U.S. newspapers tread lightly in rumor on Kerry infidelity (Wash Times)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040216-121913-7446r.htm

The story is being shushed around the family dinner table — and in newspaper city rooms — but all the neighbors are talking about it.

What the neighbors are talking about are rumors of marital infidelity by Democratic White House front-runner John Kerry, and they have learned about them from the Internet, talk radio and the foreign press.

There has no been confirmation of the infidelity rumors, nor any admission by the parties directly involved. Mr. Kerry himself said there was nothing for him to talk about on a radio show Friday.

But the foreign press, U.S. tabloids and the Internet are writing and talking about it anyway. American newspapers are getting it into print by writing about not talking about it.

"White House hopeful John Kerry's campaign plunged into crisis last night amid sex scandal rumors," reported the Daily Record of Glasgow, Scotland. "U.S. website The Drudge Report, which revealed former President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky, claimed married Kerry had a similar relationship with an intern."

Sneaky, sleazy, way for Moonie Times to get this in print

[buckeye1]

1. So why post it?

I can find Drudge, what is your problem. Dean is still a loser.

[EXE619K]

2. What an intellectual response that was.

We shall see if "Dean is still the loser" come November.

We shall see.

:)

[still_one]

4. no offense

but even if Kerry dropped out, Edward would most likely be the candidate, not Dean...

[EXE619K]

6. There are many ways for a battle to be defined as a "win".

More potential voters one "shuns", the less likely for a victory.

[still_one]

7. I am not shunning anyone

I am looking at the situation realistically.

Dean has not picked up one state yet for whatever reason, and Edwards is in second in most of the races except the one he won.

If you look at the unbiased polls, they follow this form:

1. Kerry
2. Edwards
3. Dean

I am not saying anthing is impossible, but it looks essentially like a two man race at this time.

As far as I am concerned I will vote for whoever gets the nomination, and that includes Dean.

[EXE619K]

9. As you can see, I responded to another person....

in regards to the "shun" thing.

Not you, of course.

However, It's just a reminder that people will do funny things due to prolonged negativity in any situation.

That's all.

[Bunny]

10. Actually, you did NOT respond to another person

with regard to the shun thing. You may think you did, but you didn't. Just a reminder that people will do funny things due to prolonged negativity in any situation.

[Bandit]

23. Here is the delegate count so far

Kerry 577 ~ Dean 198 ~ Edwards 166 ~ Sharpton 16 ~ Kucinich 2 The candidate needs 2163 delegates to lock it up

[Skittles]

22. I think Dean very muched energized the Democratic base

indeed I do.

[Onlooker]

8. Oh for heaven's sake

A lot of us were Dean supporters, but now he's obviously a long-shot at best. You don't have to be obnoxious about it.

I'm okay with Kerry, but I come to DU to see what the latest is on the right-wing sleaze campaign. If someone posts stories from Drudge or the Washington Times, it's just to keep us informed, not to knock Kerry.

[RamboLiberal]

18. If you don't want to see it don't read it Buckeye

Let's all put our heads in the sand like good Dems and not know what the Rethugs are saying and doing. Don't read the opposition, cancel your cable. Live in la-la land. Lose in November.

[Newsjock]

3. Breaks their hearts, doesn't it

They're getting quite concerned that the Big Scandal Story hasn't erupted in the media the way they wanted. So now the talking point is to express shock! and outrage! that Kerry is somehow getting a "pass" on this one.

It's in their newspapers now, and it's the only thing I heard all weekend on their talk radio. They're not giving up.

[still_one]

5. what could he do

Let's assume the story is NOT true. What could Kerry do about it anyway?

[Cooley Hurd]

12. So far, only the RW media is providing details...

Drudge
Hollinger
NewsCorp
Moonie Times

First hand reporting (i.e. reporting that is not a regurgitation of the details, listing Drudge as the only source) of this rumor has been limited to these news entities. All are deeply biased conservative news sources. The only name missing from this list is Tribune-Review Publishing Co (Scaife). Surely, he can't be far behind...

Senator Kerry's "intern" -- all smoke, no fire - This is panning out to be a rumor. All Democrats, despite their candidate affiliation, should be fighting this type of tactic by the RW media.

I'm a Dean supporter and have been critical of Kerry, but we all need to band together and fight this. Dems reveling or perpetuating this unfounded rumor in hopes of furthering their candidate should be ashamed of themselves...

[emulatorloo]

11. "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" Page 3

Isn't this whole pattern (Drudge to Fox Rush to Wash Times) just pretty standard operating procedure????

Franken re Fox News Washington Times, New York Post, Editorial pages of WSJ,Talk Radio:

"The members of the right-wing media . . .employ a tried-and-true methodology. First, they concoct an imflammatory story that serves their political goals. . .They repeat it. . .They embellish it. . .They try to push it into the mainstream media. All too often they suceed. . .Occasionally, they fail. . .But even thier failures serve their agenda, as evidence of liberal bias. Win-win. You got to admit. It's a good racket."

[snippy]

17. Exactly. This is how the republican semen sleuths work.

Bush must be a little desperate to have Turd Blossom Rove bring this Bushshit out this early though.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

13. The Daily Record. Yet another rubbish tabloid.

Again, of what concern is it to them? Isn't some Rangers player shagging a supermodel this week? That's their usual level.

[rooboy]

14. Washington Times treads lightly re: Rev Moon & Bush Family. n/t

[Jazzgirl]

15. Who's surprised that the Washington Times is leaking this here.

After all, it does belong to Rupert Murdoch. You know they've been sitting on this for a long time just trying to figure how they're going to leak it out. Leak just enough to make people "wonder" if it really happened. I bet Rove and Rupert locked lips on this months ago and decided this dirty little secret would be leaked just before the Democratic candidate was selected. They have a lot of nerve talking about dirty politics.

[Cooley Hurd]

16. The Washington Times is owned by Rev. Moon...

...but they all go to each other's Christmas parties, if you know what I mean.;)

[mobuto]

19. So the Washington Times

is covering the Glasgow Daily Record which is covering the Drudge Report which is covering second or third hand rumers, and is complaining that other American news media would rather get their information a little closer to the source?

Arnaud de Borchegrave, your journalistic integrity is calling.

[snippy]

20. He won't take that call.

[Nevernose]

24. Jesus, when you put it like that

It's just like coverage of Clinton all over again.

[readmylips]

21. If I were Kerry....

'Matt Drudge, if you want to confront me with sleeze, here's the time and the place, in person to my face."

Kerry needs to learn how to win the media, the soundbites and the headlines. Bushie won the headline 'bush discloses all his military records.' It was all a lie but bushie won the headlines for the whole weekend.

[LiberalFighter]

25. Definitely not top quality journalist reporting...

(snip)
There has no been confirmation of the infidelity rumors, nor any admission by the parties directly involved.
(snip)

They need to know how to write a sentence!