Krugman strikes back at CNN, Wolf and WH:"Smear w/out Fear"

[DeepModem Mom]

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Smear Without Fear
By PAUL KRUGMAN

Published: April 2, 2004


....CNN passed along a smear (that David Letterman edited the tape of the Florida kid) that it attributed to the White House. When the smear backfired, it declared its previous statements inoperative and said the White House wasn't responsible. Sound familiar?

On Tuesday, I mentioned remarks by CNN's Wolf Blitzer; here's a fuller quote, just to remove any ambiguity: "What administration officials have been saying since the weekend, basically, that Richard Clarke from their vantage point was a disgruntled former government official, angry because he didn't get a certain promotion. He's got a hot new book out now that he wants to promote. He wants to make a few bucks, and that his own personal life, they're also suggesting there are some weird aspects in his life."

Stung by my column, Mr. Blitzer sought to justify his words, saying that his statement was actually a question, and also saying that "I was not referring to anything charged by so-called unnamed White House officials as alleged today." Silly me: I "alleged" that Mr. Blitzer said something because he actually said it, and described "so-called unnamed" officials as unnamed because he didn't name them....

***

....administration officials shouldn't be able to spread stories without making themselves accountable. If an administration official is willing to say something on the record, that's a story, because he pays a price if his claims are false. But if unnamed "administration officials" spread rumors about administration critics, reporters have an obligation to check the facts before giving those rumors national exposure. And there's no excuse for disseminating unchecked rumors because they come from "the White House," then denying the White House connection when the rumors prove false. That's simply giving the administration a license to smear with impunity.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/opinion/02KRUG.html

[Karenina]

1. Slamdunk!

.

[izzie]

2. I wonder how many like me does not believe anything from the WH?

And also do we as tax payer pay someone to sit around and watch each news station? Maybe you pull down 100,000 heath care and your job title is "Watch CNN for remarks Boy George does not like"Wolf sure has no balls as my sailor husband used to say.

[Vickers]

3. Cool story, DeepModem Mom! Lemme ask this:

How many times do "journalists" (sic) like Blitzer have to be stung by complicity in WH lies and smears before they say "Hey, ya know what? I'm tired of getting stung by WH bullshit, since it's my ass hanging in the wind trying to explain things later on, and not my WH source" ?????

Wake up, Wolfie! If yer "unnamed sources" are making you look stoopid, DROP 'EM!!!

edit: my spelling sux

[BootinUp]

4. This is turning into a little war

And Krugman just over ran their camp! LOL.

[gottaB]

5. Administration Officials Suggest that A Prominent NYT Columnist

Wears women's panties.

People are asking, What color?

Tune in to the Randi Rhodes show to see for yourself.

http://www.airamericaradio.com

[maddezmom]

6. take that...Wolfie

:spank:

[monarch]

7. Can't wait to hear Wolfie's response

to this column. Krugman makes this liberal's life worth living.

[R Hickey]

8. Wolf Blitzer has some weird aspects to his life.

Wolf Blitzer is not to be trusted. All I know is what my eyes and ears tell me, but it is quite obvious that Wolf is being deliberatly obtuse when it comes to the Democrats, or anti-Bush Republicans.

Like so many people in the media, Wolf Blitzer gives me the impression of receiving money from the Right. Wolf probably receives annual grants and stiepens from various Enron-style corporations, which the gullible viewer is never told about.

I call them gentlemen's bribes. These bribes, whatever the bribers and bribe-takers call them, should be discolosed to the viewers, before each broadcast, rather than have phonys like Wolf, pretend to be objective.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Bill Schneider presumably gets a paycheck from the AEI,

the right-wing "think tank" of which he is a fellow, as well as a paycheck from CNN for his role as "senior political analyst." His association with AEI is in his bio on CNN's website, but is never mentioned on air.

[leftchick]

23. Well he was employed once by the Jerusalem Post...

That says a lot right there....

[Zech Marquis]

10. Paul Krugman is the MAN at NYT!

he makes buying a hand copy worth the effort. I always enjoy the way he dissects the BFEE's numerous schemes and explains the process step by step. Mister Krugman, you're awesome! :bounce:

PS--I hope he gets an interview on Air America :evilgrin:

[nostamj]

17. Krugman is scheduled for the Al Franken Show TODAY

announced earlier in the week.

12-3 EST

[bklyncowgirl]

11. Tell it like it is!

About those who tell it like it isn't.

Defining the candidate is what the election game is all about. Let's hope that incidents like this make it clear beyond us "latte sipping, New York Times reading" liberals that Bush and his gang are a bunch of nasty sleazebag liars that make Nixon and his crew look like rank amateurs in comparison.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Welcome to DU, bklyncowgirl!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. Welcome, bklyncowgirl!

You are right! And don't believe the Shrub and Company when they say that only New Yorkers are liberals. Right here in the heartland, in Ashcroft country, there are plenty of liberals and a bunch of disgruntled old line conservatives who are itching to boot this bunch of criminals out of office!

[KharmaTrain]

14. Paging Howie Kurtz...Ahem, Ahem

Think the "paragon of journalistic virtue" will shed a "critical" eye on his own paycheck this weekend? He's got plenty to work with...

The Letterman flap...this is more than a gag or an embarassment...Dave caught media bias and spin in mid motion and he's not letting go. CNN's got egg all over it's face and the more they stonewall the more he'll stay on it...and find even more. That token appolgy by Kagan last night didn't cut it.

The Krugman slur by Blitzer is far more devious. Combine this with Schneider's non-stop Kerry bashing and planting the buzz that his polls are in "free fall" (based on his own contrived numbers) is spreading slander and misinformation on what is supposed to be a neutral news source. Opinion is supposed to be clearly defined...and analysis is not opinion! Conjecture is not anaylsis! Undisclosed sources that toss slander aren't impune!

I predict Kurtz will do a 5 minute piece on each...playing the Krugman thing as a disgruntled NYT (or NUT in RW jargon) writer...then the Letterman thing as an Ooops. He may get a little critical and try to feign indignation as to the White House (Scotty...bad Scotty) getting caught in mid-spin. Then he'll trot out Jonas Judas Goldberg and some psuedo-lefty scribe and they'll downplay both stories as "part of the heat of an election year".

[BootinUp]

20. bullseye.

I can't add much to that laser accurate post. But I was also thinking about what will Kurtz have to say. I really don't watch him because his show is so worthless, but I might have to catch it this week.

[Corgigal]

15. Bush White House

has plenty of time to monitor what Letterman is showing on his show on any given night but NO time to attend one dead military members funeral. This media isn't even allowed to take pictures of the dead being flown home on the planes so we don't even know if anyone shows up there. Of course they believe monitoring Letterman is more important of course, the dead don't vote.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Good post, IMRadioactive --

CNN, it seems, is the one with the "credibility problem." And Kurtz is in a difficult position, even if he wanted to address the issue -- he works for CNN!

(On edit: meant to post in response to #14.)

[KharmaTrain]

19. Thanks DM Mom...

I appreciate your thoughtful posts.

Credibility problems are all over the place. Letterman shed a little light on a huge game that's been going on for years. Kurtz will play "adult" yet we know he's just as conflicted as the people he's supposed to be analyizing.

Krugman needs to open up loudly...find a way onto the other networks. One would think MSGOP would love to trot him onto some show to slime their competitor...even if it makes the regime look bad.

Cheers.

[Bread and Circus]

18. Hey, maybe there is intelligent life in journalism....

[BootinUp]

21. Krugman is one of the very few

right now. We should probably be writing to him to express our gratitude.

edited for a really silly error...wheres my coffee!

[Iceburg]

22. Be sure to write Krugman and thank him

There is a war going on write now amongst the media -- the truth seekers versus the liars/infotainers. These brave soldiers need our support.

[Poor Richard]

24. One Word: LIbel

Once some of these "journalists" gest sued for this crap they will start checking facts again

[DeepModem Mom]

35. Welcome to DU, Poor Richard!

[calimary]

34. AND make sure that CNN knows, too.

Obviously Wolfie has been reading Krugman and doesn't like his shit being exposed. What? Getting SENSITIVE, are we now, Wolfie dear? He has A LOT to get sensitive about. We should make sure he knows WE know.

(FROM DUer bigtree – 3/2004) Use the responses to strike back at the attacks, here and elsewhere.

“MEET THE PRESS”: [e-mail]

MSNBC-Phone: [phone]

Opinions: mailto:[e-mail]

News: mailto:[e-mail]

Letters to the Editor: mailto:[e-mail]

MSNBC on the Internet
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
________________________________________________________________

CNN- (404) 827 – 1500

CNN TV: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv /

CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/dotcom /
_________________________________________________________________

[e-mail]

Readers' Representative Office: http://www.latimes.com/services/site/la-comment-readersrep.story

Los Angeles Times
202 W. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
[phone]

The Times Orange County
1375 Sunflower Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1697
[phone]

Los Angeles Times
Valley Edition
20000 Prairie Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311
[phone]
Los Angeles Times
Ventura County Edition
93 S. Chestnut Street
Ventura, CA 93001
[phone]
_________________________________________________________________

New York Times:

To Write The Publisher or President: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html#o

Letters to the Editor: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html#a

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
E-mail to [e-mail] .

OP-ED/EDITORIAL
For information on Op-Ed submissions, call [phone] or send article to [e-mail]" target="_blank">[e-mail] . To write to the editorial page editor, send to [e-mail] .

NEWS DEPARTMENT
To send comments and suggestions (about news coverage only) or to report errors that call for correction, e-mail [e-mail] or leave a message at 1-888-NYT-NEWS.
The Editors
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

The Newsroom
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]

PUBLIC EDITOR
To reach Daniel Okrent, who represents the readers, e-mail [e-mail] or call [phone].

TO WRITE THE PUBLISHER OR PRESIDENT

Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Chairman & Publisher:
[e-mail] .

Janet L. Robinson, President & General Manager:
[e-mail] .
_________________________________________________________________

USA Today:

Letters to the Editor: http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback/feedback-online.aspx?type=1...

USA TODAY / USATODAY.com
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22108-0605
_________________________________________________________________

Washington Post:

How can I contact Washington Post writers?: http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

How do I submit a letter to the editor?: http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

How do I submit an Op-Ed piece?
http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

How do I contact the Ombudsman?: http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20071
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
__________________________________________________________________

More:

National Newspapers: http://newslink.org/--news.html

Television by state: http://newslink.org/stattele.html

Radio by State: http://newslink.org/statradi.html

Networks-

Radio: http://newslink.org/netr.html

Television: http://newslink.org/nett.html

(CBS) 60 Minutes:

ADDRESS:
60 Minutes
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

PHONE: [phone]

TRANSCRIPTS: 1-800-777-TEXT

VIDEOTAPES: 1-800-848-3256

CBS “60 Minutes” email info:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml - go to the bottom of the page and click on "feedback" and you're in.

***********ALSO NOTE: www.takebackthemedia.com – for the most comprehensive, extensive list of media contacts. ****************************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, DC 20407

Washington Office*
Tel: [phone]
Fax It is vital to get these criminals under oath.
: [phone]

email: [e-mail]
AL FELZENBERG, DEPUTY FOR COMMUNICATIONS National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

Office: 202-401-1725 Cell: 202-236-4878 Fax: [phone]"

[e-mail]

And don't forget your reps in Congress:

www.senate.gov

http://www.house.gov/writerep/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally , PLEASE NOTE MY SIG LINE – TO CALL YOUR REPS, TOLL FREE!!!

[PA Democrat]

25. Letterman isn't buying the excuse

that the Whitehouse had nothing to do with this either. He said last night that the father of this kid is a BIG Bush fundraiser, and was mad that people were laughing at his kid. He said the White House probably thought, Gee we can't afford to get this guy mad, and called CNN to complain.

What was great was that last night Letterman immediately launched from this story into another film clip making fun of Bush, then a spoof about Bush administration's get well wishers for Kerry, and then check out his top ten:

Top Ten Questions You're Afraid To Ask Condoleezza Rice


10. "Did Bush ever hurt himself trying to pronounce your name?"

9. "At cabinet meetings, who besides you and Cheney wear lipstick?"

8. "Do you know Leeza Gibbons?"

7. "Do you own a condo?"

6. "Did you ever try the 'Condoleezza Rice' at Chi-Chi's?"

5. "As a souvenir, did you keep any of Saddam's beard lice?"

4. "Hey, where'd you get that cool Halliburton sweatshirt?"

3. "Who told CNN that Letterman faked the footage of the bored kid next to Bush?"

2. "About those Iraqi weapons of mass destruction -- did you check Baghdad Mini-Storage?"

1. "What kind of job will you and Bush be looking for in January 2005?"

[nostamj]

26. hey, he's in NYC

Franken should get him on AA

[BootinUp]

29. OMG, I will have to catch his show tonight LOL

[Jacobin]

27. Unnamed sources tell me Blitzer fucks goats

hey, Wolfie, how do you like that, you pig.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

32. I was hoping someone else would bring this up. Unlike Wolfie

I have no problem revealing my source.

[HFishbine]

28. Let me see if I have Wolfe's defense right?

What he's saying is that he was really asking a question. So I guess he meant it like this:

WOLFE: Are administration officials saying that there are some weird aspects in Clarke's life?

JOHN: No

WOLFE: Okay. I had no reason to think they were, but you never know. I just wanted to cover all the bases. Are they saying that he wipes his ass with twenties?

JOHN: No.

WOLFE: That he loves sheep?

JOHN: Nope.

WOLFE: That he's really an alien?

JOHN: Uh, no.

WOLFE: There you have it then. After the break: Jello Pudding Pops or Bush's ass, which is sweeter? This reporter's first-hand account coming up.

[DeepModem Mom]

30. kicking because I don't anyone to miss this --

[otohara]

31. MondoBizzaro

Whew, these people are frightening. Glad Krugman got in the part about Bush joking about the missing WMD's. He should have exposed the mediawhores for laughing at such a disgusting remark.

[diamond14]

33. photo of cheney falling asleep, while listening to bush*

bush* is boring....that's a FACT....




Vice President Dick Cheney listens as President Bush speaks to reporters at the end of a Cabinet meeting at the White House Tuesday, March 23, 2004 in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
(from Yahoo photos)

[tom_paine]

36. As always, Krugman rocks!

Paul Krugman:

:yourock:

[proud patriot]

37. Wheeeeee !

man that was fun to read :D