Grapevine: Bad journalism or politics at the New York Times?

Did paper adequately cover March for Life?

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...

Tisk Tisk

New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan has taken her paper to task for its failure to provide adequate coverage of the annual pro-life rally, March for Life.

Thursday, the Times published a single photograph with a two-line caption on page A-17.

When Sullivan asked the Washington Bureau Chief Carolyn Ryan why no staff reporter was assigned to the event she replied -- in part -- quote -- "We have given extensive coverage to opponents of abortion. We do not cover every protest, and tend to focus on the substance of the issue. This particular march, in part because of the weather, was smaller than in years past.

Last year, which was the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we did produce a lengthier staff story on the march.

NewsBusters notes -- quote -- "What Ryan didn't say is that the Times completely skipped the March for Life in the previous five years, from 2008 to 2012. Size never matters. Liberalism is what matters. The Times has defined a 'large enough protest' as four illegal aliens or about 10 opponents of the National Prayer Breakfast."

The Truth Is Out There

Apparently, there is such a thing as a wheelchair truther.

The Daily Caller reports, Twitter users discovered at least two such posts, in comments on Texas news-sites.

They cast doubts that Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott really needs a wheelchair.

One reads -- quote -- "Give us the medical records. Prove he is paraplegic. He had a kid after the incident...Check to see what the odds are of that happening with severe lower spinal cord injury."

Abbott has been disabled since 1984, when an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging.

Abbott's spokesman says of wheelchair truthers -- quote -- "Denigrating the disabled is unworthy of Texas. The accident that put Greg Abbott in his wheelchair has helped him understand the challenges people in Texas and across this country face every day."

A Bit Fishy

Finally, this one's a bit fishy.

In New Zealand, a doctor reportedly survived a shark attack, stitched himself up with a first-aid kit and then, instead of seeking further medical attention, he went to a pub for a well-deserved pint.