Zelig is Woody Allen's "mockumentary" about about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people.
Thanks to Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog, we know that a guy name Joe Olivo has been transformed into a right wing Zelig by the people at the ALEC affiliate, the National Federation of Independent Business ("NFIB"). Joe is vice-chair of NFIB/New Jersey Leadership Council. Oh, and the NFIB was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court ACA case, NFIB v. Sebelius.
Yes, Joe Olivo is also the CEO of a small (47 employee) business in New Jersey. But identified in that capacity only, Joe Olivo has turned up everywhere, without disclosing his NFIB ties. Of course, on Fox Business News and Fox local stations, but also on NBC and NPR. NPR?? The ultra-liberal, socialist NPR? Yes, and that bastion of socialism has now interviewed Mr. average "Joe" business man twice, without disclosing his NFIB affiliation!
(What is it with the right about undisclosed things ending in "-ation": Cheney's "undisclosed location," Romney's "undisclosed taxation" and now Joe Olivo's "undisclosed affiliation?")
Inspired by the Steve M posts on this, I just wrote to the NPR Ombudsman:
On June 29 of this year, a Morning Edition story about the Health Care Act featured a quote from "Joe Olivo," identified solely as the President and CEO of Perfect Printing, a NJ small business. The same piece also quoted Dan Danner, the CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business ("NFIB"). Both of them spoke against the health care law. However, the piece failed to disclose that Mr. Olivo is also vice-chair of NFIB/New Jersey Leadership Council. Nor did the piece disclose that the NFIB was the lead plaintiff in the suit against the health care act that was just decided by the Supreme Court.
That information was then disclosed on several political blogs, including Balloon Juice and No More Mister Nice Blog, and numerous of their readers wrote to NPR (and NBC, which had also featured Mr. Olivo without disclosing his affiliation), informing them of this material omission.
Despite this, on All Things Considered yesterday, the same Joe Olivo appeared, speaking out against raising the minimum wage. Once again, he was only identified as a small businessman, and there was no disclosure that he was an official for NFIB and that the NFIB was the lead anti-ACA plaintiff. And like the Morning Edition program, ATC also quoted an official of the NFIB, whom it did identify as to that affiliation.
This is not acceptable journalism, especially when the same error was repeated just a week later, after NPR received complaints about the non-disclosure. While the ATC article had a correction as to a provision of the ACA, it had no correction relating to Mr. Olivo's affiliation.
I urge you to make corrections to both articles, and that all relevant affiliations be disclosed for any persons interviewed on NPR shows.
Thank you.
I will not hold my breath waiting for their response. But if you happen to see "Joe Olivo," typical small businessman, at least you'll know that he is a right wing Zelig, and not just an average businessman.
You can let NPR know here.