U-Turn in Kerry sex row

[DuctapeFatwa]

THE father of the woman said to have had an affair with US Presidential hopeful John Kerry has made a dramatic U-turn.

Terry Polier pledged to vote for the super-rich Democrat after daughter Alex, 27, publicly insisted she had not had a fling with him.

Yet just four days ago, Terry branded Kerry, 60, a “sleazeball” and said he and wife Donna would NEVER support him.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004080465,00.html

==========================

It doesn't matter whether you or I like the Sun. If I am not mistaken, the original quote from the parents came from the Sun, not Drudge.

Now either the Sun made it up, in which case we will hear more about this story because presumably one or both families will seek redress, or the Sun did not make it up, in which case one or both parties is damned if they do or damned if they don't.

The question is, did Drudge do anything actionable by anybody? And has he had any negative blowback from advertisers as a result of it?

[jpgray]

1. The Sun is Murdoch pap. Boobs on page 3, bullshit elsewhere

Unless the parents are remarkably schizoid, their comments were either misquoted or fabricated. I am inclined to believe the later reports over the UK tabloid.

[SerpentX]

2. Hard to believe ...

but Drudge is actually more credible. Well ... let's just say they're equally sleazy and leave it at that.

[Archae]

3. Consider both "sources."

The Sun is Britain's Rupert Murdoch tabloid, the near-equivalent of the NY Post.
(Only difference is that the Sun has topless women, the Post doesn't.)

Drudge...is...well...Drudge.

I'd say that says it all.

[KurtNilsen]

5. The Sun is like the Ny Post

Seldom outright fabrications, but relentless spin.

[rucky]

15. Murdoch owns them both. It doesn't matter which crap-mag it came from.

[JVS]

4. This is odd. What makes someone go from "sleazeball" to someone's...

favorite so fast?

[Archae]

Easy answer-

GOP fabrications.

(Like the Kerry at the podium with Jane Fonda picture)

[JVS]

7. You'd think that fabrications would be able to make the story consistent

[Archae]

8. These are republicans!

You actually expect them to keep their lies straight?

[JVS]

12. Yes.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Forkboy]

10. Irrelevant to the topic

[Feanorcurufinwe]

14. Actually it's quite relevant.

[Forkboy]

17. Actually it's not

and from the rules;

Posts about the "messenger" rather than "message" are categorically forbidden in the GD: 2004 Primary forum.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. If you think I broke the rules, please hit 'Alert'

I'd rather not be lectured about the rules in the thread, especially since you are wrong.

[Forkboy]

20. Are you or are you not

discussing the messenger?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. You are asking me a question about me.

Is that against the rules? :shrug:

If you think I broke the rules, please hit 'Alert'. I'd rather not be lectured about the rules in the thread, especially since you are wrong.

[Forkboy]

24. I'll take that dodge as a yes

[Feanorcurufinwe]

28. You are wrong.

[Forkboy]

31. I am right

unless you can point out which part of this post talks about the message;

Which one of the Democratic candidates do you support against Bush? Do you believe it would be a good thing if the Democrats beat Bush, or do you think it doesn't matter?

I'm just not seeing it so I'm sure,since I'm wrong and all,that you'll be able to point it out to me.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

32. Then why don't you try hitting 'Alert'? You are wrong.

[Forkboy]

33. Just saying it over and over doesn't make it so

Again,why dont you point out where I'm wrong?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

34. Agreed, your continuing repitition

of accusations, when the rules clearly state that the proper method of dealing with suspected rule violations is to click 'Alert', puzzles me.

[Forkboy]

35. What's puzzling is your continued dodging

I'm not making any accusations now,I'm asking you to back up your assertion that I'm wrong,something you repeatedly keep avoiding.Why is that?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

36. Yawn.

I've got all night. Do you?

[Forkboy]

37. Yes I do

still waiting.

Why wont you show me where I'm wrong? Surely,if you have all night it wont be too time consuming to do so.If you can take the time to dodge for 4 posts why not just show me?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

38. Cool.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

40. You call it dodging. In reality, it's a simple flame war.

You know, last-word-itis. lol

I've obviously got it. :)

[Forkboy]

42. 6 posts dodging

Why wont you answer?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

43. Let's make it 1000

[Forkboy]

44. 7 posts dodging

Why wont you answer?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

45. What was I dodging again?

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

47. You are avoiding my question. As I've previously answered in post 22

asking a poster which candidate they support is not a personal attack.

You are avoiding my question though. Here it is again:

Why don't you just hit 'Alert' if you think I violated the rules?

[Forkboy]

48. Dodge #9

I never said it was a personal attack.

I'm asking you,once again,to show me where I'm wrong.So far you've done some amazing contortions to avoid answering that.This weak attempt to turn it back on me is just the latest humorous try.

I did hit alert.

Your turn,or will you dodge AGAIN?

This is extremely amusing to me,and I can,and will,go on all night until you either admit you're the one who is wrong or demonstrate how I'm wrong.

I'm almost getting embarrassed for you.

Almost.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

49. Please answer my question.

Why are the moderators not adequate to this task, in your eyes?

I really don't care how many times you insult me by saying I've 'dodged' your question.

[Forkboy]

50. Dodge #10

Nice try.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

51. Dodge #11

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

53. Dodge #12

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

56. Dodge #16

I'm getting impatient so I thought I would skip ahead a few.

Could you remind me, what was the reason that you believe rule violations should be discussed in the thread instead of handled by the mods?

Did you ever answer that question?

[WiseMen]

9. Why are we doing analysis of syntax and meaning on a PHONY STORY!

Isn't it clear by now that the whole thing was made up for
a specific purpose (whether we know what it is or not).

There are so many interest with $Billions at stake, that
any of a number of things could be going on, the least of which
is people telling lies.

[ShaneGR]

11. Actually, the quote first appeared in the NY Post

And was quoted by a Post reporter.

[DuctapeFatwa]

21. Thanks! That is what I was trying to find out. Drudge sludge about

"unnamed sources whisper this and that" with no actual story is one thing, but it looks like somebody from some paper actually went to this guy's house and got a quote.

OR they made one up.

So will there be a retraction and an apology from the Post? Will one even be sought?

Either the parents and/or Kerry leaves it where it is, or tries to, if it will stay there, or somebody says something. I don't know which I would advise them to do. As I said, damned if they do, damned if they don't. Which can be liberating, in its own way.

[alittlelark]

13. This cabal will throw whatever unsubstantiated, made-up s**t

they can at Kerry. rather like what they did with Clinton. They are just hoping something will stick! It will get worse and worse for the next 7-8 months. Please don't believe everything they say. Keep your eyes on the prize!!

[MurikanDemocrat]

16. The Sun is another sleaze rag from Rupert Murdock

The family has spoken. The woman denied the affair. The Drudge and the Sun are not Holy Scripture. The story was a lie.

And, who gives a shit if he DID call Kerry a sleaze ball?? I don't believe he ever gave them a statement, but who cares??

Why are you reviving this shit?

[Forkboy]

18. I really think this story is dead

or at least should be.

[DuctapeFatwa]

23. You are right. The story now is, how did it die? (nt)

[Forkboy]

25. I understand your point

but unless there some more evidence that comes to light I don't see anything especially suspicious in this.It's possible,if the father did indeed call Kerry a scumbag,that he said so before even speaking to the daughter and finding out the story was false.We just don't know,and I'm not going to think Kerry is guilty unless something more comes out to show otherwise.

[DuctapeFatwa]

26. Well, I'm wondering more what the Post is guilty of at this point

And what if anything can be done about it. I don't think that this is the last thing of this kind that we will see. There are months before the convention, and a lot of candidates, and we all just got a good demonstration of how easy it is to start a rumor that ends up in a squillion papers...

[Forkboy]

27. It definately wont be the last we see of stuff like this

I have no clue what to do about it,though hopefully many have learned not to trust everything right away,especially from a source like the Sun or Drudge.

And I think the word "squillion" is going to be a keeper! :thumbsup: :)

[TheWebHead]

29. writer's e-mail

Brian Flynn's written all three of these hit pieces re: secret tape, "sleazeball", and now this nonsense.

[e-mail]

[oasis]

30. Here's a thought, perhaps the Murdoch "Sun"lied about what the dad said

in the first place. Could that be possible?

[saoirse]

41. Two words: Perfidious Albion

Drool Britannia!
:P

[Moderator]

57. Locking...

Conservative source, and absence of thoughtful discussion within the thread....