Commentary — 14 June 2011

UPDATE 1: Mo’Kelly just now reached out AGAIN to Art Franklin as to his statement and why it wasn’t sent TO Mo’Kelly and to the accuracy of his statement’s contents.

Check out what he had to say…note the rhetoric was toned down.  No further admonition or request for retraction…of course.  Didn’t even mention it. So it seems that Art’s email does work…and so much for “demanding” a retraction.  See this for what it is readers.  Mo’Kelly is absolutely and completely transparent.

______________

[email protected]

to: [email protected]

Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 10:20AM

Subject: Re: RE: Really Art…really?

Mr. Kelly why do you feel my comment is personally directed at you? because it isn’t.

 

Art Franklin, CEO
Franklin Media Group, FMG
2221 Peachtree Rd. NE #D616
Atlanta, GA 30309 Franklin Media Group
__________________

Really Art…Really?  Was there someone ELSE who broke and stayed on top of this story?  Was there someone ELSE who was referenced in EVERY story regarding this around the net?

Really Art?

Let’s start telling the truth Art.  You didn’t even send the statement to Mo’Kelly.

UPDATE 2:

Mr. Kelly,

 

I received reports about a number of blogs including yours but did not personally read all of the blogs. I appreciate your offer to be fair and hope that is the case with all of your posts. Perhaps when the schedule permits we will have the opportunity to speak. Please understand that I don’t consider this  a game and was speaking with a few colleagues recently about how to properly recognize bloggers who seek accuracy, balance and fairness as writers who are news contributors.

 

There’s no need to battle. That won’t benefit either one of us.

 

BTW…your e-mail was sent to me at a time when I was dealing with a family death. I didn’t respond to anything until I returned home today and got a call from one of the local stations seeking a comment regarding the blogs about Mrs. Long.

 

Art Franklin, CEO
Franklin Media Group, FMG
2221 Peachtree Rd. NE #D616
Atlanta, GA 30309 Franklin Media Group
___________
Mo’Kelly’s final response…

Mr. Franklin,

 

I’m sorry for your loss.  But I must be clear.

For you to assail the supposed inaccuracy of the blogs yet in your email below acknowledge your lack of research prior to releasing your statement is a glaring contradiction.

 

I’m sure a lot of thought and preparation went into your statement which was email-blitzed to the media.  It’s more than difficult to reconcile the idea that in all of that feigned disgust, you weren’t sure what exactly you were responding to and to whom.

 

I will give you the benefit of the doubt that as a PR person you do your homework.  It is hard for me to believe you released that statement in absence of doing it.

 

So if I understand you correctly…you got a call today and you released a statement today and hadn’t even researched the origin of the stories, but were confident enough to blast the journalistic integrity of bloggers and the supposed “steep decline in reporting?”

 

I will leave you to tend to your family matters and again I am sorry for your loss.  But this issue is not one to be approached lightly.

 

Readers and listeners will find it more than slightly odd that New Birth found time to release a statement to the media about “bloggers” but nothing substantive of note regarding the spiritual healing process necessary for the body of Christ in the wake of the settlements.

 

Respectfully,

 

New Birth Ministries is going to mess around and make Mo’Kelly mad.  In fact,

Art Franklin

Mo’Kelly can’t type this post fast enough in order to get this out.

Here is the statement released by Art Franklin/New Birth regarding Vanessa Long…which was NOT sent directly to Mo’Kelly or The Mo’Kelly Report.  To my knowledge it wasn’t even sent to ANY blogger directly.  Keep that in mind as you read it.

See HERE.

Despite a very public attack against New Birth Church and its leadership, New Birth has chosen not to respond to rumors but remain focused on fulfilling the mission that God has for the ministry.

However, in this new digital world, along with a steep decline in quality reporting, many people can’t discern the difference between legitimate journalists and irresponsible bloggers. Recently, some blog entries have surfaced claiming to have anonymous sources stating that New Birth First Lady Elder Vanessa Long has left her husband. That claim is completely and absolutely false. Mrs. Long is very much a loving, dedicated and committed wife and mother.

It is unfortunate that anyone would make such hateful and damaging false claims of this nature. These cruel and insensitive rumors have the potential to cause immeasurable pain and suffering. Those involved should feel obligated to retract their earlier statements.

_____________

The above statement was NOT sent to Mo’Kelly.  Also, requests for retractions are ALWAYS sent to the media entity DIRECTLY, not in the form of a general statement to the press alleging “hateful and damaging” claims.

If all of what New Birth says were true, there should have been a cease and desist sent TO Mo’Kelly, not a general statement to the mainstream media about a story which (prior to now) hadn’t hit the mainstream media.

Going further, if everything which New Birth alleged was true in their statement, they’d be suing Mo’Kelly, not obliquely referring to Mo’Kelly.

Lastly, HERE is the original and unedited email sent to Art Franklin, dated and time-stamped asking for either a STATEMENT, an INTERVIEW or some other RESPONSE…PRIOR to publishing.

Art was contacted June 8th.  Clearly, they thought they could ride Mo’Kelly out and that Mo’Kelly had no real voice.

Wrong.  This is just gamesmanship and New Birth’s move.  Mo’Kelly will make the next one.

They messed with the wrong one.  This is what Mo’Kelly does.  Mo’Kelly WILL have his own “statement” forthcoming.

Game on…

______________

 

(Mo’Kelly) [email protected]

to: [email protected]

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 3:51PM

Subject: Re: Vanessa Long – The Mo’Kelly Report

 

Mr. Franklin,

I wanted to reach out to you in regards to sources which are reporting to me that Vanessa, the wife of Bishop Eddie Long has moved out of the family home, in fact taking one of the children with her.

Now I am not naive to believe that you would corroborate this story.  This is not the point of my email.  I did want to offer New Birth the opportunity to put forth a statement regarding the state of the family to include in my posting regarding this information.

My sources are very, very strong.

In the interest of fairness, New Birth should be allowed equal opportunity to refute or disprove any of the aforementioned suggestions.  Please forward a short statement to [email protected].

Or, if you are available for an audio interview (without any respect to settlement particulars) we could do that as well.

Respectfully,

Morris O’Kelly

The Mo’Kelly Report

********** (m)

[email protected]

https://mrmokelly.com

___________

You can’t “settle” with Mo’Kelly Bishop Long.  Very nice to see a letter from YOUR publicist denouncing bloggers and no response from your wife.

New Birth had Mo’Kelly’s request almost a week ago.

The story stands.  You didn’t even send the statement TO Mo’Kelly, Mo’Kelly isn’t retracting jack.  The sources are strong and corroborated.

You’re welcome to sue. The Mo’Kelly Report will neither be intimidated nor influenced by New Birth Ministries.

 

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Mo'Kelly

Morris W. O'Kelly (Mo'Kelly) is a columnist, radio and television commentator. Visit https://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo'Kelly. Find him on social media - @mrmokelly

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