COMMENTARY
MILT THOMAS
In his now famous quote, Mark Twain said, “Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” after learning his obituary had been published in a New York newspaper.
There might be circumstances under which we would be interested in hearing what people would say or write about us after we died, or in the case of George Bailey, what life would be like if we had never lived.
We at InsideVero saw an example of the first circumstance this past week when Charlie Wilson, the self-proclaimed and aptly named professor of political baloney, announced that we were ceasing publication. Of course, we are not ceasing publication, although it is probably wishful thinking on his part. On the contrary, we are expanding our distribution as I will explain below.
Wilson has been the subject of many InsideVero reports, not because we don’t like him, but because we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t write about the many unfounded statements he makes, often as criticisms of public officials and institutions.
We actually write much more about the Vero Electric-FPL deal, but we do it for the same reason we write about Charlie. As journalists, we take our responsibility to report the news seriously. While other publications may take sides on a particular issue and report based on their editorial bent, we try to report all sides so our readers have a complete picture of the news.
For instance, in the run-up to last fall’s city council election, we tracked the flow of money to one candidate’s campaign as a major issue, while other publications, often supporting that candidate, decided not to report those same facts. When the last city council entered into an agreement to sell Vero Electric to FPL, we reported extensively on the consequences of the deal they agreed to. We were never opposed to selling Vero Electric, only to selling it in such a way that we felt was not in ratepayers and Vero Beach taxpayers’ best interests.
Researching the whole story requires the ability to contact all parties involved with that story and understand how the pieces fit together to present a complete picture of what is really happening. The pursuit of truth is very time consuming, especially when you are up against people and institutions who only want the public to know what they want to tell them.
Investigative reporting was once the mainstay of a free press, but today, it is an expensive diversion when corporate profits are at stake. InsideVero operates without that concern. We are wholly supported by our advertisers, who are enthusiastic about our approach to news. Of course, we also depend on readers like you, who are interested enough to read the news we bring them.
We are pleased to announce that as of February 1, our free weekly print edition will be available in area Publix supermarkets as well as continuing our near total coverage of barrier island and mainland households for whom news about what is happening in Vero Beach and Indian River County is important.
As long as you keep reading, we will keep publishing.
Indian River Guardian 
It is “investigative journalism” that is the foundation of the Fourth Estate that is so essential in a democracy. In the immediate aftermath of the Watergate scandal, scores of young idealists majored in journalism in college. Sadly, that era was shortlived and too often now what we routinely read is essentially a part of some corporate public relations agenda.
Back in my own ancient history, I learned that journalism consisted of answering the 5 W’s — who, what, when, where and why. Too many who call themselves journalists today have forgotten that the “why” is the most important question.
It’s my understanding that Mark Schumann has been invited many times to appear on the Bob Soos show to defend his charges of dishonesty on the part of Charlie Wilson, and has refused to do so. I’m told too that Charlie Wilson always has corroborating evidence on statements he makes. So Mark, appear/speak/defend or get off the Charlie Wilson attacks and take your sidekick with you.
You are told what, Rosemarie, and by whom? Without being specific, such a claim is easy for you to make, baseless thought it may be. You seem to have been given bad information, by Charlie, I suppose. I have not been “invited” on Soos’ program to defend our reporting on Wilson and his frequent misstatements of fact, nor would I accept such an invitation.
I have, in fact, been invited by station manager, Jim Davis, to come on WTTB to answer Wilson’s accusations, and assertions. I am not going to take the time or make the effort to go on Bob Soos’ poor excuse of a “news” program simply to defend myself from false accusations leveled by a clown, nor should I have to do so.
Charlie Wilson’s inclination to talk pure falsehood and foolishness on WTTB each week creates no obligation on my part to appear on that same radio station to set the record straight. If Jim Davis is content allowing Wilson to misinform WTTB’s listeners, that is his business.
Mark I disagree with you position. You are willing to continue week after week to follow the Soos show and criticize Wilson and Soos as long as it is on your tuff. I think you should go head to head with both or either in the same room, weather on his show, WTTB or on your video that you post. Everybody is accusing each other of making false accusations, so why not jump in the ring with evidence and let the public decide who is right and who is wrong.
Of course if all of you guys do that it won’t be as entertaining for us left outside the circle.
Just Saying
Gary, there is nothing do debate. When Charlie Wilson makes public statements that are inaccurate or misleading, we, as journalists, intend to hold him accountable. He is, after all, a public figure, and one who will likely run again for elective office. Just because Wilson has taken to attacking the source of accountability which he finds so unwelcome and objectionable, does not make him deserving of the confrontation he so craves.
That’s one of the deep problems with journalists Mark they put the facts out as they see them and never defend what they say. Then when it is pointed out that they were in error the story that was on the front page is moved to page 7,8,or 9 with the correction. I’m not being critical of you, just the media in general including radio and TV. You both have the publics ear and I believe the public deserve a showdown. Don’t be to righteous it doesn’t look good. Your starting to sound like Charlie.
Mark, I totally disagree with Mr. Wheeler (and rosemary??). Your publications bring clarification and truth which most of the community knows. And now, more are finding out how misled they have been about many things in this community, including me.
They would love to see you “drop” to their level.
Please don’t do it. Keep up the good work and stay the course. You are well liked and well respected.
Mark,
I will state this again because I have listened to the radio show by Charlie Wilson….the one that has you riled up enough to bring it to the attention of the public.
The Professor of Baloney, aka Charlie Wilson, clearly stated that you were planning on ceasing publication of your InsideVero.
I was going to stay out of this debate but decided to jump in once Gary Wheeler chose to disagree with you. Remember Mark, Gary Wheeler and Charlie Wilson fancied themselves the Hanity and Combs of political debate on their blog a few years back called the Wheeler and Wilson Blog, or something like that. That blog was full of lies and name calling about anybody and anything they thought might get in their way as they pushed forth in the community with their agenda.
As I recall, the agenda of the day for them was to bash Bea Gardner and bash the Chamber of Commerce. The only thing the big guy did not do on their public blog was denigrate me because of my religion….That was only done to others in person.
Again Mark, you are correct to NOT debate or lower yourself to their level with a debate. Nothing good could ever come of it. And, yes Mark, journalists and bloggers like myself should make Charlie Wilson accountable. And, while doing so, we will continue to give him all the attention he seems to crave.
You can read more about this particular situation on Bea-isms http://beagardner.com/2014/01/bea-gardner-on-bob-soos-morning-magazine-129/
Respectfully, Gary, I don’t see where we have been shown to be in error, at least not as it relates to the matter in question.
In contrast, Charlie Wilson seems to say whatever he wants to say, true or not. For example, Charlie’s claim that he made arrangements to meet with leaders of the Oceanside Business Association and the Downtown Main Street group is simply untrue. There is no room for misinterpretation here. Charlie said he had arranged to meet with the leaders of those organizations, and they say they have not heard from him. Further, they insist, no meetings with Charlie or anyone else representing his new “chamber” are planned or contemplated.
Be a your wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you in the Arm.
Gary, Now you’re sounding like Charlie.
Why do I sound like Charlie?
“Bea, your wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you in the Arm,” sounds Wilson-esque.
I speak the truth. I would hope that I have some credibility with you Mark we have known each other a long time. I am not saying that about her to be mean, I have had many dealing with her and I do not say things like that lightly.
Gary, by saying what you did about Bea, you are clearly engaging in hyperbole. To the extent your statement is an exaggeration, it is not true.
Similarly, though Charlie Wilson may have sent letters requesting meetings with certain organizations, that act in and of itself does not constitute having “made arrangements to meet,” as he claimed. For example, if I send a letter to the Governor’s office requesting a meeting with Gov. Scott, I can hardly claim to have “made arrangements to meet with the Governor.” In the case if Wilson, making such a claim regarding the OBA and Downtown Main Street puts him in a negative light, when it become clear the leaders of those organizations, as of now, appear to have no intention of meeting with him.