Ja: Don't confuse us with the facts

And in what many in the audience described as an 'undiplomatic' response from a United States representative, Ambassador Austin, who was down to address the audience as well, launched his attack. In his thick Caribbean accent, he accused Prof. Nettleford of presenting "half-baked truths" to "misguide" the public about President Bush. He cited as evidence of Bush's goodwill to poor Caribbean states, millions of dollars of U.S. assistance, including funds for fighting the deadly HIV/AIDS scourge. According to him, persons like Prof. Nettleford kept presenting statements that were unbalanced, giving a nuanced view of the reality.

He reprimanded the Caribbean media and politicians for not speaking out about the lack of press freedom in Cuba and said there was a crisis of credibility in journalism in the region. The Trinidad and Tobago media came in for a good dose of chastisement for not carrying a report sent to them by the ambassador. He used the opportunity to present the report in its entirety to the few people who remained to listen to him critise the Caribbean.

It's noteworthy that nobody said Ambassador Austin was telling falsehoods; inasmuch as his hearers could not argue with the facts of his content, they focused on really substantial issues like his style of delivery. Way to go! I guess the ambassador should have presented a more nuanced view of things.