publish. Maybe this lady is offended by the article that was written about her. I have family members that fought in the war as well. It was their choice to do this for their country. I have family that were part of the German Jews. I was not offended by the video. But, I am not an Obama fan either. I try to see more than one side to a story...you know the coin that has two sides. Just think what this lady is going through right now after you all went after her; and why go after a person like this over a 'stupid email'? Was this a knee jerk reaction? Was it a cruel moment? So there is two sides to every coin. She must feel very embarrassed by her name being associated to this article. This was something that did not have to happen. It was not newsworthy anyway, and sounded more like a retaliation, or a vindictive act. Does this make you any better than her? Maybe she will be able to keep her job. Do you think? There are too many spoiled rights' groups. Everyone wants to be too sensitive publically these days, always blaming someone else. What has happened to a person who heard or read something just thinking to themselves, 'well I will consider the source'? Think of all the 'rights' groups' and how much division this has caused in this country. I get offended too, but I do not go after someone's jugular to teach a lesson. We handle our disappointments like a grown up, we handle our hurt like a grown up, and we handle our offenses like a grown up. How much better off would this country be if everyone would stop the blame game and just go about their daily business. This also includes all of this racial bias. There is no need in continuing to fuss about who you are and what you think you deserve. The war has been over a long time and people here today are not responsible. Why not bury your hatred? What a great country this would be if people could live in peace instead of living with hatred, jealousy, greed, self indulgence, and not being responsible. And there is a lack of respect in this country for authority. When I was growing up I was taught to respect my parents, my elders, my teachers, the law enforcement, and respect for myself. I know that I have rambled, and I hope that I have made some points that will be well taken. Let's all of us think a little more about humility than self.

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

Have you ever worked for an agency paid by public dollars? You do not know this lady. She may have been taking a break from her public paid job. Employees are allowed to have a break now and then. I think without any more knowledge than you have of this lady, you are being very cruel.

How to recognize a double standard, part 1

I do not think this sort of political propaganda is appropriate nor respectful to the public discourse on the issues...

Nevertheless, the left consistently ridiculed President Bush while he was in office.

Examples:

The I Hate George W. Bush Reader: Why Dubya Is Wrong About Absolutely Everything

Fraud: The Strategy Behind the Bush Lies and Why the Media Didn't Tell You

Thus, it is fair to say that Freedom of Speech is alive and well since both sides resort to these practices...

Sending it from a government computer is neither wise nor encouraged, but have you ever been downtown during work hours. One might notice a handful of employees smoking a cigarette or chatting on their cell phone. Smoking a cigarette increases the cost of healthcare for that employee, plus the wasted five to ten minutes of actually smoking the cigarette or a brief cell phone conversation. An example of government waste!

Some people need to have some tougher skin, partisans always convey a double standard!

But let's continue to build a new pier!

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

This is outrageous. This woman, who is paid with public dollars, forwarded this message on a state computer on state time. Clearly, her head needs to roll.

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

when obama stops acting like a nazi, folks will stop relating him to one!!!!!

Re: Tip: know what you are forwarding

very nice post on youtube....
www.rajasblog.co.cc

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