The new media is buzzing with reactions to Linda Foley’s comments. Like Eason Jordan, she accuses our miltary of targeting journalists. But unlike Eason Jordan, her remarks were caught on tape. Ms. Foley is noteworthy because she is the president of both the Newspaper Guild and Communication Workers of America (the nation’s largest broadcast and journalism workers union).

[Ed: If you’re not familiar with the Eason Jordan controversy, there’s a great overview here.]

WorldNetDaily has the quote from the 2005 National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis:

Foley said, “Journalists, by the way, are not just being targeted verbally or … ah, or … ah, politically. They are also being targeted for real, um … in places like Iraq. What outrages me as a representative of journalists is that there’s not more outrage about the number, and the brutality, and the cavalier nature of the U.S. military toward the killing of journalists in Iraq.”

Foley continued, “They target and kill journalists … uh, from other countries, particularly Arab countries like Al -, like Arab news services like al-Jazeera, for example. They actually target them and blow up their studios with impunity. …”

The video of her comments can be found here (mirrored here and streamed here).

Here some reactions from around the blogosphere on the comments of Linda Foley. The big theme is “Eason Jordan Deja Vu.”

Daily Inklings:

Remember Eason Jordan? He made unsubstantiated accusations that US troops targeted journalists for murder, then backpedalled and wouldn’t allow the tapes of his outrageous comments be released? Well right at the heels of Newsweek’s attempt at damage control over a now-retracted story regarding Gitmo personnel and the koran which had caused widespread rioting and the deaths of 16 people, another journalist makes inflammatory Eason Jordan-type statements without proof. Her name is Linda Foley. This time, however, there is a tape of her statements:

Mr. Preston at Junkyard Blog observes the lack of evidence to back up her claim, and says if she can’t back it up, she needs to step down.

Linda Foley had better offer proof of what she said or step down from her jobs. Tossing up unsubstantiated smears of the US military, especially in light of what Newsweek’s smear led to in Afghanistan last week, is unconscionable and unacceptable.

John Cole also wants evidence.

If journalists are being targeted, reasonable people want to know about it. Unfortunately, just like Eason Jordan learned, we want some flipping evidence.

The Word Unheard address Ms. Foley:

Your assault on the honor of the American Military will not stand. We will not allow you to wildly accuse us of murder. Your words may ring pleasant among friends and colleagues, but for us they ring stirringly like the deep toll of a bell.

I. Rony (hah!) thinks the Union members ought to step up to the plate.

If you are a member of TNG or CWA and you are outraged by this, then let your union and your fellow union members know. You are the unions source of money, so you’re voice will be heard above others.

Tran Sient:

How hilarious that she made this comment at a conference on media reform. And then she tries to wiggle out of it, ironically with the same fake but true argument that has become the norm.

Elephant in My Coffee (like I originally was) is speechless.

Just read the article. The extent of her irresponsible behavior has rendered me speechless. The sheer stupidity of this woman is astounding.

The Dusty Attic has transcribed most of the speech, so the reader can judge for themselves the context, and Trey Jackson has put up the extended video.

Andi is on fire:

Twelve years ago, I married a soldier. While there are few subjects that I’m fully qualified to to write about, I do know a little something about soldiers and their character. I also know a little something about why words matter in our current environment.

Ms. Foley, allow me to educate you.

The Political Teen has the O’Reilly video.

Captain Ed is surprised, despite himself.

Perhaps in an era where mainstream journalists appear to be embracing the “fake but accurate” standard for publication stories like this should not surprise us, but one would think that key figures in the communication industry would be more careful in how they express themselves.

USS Neverdock almost calls it treason.

She needs to be made to produce the evidence or be fired. This is just more fodder for the terrorists to use against our troops.

LaShawn is doing more digging with a phone call or two.

I called the Newspaper Guild (202.434.7177) a few minutes ago to speak to Linda Foley and/or someone willing to go on the record, and I got a message saying something like, “Due to the number of calls that we believe are a coordinated effort to tie up the line, we regret that we cannot answer your call. Please leave a message and someone will…”

Euphoric Reality is taking up a collection:

I volunteer to begin a collection to send Ms. Foley to Iraq, where she will be free to wander around without the protection of the “brutal and cavalier” U.S. military.

And there’s already a site called FoleyGate.com.

Scared Monkeys observes some irony.

How come the first reaction when a liberal is caught saying what they really believe is that their words were taken out of context. In this instance, SHE WAS TALKING TO REPORTERS!!! Is she saying that her union members, people who pay her salary, can not report the news accurately.

UPDATE: Powerline has a letter from a soldier to the Newspaper Guild. Check it out.