On Friday I mentioned the segment I saw on CNNHN, where GTA IV was trashed, utterly and ridiculously, on the Glenn Beck show. Clips of the segment surfaced on YouTube, (courtesy of GamePolitics readers, I think) and have successfully made my blood boil all over again.

For those of you who are unaware, most, if not all of the information about GTA IV in these clips is flat-out wrong or grossly exaggerated. I don’t even want to get into it, because this whole issue is aggravating on various levels. In any case, using this contact page, here’s an email I sent to CNN to give them a piece of my mind:

“My comment is in regard to the discussion of Grand Theft Auto IV with Jack Thompson and Gavin McKiernan.

This is one of the most appalling and deplorable displays of “journalism” I’ve ever seen. The report is ripe with falsehoods about the game – this is libel, and I think you should be held legally accountable for it. I’m sure you’re aware that Jack Thompson is not a reliable source of information, as his obsessive campaign against Take Two and other misdemeanors have him on the verge of being thrown off the Florida Bar. I suspect the majority of your viewers are unaware of this, and you know it. Consequently, what we’re seeing here is more of a theatrical presentation under the guise of being legitimate coverage of an issue. Legitimate coverage would entail things like a credible guest to provide a counter-point to the discussion. As one of the most trusted news agencies in the world, you have a responsibility to deliver well-researched information – not personal opinions misconstrued as facts.

The public would appreciate some sort of response from you on this. Perhaps on a future episode you should amend the false and misleading statements made on your show.”

I don’t know if Mr. Beck will see a retaliation akin to the Cooper Lawrence-Mass Effect fiasco a few months back, but he does have a book on Amazon. Time will tell, but I don’t expect the same thing to happen again – and sort of hope it doesn’t. As I expressed at the time, I don’t think the book-bomb method is particularly constructive.