NY Times' Bumiller uncritically repeated McCain camp suggestion that Palin pregnancy was disclosed "because of rumors ... on the Internet"
SUMMARY: On MSNBC Live, The New York Times' Elisabeth Bumiller uncritically repeated the McCain campaign's suggestion that "because of the rumors that were on the Internet" concerning the 17-year-old pregnant daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, the campaign "felt they had to get the story out" about the pregnancy. But according to the Times, the McCain campaign released the information about the pregnancy on Labor Day because the media were focused on Hurricane Gustav and because "the nation was busy with family and social activities."
On the September 2 edition of MSNBC Live, New York Times Washington correspondent Elisabeth Bumiller contradicted her own paper's reporting by uncritically repeating the McCain campaign's suggestion that "because of the rumors that were on the Internet" concerning the 17-year-old pregnant daughter of Sen. John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the campaign "felt they had to get the story out" about the pregnancy. Bumiller said the McCain campaign "did not want to do it on the first day of the convention," adding that McCain "was completely off message."
But Bumiller's assertion contradicts her colleague Adam Nagourney's reporting in the Times that the McCain campaign released the information about Palin's daughter's pregnancy, along with other unflattering information about the Palin family, on Labor Day because the media were focused on Hurricane Gustav and also because "the nation was busy with family and social activities." The Times quoted Tucker Eskew, a senior adviser to Palin, saying of the release of information about Palin on Labor Day: "We are going to flush the toilet."
From the 1 p.m. ET hour of the September 2 edition of MSNBC Live:
ANDREA MITCHELL (NBC News foreign affairs correspondent): Just yesterday, it was revealed that Palin's teen daughter, Bristol Palin, is pregnant. Then there was word that the state of Alaska had hired a private attorney for Palin to defend herself in the state ethics investigation; also that her husband had been arrested more than two decades ago on a drunken driving charge -- all of which was well known to the campaign during the vet.
Elisabeth Bumiller, the Washington correspondent for The New York Times, she's written about all of this today. Elisabeth, how concerned do you think the campaign needs to be? They say they knew all of this, they went through it, and this is the person that John McCain wants with him on the ticket. Is it a lot of background noise? Is it a distraction? Does it actually help in firing up the base?
BUMILLER: Well, I think it's safe to say they did not want this to happen on the first day of the Republican convention. There was a big distraction with Hurricane Gustav but they -- this was not what they had planned. They said that they were -- you know, because of the rumors that were on the Internet, that, you know, very -- what they called very vicious rumors, they felt they had to get the story out.
But I can tell you they did not want to do it on the first day of the convention and certainly it's a distraction. He's completely -- was completely off message yesterday and it's spilling into today as well.
I can't stomach these manipulative, hypocritical bastards any longer.
And when you try to call them out on it they get agitated and irritated. Like when a caller on JC's radio show asked him if he was talking out of both sides of his mouth on this issue (he harps about abstinence yet seems overly joyed because Bristol's pregnant). JC called him an âss before proclaiming that he's been consistent on all his views.
And he called another caller a "sorry excuse for a citizen" because she listened to what the liberal media said about Sarah Palin...
So much for professionalism.
This may be off-topic..... but has anyone else noticed how at the RNC during these interviews of the Republican pundits... the seats in the background are all empty! And that the variety of.... nationalities.... seem to be 90% white and a tiny smatering of all others
But at the DNC..... I don't recall seeing to many empty seats and the variety of.... nationalities.... looked to me to be quite evenly distributed among the races..... hmmm
yeah, it's been mentioned all over.
In the old days, they made an attempt to corral all the Blacks onstage in front of the cameras-- now, they don't care how white they are.
The repubs have trully been conquered by the christian nutcases.
Was her daughter still in school or was the mono deal just a cover-up? Let's face the truth here. Alaskans would have dealt with this story on their own..and the enemies of Palin, her fellow Reepublicans, would have brought this out. Would it be national news? Don't think so. Should anyone care about her pregnancy, NO. Should people have the right to question judgement or McCains choice? YES, she is not running for mayor anymore.
I have a question. Would McCain have chosen the Governor of Alaska who had the exact same resume as Gov. Palin if that Governor were a man? Or would he have chosen a Gov. from Minn or La. who had more experience who happened to be a man?
The Repubs have hitched their wagon to the big money drilling mantra, so an Alaskan governor (think ANWR) fits the bill to a tee.
Prince,
I think McCain would have picked the hypothetical identical twin man from Alaska.
He is running on reforming the government and adding Palin to the ticket reinforces that idea.
Palin being a woman, is a plus. She'll bring over moderate Hillary supporters and Independents.
I mean really? How cynical do you have to be to believe that men and women who supported Hillary are going to ignore this religious zealot's rapist bill of rights and support her?
Should anyone care about her pregnancy, NO.
Wrong.
All day Friday, Palin and the repubs made an issue of her mom-ness as a reason to vote for her. As such, her mom-ness is now fair game.
They brought up the issues, nobody else. So to call it "sexist" to criticize her is absurd and hypocritical. They can't have it both ways. Also, if Obama had a pregnant daughter, it would be an issue as well.
This is politics, not a picnic. Palin knew her family situation be would scrutinized like no other.
Not to mention her High...er Momness, is not a very good teacher of abstinence.
And, as mom, shouldn't she want the best for her children? I mean, shouldn't she want the "science" of evolution taught too?
Even if religiously she believes in creation, the outside world believes in science, and it behooves people to know what its about...duh.
"all of which was well known to the campaign during the vet."
Wrong again, Andrea.
They learned about it the day before she was offered the VP slot (as per the Washington Times).
It's astounding how similar right wing radio show hosts are in the States and the UK. I was on my way back from a cancelled course and on my favorite radio station the right wing mouth breather who follows the morning show can on and was enthusing about Sarah Palin. Normally l switch channels but l stayed listening as l wanted to hear how many republican talking points he would mention. He talked about her "wonderful" actions in supporting her child, her taking on spending and how she was a reformer, and then brought on a bush supporting neocon called Charlie Wolf who not only said he still supported Bush but said Palin should do her best to be more like him to help win the election!!
By the time l got home he had hypocritically reversed the stance he had the week before when he had called teenaged mothers a disgrace to the country and showed a lack of parenting skills, something that another caller had pointed out, and had glossed over troopergate. He then asked for any callers who thought that they could say anything negative about Palin. I called in and gave him the quote of Craig Campbell the Adjutant General of the National Guard, her pork barrel spending, her funding cuts of teenaged mothers and her husband's connection to AIP!! He wasn't happy and asked me why l supported Obama as his mantra has been that he is only popular to black people because he is black. I quoted Obama's postions on healthcare, the economy, and Iraq as to why he was ahead. When he said that Omaba had changed his position on Iraq l corrected him and pointed out that El Maliki and the Bush administration now agreed with him. That is when he stuttered then ended my call!!! It's one of the few times he has not been able to change an arguement to his position and he didn't like it.
If you had called a US wingnut show with such a coherent argument, the screener would never let you on the air.
Sounds like you did a great job!
George Galloway has a show Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 1am London time on a station called TALKsport. You can find it at:
www4.talksport.net
He is always eager to hear from new listeners, and regularly priortizes callers who do not agree with him and women callers. If you are going to call him KNOW YOUR SUBJECT!! This is a British MP of many years standing youare dealingt with and if you don't know what you are talking about he will let you speak but will then embarrass you by pointing out where you are wrong in minute detail!! As a regular listener let me tell you, Norm Colman got off lightly!!
He wasn't happy and asked me why l supported Obama as his mantra has been that he is only popular to black people because he is black.
That's really racist!
Here’s the real source of “the rumor.”
http://www.adn.com/front/story/336402.html
From the referenced article:
Palin said she's already about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May.
That the pregnancy is so advanced astonished all who heard the news. The governor, a runner who's always been trim, simply doesn't look pregnant.
Even close members of her staff said they only learned this week their boss was expecting.
"I thought it was becoming obvious," Palin said. "You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger."
But people just couldn't believe the news.
"Really? No!" said Bethel state Rep. Mary Nelson, who is close to giving birth herself.
"It's wonderful. She's very well-disguised," said Senate President Lyda Green, a mother of three who has sometimes sparred with Palin politically. "When I was five months pregnant, there was absolutely no question that I was with child."
The fact that she "didn't look pregnant" must be what fueled the rumors. Most "trim" women wh are seven months pregnant look like they're shoplifting a basketball...
And the second thing, was that her daughter was seen in photos looking plump around the middle after the delivery.
Palin's confusing stories about her water breaking, flying for hours, her activities just before delivery, her daughter's weight gain and other things fueled the talk according to many Alaskan bloggers.
It's interesting that Alaska was talking about all of this, and yet the McCain camp didn't vet her well enough to avoid this mess.... but now as we see, they are blaming Obama and the left wing bloggers for dragging this poor child into the national light.
Sure, anything's possible, but that whole story about Whatshername giving a speech after her water broke and then traveling for 5 hours to give birth in a small town hospital doesn't pass the smell test.
8 hours.
But, some liberal columnists (Somerby) are calling those who are pursuing this issue borderline insane. I think that's wrong.
What's good for the goose is good for the....
Because if Repubs can use sexual hypocrisy to bring down their opponents, why not Dems?
don,t know, look pregnant to you? I know at 7 months I was showing, a lot.
By MICHAEL DINNEEN, AP Photo
Comment | RecommendFrom left, Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell and Sandy Parnell announce Palin's endorsement of Parnell Friday, March 14, 2008 at the state elections office in Anchorage, Alaska. Parnell had just.
Sarah Palin, supposedly 7 months ...
512 x 476 - 31k - jpg
www.capitalcityweekly.com
the Federation of State and Provincial Professional Fire Fighters Association in Anchorage, May 21, 22, 23. Fairbanks Fire Fighters Welcome Gov Palin
Updated On: Apr 15, 2008 (22:09:00)
Large Fire in Downtown AnchorageWhat was Trig's birth weight? Was he early? What did Pagan, I mean, Palin weigh before her pregnancy?
No.
I don't care.
Any way you slice it, whether their unwed minor got knocked up or Sarah is a career mom (anyone remember Limbaugh trashing Hillary for having a career?), these strict moral order people are disgusting hypocrites.
Levi Johnston, is going to be a major problem for the McCain advisers, and so could be Levi's mother who is telling the press that they had planned the wedding some time ago and "This is a bonus.
It is no wonder the hurricane was such a welcome distraction for the RNC. Could you imagine McCain being replaced by a VP with personal baggage like this? I imagine the right wing evangelical groups are all praying for more bad weather right now.
US MAGAZINE article; Father of Bristol Palin’s Baby: “I Don’t Want Kids” :
"The New York Post reports that although Levi admits to being ‘in a relationship’ on his personal My Space page, the teen hockey player makes the candid revelation that he does not want to be a parent stating, “I don’t want kids.”
The teen also uses the site to talk openly about how he likes to spend his time. He boasts, "I'm a f - - -in' redneck who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes. But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess.”
He warns, “Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass."........[...]
Gray,
The Dems are going to get some serious blowback for this low level assassination journalism. They look very desperate. I think this will hurt them in the long run.
WE look desperate? That's gotta be the snowjob of the century. But since it's exposed, I'm darn glad it's getting the airtime. For years right wing sanctimonious christians have claimed liberalism is bad for family values, bad for morals, and bad for religion and along comes Palin who is suspected of being pregnant before she got married and then raised a daughter who got pregnant underage. The whole family has broken every moral code of christianity yet has the hipocracy to speak in the church? And the lies?
No, AA, the desperation is there, but the source couldn't be clearer. Palin exposes the greatest hipocracy of all - right wing christian values blow the doors off of the ol liberals destroy families mantra. They know it and are scared wondering how to cover up their greatest hipocracy.
You know, most people don't like nutcase, wingnut Christians, and are well aware that they have a tendency to be the most depraved of all.
That's why Palin is sinking-- it ain't any "liberal bloggers" who are inciting this story. Most people-- especially women-- see Palin as a lying flake.
And nobody extolls teen marriages-- as if they're a great thing!!
The Dems are going to get some serious blowback for this low level assassination journalism.
Reality check:
It was Palin and the Republicans who extolled her virtues as a mom-- and then revealed the teen pregnancy!
Nobody else.
Yeah here is one, if you google you can see more of this type of filth.
http://www.theofftopic.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3078&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Bad taste--no question about it.
Nevertheless, the guy who posted it is not a member of the MSM, nor an official in the Democratic Party.
If the right wants this to go away they need to quit screaming about it while pointing their fingers at the folks who aren't responsible.
<sniff!> <sniff!> you reporters are so mean to me and my vp! <sniff!> dat not fair! <sniff!> I ain't gonna pway no more! <sniff!> <sniff!> I think I'm gonna go home! <bwaaaaah! mommmmmyyyy!>
don't even suggest y'all are willing to debate, you pansies won't even have democrats covering your convention. We sure had more than enough republicans covering our convention though. Y'all are just all talk, no action.
Disgusting , thank you for the link.
That's exactly what I said to Sarah Palin the last time I was over for homemade moose & caribou sausage !
That was completely uncalled for by FOX.
However, when Michelle Obama or any adult family member of a candidate speaks in support of their husband, brother, son, father, or mother, then anything they say is fair game and anything in their professional or public dealings is fair game. In addition anything these people say about their own political views i.e. "for the first time I'm proud of my country" that too is FAIR GAME
As such ANYTHING Sarah Palin has done as an elected official or business owner or whatever is FAIR GAME. Her 17-year-old daughter is NOT fair game, the circumstances surrounding the birth of her fifth child are NOT fair game.
The left brings the children in all the time. With Reagan there was much about the dysfunctional nature of the family, With Bush 41 it was Neil Bush's financial problems and Bush 43 we had to hear about the party girls all the time. And don't forget the Kerry/Edwards disgusting stunts with Mary Cheney during nationally televised debates. Nary a word was ever spoken about Chelsea Clinton or any of the Gore children. And Joe Biden has plenty of issues with his kids.
The last few days the media and the left have stooped to a new low that even the most cynical conservatives didn't think was possible.
And Dick Cheney himself outed his daughter a few days before the debate, to which Edwards rightfully commended his tolerance.
Why don't you figure out what you're talking about or stop whining for a double standard.
Hey: I know EXACTLY what I'm talking about you JERK.
There was never a word of Chelsea Clinton or any other Democrat child in the major media. NOTHING. Nor should there have been!! And not ONE opposing candidate EVER said anything about them..
Until 2004....
Mary Cheney's sexuality was not a secret. It was common knowledge before her father ran in 2000, nevermind 2004. The Vice President did not "out her" a few days before the debate with Edwards. That sniveling sleazeball who was cheating on his dying wife -- and the pompous ass Kerry -- dropped that info on Mary Cheney in the debates as a desparate attempt way to depress the Bush/Cheney vote. And the so-called "Corporate Right-Wing" media goose-stepped its way into the liberal marching line covered the "story" for 2 days.
So please do not try and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.
I guess when John McCain said “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno.”, or Rush calling her the family dog were issue discussions, right? That's just the tip of the iceberg. You'll never be able to post any backing facts showing your talking points have the substance you claim. Keep reaching though, cause even a blind squirrel is bound to find a nut in the forrest.
You're clueless.
Rush Limbaugh called Chelsea the White House Dog. And don't try to wiggle out of that by saying he ain't major media. He gets, as he loves to point out, 15-20 million listeners a week. He is major media.
McCain asked, "why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?" To which he answered himself, "because Janet Reno is her father."
And furthermore, punk, pointing out that Bristol is indeed, pregnant, is not a smear. Pointing out that Sarah Palin is a family values, abstinence only hypocrite is a fact.
Say what you want about John Edwards, but in that debate he did not disparage any of the Cheney's. As for trying to depress the base's vote, it ain't a liberals fault that you right-wing authoritarian pricks don't like queer folks. Maybe y'all wouldn't be so damn sensitive about the issue if y'all weren't so hateful to gays, always tying to crush equal rights for them.
At a Republican Senate fund-raiser, McCain told a downright nasty joke making fun of Janet Reno, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.
The fact that McCain had made the tasteless joke was reported in major newspapers, as was the vain attempt by his press secretary to initially deny what McCain had done. But in several major newspapers, the joke itself was kept a secret. When McCain subsequently apologized to President Clinton, the Washington Post, in its personality section, noted the apology but said the joke "was too vicious to print."
You are a right wing LIAR .
Chelsea was called many names, and this year implied she was a PROSTITUTE, and that her MOTHER was pimping her.
The last few days the media and the left have stooped to a new low that even the most cynical conservatives didn't think was possible.
Harumph! Guffaw! Snort! Ha!
Nary a word, new lows, what a load of poo! The reichwing republicans know no boundries when it comes to slinging mud or how low to go! To say you people are even capable of blushing is the biggest lie ever told, but you types are just to arrogant to admit you can and do go lower whenever possible. Songbird has yet to articulate a platform, all we keep hearing is "I have one, and it's not a copy of Bush". So what does he do to fill in the wait time? Slings mud. He's not capable of running a respectful campaign!
That you would even conceive posting something so assaninely rediculous shows just how low you'll go.
SNOOPY:
Do you have any SPECIFIC examples as I have listed? Or are you just full of SH*% as usual??
Rush Limbaugh took this shot: "Everyone knows the Clintons have a cat," said Limbaugh. "Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is also a White House dog?" And he held up a picture of Chelsea.
In other words you dont beleive it with out a link?
I saw that one with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears.
Its true.
Now, go ahead, question whether I am telling the truth or not.
Is it fair to comb through every sermon Whatshername has heard at her Troglodyte Church? Maybe we could show clips of people speaking in tongues in her presence. Maybe she has spoken in tongues.... I think we need to know that, don't you? Wouldn't it only be fair for them to spend as much time on that as they did on Rev. Wright?
You guys are all concerned about what goes on in my bedroom. I think I'm not as interested in what goes on in yours.
Does any talking point containing the phrase family values still exist in your brain. They were sooo popular till Palin arrived. Comon I'll bet you can still snark about demoncratic/liberal family values one more time. Just for old times sake?
I haven't heard anyone mention "family values".
And it doesn't matter if it's true or not that the rumor was started by those awful lefty websites, it's out there and the wingnuts know what they believe.
I just heard a caller to Rush , a woman swooning over Palin, as the caller was also very attractive and had been treated badly by ugly feminist co-workers who assumed she was sleeping with the boss to attain her position.
But Caribou Barbie wasn't the deciding factor in this callers support for the GOP. She was voting on the single fact that McCain refused to be let go by his captors when given the chance.Of course that's not the real story, but it is to her.
I'd like to see an exit poll with two questions; 1. Which party did you vote for, and 2. What was the single most important reason you voted that way?
It would be interesting how many of those might be answered 1. Republican and 2. Something not true.
First it was the poor Christians who were being persecuted. Then came the rich white men. Now it's the gorgeous babes.
Thanks for making my day Colonel.
And you know, the irony is, that she probably is sleeping with the boss. Or else she's inciting the expectation in him of one day doing so.
These work stories always have a core reason somewhere.
Every fundamentalist Christian I know-- who is an attractive woman-- has an unspeakable past and an indeterminate future. They can be really depraved-- and immensely, insanely hypocritical and un-self aware.
MMFA once again is LYING by OMISSION here..
The Internet rumor the McCain camp is referring was about Sarah Palin's 5-month old being the child of her daughter. Those upstanding merchants of truth at DailyKos posted this one:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/17933/7330/417/579267
That's the rumor and MMFA is ommitting because they are LIARS just like Kos and the rest of the liberal universe. So what exactly did Bumiller need to be critical of toward the McCain campaign??
Which came from talk in Alaska about her looking very unlike a woman 7 months preggers.
As they noted not a popular issue. Given how hard the neocons want access to what goes on in our bedrooms, I think they should give a good example and testimony, of where her wonderful values have really taken her. I'm not really interested in all of it, but its been a fair target for the right for so many years.
Try to remenber a favorite family values rant, applicable only, if this Family had the last name Obama.
Oh The Clintons, Al Gore, Johns Kerry and Edwards any major democratic candidate you care name has been slimed by the Republican noise machine. All part of the 20+ years of demonizing all democratic/liberal enthusiasts. Imagine the noise if Obama had an underage pregant daughter.
Gotta say though I'm more interested in the lady's book banning ways than her family problems.
Its not paranoia, merely observing the facts. Something I fail to see in your post.
How are you going to convince anyone that conservatives don't slime when you accuse me of using opiates and being deranged?
Thats what your media heros do, thats what you do.