Update: Vice Mayor Kim calls the Epoch Times “critical to our democracy.” She’s been an elected official for nearly three years; how can she be this misinformed about this publication? She doesn’t read it. Her staff failed to tell her this was a bad idea. It’s proof she doesn’t do her homework. No, The Epoch Times is not critical to our democracy. And they publish evidence for this every day.
There are times services public relations pros use a service that alerts them when a publication is working on a story and needs sources for the reporters and editors to get the story into print. The policy at my agency is to offer clients every opportunity we uncover and let them decide. There are times The Epoch Times is working on a story that is a fit and my team has presented this opportunitiy to clients. Some clients are insistent we never offer them a story for this publications (others want nothing to do with Twitter since Elon Musk took over). They don’t want their company in any story published by The Epoch Times.
*****
I was working on this story Tuesday and was scooped by Irvine Watchdog’s Jemery Ficarola this morning and he did a fantastic job. Here’s his article on the event. So his post means I can make mine shorter.
From the Irvine Watchdog piece:
Social media posts reveal that Irvine City Councilmember and 2024 Irvine Mayoral candidate, Tammy Kim, attended and celebrated conspiracy laden click-bait publisher, The Epoch Times, with the opening of its new Irvine satellite office. In attendance was OC Board of Education (OCBE) Trustee Mari Barke, former CA State Senator, John Moorlach, Greater Irvine Chamber President, Bryan Starr, and a representative on behalf of current OC Board of Supervisors Director, Donald Wagner, among other mainly right-wing Republicans.
…
Pushback by fellow Democrats have been unforgiving and abundant. In response, Kim defended that she “…debated about whether or not to attend, but felt it was important to be there to provide a progressive voice. If given the chance, I would also talk to the “newspaper” funded by my democrat colleague (an apparent reference to Irvine Community News and Views) that pays for sponsored ads with fake news.” It remains to be seen if this mistake will pass or haunt the Councilmember in her 2024 Mayoral election. We certainly live in interesting times.
Now, The Epoch Times is a legitimate newspaper as is Irvine Community News & Views, which Kim rails against as a “fake newspaper.” If you look at the history of newspapers, many were founded with publishers who had a specific political bias. Alexander Hamilton’s New York Post is still publishing the sort of muckraking news he published himself against his political enemies. The only “fake news” out there are parody sites like The Onion, Bablylon Bee and supermarket tabloids like The Weekly World News. The Epoch Times is a right-wing publication known for writing conspiracy theories and treating them as legitimate news. The Watchdog piece has lots of documentation about Epoch Times.
But the bigger picture here is Kim’s inability to “read the room.”
In the photo with some of OC’s best known right-wingers, Kim isn’t holding up a progressive argument here by posing for the photo; Epoch Times could care less. Doesn’t anyone on her staff know this was an invitation she should have declined? You would have thought by now Kim would be aware of the editorial leanings of mass media outlets, and if she didn’t know what Epoch Times was all about, all she had to do is take Supervisor Don Wagner’s word for the publication as a great source of news. But she needs those photos to show “Tammy in Action” as her monthly newsletter says.
For Kim, it’s another picture in the paper to share on social media. Maybe she should start lining up appearance on OAnn and Newsmax.
Tammy Shin er Kim er whatever endorsed Farrahkhan for reelection instead of supporting a hometown candidate of Korean origin. Farrah khan is a lying, racist with a propensity for stabbing people in the back. As for this, she is a council member and welcoming new businesses is part and parcel of the job description. Part of her official duties. And our own media outfits spread disinformation, propaganda and conspiracy theories.
Also, Ficarola’s article (is the Irvine Watchdog a legitimate news source) neglects to mention the President of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce is in the picture too.
I didn’t mention that he was in the photo because the article was already way too long and opted only to speak about Wagner and Barke, arguably the most well known figures in that group. I did mention the Irvine Chamber president in the article with this line: “ In attendance were OC Board of Education (OCBE) Trustee Mari Barke, former CA State Senator, John Moorlach, Greater Irvine Chamber President, Bryan Starr, and a representative on behalf of current OC Board of Supervisors Director, Donald Wagner, among other mainly right-wing Republicans.” There were also other Irvine Chamber ambassadors present as well.
Mostly playing devil’s advocate Jeremy. I’ve got no real bones to pick with you. Wish more of my neighbors were like you.
Is Bryan Starr a right wing Republican?
Yes
Look at all the individuals who are endorsing this dinghy ⛵️ broad.
Cottie Petrie Norris
Katrina Foley
Fiona Ma
Judy Cha
Ag Rob Bonta
Sharon quirk silva
Dave Min
Brad Sherman
Betty Yee
Ashleigh aitken
Valerie Amezcua
Fred Jung
John Stephens (attorney)
Richard Hurt
Isn’t that the bigger problem?
Heck, Bonta and some of the others endorsed Farrahkhan.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=326601239899034&set=pcb.326601603232331
Farrahkhan with Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Bryan Starr)
Why is Bryan Starr taking photo opportunities with a person who is a lying, racist with a propensity for stabbing people in the back? Would he take photo opportunities with a person or elected official who enables Holocaust deniers too or is it just deniers of Christian genocide that he is A-OK with?
Farrah
is none of these characteristics. I’m thinking you had a few drinks at lunch
Chubby,
Mark Newgent called and said you were poo and your opinion re who is who and what is what is worthless.
Did you ask Mark about his successful PPP business that he bragged about in the Register and on Social Media, but in legal filings admitted he didn’t make a dime?
Has Tammy Kim every used another name? If so, how many and what were they? Does she have any weakness that would me her capable of being a candidate to sell her influence? These are the real questions seeking answers.
So far it yes. At least one. Shin. Based on public records, it’s within the realm of possibility.
Next.
Are you drunk? Your sentences make little sense
I direct you to OCSC criminal/traffic case no. IRC049653.
Somehow Tammy has two legal surnames. That’s a cool trick. Can help you hide your past.
She didn’t change her name to Kim and she also officially goes by Shin. Hmm sumptin fishy
well stop the press; a traffic ticket is somehow cause for concern. Is your law practice failing? You seem to have only time to comment on blogs
Mr. Magoo strikes again. You miss the point. Her legal name is not Tammy Kim, bozo.
She takes title to property in a name other than Tammy Kim.
Carry on, Chubby. You went after her for a photo op that appears to have been taken in her official duties as vice mayor. oooh stop the presses.
I believe she’s divorced
As of when? And in what jurisdiction?
I also comment at City Council meetings and OC Human Relations Commission meetings. Get your record straight.
Maybe there is an extra seat at Diamond’s kitchen table.
Now that would be a LAW FIRM to rival John Horner,errr….I mean Mike Fox!
Why is anyone intimidated by the Epoch times if it is disinformation with far right beliefs? It should be easy to refute the unvaccinated data and election fraud. And my favorite…why small school boys wore masks while playing soccer OUTSIDE 2 1/2 years in a culture killing tyranny? This dude’s opinion contains labels. I thought you liberals were supposed to be the smart ones.