[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9719-9720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




ABC NEWS REPORT REGARDING THE HON. DENNIS HASTERT, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

  (Mr. BONNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page 9720]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, as a journalism student at the University 
of Alabama in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was a member of Sigma 
Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists. Sigma Delta Chi is 
the gold standard upon which the journalism profession is based. Among 
other ideals, Sigma Delta Chi, in its mission statement, encourages 
excellence among journalists and the need to stimulate high standards 
and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism.
  Sadly, Madam Speaker, ABC News, both last night and again this 
morning, is guilty of throwing high standards and ethical behavior out 
the window. Their report that our Speaker, Denny Hastert of Illinois, 
is being investigated by the Justice Department lacks one essential 
element to a good news story: the facts. Even after the Justice 
Department issued a 10-word statement that said ``Speaker Hastert is 
not under investigation by the Justice Department,'' ABC refuses to 
retract this story. Instead, they cite an unnamed source in the Justice 
Department as the only evidence they need to throw trash into the 
mainstream.
  Freedom of the press is a precious liberty. It should never be taken 
for granted, nor, my friends, should it be trampled on by people who 
stand behind this ideal instead of standing on the bedrock principle of 
getting the facts right and reporting the truth.

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