BREAKING: Drudge links to Politico 45 times during its two-month existence
As Media Matters for America has noted, Politico chief political correspondent Mike Allen's March 27 article, "Rookie Mistakes Plague Obama," was apparently flagged by Matt Drudge's website, The Drudge Report, approximately one hour before The Politico posted the article on its website on the evening of March 26. John Harris, Politico editor-in-chief, has written about the media's interest in having their work linked to on the Drudge Report. Several commentators, including blogger Glenn Greenwald, have noted an apparent tendency of Drudge to link to Politico items. Media Matters has reviewed the Drudge Report Archives and found that since The Politico launched on January 23, Drudge has linked to Politico items on at least 45 separate occasions.
In The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008 (Random House, October 2006), Harris -- then of The Washington Post -- and then-ABC political director Mark Halperin devoted an entire chapter to Drudge's influence over the media, titled "How Matt Drudge Rules Our World," in which they state that Drudge "leans right" and warned that "[n]o Democratic politician will survive in the 2008 presidential campaign," unless they "understand" Drudge and have a "strategy" to "defend" themselves "against" Drudge. Harris and Halperin noted the great interest on the part of media, political operatives and political figures to have the Drudge Report link to an article or other material of theirs, even citing Harris' own book, The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House (Random House, May 2005) as an example. They also noted that Post editors are "delighted when Drudge does link to stories at Washington.post.com" and "frustrat[ed]" when he does not.
From The Way to Win:
Others have learned the value of a Drudge publicity campaign as well. Publicists for glossy wide-circulation monthly magazines and television networks regularly plan early sanctioned "leaks" to him as part of their promotion of major stories.
[...]
Meanwhile, although there is no system for authorized leaks to the Drudge Report at the Washington Post, editors at the website and main newspaper are delighted when Drudge does link to stories at washintonpost.com. Invariably, traffic to the site soars. And there is evident frustration when the Drudge Report does not acknowledge significant Washington Post pieces. Speaking of the Washington Post, one of its reporters had direct experience with Drudge's astonishing power -- both intoxicating and dangerous for those who come into contact with it. We will call this reporter "John Harris."
In 2005, like Ed Klein, Harris was promoting a book on the Clintons. Harris's volume, a history of the Clinton presidency, was by a wide margin less racy, if also less marketable, than Klein's. On the other hand, Harris knew particular sections had the potential to draw publicity-driving buzz in the news media. He wanted that publicity.
Two weeks before the official publication, he gave a series of talking points, along with an advance copy of the book itself, to a producer for a morning news program. The producer thanked him and wished him good luck, but told him that the book was not really up their alley. Later, the day before the book's publication, a friend with Harris's permission gave a set of the talking points to Drudge. A total of perhaps twenty minutes elapsed between his e-mail to the friend, the friend's e-mail to Drudge, and Drudge regurgitating the material into a banner headline and a dispatch in his own distinctive style. "Summer starts with a bang!" Drudge's "exclusive" read. "Swearing, Screaming, Steaming -- White House as Hot House." Within five minutes of that posting, another producer from the same morning show called: Was Harris free to come on the next morning? As it happened, he was committed elsewhere. But Drudge was no small part of the book's jump from 9,527 to 9 the next day on Amazon.com's sales ranking.
A Media Matters review of the Drudge Report Archives website has found at least 45 different instances in which Drudge has linked to Politico reports over The Politico's two-month existence:
January 23
Politico: "Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed"
Drudge: "Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed..."Politico: "McCain Bashes Cheney Over Iraq Policy"
Drudge: "McCain Bashes Cheney Over Iraq Policy..."
January 26
Politico: "Feingold Pushes Plan to Cut Off War Funds"
Drudge: "Dem Feingold Pushes Plan to Cut Off War Funds..."
January 30
Politico: "GOP Right Sees Lemons in White House Race"
Drudge: "GOP Right Sees Lemons in White House Race..."
February 1
Politico: "Sanchez Accuses Democrat of Calling Her a 'Whore,' Resigns from Hispanic Group"
Drudge: "Congresswoman Quits Hispanic Caucus, Says Chairman Called Her a 'Whore'..."
February 3
Politico: "Gore to Testify on Climate Change"
Drudge: "Gore to Testify on Climate Change..."
Politico: "Bush: War Is 'Sapping Our Soul'"
Drudge: "War is 'Sapping Our Soul'"
February 6
Politico: "Obama, Clinton May Skip Early Debates"
Drudge: "Obama, Clinton May Skip Early Debates"Politico: "Despite Scandal, Page Program More Popular"
Drudge: "Mark Foley Scandal Brings MORE Pages to the Program..."
February 12
Politico: "Obama vs. Clinton: Not Just to Win"
Drudge: "Obama Takes Shot at Hillary...
February 13
Politico: "Rove: 2008 Race Is Already Too Much, Too Soon"
Drudge: "Rove: 2008 Race Is Already Too Much, Too Soon..."
February 14
Politico: "Cheney Says Bush Will Veto Pro-Union Bill"
Drudge: "CHENEY SAYS BUSH WILL VETO PRO-UNION BILL..."
February 21
February 22
Politico: "Daschle to Endorse Obama"
Drudge: "Daschle to Endorse Obama..."
February 23
Politico: "Lieberman Says War Vote Could Prompt Party Switch"
Drudge: "War Vote Could Prompt Party Switch..."Politico: "Arnold Defends Hillary, Mulls Senate Run"
Drudge: "Schwarzenegger: Stop Criticizing Hillary for war vote..."
February 26
Politico: Gore's Oscar Fuels Call for Late Run
Drudge: Fuels Call for Late Run...
February 27
Politico: Pelosi Falls Short On Election Promises
Drudge: Pelosi Falls Short On Election Promises...
March 1
Politico: "D.C. Madame to Sell 10,000 Phone Records of High-End Washington Clients"
Drudge: "D.C. Madame to Sell 10,000 Phone Records of High-End Washington Clients..."Politico: "Anyone but McCain, Santorum Says"
Drudge: "Santorum Says Anyone But McCain..."
March 5
Politico: "Edwards Sends Video to 70,000 Iowa Homes"
Drudge: "Edwards Sends Video to 70,000 Iowans..."
March 6
Politico: "Conservatives Bash McCain, Media"
Drudge: "NEWT: 'I'm not that big a McCain fan'..."Politico: "Liberal Democrats Revolt on Iraq Spending Bill"
Drudge: "Liberal Democrats revolt on Iraq Spending Bill..."
March 8
Politico: "Democrats Want Gitmo Prisoners Sent to U.S."
Drudge: "Dems Want Gitmo Prisoners Sent to USA..."Politico: "Iraq Pullout Could Begin July 1 Under Democratic Plan"
Drudge: "Iraq Pullout Could Begin July 1 Under Democratic Plan..."
March 9
Politico: "Nevada Dems Nix Fox Debate"
Drudge: "DEMS NIX FOXNEWS DEBATE"
March 12
Politico: "Dems May Fight White House for Testimony"
Drudge: "Dems May Fight White House for Testimony..."Politico: "Gore's Earth Concert, Live From the Capitol?"
Drudge: "Gore's Earth Concert, Live From the Capitol?"
March 13
Politico: "Air America's Invitation"
Drudge: "Liberal AIR AMERICA Offers to Host GOP Presidential Debate..."Politico: "Obama's Jewish Problem"
Drudge: "Obama's 'Jewish Problem'..."
March 14
Politico: "Lights Out on Plame?"
Drudge: "Hill Hearing: Lights Out on Valerie Plame?"
March 15
Politico: "Senate Judiciary Set To Vote On Subpoenas For Rove and Miers"
Drudge: "Senate Judiciary Set To Vote On Subpoenas For Rove and Miers..."Politico: "The New Dean Political Plan"
Drudge: "Howard Dean Meets Secretly with World Leaders, Opens Doors to Another Presidential Run..."Politico: "Rumsfeld Hospitalized for Heart Treatment"
Drudge: "Rumsfeld Hospitalized for Heart Treatment..."
March 18
Politico: "White House Says No, Conyers Says Yes to Subpoenas"
Drudge: "Dems to Push for Rove Subpoena Next Week..."Politico: "Dems Seek Maximum Political Gain in Attorneys Uproar"
Drudge: "Republicans Brace for Gonzales Resignation, Dems Demand Rove Testimony..."
March 19
Politico: "White House Seeks Gonzales Replacements"
Drudge: "White House Seeking Gonzales Replacements"
March 21
Politico: "Anti-War Dems Near Defeat on Spending Bill"
Drudge: "Liberals Say Pelosi Pressured them to Soften Antiwar Approach..."
March 22
Politico: "After Honeymoon, the Fight"
Drudge: "Honeymoon is Over..."Politico: "Hoyer Won't Rule Out Extending War Vote"
Drudge: "Plan to Break Major Campaign Promise..."Politico: "CORRECTION: Edwards Campaign Goes On"
Drudge: "Edwards to Suspend Campaign"Politico: "Getting it Wrong"
Drudge: "POLITICO: 'Getting It Wrong'..."Politico: "GOP Forces House Democrats To Pull DC Voting Bill"
Drudge: "THE HOUSE IN DISARRAY"
March 25
Politico: "Senate GOP Says No to Al Gore-Global Warming Concert at Capitol"
Drudge: "Senate GOP Says No To Al Gore-Global Warming Concert at Capitol..."
March 26
Politico: "Rookie Mistakes Plague Obama"
Drudge: "ROOKIE MISTAKES PLAGUE OBAMA..."
BREAKING: MUST CREDIT MMFA!!!
BREAKING!! I couldve checked the archives myself or told anyone off the top of my head that drudge links a politico story at least once a day!!!! OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111111111 DRUDGE LINKS TO THE POLITICO A LOT OH NOES! WHAT A SHOCK!!!!! MMFA JUST SOLVED THE MYSTERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't see the point of this post, there is obviously no hope for you.
I seriously doubt that the reason for bringing this thread up is that it is a 'mystery' solved as you ColCambell would have it, but rather to show how lazy and pathetic Drudge really is, as it pertains to reporting news. In his case, made up news.
I heard Drudge is accessed many more times a day that MM or HuffPost is in a week, but that doesn't make Drudge credible, it simply proves the laziness of some people.
Also, Drudge linking to Politico and using that as a link to attempt legitimacy is like Rush Limbaugh linking to the Fox Noise website and claiming their made up facts are real simply because its Rush saying so.
PUH-LEEZ
ok then lets pass a law mandating that drudge MUST link to the huffington post and mmfa 45 times each per month. in turn mmfa must hire glenn beck as a columnist and highlight 1 liberal bias story for every conservative bias story (or at least look for them)
Even better - expose Matt Drudge for the worthless scumbag he is, and ridicule the brainless fools who read his cybersewer website.
Hey, Col.
The point isn't that Drudge doesn't link to Huffington. It's that he doesn't credibly site other legitimate sources of information and relies on questionable secondary sources.
All in all, bottom of the barrel "journalism".
i didnt need mmfa to tell me that, i am a colonel after all. fact is drudge reports while other journalists are scrambling for confirmation. he ends up being right about 90% of the time or so (conservative estimate) and the other 10% of the time he gets it wrong he is forgiven for having such a cool site. I mean did you not see the big siren he put up when he broke the oreilly falafel scandal? why are you on billo's side (he hates drudge)
In The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008 (Random House, October 2006), Harris -- then of The Washington Post -- and then-ABC political director Mark Halperin devoted an entire chapter to Drudge's influence over the media, titled "How Matt Drudge Rules Our World," in which they state that Drudge "leans right" and warned that "[n]o Democratic politician will survive in the 2008 presidential campaign," unless they "understand" Drudge and have a "strategy" to "defend" themselves "against" Drudge.
The Drudge report does not rule the world. It's influence is questionable. It's basically a listing of stories & their links. And NOT always favorable to the Right.
I check it out for up to the minute breaking news...it usually beats out a great many other sites, though Huffington does pretty well at it too.
Is Drudge a right-winger? Ask his old buddy David Brock. And so what if he is. Where is it written that a PRIVATELY run website has to be a 50/50 fair & balanced one? MMFA certainly isn't. Drudge offers about the same service as the website Raw Story does...though THAT sites is a hell of a lot more biased than Drudge. But it's a Liberal bias, so I guess that's ok?
Don't like Drudge, then check out HinesSight which advertises itself as the Anti-Drudge site. Bet they don't link to a lot of Right-Wing sites. Bet that doesn't bother anyone here...
How often do you see legit news sources cite Raw Story? Now contrast that with how often they cite Drudge, or use Drudge as their source. THAT is the problem here. The mainstream media would never use Raw Story as a source, but if Drudge reports some rumor, they all pick it up.
Also, it's clear Drudge and Mike Allen/Politico are in cahoots together. Politico makes up a smear, leaks it to Drudge, Drudge posts it, then it becomes a legitimate story that other news agencies use. It's a right-wing echo chamber of smears, lies, or half-truths, and it is disguised as legitimate news media.
the washington post actually referenced a drudge story in one of their "news" stories a few months ago. but the "story" was from an anonymous source who supposedly overheard a phone call by senator schumer on a train. so the problem is not whether drudge is "right wing". he is and has every right to be. the problem is, as you state, that these stories then become suddenly "true". so this site has the right to point out that drudge and politico are not always accurate. and the proof that politico is an administration favorite was karl rove's statement that papers could shut down their washington bureaus because politico could take care of that duty.
Brian,
I'd never even heard of Drudge till several [or more?] years ago when I was home sick, and saw him interviewed by Brian Lamb on C-Span [I think he was even wearing the hat]. So I checked out his website. What I've found over the years is that he often gets a story up before even CNN. His links are often to newspapers [like Chicago Trib, NY Times or Post, the Washington Post, or LA Times] or to regional tv stations as well as other news websites. Maybe I'm naive [don't all jump in here!] but I never really noticed whether he cited more Conservative or Liberal leaning sources. MOST seemed to be fairly mainstream. And his "stories" were proved more often acurate than not. That could be said about any number of NEWS outlets.
As far as Raw Story goes, I check out the site myself on a fairly regular basis, BUT if Drudge has the bigger name and larger readership, then they'll just have to work harder to attract more traffic. Raw Story cites a lot of the SAME newspapers that Drudge does. But they are only looking for stories that are favorable to the Left. Drudge may lean a tad to the Right on some of the stuff he carries...BUT a great many of his featured stories/links are NOT favorable to the Right. Sometimes just the opposite.
No doubt Drudge has made a name for himself, and many like myself check his site out every morning--and several times during the day-- just to see "what's going on".
IF the MSM checks him out too, and continues to do so then his legitimacy on stories ratio can't be too far off.
To claim that Politico & Drudge, and the MSM are guilty of only leaking/reporting "smears, lies, or half-truths" is a stretch.
IF the MSM checks him out too, and continues to do so then his legitimacy on stories ratio can't be too far off.
That's so cute, Jeter! Your innocent faith in the journalistic integrity of the MSM is touching...
Well Val your paranoia about the MSM verges on hysterically funny.
Maybe you ought to check out other sources besides this one. Ya know expand your horizons.
I know it's easier for you to just be spoon-fed Left-Wing selective insight, but give it a try.
Jeter, as if you care, I read a broad array of news sources, in English, Spanish, and Italian, mainstream and not, left-wing and not. I don't go on faith, as you seem to, that because a given website is name-checked in a mainstream publication that it has any integrity.
Val, if the articles/links on Drudge were proven incorrect more often than correct then the MSM wouldn't use them. That's simple logic and common sense.
Do you even read Drudge, or do you just take the word of your MMFA masters?
I've seen nothing thus far in your posting here that reflects anything besides a partisan viewpoint.
No matter your vast reading skills...
I do have a partisan viewpoint that I evolved, same as I assume you did, from my own experience in the world and my own judgment of what's right and wrong. You have no basis on which to impugn my integrity. You don't know me.
Drudge has been caught out in BS before, the whole "Gore took five cars to go across the street" was one that just came to mind. Found some others just googling around.
If you really think the MSM is really rigorous in checking its sources, I suggest you read up on this thing called the "Iraq War" and some of the single-sourced articles that were published in our major media outlets leading up to it...
Val, as an aside I found that link I was looking for yesterday on that Imus thread if you want to check it out. Drudge is definitely right-wing but he does link to both liberal and conservative columnists.
BTW, when I say Drudge is definitely right wing I'm saying that's my opinion. I always think my opinion and the truth are one and the same, for some reason. ;-)
Val,
First let me apologize if it came off as if I were questioning your integrity. I try extremely hard to understand & respect others points of view here--though the last few days have been particularly trying for me ;-)
I've been posting here for over two years and I will admit my own opinions have evolved in that time just from debating back & forth with others here. I am a Conservative, that hasn't changed, but I was never one of the neocon variety. If anything I've mellowed a bit. [ok you're probably thinking--yeah right]
I agree that the MSM has proven itself lazy over the last 5-6 years and yes they probably do rely much too heavily on outside sources, like Drudge. However, if what Drudge posted proved to be constantly incorrect, I still contend that even a lazy media would not continue to use his website.
Drudge is certainly guilty of publishing B.S. on occasion, but most of what appears on his site is accurate. And the links he provides are not necessarily Right-Wing.
Actually Drudge's links are often MSM sources, so I suppose it's all a vicious circle?
Actually Jeter, what's really cute is how those blinded by their own partisan ideology refuse to accept that any news organization, which doesn't cater to and flatter their leftist agenda, has no journalistic integrity.
Well Tommy we both know that there are only a handful of those on the Left here that will even consider judging the media or issues without a preconceived bias, so I don't expect much. And I'm rarely disappointed. ;-)
I hope you guys aren't smokers -- you are surrounding yourselves with a fearsome array of straw men, and one stray spark could set them all off...
OK, now that's cute......
Do many people on the left as well as the right decry the media just because it doesn't report the news with the slant they want? Yes. Does that mean the MSM does a good job of reporting the actual events of our time? No, it doesn't.
Am I, consciously or unconsciously, adoping Don Rumsfeld's rhetorical style? Goodness, yes!
People with hardened political ideology whine and complain all the time about media bias, not in their favor. Anyone can cherry pick examples to fit their agenda all day long - wading through bias and spin is essential if you're going to evaluate issues honestly and fairly......goes with the territory in today's media saturated society.
Right, which is not what I'm talking about. I am talking about reporting, checking the facts, not just being a stenographer for whatever your source is, be it Administrations, corporations, think tanks, whatever.
Bias I see almost in the sense of voltage bias in electronics. It exists, and it's something you take into consideration. Eliminating it is either impossible or undesirable or both.
no one is arguing that drudge does not have legit sources and links on his site, which seems to be the basis for much of the defense of him. were that the case, then there would not be an argument here. but several examples have been offered where he just posted things that were totally made up. i had never seen the gore took five cars thing, but it is exactly the kind of thing that gains hold among many on the right. but it was untrue.
No thats an astute observation. Will the day ever come when you can tell the difference?
Oh please. Tell me you dont really consider Drudge a legitamate journalist, or what he does journalism. What is cute is you taking this ludicrous tone. Like its OUR fault Drudge is the gossipmonger without credibility. Or that he lacks that credibility because he is conservative rather than because he is a gossipmonger that doesnt DESERVE credibility.
Not a legitimate journalist? Haven't you seen the hat?
You're right, my mistake, I forgot about the hat
Well almost, you are about as much a Colenel as Drudge is a journalist
You're a colonel? Big deal. Harlan Sanders was a colonel, and all he knew was chicken.
ha! did you just say drudge has a cool site? ha, dude i wouldn't want you as my colonel.
DRUDGE RETIRES!!!
Real News Websites Report 0 Hits!!!
Public can't find news anywhere. Internets considering closing down. "The tubes are empty." - AP
Developing...
At least if we did that then Drudge would at least finally have a bit of legitimacy!
I love how success just pisses off some people and then they go and expose their jelousy.
Per Terry Prachett, one my favorite authers. Anyone using over 6 exclamation points has, issues . Its news to me, being a bit recent to much of this information. Drudge I've heard of before, political doesn't seem to get good reviews here abouts. You can be too naive. Finding yourself in dire straits or dead can be a good clue. If it's possible to be too cynical, how would you know?
I was going to comment on the significance of this MMFA story.
But, I think I'd rather be intellectually lazy and just link to someone else's comment with questionable credibility instead.
It's just so much easier that way!
I've always heard rumors about Matt Drudge's sexuality - that's he's actually a closeted homosexual. Perhaps he and John Harris share more than just a professional relationship.....
Lets see if Drudge takes the bait...as mmfa tries to start a feud with him in order to tap into his huge audience.
and you try to start an argument with more unproven nonsense.
Who or what is Drudge?
I think it's a Dickensian word for "peon."
You got a point Wes, after all, favorite son Olbermann keeps trying it with O'Reilly.
Hey, this may be off topic. But I cecently decided to use the little Digg button, by digging the "Ann Coulter Action Center". I don't know how everyone else feels about this but maybe if we were all to Digg some of the more important MMFA articles, we might make an impact? At any rate, I immediately got some Coulter defenders commening. If anyone thinks this is a good idea, my Digg name is Shiphunter.
Well thats good to know. Most diggers are moonbats and wired mag has proven it several times.
Most diggers are moonbats and wired mag has proven it several times.
Most unsubstantiated statistics are moronic garbage and wizbor has proven it several times.
Soo, I take it no one thinks it's a good idea to try to "Digg" some of these? Cuz' I'm not arguing on there unless I got backup...
I signed up for a Digg account (rshackle) after reading your suggestion but haven't used it much yet.
Look for "Ann Coulter". There's a link to the MMFA article, and I'm fighting a war of comments against some Neocons...
<i>I heard Drudge is accessed many more times a day that MM or HuffPost is in a week</i>
I'm sure the fact that the Drudge Report auto-reloads if you leave that window open has <i>nothing</i> to do with it!
Seriously, though, I don't read The Politico (and I live in DC), but I <i>do</i> have to commend them for a pretty good business plan. Each family holiday, every angry, curmudgeonly uncle will try to regal his relatives with his knowledge about politics by repeating stuff he saw in the Drudge Report. The Politico has manage to capture that key curmudgeonly uncle demographic.
I don't really think the issue here is Drudge; rather, it's Politico.com's bid for acceptance as a "respectable publication" (helped along by Bush's name-check during a press conference last month) despite their roots in the same crappy wingnut blogosphere that nurtures Drudge.
I don't care what your hit count is. Crap is crap, and crappy news actually kills people.
Exactly. It seems like everyone else is missing the point here. I wouldn't have known anything about the Politico had I not been following the articles here and over at Glenn Greenwald's Salon.com column, but this article clearly speaks to Politico's legitimacy as a news organization.
Greenwald is a great resource... even the commenters are excellent (though his contrarians are of a much lower quality than ours).
I don't usually follow the comments section there, but in the past I've witnessed the contrarians being uniformly ignored, which was really refreshing.
How many times does MM link to Edward R. Olbermann? More than drudge links to The Poilitco!!
Oh thats not told in the drive by media.
The fact is there isn't many who wouldn't love to be linked by Drudge.
Who wouldn't want a extra 50 to 100 thousand people reading what they post?
I don't think theres anything going on has this site may suggest.Politico is suppose to be the next big thing.So why wouldn't you want to link to it?
In fact,Politico,in trying to beat Drudge, has gotten at least 2 major stories wrong last week.
This is weak.
A few reasons;
Categorize, if necessary.
Marginalize, if necessary.
Discredit, if necessary.
(just in case liberals are viewed unfavorably)
absolutely "necessary" in your case: just babble a lot of generalities.
The question that gets lost in all the bickering: does anyone actually consider The Politico to be a legitimate news source?
Answer this question and then you'll know why MMFA has illustrated this.