NY Times, AP again ignored their own reporting on McCain campaign's claims about Obama's association with Ayers
SUMMARY: The New York Times and the AP uncritically reported the McCain campaign's claims about Sen. Barack Obama's association with William Ayers, with a post on the Times' The Caucus blog quoting Sen. John McCain's claim that Obama "was friends with a terrorist and his wife," and the AP reporting that Gov. Sarah Palin "reaffirmed her view that Obama had been 'palling around with terrorists' because of his association with Bill Ayers." Neither news outlet noted its earlier reporting undermining these claims.
Again ignoring their own reporting, The New York Times and the Associated Press reported the McCain campaign's claims about Sen. Barack Obama's association with former Weather Underground member William Ayers, in both cases, without noting their own earlier reporting undermining these claims.
In an October 21 post to the Times' The Caucus blog, Michael Falcone quoted Sen. John McCain's claim that Obama "was friends with a terrorist and his wife and we need to know the full relationship." Falcone did not note that in an October 4 article examining Obama's association with Ayers, the Times reported that "the two men do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called 'somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.' "
In an October 20 article, the AP reported that Gov. Sarah Palin "reaffirmed her view that Obama had been 'palling around with terrorists' because of his association with Bill Ayers." But in an October 5 article, the AP reported that "there is no evidence that they [Obama and Ayers] ever palled around. And it's simply wrong to suggest that they were associated while Ayers was committing terrorist acts." Additionally, the AP noted on October 5 -- but not on October 20 -- that in accusing Obama of "palling around with terrorists," Palin cited the Times' October 4 article, which does not support her accusation.
As Media Matters for America has documented, both the Times and the AP have previously uncritically reported the McCain campaign's claims about Obama's relationship with Ayers while ignoring their own reporting otherwise.
From Falcone's October 21 post on The Caucus:
In a taped interview on the CBS "Early Show" Tuesday morning, Senator John McCain, defended the robocalls his campaign and the Republican Party are running that tie Senator Barack Obama to Bill Ayers, the former member of the radical group, the Weather Underground.
"That robocall is absolutely accurate," Mr. McCain told CBS's Harry Smith. "And, by the way, Senator Obama is running robocalls as we speak. He's running an ad that's untrue about my immigration position, about stem cell research and about several other issues."
Mr. McCain added: "He was friends with a terrorist and his wife and we need to know the full relationship."
From the October 20 AP article:
Palin also reaffirmed her view that Obama had been "palling around with terrorists" because of his association with Bill Ayers, a 1960s-era radical who helped found the violent Weather Underground group to protest the Vietnam war. The group was responsible for bombings of several government buildings.
"I would say it again," she said.
Ayers and Obama live in the same Chicago neighborhood and have served together on charity boards. Ayers also hosted a house party for Obama when he was first running for the Illinois state Senate.
Can't wait for them to trot out their smear campaign assertion of association with rev Wright. That is coming.
Yeah, it's definitely coming. I wouldn't put anything past the McCarthy/Palin campaign at this point.
However, it would behoove them to note just how little that worked for them earlier in the campaign.
Oops. Did I say McCarthy/Palin?
I meant McCain/Palin. Sorry, Freudian slip.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...
Don't worry about it. I just heard Jeff Christie make a world-class slip-up. He was talking about how Obama is coming off the campaign tral for two days to visit his grandmother in Hawaii, but instead he saif that Obama was "visiting his girlfriend." He actually said it twice before he corrected himself, but you know that "unintentional" repetition seared "Obama - Girlfriend" into the mush-filled minds of countless dittoheads.....
and i thought it was Palin/Mccain ticket
good. I hope we get equal reporting on Palin's racist preacher. She really does have him over for dinner and loves speaking at his congregation. Because of him that idiot thinks the world is only 10,000 years old and also thinks you should pray to god for wealth, thinks Alaska will be a safe haven during armegeddon, and wants to conquer all other religions. Oh, and she is a racist too. Anyone who says they will never consider having a minority on her staff and who refers to eskimos as snow n****rs has a lot of nerve calling herself a christian.
I cannot understand why Sarah and Todd Palin's past political associations (and McCain paling around w/ Liddy) are not relevant to the NYT and AP's reporting on Obama's associations. Todd Palin would likely fail a security clearance based on his documented anti-American past. Why not report it?
Simple. The NY Times, and the AP, are reporting what is coming from the McCain campaign, which is regrettably, and sadly, still Bill Ayers. They have little else.
In contrast, the Obama campaign is making no issue of Liddy or Sarah and Todd Palin's past political associations, consequently the NY Times, and the AP, are not reporting on it.
It's not that simple. Neither campaign is making an issue of either candidates’ health, yet the NYT is reporting on that very issue today. Reporters need not take their cues from campaign shills.
It is that simple. If Obama wants it reported by the media, then he should bring it up, just as McCain is doing. Comparing this to doing a story on candidate's health issues is apples and oranges. Ayers is McCain campaign tactic, their health issues are something we all have a right to know.
If McCain and Palin want to paint Obama as a terrorist, then McCain and Palin open themselves up to the same scrutiny. I think the public has a right to know that Todd Palin hates the federal government.
If certain media outlets want to investigate it, then they should do so. You specifically asked why the media is not reporting about McCain/Palin associations and I told you why. They are reporting what is coming from the respective campaigns.
If you disagree, fine.
The media has long ago stopped doing real investigative reporting. The Cons ploy to convince people that the media is "liberal" has worked in the sense that is has the media cowed so much that they can't do their job. They need to ferret out the truth wherever it is. McCain's associations should be brought up whenever they report on the Ayers smear.
Hypocrisy is news and should be noted by the news media.
They are not painting Obama as a terroist, they are just pointing out that Obama does not make the best decisions when it comes to associations with individuals. McCain yes with Libby, but Libby went to Jail and paid his debt to society. Bill Ayers got off on a technicality. I am also sure that Todd Palin is not running for any office, but Michelle Obama is not different, she is not real happy about our government, that is in print.
"They are not painting Obama as a terroist, they are just pointing out that Obama does not make the best decisions when it comes to associations with individuals."
What choice? There's no evidence they "palled around". In fact, the evidence is the opposite. So, that's the anatomy of a smear.
"McCain yes with Libby, but Libby went to Jail and paid his debt to society."
So what? He also instructed his listeners on how best to kill a federal agent. He's a cretin and his association with McCain is much worse then even the strongest innuendo about obama and Ayers.
"but Michelle Obama is not different, she is not real happy about our government, that is in print."
Um. The vast, vast majority of Americans agree with her. The current "wrong track" poll numbers are the highest ever recorded.
If you want to talk about poor choices, lets discuss how Obama wore a flag pin to all three debates while McCain never wears one yet it's Obama whose called unamerican. And let's definitely talk about how McCain disrespects the US flag he claims he loves better than Obama.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
BREAKING: McCain campaign disrespects American flag, drags it on the ground
If John McCain, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman and the rest of the Republicans are going to walk around boasting about how they're better Americans than Democrats, better Americans than Barack Obama, then their party needs to stop treating the American flag like a used Kleenex. Had Obama done this, there'd be hell to pay. Once again, the Republicans talk a good talk about patriotism, about the flag, but when it comes to their actions, they're always somewhat wanting.
They are not painting Obama as a terroist, they are just pointing out that Obama does not make the best decisions when it comes to associations with individuals.
Bullsh*t! They use the term "domestic terrorist" for a reason. McCain/Palin hope to connect the 9/11 terrorist attack to Bill Ayes participation in the radical group Weatherman. They're trying to suggest that Obama is a terrorist. They repeat a known lie that Obama started his political career in Ayers living room, knowing it's a lie. They could give a fig about his decisions, McCain/Palin are losing and they're willing to do or say anything to win.
Somehow McCain yes with Libby, but Libby went to Jail and paid his debt to society. Bill Ayers got off on a technicality. I am also sure that Todd Palin is not running for any office, but Michelle Obama is not different, she is not real happy about our government, that is in print.
Libby may have went to jail for his Watergate crimes but Libby advised listeners to kill federal law enforcement agents: "Now if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests. ... Kill the sons of bitches." And YOU want to simply dismiss Libby?
Bill Ayers didn't "get off on a technicality", the government BROKE the LAW!
William Ibershof, the federal attorney who prosecuted Weather Underground bomber William Ayers, dismissed attempts to try to tie Barack Obama to the former terrorist.
I do take issue with the statement in your news article that the Weathermen indictment was dismissed because of “prosecutorial misconduct.” It was dismissed because of illegal activities, including wiretaps, break-ins and mail interceptions, initiated by John N. Mitchell, attorney general at that time, and W. Mark Felt, an F.B.I. assistant director. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/opinion/l10ayers.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Sarah Palin spoke at the convention of the Alaskan Independence Party, expressing her admiration and offering cheery words including: "Keep up the good work," she told them. "And God bless you." Her husband Todd was a member of the party for seven years. Sarah Palin addressed AIP conventions repeatedly during her time as mayor of Wasilla.
And AIP Chairwoman Lynette Clark says: "I've admired Sarah from the first time I met her at the 2006 (AIP) convention," which Palin also addressed, says Clark. "She impressed me so much. She's Alaskan to the bone; she's a damn good gal. "As I was listening to her, I thought she sounds like what we've been saying for years. I thought to myself, 'My God, she sounds just like Joe Vogler.'"
And what did Joe say? : "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." Joe Vogler also said, "In the federal government are the biggest liars in the United States, and I hate them with a passion...I hope we don't have to take human life, but if [representatives of the US government] go on tramping on our property rights, look out, we're ready to die."
Should someone with ties to a radical Anti-American group be one heartbeat away from being President?
We all have a right to know about their connections as well. That leads back to Victor's question. Why not report it?
My guess is that MSM does not want to blow the so-called 'tightening race' out of the water. By the way, Todd Palin has an unspecified criminal record... I just noticed it today using this site: http://www.criminalsearches.com/
Do we have a right to know the crime he committed, or does Obama first need to say something about it?
If you can't distinguish between reporting on campaign tactics and strategy vs. reporting full disclosure regarding candidate's health or legal issues, then I can't help you any further. Sorry.
He's obvious lacking the pedantic gene you possess.
Nah, like you, he possesses the hyperpartisan gene that riles up your ultrapartisan anger that only allows you to view every single entity from your simple-minded partisan viewpoint.
I would suggest a little gene therapy.
Me? You don't even know me. But, it's just like you to assume something about someone so you can erect a strawman.
For the record, you did not help me prior.
AP INVESTIGATION: Palin children traveled on state
Perhaps this from today's headlines will give you a better idea of what I am talking about. This is worthy of investigation and a news story, and yet the Obama campaign didn't bring it up, see how that works?
I bet if you look into Obama past, his wife and kids traveled on Governments dime. give me a break. You all are looking for anything, and I mean anything.
That was not my point in highlighting this investigation. It was to point out that the media is indeed investigating the candidates, they are just nor reporting on McCain's associations nearly as much, simply because Obama is not even mentioning it. On the other hand, McCain is talking about Ayers, hence the increased media attention.
You seriously want to claim "reaching"? Like who wears flag pins? Like who holds their hands over their hearts during the anthem? Like being "best friends" with terrorists? I'm really looking forward to the Democratic landslide that will allow Democrats to control all three branches of government and force the right wing race baiting fascists to crawl back under the rocks from whence they came.
Again, Todd is not running for any office.
Neither is Ayers.
I am guessing that reporting it is either going to help McCain or hurt Obama. Simple as that!!
Reporting that McCain is cozy with G. Gordon Liddy is going to help him? You are nutty beyond description.
You're confused. We're talking about connections regarding McCain and Palin. Obama's connections, weak as they are, have been reported over and over in the mainstream media.
If mickey c. could get a picture of Bill Ayers in a blue dress with a stain on it, they might have something. mickey c. and his BS machine is out of money for new ads in key states. They are stretching out their previous ad buys. They are out of gas except for what comes out of mickey c.'s and falin's pie hole at press conferences and rallies. Will Americans remember the lies next year? Are the republicans dead for good? I hope so.
Todd Palin woyuld not be allowed in a ' cloak room " however being married to and seemingly following his wife around wherever she goes, obviuoly well within her shadow, does make it a security risk, doesn't it ?
With that said, we need to understand more of Obama involvement with the investor in IL, Rezko. I would like to know more about this relationship. I
More importantly, does he wear boxers or briefs? mickey c. wears depends I am sure. Does palin change them. These are very important questions the world needs to know. Time is running out.
Answer this question: If you found out that there was nothing to the Rezko association (see Water, White for an example) would you then vote for him? I don't think so. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what you, or Bachman think. What matters is what the people who will actually swing this election think, and they've rejected the McCain smear tactics resoundingly.
Does it make a difference in who you are casting a ballot for ?
Are there no medical checks that can be done on reporters in the States for short term memory loss?
Seriously, how can any reporting that any of these people do hope to be taken with anything but skepticism when they leave out points they have reported on less than two weeks ago?
Hey, it's television. It doesn't count for anything. The best thing to do is turn off the tube and keep it off. TV bears no resemblance to reality.
What about PBS, Discovery channel, History channel? What about the Okra Winfrey and Dr. Phil show? Lets not leave out the Simpsons, Family Guy and American dad and Hank Hill. And most importantly, Jerry Springer reruns and wrestling
"Mr. McCain added: 'He was friends with a terrorist and his wife and we need to know the full relationship.' "
What a bullsh*t statement from Grampy. He knows, as does everybody else, that no matter how Obama answers this question or explains the "full relationship", it will not be enough.
This is just one more chickensh*t talking point from a campaign that is lost in the weeds.
I hope Obama totally embarrasses Grampy on Election night. Grampy has sold his soul to win this election; he deserves a humiliating defeat.
"Mr. McCain added: 'He was friends with a terrorist and his wife and we need to know the full relationship.' "
First, Gramps, we need to know ALL THE FACTS about your relationship with known felon G. Gordon Liddy, who urged his listeners to shoot government agents in the head if they approached their homes. And while you're at it, how about releasing ALL THE FACTS about Cindy Lou's painkiller use, and the strings you pulled to keep her sorry a$$ out of jail.
What about Hagee? Not only was McCain endorsed by Hagee, he actively sought out and trumpeted the endorsement. To refresh memories, here what Hagee has professed:
This is not a guy that happened to be on the same charity board as McCain. This is a guy that McCain specificially sought support from. The stench of hypocrisy is horrible.
If the Grampy/Twit Campaign tosses Reverend Wright into the mix, the Democrats need to make a commercial of Palintwit with the guest minister at her church "protecting" her from witchcraft. This is the same idiot who accused a woman of witchcraftThey also need to play the clips of Hagee hugging Grampy, and Palintwit giving her address to the Alaskan Independence Party.
All that sounds like a republican campaign ad. How 'bout a picture of mickey c. without the 40LBS of makeup on his face? Nah, it would be a holloween comercial and scare the bejesus out of the kiddies.
Yes, McCarthy passed away in 1957. However, a year before he died, his soul was transferred to a newborn baby - Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) who was assigned by the dark lord to carry the torch.
And why aren't the media reporting on McCain's intimate relationship with Cindy Lou Hensley, who was a minor in the late 60s/early 70s?
How about Palin the Plumber? She is more of a smearmonger than McCain.
She might be in the tank?
She is! it is called poo diving. Actually this is a real picture of mickey c. trying to send palin back where she came from. It's called buyers remorse.
Any remorse out of Grampy would be welcome, at this point.
How do you think your friends and colleagues would treat you after losing an election using lies and smears? How would you feel about even seeing your friends and colleagues. Wait a minute here, I just remembered mickey c. is a repukelican. Just ignore my questions.
I always get a kick out of most of you. She comes out and questions many of Obama ideas and you call it a smear. Much like the Plumber, he questions Obama and now the press if after him. Guessing asking Obama the touch quesitons not acceptable??
"Guessing asking Obama the touch quesitons not acceptable??"
I really wouldn't go there, considering Gov. Palin's allergy to press conferences.
I listened to the interview with Joe the toilet guy on inshannity and colmes. He should learn diction, proper use of English, facts and get a hair cut. Other than that he seems like a swell fellow indeed. OOPS, gotta goe, my toilet is backing up. I am calling palin for this job. She will dive right in on this job.
markb, "she comes out and questions many of Obama ideas..." No she doesn't. She doesn't know what they are. She spends all her time with phony labels and straw men and smears. If you have any rhetoric from either McBush or Palin that elucidate Obama's policies accurately and then discuss their differences with them, please link to it.
Wonderful intellect on display there...
mickey c. was a maverick. He is just a bologne pony now. My new favorite word: mavericky
this sign could be in any yard here in western KY. (the inventor of that jelly) I am a Californian with Sylmar values
This whole Bill Ayers kerfluffle is a perfect example of Karl Rove's Pavlovian politics. The GOP base is outraged about this because the Talk Radio Troglodytes are telling them to be outraged about it. I'll bet that 90% of them don't even know who Bill Ayers is or what he really did or did not do.
In the grand scheme of things, who really gives a rat's ass if Obama knows Bill Ayers? He worked with Ayers on a board that was established to improve education.... wow! How scandalous! Does anybody have ANY evidence that Obama has adopted any of the radical views espoused by Ayers in his youth? NO.
This is just one more in a long line of chichensh*t phony outrages from a flailing Republican Party. It's what they do best. If they could govern half as well as they spew propaganda, think how much better the last 8 years could have been.