NYT says AT&T gave free phones to Kris' supporters

The New York Times is stirring up trouble with an article that was published today stating AT&T gave away phones free of charge to two Arkansas-based voting parties that were held in honor of the state's favorite son Kris Allen last Tuesday so that the attendees could vote via texts for free. According to the Times:

Representatives of AT&T helped fans of Mr. Allen at the two Arkansas events by providing instructions on how to send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button, known as power texts. Power texts have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the show’s toll-free phone lines. The efforts appear to run afoul of “American Idol” voting rules in two ways. The show broadcasts an on-screen statement at the end of each episode warning that blocks of votes cast using “technical enhancements” that unfairly influence the outcome of voting can be thrown out.

This is much ado about nothing and is a sorry attempt at creating controversy out of thin air. In the grand scheme of things, the votes from a few free phones in Arkansas were not going to significantly effect the nearly 100 million votes cast last Tuesday, especially considering the fact that it was a landslide victory in favor of Kris.

The competition is over. Kris and Adam will both go on and have their own careers. So why are people (and the Times of all people) trying to discredit the results? People need to move on.