CNN's Bash repeated Hastert's conspiracy theory about Foley emails; ignored report that a "longtime Republican" gave emails to media
On the October 5 edition of CNN's American Morning, congressional correspondent Dana Bash uncritically reported House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's (R-IL) unsubstantiated claim that Democrats were behind the revelations about former Republican Rep. Mark Foley (FL). In doing so, Bash ignored a new report in The Hill that a House Republican aide was responsible for giving Foley's emails to the media.
Hastert, according to Bash, "stepped up a charge that he has been making in the past couple of days that Democrats were behind the timing of all this. He said that his opponents, funded by George Soros, even aligned with Bill Clinton, held on to this to make a bigger splash right before the election."
In an article dated October 5, but available online the night before, The Hill reported:
The source who in July gave news media Rep. Mark Foley's (R-Fla.) suspect e-mails to a former House page says the documents came to him from a House GOP aide.
That aide has been a registered Republican since becoming eligible to vote, said the source, who showed The Hill public records supporting his claim.
The same source, who acted as an intermediary between the aide-turned-whistleblower and several news outlets, says the person who shared the documents is no longer employed in the House.
But the whistleblower was a paid GOP staffer when the documents were first given to the media.
From the October 5 edition of CNN's American Morning:
BASH: Now, the speaker told the Chicago Tribune last night that he has no intention of resigning and tried to make the case -- tried to rally his angry base by saying that's exactly what Democrats want, for him to fold his tent so they can sweep the House. He also stepped up a charge that he has been making in the past couple of days that Democrats were behind the timing of all this. He said that his opponents, funded by George Soros, even aligned with Bill Clinton, held on to this to make a bigger splash right before the election.
Let Hastert keep talking... he's only digging the hole he's in deeper. No one, except the staunchest Limbaugh/Hannity devotees, are buying this crap about the Dems. And what difference does it make even if the Dems did leak the e-mails? That's how politics work in Washington and it's no worse than what the Republicans do. The real issue is that Hastert apparently didn't act on warnings that Foley had a disturbing hobby involving teenage pages; and that offends people regardless how it was brought to light. Hastert is toast. Bye-bye, Denny...
Bye bye Reoublican control of the house.
Our long national nightmare is nearly over.
Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh predicted that the Republicans would not only NOT lose Congress but that they would PICK UP 30 or 40 seats in the House.
Maybe Rush just got one of his Oxycontin prescriptions refilled... I dunno. He should stick to Viagra... I heard it makes him taller. ;>)
until they raise their hands and take the oath of office. Not until then will I finally believe that we were able to overcome their crooked vote counting.
I also heard that about Rush. I've often wondered thet if he needs Preporation-H, does he rub it on his entire body?
LOL... good one.
I won't celebrate until these right-wing jackasses are put in prison where they belong. They have all violated their oaths of office. They have not represented their constituents. They have not succeeded in doing anything positive. They have torn our country apart. They have destroyed nations and countless lives. They have lied and deceived only for their political and financial gain. To me, that's treason.
I say, LOCK 'EM UP. Then, I'll celebrate.
CSL
You're absolutely right. These "Karl Rove Parrots" in the media corp blithely are doin' Karl's thing, but this is waaaay different. Good luck to their sleep at night and/or alcoholic intake.
4 weeks to go, but with Karl, we need to watch our backs!
We are the ones who held onto the story in order to take control of the 2006 midterms. We held onto the story for 11 years just waiting for the right moment. Prior to that, we held a gun to Foley's head, and assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the e-mails.
The right has finally got the goods on us.
Hahahahahahahahaha
for Foley. Soros forced the National Republican Congressional Commitee to take that $100,000 contribution from Mark Foley after you handled his little problem.
The plot thickens... Makes you wonder how much trouble Reynolds is in now that his (former) chief of staff, Fordham, says that he warned Hastert's staff about Foley in 2004. Was Reynolds that out of touch that he accepted a $100,000 contribution from Foley and encouraged Foley to run for re-election? Even if you give these guys the benefit of the doubt about how much of Foley's habits they actually knew, it at least smacks of incompetence. They apparently knew enough about Foley's disturbing proclivities to have investigated further. Even if they're honest, which I personally doubt, they were asleep at the switch on a very sensitive matter.
Help me out here....but who was behind the taping of Lewinsky and the ambush of Clinton...must have been those Democrats. And how long did Ms. Starr hold onto his info....Damn Dems
When confronted with an issue or event that could be damaging — blame where the message comes from.
On another note: You would think that Republicans would learn their lesson. It's not the crime that gets them into trouble, but the way they try to cover it up.
The facts don't matter if you have enough lame-brain, talking head right-wingers hammering away 24/7. There is a playbook that is a proven winner for these people, so why should they change now? If they are caught with their pants down (Foley), or covering it up (Hastert), or trying to give an incomprehensible excuse (Katherine Harris), they go to the playbook: 1. Blame "liberals", 2. Blame "the media", 3. Blame Clinton... Virtually every screw-up they have accomplished, they have later attempted to blame on one of these three boogeymen, think about it. It's their default answer for everything.
"When the base finds out who's feeding this monster, they're not going to be happy," Hastert told the Tribune. "The people who want to see this thing blow up are ABC News and a lot of Democratic operatives, people funded by [liberal activist] George Soros."
I see the GOP Delusional Dream Machine is in overdrive...
Page 34:
"You wake up in a D.C. hotel beside a dead 16 year-old male prostitute, and the vicious liberal media breaks down your door, taking pictures and asking questions..."
Do you:
a) Blame it on Bill Clinton, claiming his "War Room" set you up b) Blame the Media c) Blame George Soros d) All of the Above
If you picked "D" you're right, Congressman!
...to see the difference between CNN and Fox. That Bash quotes sounds almost exactly like what Sean Hannity has been saying all week.
BASH NEED TO GET A JOB WITH FOX NEWS ALONG WITH WOLF!!!
I am taking a journalism class, in reporting news, so I am developing an eye for loosely reported news. In this case, I could see nothing that would indicate a bias on Dana Bash's behalf. I am the biggest liberal on this site, and I would be the first to say foul if the report was slanted. I encouraged people to look at the video once more, put on the noble objective hat, and state honestly what you think.
As for the subject matter, we need Hastert to take his time about resigned. The negative press, building on a mountain of evidence, will support the take over of both House and Senate.
Something could be said for the "the Democrats made it happen" defense because it points to the inability of the Republicans to take responsibility for their actions; even the the Republicans can see that dynamic.
Joseph
was repeating a theory which had NO credibility and she didn't counter with the fact that a GOP aide is the one who gave the stuff to ABC News. That would have been extremely relevant in this context.