The media and the stupidity of “objectivity”

The AP still refuses to call Iran’s president’s Holocaust denial what it is: Holocaust denial.

Iran Leader Escalates Holocaust Rhetoric
Dec 14, 8:13 AM (ET)
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad escalated his anti-Israeli rhetoric Wednesday, calling the Holocaust a “myth” used by Europeans to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world.

“Today, they have created a myth in the name of Holocaust and consider it to be above God, religion and the prophets,” Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in the southeastern city of Zahedan.

His remarks drew swift condemnation from Israel, Germany and the European Commission. Germany said the remarks would affect upcoming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad last week questioned whether the Nazi destruction of 6 million European Jews during World War II occurred and said Israel should be moved to Europe. He also provoked an international outcry in October when he called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”

But Wednesday was the first time he publicly denied the Holocaust. Touring southeast Iran, Ahmadinejad said that if Europeans insist the Holocaust happened, then they are responsible and should pay the price.

“If you committed this big crime, then why should the oppressed Palestinian nation pay the price?” Ahmadinejad asked rhetorically.

Well, there’s progress: They used the word “denied” in this story, even though they got it wrong. Wednesday wasn’t the first time he denied the Holocaust. When he “questioned” it last week, that would be what is known in normal circles as Holocaust denial.

But they still refuse to headline the story what it should be headlined: “Iran’s president spearheads Arab and Muslim Holocaust denial.”

Time to start a letter-writing campaign. Write the AP at info@ap.org.

Update: CNN refuses to use the D-word as well. And of course, Reuters won’t come out and use it. Bloomberg isn’t calling a Holocaust denier a Holocaust denier, either.

Let’s take a little flight of fantasy: If an American Congressman of the Republican persuasion came out with these quotes, what would the headlines be screaming?