McCain Campaign Slams New York Times: Not A Journalistic Organization "By Any Standard"
The McCain campaign is going on the attack against the New York Times for reporting that campaign manger Rick Davis was paid almost $2 million as head of a lobbying organization that represented Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and others, claiming that the paper is not "by any standard a journalistic organization."
On a conference call with reporters today, Davis said only that he was involved in an effort to promote the cause of home-ownership -- but that he wasn't actually a lobbyist. "I never lobbied a single day," Davis said -- a claim that seems at odds with a Fannie exec's claim to the paper that they were giving Davis huge amounts of money on the chance that McCain might become president.
Then Steve Schmidt, the campaign's chief operating officer, aggressively took on the Times.
"Whatever the New York Times once was, it is not today by any standard a journalistic organization," Schmidt said. "It is a pro-Obama organization that every day attacks Senator McCain, attacks Governor Palin, and excuses Senator Obama."
Late Update: Here's the audio from the conference call:
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Economic "MUSHROOM CLOUD ON HORIZON"
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BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT,BULLSHIT
Don't fall for this crap again congress.
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We've been through this once before
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"If we don't act now it will be too late",
"You are not patriotic if you don't sign on dotted line immediately congress",
"The American people are in peril otherwise"
"there is no time to waste"
"we must not blink"
"the American people and the world demand we act"
"I want you congress, to cut your balls off and put them here on my oval office desk for safe keeping"
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fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
—President George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
September 22, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously. McCain should fire Davis and Schmidt. They are replacing his credibility with absolutely moronic campaign talking points.
It's so funny that it's almost sad...
http://thepajamapundit.com/
September 22, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely.
Schmidt has his head so far inside the bubble he wouldn't know the 'truth' if it him in the face.
The NYT not a journalistic organization?? Good one, Steve. Way to look like an idiot.
Y'know, when you start having a hissie fit about a conservative MSM outlet like the Times, it might just mean that you're desperate. Wicked desperate.
September 22, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is typical John McCain reactions and policies,he's been doing this kind of dirty B/S for his intire career .
September 22, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
LMAO! for real - the dumbest thing McLame has done, next to his Veep pick, is starting a war with his biggest ally - the press.
I cannot believe this - it's fucking surreal!
September 22, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really, that was my first thought. You want to go after unfair coverage, fine -- but to just flail aimlessly against the press isn't exactly going to encourage glowing coverage in the future. In other words: Keep it up, McCain!
September 22, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
...is this some strange manifestation of that long-awaited McCaca event?
...unfolding slowly before our wondering eyes, are we watching the "Angry Johnny" passion-play playing out in media-managed slow-mo, rather than a Rumplestiltskin moment?
Johnny's been resuscitated once already this season, raised up from political death in his own primary battle, after he let questionable managers spend him into obscurity. When Huckabee threatened to draw the wingnuts off into their own base, the Republican machine decided Mccain was their least of all evils, and bent the race back in his direction. But he just didn't satisfy the fundies and the wingnuts.
The toll on McCain from his political strategic failures and his own bad executive decisions is more evident every day; from his desperate need for a VP like Palin to boost his base numbers, back to his hiring of Darth Schmidt in the first place, McCain lost the middle in shoring up his right flank, especially with moderate women.
It took Palin to "electrify" (defibrilate) McCain's failing campaign in the general election, but she represents a complete abandonment of the middle by the McCain handlers, who grow more desperate with every rare, reliable poll.
We can only wonder what sort of October surprise they think they might conjur up.
Who needs an October surprise when the economy collapses in September?
September 22, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The thing I liked was when Davis said "maybe they have Davis-envy."
Isn't that tacitly comparing yourself to a p enis?
What a d ick...
September 23, 2008 4:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Campaign of whiners.
September 22, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
(slow clap)
September 22, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
You took the words out of my mouth.
What a bunch of fucking losers. Schmidt even looks like an average school bully.
September 22, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol...right.
September 22, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
On the Whiner Express.
September 22, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bet that BBQ tastes bitter now, no?
September 22, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's all burned now. Charred black. Nothing but carcinogenic nitrosamines.
September 22, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
New York times should not back down from these bullies called the Republicans. Did Davis took the money or not?
The answer should be yes or no.
September 22, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
You said it! Yes, or no?
September 22, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Instead of saying he took no money, they attacked the NYT. I bet that is, in it's own special way, a "yes."
September 22, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good Point! It's easier to deflate the story by answering the question; did he or didn't he. To go off and attack the source instead is a sure sign the original story is correct.
September 22, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
If someone produces an email (and it sounds like some of those Execs involved are a little upset) it will be hard for the McCain camp to claim religion on this accusation.
September 22, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the answer isn't "no" then the answer is "yes."
September 22, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
a non-answer to a simple question is an implicit yes
September 22, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm hoping that the Times isn't cowed by this into treating the McCain sleaze campaign as somehow not any worse than the Obama campaign.
Just when journalists were starting to wake up and recognize that the McCain sleaze is significantly more mendacious than the Obama campaign, the McCain campaign is trying to bully the press.
And given the last 8 years, this may just succeed.
September 22, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so sick of liars, bigots, slanderers - blackened pots that they are - accusing others when they simply hold up a mirror!
If the mirror shows a blackened pot, it's not the fault of the Times!
Look in the mirror, you liars, bigots and slanderers!
September 22, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Typical Rovian Ad Hominem Defense Tactic - When challenged with facts, attack the messenger as a partisan hack. Therefore all GOP true believers can right off the criticism as baseless partisanship.
September 22, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
*write off
September 22, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Write ON!
September 22, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Press: Is it true that Rick Davis was paid millions of dollars in lobbying fees from Fannie and Freddie?
Schmidt: Yeah, and if it wasn't for you pesky kids and your dog, we'd have gotten away with it, too!
September 22, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does he deny taking the money? or just denies doing anything in return for the money. It seems to me getting in a fight with the NYT is tring to distract us from the real story that this guy had been bought by the mortgage industry. Whether or not they got a good return for their money is another question.
September 22, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Freddie and Fannie, home of the previously highly regulated FHA loans, kept paying Davis on a monthly basis. And they got to play in at the dereg'd Big Boys table.
If Davis wasn't delivering, don't ya think Freddie and Fannie might have stopped paying?
Just saying...
PEACE
September 22, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well the one area I might agree with Schmidt is that a couple writers are pure propagandists.
They should fire Kristol and Brooks.
Oh wait a second... aren't they in the tank for McCain/Bush?
Shut up Steve... Stop whining... The MSM already gives your campaign passes on virtually every issue and statement your team of freaks makes.
September 22, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
NYT: McCain is a Republican that supported Bush
McCain Campaign: HOW DARE THE NYT PRINT SUCH LIES.
September 22, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol
Not far from the truth. Not far at all.
"You can't just take off your uniforms and say 'we're not Republicans this week'"
September 22, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is really good news and, to modify a bromide, 'follow the panic.' If the McCampaign is going to try to convince anyone that the NYT is not a journalistic organization, they come of sounding kooky, and panicked. They are going nuclear as their first option which means they sense great danger in this story.
In my blog I just predicted that Davis would get thrown under the bus. This makes me think I might be watching it begin to happen.
September 22, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain better be scared.
SurveyUSA VA Obama +6
September 22, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. Those polling numbers are scaring the sh*& out of the McSame camp.
September 22, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
And that's with McCain getting an unrealist 14% of the African-American vote. Virginia may be fast moving from battleground, to an automatic for Obama.
September 22, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt.
And, hey, Eric/Greg, where's your post on those numbers?
September 22, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The are in panic mode right now.
September 22, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Big mistake for the McLame camp to go after the NYT.
September 22, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I'm Fannie/Freddie, I ask for a refund then. $2MM for not doing the job he was hired to do. Let's see if Ricky puts up the $2MM plus interest.
September 22, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't they endorse McCain in the primaries?
September 22, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, they did.
September 22, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
but that was when they were still a journalistic organization, I'm sure
September 22, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
and Hillary...
September 22, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Check this out Everyone.
Survey USA Virginia
Obama 51 McCain 45
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7bd0cddb-f8eb-4a1d-9cbd-3a481b87bf37
No wonder the McSame camp is going ballistic.
September 22, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy Crap!
Is this the first time he's above 50% in VA?
September 22, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain ain't seen nothing yet.
September 22, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not only that, but check this out:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/22/bush-approval-19/
I've never seen a poll with zero for an answer.
September 22, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch!
September 22, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
They didn't poll the fat cats who made off with the cash. The economy is still fine for them.
September 22, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Waiting for some recent PA and FL polls to come out now.
September 22, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The ugly ape was telling us yesterday that Rasmussen was going to be out with polls showing some good news for McCain. I doubt this was what the apester meant.
September 22, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I'm pretty sure the apester wasn't talking about the 50-47 North Carolina results for Ras, or the 52-44 (O - M) results, either.
Where do you suppose Dr. Ape is today?
September 22, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hitting the bottle is my guess.
September 22, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
NBC poll has PA +2 for Obama. Not great but I'll take it for the moment. Biden needs to get back there this week. I know Obama is going to be in Florida for a good part of the week preparing for the debate. He will be in "seculsion" but hopefully he'll find some time to do some stump speeches.
September 22, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
On TPM front page even!
September 22, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the McCain poll being in there.
September 22, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's play Ad Lib here:
"Whatever _____________ once was, it is not today by any standard a __________________,"
You could easily use that sentence to describe two things:
1) John McCain
2) Maverick or Man of Integrity/Honor
These guys (McCain Campaign) are nothing more than partisan hacks.
September 22, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is an excellent display of a ridiculous ranting of a raving Republican
September 22, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Temper tantrum of the week. Somebody call the Waaambulance!
Pufferfish
September 22, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those polling numbers are scaring the sh*& out of the McSame camp. According to SurveyUSA Women, Suburban DC Voters Help Obama.
P.S. THIS WEEK IS EARLY VOTING IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
September 22, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmmm. O/T, but is the rape kit story gaining traction?
The most viewed and most e-mailed story on CNN.com is the story about Wasilla (with Palin as mayor) charging rape victims for their exams.
September 22, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good!
I saw a good Obama here last night - he refuted the infanticide smear and then went after McLame for being anti-choice.
I'd love to see their data for New Mexico that caused them to run a pro-choice ad here.
This is not a pro-choice state - it may lean Democratic, but it's Catholic.
September 22, 2008 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I should have added that that it was my impression that this isn't a pro-choice state. I think I may be wrong, since they are running a pro-choice ad here.
September 22, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just saw it in the Top 10 on CNN homepage...
Good. Thats some damaging shit.
September 22, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's amazing how long it takes the MSM to pick up a story like this. But I'm glad it's finally getting out there. McCain's people are trying to deny she had role in this directly, but that kind of says as that she was unaware of a controversial budget line item. No win situation for them.
September 22, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a loser for them. Even those people who are not pro-choice almost always make exceptions for rape and incest and the life of the mother.
That's our common meeting ground in this stupid endless war over my right to privacy in my own body and the those of the rest of the women in this country.
That's the basis of the ad Obama has running about McLame as anti-choice - that he's anti-choice even under those extreme circumstances.
That's not a majority position by any means -
September 22, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
In McCain's "60 Minutes" interview last night, he conceded that he couldn't actually fire the SEC chairman, as he originally claimed he would do.
Pelley: You have called for the firing of the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal government organization that oversees the markets.
McCain: Yes. You know, and by the way, that technically he can't be, quote, fired. But I'll tell you, when I'm president, if I want somebody to resign, they resign.
September 22, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh man! visions of Monty Python's Black Knight skit flashed
September 22, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was one of the few bright spots in the 60 Minutes interview of McCain (the other one being when Pelley forced McCain to say three times that Sarah Palin is ready to be President).
McCain claimed that Sarah Palin cut taxes without being challenged by Pelley, and Pelley also let him repeat the old line about Obama intending to raise taxes. To be fair, Steve Kroft gave Obama a chance to offer a lengthy rebuttal on the second point, and I think most reasonable people would understand that McCain's attack is way off base. But still, it would have been nice to have a more proactive interviewer.
September 22, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then why did he say it? It wasn't an off-the-cuff remark to a nagging reporter. I believe it was at a rally and he was trying to be inspiring and tell the people what they wanted to hear; pandering.
September 22, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't they kind of agreeing with what was reported? That Davis was being paid for not really doing anything?
September 22, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what I don't understand. I thought the article said that they basically paid Davis for access to McCain and that he didn't do anything.
September 22, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, hey, look, it's the kind of language Democrats should have been using for the last eight years to describe Fox News.
But the Democrats don't use that kind of language, and the Republicans do, so places like Fox News get to continue to be considered journalists while places like The New York Times wind up with a pall of suspicion over them in the public mind.
September 22, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
You must have a short memory. ;)
Obama froze Fox News out early in the campaign for lying. They came back to him - he didn't go back to them.
And the Democrats have said that about Fox, publicly, more times than one.
September 22, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing going for Obama is the Murdoch likes Obama. From what I read, he was sitting in on the talks between Obama and Aires forcing Aires to bend.
There may be hope yet for Fox News.
September 22, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. It is How Dare they print the truth.
September 22, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign are going to try there hardest to change the narrative this week. They can't afford to have another bad week.
September 22, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
They'll try but given that the economy & the bailout will continue to dominate the news, that will be highly unlikely. Probably they push attention to the debate.
September 22, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you want to get a sense of just how much the McCain Campaign is flailing about to try and make as much noise as possible, go check out the Page. I thought it was an error, but Schmidt is just going nuts....
September 22, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anytime you want to see the new Republican talking points, you can always depend on Mark Halprin at the Page. Talk about a tool.
September 22, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's the same picture of Steve Schmidt used on four different stories.
Has Halperin got a crush on Schmidt?
September 22, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know who Schmidt looks like? JimmyJeff the online gay male hooker who got a White House Press Pass.
September 22, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeff Gannon -
September 22, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo!
September 22, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was just telling the husband that last weekend. The likeness is stunning.
September 22, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.buymyshitpile.com/
September 22, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Whatever the McCain campaign once was, it is not today by any standard a respectable political organization," I was heard to say.
September 22, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not a complete meltdown yet because they're not shouting "Reverend Wright" from the roof tops.
Schmidt did go after Biden's son today for being a lobbyist (which is incorrect) - I guess the "No Family" truce is over?
September 22, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that even they realize that some ad talking about Rev Wright given the economic crisis would be just too far in right field, even for the Republicans. Rezko aleast had to do with money and corruption. But unless they have some new footage no one has seen, I can't see what they could possibly say at this point about the Rev Wright to justify an ad.
September 22, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
The real scandal is that the NYT buried the story in the middle of the A section. If you ask me, it's front page news, given the attention given to McCain's lies about Obama's contributions from Freddie and Fannie.
September 22, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which only underlines how stupid these guys are to call attention to it by throwing a tantrum. Panicking much, Johnny boy?
September 22, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
O no shit!
There's no way that's not dominating the news; not unless somebody starts another war. This economic crisis is right dead center in the front of everybody's mind.
September 22, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shhh... don't give the Johnah McPalin and his Bushies any ideas.
September 22, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
They already tried. We'll are Georgians, remember?
September 22, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the primaries, the vote tallies for Obama outperformed the polls by about 7% in the South, thanks to his on the ground organization. So 5% polling in VA is looking to me like an Obama blowout. He takes VA and its over.
September 22, 2008 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I knew it.
I still think we could break through the southern strategy. Turnout will be massive.
September 22, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off topic here, and I don't want to jinx it by talking them up - but, are the trolls on some sort of vacation?
September 22, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, gotalife has come around to supporting Obama (anything really is possible), Matthew Weaver is nursing his blog all alone, and I think Dembillic has noticed that nobody actually reads his posts and is trying to reconfigure his strategy (either that or his copy and paste buttons broke).
Which leaves Lalo35, but don't worry. Typing his name summons him to a thread, most likely with a string of condescending insults and drummed-up outrage over the fact that we're calling him a troll.
What I want to know is what happened to that guy with a custard-head avatar.
September 22, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Marginal Player? Maybe he's like Beetlejuice...
Marginal Player
Marginal Player
Marginal Player
September 22, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's all take a deep breath and remember we have a debate this Friday. He has to do two things. He has to win the debate, and he has to do it in such an obvious way that the media will have to admit it.
September 22, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, that's not a deep breath; that's a pail of cold water.
You are welcome to take cold showers. I'm not in the mood this morning.
:)
September 22, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course the media won't admit it. The script has been pre-written. Here's how it goes: Obama gives intelligent, well-informed answers. McCain babbles like the senile old fool that he is. And then the reporters fall all over themselves congratulating McCain for his much stronger than expected performance, which has (yet again) "resurrected his campaign".
This is a another movie we've already seen too many times. Fortunately, the economy will continue to dominate the news to such an extent that the effect will be even less than usual.
September 22, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
A Republican campaign trashing the New York Times?
That one never gets old.
September 22, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop defending the NY TIMES, they can defend themselves.
Go on offence with some new talking points people.
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http://www.buymyshitpile.com/
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Remember WMD
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fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
President George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
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"If we don't act now it will be too late",
"You are not patriotic if you don't sign on dotted line immediately congress",
"The American people are in peril otherwise"
"there is no time to waste"
"we must not blink"
"the American people and the world demand we act"
"I want you congress, to cut your balls off and put them here on my oval office desk for safe keeping"
September 22, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time for fact check to kick in. I hope NYT swings back with figures and dates. And swings back hard. McCain and the Republicans have to have someone to blame for their upcoming failure and it ain't going to be them. I don't want to count my chicks before I even have the eggs but I am begining to wonder after the pounding the MSM took about the WMD and now the kicks they are taking from the McCain crew if they may not just get a pair and do what they are supposed to do.
September 22, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell - did the last week just not happen? Every right wing pundit including George Will turned on McLame-Painful and y'all are still going boo hoo hoo over the press?
WTF?
September 22, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain and his people are attacking their integrity. They're not going to suddenly go for the jugular, but they're not going to let this slide either.
It would seem with this attack that McCain's people feel that they're losing the race not only for the independents - undecideds, but those in their base as well.
September 22, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Honor comes with Honesty. McCain has NEITHER.
September 22, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, the McCain camp has had some success in the past trying to "play the refs," as Obama too mildly puts it. When the Times broke the story of the improper relationship that McCain had with that cutie lobbyist, as soon as the right wing barked, the Times was falling over itself to back down. Furthermore, no one else dared step forward to support or extend the work the Times had done.
In general, the editorials have moved away from McCain lately because of the ads the the Palin stuff, but that's minor. The big question is whether news reports will be altered, delayed, or squashed because of McCain squawking, bolstered by the right wing blather.
September 22, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
When will journalists finally say that they have had enough of McCain's insulting lies, and treat him as the mendacious, prevaricating, elitist whiner that he really is?
September 22, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
When their paymasters cease being in the pockets of Big Bidness.
September 22, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
So never...
Actually, I think we're beginning to see it.
September 22, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Regardless of what is written about Obama doesn’t mean it is true. What is true is “what comes out of the mouth the heart is full of” and we hear what Obama says and we can judge his heart accordingly.
Our biggest problem now aside from energy is terrorism (if we fix our energy we fix the economy) and there’s two ways to address terror, offensively or defensively. Both face the same tossup war or peace. Education is the key, why radical Islam hates us. Talking and listening with our enemies and allies spending money on the schools that will prevent the teaching of radical Islam and at the same time be sensitive to the ancient customs of the Arab nations and leave diversity the role it needs to play. I am an American that lived in Israel ten years near a Arab neighborhood (Bethlehem) and I know how Arab-Israeli (Arabs that were born in Israel) and Palestinians (Arabs who were born outside usually Jordan) and have an understanding how both think. The more violence we will use against this Holy War, the more they are given the right to use terror.
We need a president who understands this. Obama is a man who does.
September 22, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you haven't seen this Tom the Dancing Bug from last week's Salon, check it out. It's pretty good:
http://www.salon.com/comics/boll/2008/09/18/boll/
September 22, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
When the NY Times endorsed Mccain during the primary,they had NOTHING to say.When ,the NY Times
prints the truth against Mccain and his big lobbyist,suddenly their not credible,uhm!!!
September 22, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Spiro salutes your excellent alliteration.
September 22, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was supposed to be a response to:
It is an excellent display of a ridiculous ranting of a raving Republican
Posted by Eastern_Media_Elite
September 22, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Steve Schmidt should have a sleepover with Judith Miller and they can gossip about how mean the Times is.
September 22, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rick Davis=Never trust a person w/o lips.
September 22, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or a chin.
September 22, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I actually believe Davis when he says he didn't do any lobbying. In fact, that's what the NYT pointed out:
“The value that he brought to the relationship was the closeness to Senator McCain and the possibility that Senator McCain was going to run for president again,” said Robert McCarson, a former spokesman for Fannie Mae, who said that while he worked there from 2000 to 2002, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac together paid Mr. Davis’s firm $35,000 a month. Mr. Davis “didn’t really do anything,” Mr. McCarson, a Democrat, said.
He got paid millions to sit on his ass. Too bad he quit his day job.
September 22, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, he wasn't a lobbyist- he was an influence peddler. That's SO much better, right? Heh.
These guys clearly don't know the First Rule of Holes.
September 22, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow! It worked! The title on this article should be something about the actual story, but instead it's about some stupid thing a McCain spokesperson said! Woo! Another point for the republicans!
September 22, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
one would have thought that McCain was old enough to know the phrase attributed to Mark Twain 'don't get into a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel'
September 22, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Eric - heard you last week on the Rachel Maddow show. I've been reading this blog for a few months now and hadn't looked at the byline to connect it with you. You're doing a great job. Things here are chugging along. Mike and I went to see Michelle Obama this morning and I've been canvassing in the smaller towns outside of Madison. Keep up the good fight!
September 22, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's becoming more and more boring with the McShame camp, a lot of desperation and panic in his camp, now the advisers are whining, my Gosh ! The total collapse is near, for our sake and security.
September 22, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
let Rick Davis stew. he won't be alone in the brew...
McCain Transition Head Lobbied for Freddie Mac Before Takeover
By Jonathan D. Salant and Timothy J. Burger
Enlarge Image/Details
Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- The lobbying firm of the man Republicans say John McCain has chosen to begin planning a presidential transition earned more than a quarter of a million dollars this year representing Freddie Mac, one of the companies McCain blames for the nation's financial crisis.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aQIOOr9klOnE&refer=politics
http://www.timmonsandco.com/people.asp?p=1
September 23, 2008 2:07 AM | Reply | Permalink