Lies or inaccurate information?

Don Surber checks into comments on this post to disagree with my position. He says, "No investigative reporters do not lie. Sorry. They investigate."

I have to differ, particularly in this case. I'm the last one to defend dishonesty, but at a time when undercover police routinely mix into student bodies in order to effect small time drug busts, I don't see how you can expect a 17 year old kid to make a moral judgment about conducting a sting investigation.

The cop is lying by Don's standard and yet he is praised for exposing a crime. The teenager is criticized for emulating authority figures and effectively doing the same thing. What's the difference? One could argue any such operation requires a disguise.

Sorry, but the kid exposed a serious breach of ethics in our military recruiting practices that you can be certain is being played out across America, even in West Virginia. I can't think of another way he could have accomplished it and he documented his work meticulously.

My praise stands. We owe him a debt of thanks for exposing a corrupt practice.