Great Example of the Specific Denial

Consumerist, which already delights in smacking Comcast whenever it can -- and why shouldn't they? -- has been digging into a supposed list of "VIPs" that Comcast keeps in the DC area this week. The latest entry is particularly amusing, for the Comcast quote at the end.

Comcast does not and has not offered special service, perks or free upgrades to lawmakers or public officials. Comcast does not and has not operated a dedicated VIP phone number or Web site in any market including the Beltway region.

Note that this, like most denials of the type, does not actually deny what Consumerist was asking about: that Comcast kept up lists of VIPs, prioritized their communications, and went out of their way to make those particular customers happy.

Comcast instead says they don't have a separate phone number or website -- which they don't need, since they can detect incoming phone numbers -- and that they don't offer "special" things to those people. "Special" is a weasel word; if Comcast has ever offered a service, perk, or free upgrade to anyone not on the VIP list -- and I'm sure they do, now and again -- then routinely doing so for VIPs is not "special." And thus they refute Bishop Berkeley.

There's a fine art to denying B when you're accused of A, and Comcast is clearly a master at it.