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For the past few weeks, its no secret that the NY Daily News has it in for City Comptroller Candidate John Liu. They've accused him of playing the "immigrant card" and accused him of lying about the MTA's book keeping practices. Now, the latest attack involves John Liu's early childhood working in a sweatshop. Liu has made this a major part of his platform, citing his hard work nd long hours as a child teaching him the value of money. Consequently, Liu has garnered many endorsements from organized labor. The reporter interviewed Liu's mother who told her that she had "worked at home" most of the time. The reporter, Erin Einhorn (author of one of the previous articles) took that to mean that Liu and his mother never worked in those harsh conditions and that Liu was lying about helping his mother with her work. She further insinuates that the sweatshop story was "made up" to get sympathy from voters and organized labor.
A press release from Liu's campaign quite clearly demonstrates what the reporter failed to consider:
Dear Friend,
We all know that sweatshops exist – even in our modern ethical society
– but no one talks openly about it, especially not people who have
worked in factories. And many people, including journalists, simply
do not understand how these illegal industries operate.
Today's Daily news article (text in-full at end of message), "City
controller hopeful John Liu touts youth in sweatshop - only family
says it never happened", is a case-in-point.
What began as a profile suddenly turned into a misleading piece of
'gotcha' journalism. A reporter asked for an interview with my
parents to talk about my childhood, and we gave her unfettered access.
My mom was very reluctant and embarrassed to talk about her
experience working in the garment industry.
After the interview, the reporter asked me for a paystub to prove I
actually worked in the factory. We attempted to explain to the
journalist how sweatshops actually work. Unfortunately, we were
unable to dislodge her preconceived ideas about how illegal practices
in the garment industry work.
Not all sweatshops look like a scene from 'Norma Rae' or other
Hollywood movies, with people toiling in neat rows in a factory
setting. These factories do exist, but in addition, some sweatshops
use overseas labor involving children as young as 6 years old. Others
– including the one my mother worked in – combined factory hours with
home-based piece work to maximize the exploitation and squeeze the
most out of workers: even after leaving the factory, the work never
ends.
Equally important for sweatshop owners are the weapons of intimidation
and shame, which keep parents from admitting they have involved their
own children in unlawful work situations.
For my parents and so many Asian parents, having worked in a sweatshop
is a shameful past and people choose to bury those memories. It’s
time we brought them out in the open and let people tell their stories
without being subjected to cynical attacks.
35 years ago, I worked with my mom – inside a sweatshop and at home.
For me, it’s not a shameful past. I make no apology for the work
ethic I gained from toiling away many hours in a factory, and I remain
as committed as ever to exposing and ending the sweatshop system.
I am running for Comptroller based on my record of accomplishments and
my fiscal expertise and my vision for what the Office can do. I am
also running to expand opportunity for the millions of New Yorkers who
don't have a job as well as those who work in sweatshops in the
retail, restaurant, laundry and many, many other industries.
Sincerely,
John C. Liu
Lets look at the Daily News for what it is. Its a trashy and unprofessional newspaper that makes it money with "gotcha" journalism and breaking "scandals". At least once a week the front page isnt news, but a contest or free giveaway. Nothing says journalism like a newspaper with "FREE MONEY" plastered across the cover. The gossip pages are featured as prominently as actual news. The systematic attacks on John Liu and his campaign are clear signs that they oppose his candidacy and likely have their own candidate in mind. It's not surprising that thier half-assed reporter failed to read up on NYC sweatshops and how owners get around labor laws. Pathetic journalism to say the least. I'm not saying that newspapers and other media shouldn't be critical of politicians, but there is a HUGE difference between critical journalism and a hatchet job.
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I agree with you on everything except one point: The Daily news is surpassed in its incompetence by the NY Post.
Let's hope people dont pay attention to such a blatant hatchet job.
Tell You How Liu Told lies:
On May 20th, 2008, Liu was on Main Street in Flushing and witnessed the violence against Falun Gong practitioners there. However, during a scheduled press conference at his office on June 30, 2008, he denied knowledge of any violence during the attacks, although the local police had arrested at least 12 assailants. After the press conference, Liu turned the Falun Gong practitioners who had come to present their cases to him out of his office, refusing to hear what they had to say. He had others to meet with—the very individuals who had been attacking the practitioners. Although Falun Gong practitioners have shown evidence of the violent attacks against them in Flushing, Liu denied any knowledge of it.
Again, I wish anybody would not use abusive language if you disagree with what I said. If you use abusive language, people would think that John Liu taught you to do this. I don’t have evidence to say that John Liu has taught you to use abusive language, so I do not people have such misunderstanding. I only have evidence to say that John Liu has become a popular Liar Star now according to Daily News on Sunday.
I know in Communist China, the Communist Cult will put me in jail if I said something they disagree, but here is USA, you can only give your opinion if you disagree with anybody’s words.
You just don't give up do you?
I saw that your're posting on the Daily News website and probably everywhere the same smears without thinking about what you are copying and pasting.
I was there on June 30th and this is what happened:
Around 5pm (1 hour before the office closed) several INNOCENT members of the community came to the office to complain about photos of themselves published in the Chinese version of the Epoch Times. The captions indentified them as communist agents. Most of these individuals were passing through, some on the way to the store, some dropping their children off at school. Some may have taunted the Falun Gong but one individual merely asked a question before the camera was shoved in his face and his photo taken. When these individuals came as a group to complain, the Falun Gong brought a bigger group to protest. They picketed outside the office and roughly 40 others jammed the narow hallway where the office is located. They quickly became unruly and attempted to intimidate said individuals.
Reporters for Falun Gong-run Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty Television resisted pleas from myself and others to turn off their cameras and form an orderly line. Obviously, they refused. The cameras were used to take more photos in an attempt to further intimidate the indivudals that wanted to state their case. Eventually, a few officers from the precient had to respond to clear the hallway.
The individuals in question made an appointment and attempted to make their case in an orderly manner. Allowing their side of the story to be heard does not constitute an endorsement of the CCP. Furthermore, FLG members were also going to be given a chance to make their case on that day but with you showing up as an unruly mob, the police were forced to send you home.
Now let me job your memory. What happened about a week later at the library? At LEAST 40 FLG members were allowed to make their case before Councilman Liu and other elected officials. During that time, all you did was show a movie on FLG persecution in China. Its clear to me that you wanted some wild proclamation from a Chinese-American official in NYC recognizing your cult and giving yourself legitimacy in the community. When you did not get that, you started harrasing the staff of both Ellen Young and John Liu.
Lastly, I would like to ask you, Peter what violence SPECIFICALLY was inflicted on FLG members that day (5/20/08). I have tried numerous times to get a straight answer from your group (Police reports, medical reports on injuries) but all I get in response are wild proclamations about democracy and purported persecution. It's clear that some were booked that day for disorderly conduct and destruction of property (the cameras) but I have yet to see definitive proof of physical harm that day.
May I remind you that at one point or another you have accused two elected officials, the Chinese Consulate, several area businesses, community and fraternal organizations as well as the 109th Precient (until they gave you 12 officers for protection) of orchastrating plots against you. Do you not see that there is some nonsense here?
Who do you think you are? You can force me give up or shut up. I have told you before: here is USA, not in Communist China. You can not use the way of Communist Cult to repress anybody who speak dissidents. You can only give your opinion.
Now you said Daily News’ article on Sunday is not entirely truthful. Can you explain which part of the article is not true? The journalist just copied what John Liu said in the video and what his parents said. Even John Liu himself didn’t say what in the article is not true, how could you say that?
If you are not able to explain it, it then will add one more liar in the event.
I'll repeat myself since its apparent you only read the first sentence of everything I write.
1. Calm down, I'm trying to reason with you. I asked you for evidence behind your claim on the other post and your defensive response tell me you have none.
2. Read the press release. It is common practice for factory bosses to force their workers to work at home to a. avoid labor inspection b. get around maximum hour laws
3. Working in such conditions and involving your children in such conditions is a source of shame within the community. This is why everyone's story is differing. Why they would interview the sweatshop boss is beyond me. It's clear that the owners won't be telling the truth.
4. Yes, this is the USA. In this country we have "innocent until proven guilty". Now show me some evidence or it will become apparent who the liar is.
Oh, there we go. Godwin's Law strikes again!
Truth be told, I'm not sure exactly how we're abusing Peter Zhou and the Falun Gong. After all, the FLG are the ones who are launching the attacks--if anything, we are simply setting the record straight and defending ourselves, not to mention the reputation of New York City's first Asian American elected official.
For someone who seems to take an awful amount of time attacking API elected officials on irrelevant slights, you seem to be awfully sensitive. Grow a thick skin, Peter. If the debate is getting too intense for you, rather than changing the topic and screaming repression and oppression, either step up your debating skills or just bow down and admit defeat.
I think Calvin has got Peter by the hairs but judging from Peter's past behavior, he'll probably just repeat his last statements and charge Calvin with being a Communist or something.
Sigh.
As for Godwin's Law being invoked here, I don't think Peter has made the dreaded Nazi reference. It'll be interesting to see if he tries.
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