Drudge Smears CNN’s Michael Ware As Alcoholic Activist, Ware Responds

[RedEarth]

CNN’s Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware has reported from Iraq for four years and regularly corrects the record when politicians mislead about conditions on the ground there. Now he’s under attack.

Yesterday, right-wing Internet gossip Matt Drudge posted an “exclusive” report — based on an anonymous, unnamed source — claiming that Ware had acted inappropriately during a weekend press conference and implying that Ware is an alcoholic:

During a live press conference in Bagdad, Senators McCain and Graham were heckled by CNN reporter Michael Ware. An official at the press conference called Ware’s conduct “outrageous,” saying, “here you have two United States Senators in Bagdad giving first-hand reports while Ware is laughing and mocking their comments. I’ve never witnessed such disrespect. This guy is an activist not a reporter.” <…>

This morning on CNN, Ware said the attack was a fabrication: “I did not heckle the senator. Indeed, I didn’t say a word. I didn’t even ask a question. In fact, when I raised my hand to ask a question, the press conference abruptly ended.”

Watch it here........

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/02/ware-drudge/

[gatorboy]

1. I think Drudge already took it down.

Not that it matters. The smear campaign has done it's job and they're off to their next keyboard warrior assault.

[wicket]

4. It's still at the link:

McCain heckled by CNN reporter

McCain heckled by CNN reporter
Sun Apr 01 2007 13:50:38 ET

**Exclusive**

During a live press conference in Baghdad, Senators McCain and Graham were heckled by CNN reporter Michael Ware. An official at the press conference called Ware’s conduct “outrageous,” saying, “here you have two United States Senators in Bagdad giving first-hand reports while Ware is laughing and mocking their comments. I’ve never witnessed such disrespect. This guy is an activist not a reporter.”

Senators McCain and Graham flew into Iraq and drove into Baghdad, making stops at an open market and a joint Iraq/American military security outpost before appearing at the press conference.

This is not the first time Michael Ware has taken issue with Senator McCain’s comments about early progress in Iraq. Last week, after Senator McCain told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he needed to catch up on the news coming out of Iraq, Michael Ware responded, saying:

“I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad.”

Michael Ware has also publicly expressed his views on the war last year in an interview with Bill Maher, saying, “I've been given a front-row ticket to watch this slow-motion train wreck … I try to stay as drunk for as long as possible while I'm here … In fact, I'm drinking now.”

Developing...

[gatorboy]

5. The coward did take it off the front page though.

Still, CNN should be ashame of themselves for taking this seriously and questioning Ware in the first place. Especially since they could've checked the press conference video themselves instead of reporting it as legitimate news.

[RobertGregoryBrowne]

13. Obviously...

...they wanted to give him a chance to clear it up.

[gatorboy]

15. What is there to clear up?

They didn't even check the facts before "reporting". If CNN is starting to take rumors into serious consideration as news then they need to get into another business, like say, Fox.

[rfranklin]

8. I thought about a lawsuit and then I remembered what ...

happened to Sidney Blumenthal; the right wing money boys bankrolled Drudge until Sidney could no longer pursue the case due to the lawyer fees.

Drudge is the organ grinder's monkey for the VRWC.

[wicket]

2. Love to see Drudge's lies and smears exposed

K & R

[ComerPerro]

3. true or not, more reporters should laugh at GOP whores.

their lies would be laughable and worthy of extreme mockery if they weren't costing so many lives.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. Drudge doesn't care if what he prints is true or not.

He just wants more hits for his website.

[lebkuchen]

12. I think Drudge is pinning his hopes on one of his fans, a crazed soldier or soldier of fortune

who will read the lie and "take care of the problem" with his M-16. Drudge would have a perfect plausible denial.

I also think that's why CNN chose to give Drudge the stage indirectly, by refuting his lie in an effort to keep Michael safe. After all, scores of reporters have already been killed or maimed by the US government and its military.

[Bluebear]

7. Any Drudge headlines about an alcoholic President? Didn't think so. nt

[Diane R]

10. EXACTLY!!!!

[malaise]

9. Michael better watch his back

They'd 'surge' him to the afterlife without batting an eye.

[lebkuchen]

11. Isn't this Drudge's exact purpose? To have Michael "taken out?"

RW whackjobs read Drudge, the type w/the pinwheel eyes and shit for brains. Lots of them are in the military. All Drudge had to do was perpetuate another lie, probably with Limbaugh and Coulter in the wings to promote it, in hopes that some Nazi cretin in sand-colored BDUs and an M16 would "Pat Tillman" Michael.

I wouldn't be surprised if McCain were in on it.

[Terri S]

14. Michael Ware was just on the Lou Dobbs show

He made a particular point to mention the amount of security that had to accompany McCain on that little stroll of his (100 troops, 3 Blackhawks, two Apache gunships...), and then he mentioned a attack outside Baghdad that killed 100 people (I was doing other stuff, hope I got the details right).

Anyway, the point is, Michael Ware doesn't need to watch his back... the scumbags trying to swiftboat him better though. Michael's been in Iraq for, what, 3 years now? That man has more balls than Drudge and McCain and this chickenhawk administration combined. Their antics are laughable compared to what he's seen, and he doesn't appear to me to be anyone easily frightened off by the likes of them.

You Go, Michael!!!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

16. Very true.

edited, I guess I feel very strongly about Michael Ware doing the heavy lifting in Bagdad. Why are there no other reporters willing to spend the time to get to know everyone involved and take the risks to get the voice of those on the ground out to the world?

MKJ