The Occasional Observer

3 comments:

Fredo said...

The MSM attacking a GOP candidate? Not exactly surprising. Here's what does make this story surprising:

1. Why use it now, when it will be subsumed beneath the bigger story of the ongoing Dem primary struggle?

2. Why use it now, when they haven't even made a convincing case that the allegation is true? How about finishing your research before you go to print?

No evidence, no dots connected, just innuendo based on the fears of a few advisors that is probably grounded in perception, not reality. The Times story sinks to a new journalistic low, even for them. The blowback is apparent: they're getting taken to task this morning by the WSJ, FoxBusiness, and a columnist in the NY Daily News, and that's the only 3 journals I've read. I'm sure there is and will be more blowback as well, unless they have the goods in their hip pocket, and are choosing to dole it out in drips and drabs.

2/21/2008 9:57 AM

Fredo said...

BTW, you have to check out today's NY Daily News. In what may be the dumbest piece of editing EVER, the front page screams out "McCain Shocker!!!" with a pic of the GOP nominee.

Then when you turn to the inside page with the story, there is an opinion column alongside the news story (that recounts the Times' allegations) that basically says the story is bunk and bad journalism. And yet there it is in screaming color on their own front page!?

I'm so confused.

2/21/2008 9:58 AM

Fredo said...

Fox Business

Here's the WSJ article, which contains this tidbit:

Robert Bennett, a Washington attorney representing McCain, said McCain's staff provided the Times with "approximately 12 instances where Sen. McCain took positions adverse to this lobbyist's clients and her public relations firm's clients," but none of the examples were included in the paper's story.

NY Daily News/Michael Goodwin column slamming the initial Times story.

2/21/2008 10:04 AM