White House Blasts ‘Bombshell’ Press Attacks on GOP
ABC News’ Ann Compton Reports: With unexpected vehemence, White House spokesperson Scott Stanzel took the New York Times to task Friday morning for "try(ing) to drop a bombshell on the Republican nominee" by publishing allegations involving Senator John McCain, R-Ariz.
Responding to a question from the press, Stanzel asserted, "I think a lot of people here in (the White House) with experience in a couple campaigns have grown accustomed to the fact that during the course of a campaign, about — seemingly on maybe a monthly basis leading up to the convention, maybe a weekly basis after that, the New York Times does try to drop a bombshell on the Republican nominee."
On Wednesday, the Times published a story linking McCain, the likely 2008 Republican nominee, to a Washington lobbyist. The Arizona Senator blasted the story and the paper, insisting, "It’s not true."
Conservative talk radio hosts from Rush Limbaugh to Sean Hannity — not usually McCain fans — joined the chorus, ripping into the Times but also not letting McCain off the hook.
"If you let the media make you, you are subjecting yourself to being able to let the media destroy you," Limbaugh said on his radio show.
For their part, the McCain camp is breathing a sigh of relief, seemingly having succeeded in their effort to brush back the story, even turning it into a fundraising opportunity.
The White House, cued by President Bush, has largely stayed on the sidelines of the 2008 presidential race. The President’s father, former President George H.W. Bush, endorsed McCain last week and the current President has said would campaign on behalf of the party nominee, if asked.
In an interview with ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson last year, Bush ventured briefly into the ’08 political arena, predicting Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would win the Democratic nomination but lose the general election.
"I think she’s a very formidable candidate," Bush told Gibson, "and one of the interesting things that she brings is that she has been under pressure. She understands the klieg lights."
Clinton is locked in a tight battle with rival Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., for the Democratic nomination. The pair participated in a relatively civil debate on Thursday and will square off once more before critical primary votes in Ohio and Texas on March 4.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll released Thursday shows Clinton up over Obama in Ohio, but locked in a dead heat in Texas.
McCain appears to have a numerical lock on the Republican nomination but one rival remains: former governor Mike Huckabee insists his goal is a deadlocked Republican convention in September.
ABC News’ Rick Klein and Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.
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I see the usual suspects are doing everything they can to save the biggest Democrat in the Republican party… Shocking!
Posted by: cba | February 22, 2008, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Come Come now, all this is what we must expect – The Politics Of Hope.
A New Path. This is Obama ’08 at work, proving how much political change he is going to give, us what kind.
Rejoice, the master is spreading the love.
Posted by: 2009 Where Are You? | February 22, 2008, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
SHOCK THE NATION HUCKABEE! Texas hasn’t had a stand so let the votes decide not the media.
Posted by: regionfive | February 22, 2008, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
Attacking the NY Times is republican modus operandi but did you repubs remember to thank them for being embedded and supporting your infinite war game???? Tank You…Judith tell em honey!!!!
Posted by: daddyblue | February 22, 2008, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
So what? The Republican party targets the media and the New York Times. The GOP are the biggest bunch of whining hypocrites! Here’s an idea for Republicans – STOP COMMITTING CRIMES AND THE MEDIA WON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT! LOL Buch of corrupt whiners!
Posted by: Joe Derrane | February 22, 2008, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
what do they expect?? The GOP are easy targets they are all Corrupt!
GOP = Ship of Sinking fools.. It’s about time.
Posted by: orenishi | February 22, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
The White House sure wasn’t complaining about the NYT when Judith Miller was parroting their lies about Saddam’s WMDs… Poor widdle Republiclowns just hate it when the truth comes out! LOL
Posted by: Steve R | February 22, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
If Obama should be elected president, you will certainly see a lot of change because he doesn’t have the slightest idea of what he’s doing.
Posted by: BTL musings | February 22, 2008, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
BTL Musings – I’m willing to take that chance. After all the GOP doesn’t seem to know what it’s doing anymore either. And, frankly, after the last 8 years, I’m willing to vote for ANYONE other than a Republican. Face it, the GOP has totally disgraced themselves with their arrrogant and divisive partisanship, their gross incompetence, their corruption, their greed and their complete abdication of their governmental duties. I was an independent, but the GOP lost me after their absolutely disgraceful handling of the Katrina disaster. I am proud to say that I will NEVER vote for a Republican again for as long as I live. Even if Abraham Lincoln came back from the dead I would tell him to switch parties before I could consider voting for him. Sorry, but that’s just how I feel. The GOP is an absolute disgrace and disaster and they need to be given a “time out” to think about what they’ve done!
Posted by: Kelly Hong | February 22, 2008, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
It’s time to draw the lines and come out and attack all republicans for what they have done to our country. All the republicans need to be put out of office now. If you are sick of their lies and crimes come out and say it every chance you get. I HATE REPUBLICANS. ARREST BUSH AND CHENEY and indict rumsfeld and ashcroft and rove and limbaugh and hannity and all the rest of these liars and criminals as accessories to commit crimes against out constitution and our country. I’m sick of all of them. Rendition them. They let 911 happen
Posted by: Tom Canavan | February 22, 2008, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Republicans should all just shut the hell up and hang their heads in shame after the last eight years. They have completely disgraced themsevles at every turn and have lost the right to complain about ANYTHING.
Posted by: JIm Cates | February 22, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Maybe because the Republicans are the ones getting caught.
But I guess the press reporting ANOTHER GOP representative (from Arizona, no less) was indicted on 35 counts of money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, etc etc is another example of the press picking on repuglicans.
Posted by: JL | February 22, 2008, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
well Stanzel, it’s caused by what your Republican President did to this country and to the world. what are you complaining about?
Posted by: Xiaer | February 22, 2008, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
So it’s okay for Republican media outlets like Fox News and Newsmax to spread lies and smear and swiftboat Democrats, but it’s not okay for non-partisan News outlets to report possible Republican scandals? What a bunch of freakin’ whiners and hypocrites! Hey GOP – if you can’t take it, don’t dish it out you damn crybabies!
Posted by: Dr.Roboticus | February 22, 2008, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
Even if Abraham Lincoln came back from the dead I would tell him to switch parties before I could consider voting for him. Sorry, but that’s just how I feel. The GOP is an absolute disgrace and disaster and they need to be given a “time out” to think about what they’ve done!
Posted by: Kelly Hong | Feb 22, 2008 1:49:01 PM
=======================================
I love it!! I’m like you, an Independent and I too won’t vote Republican for the rest of my life, and I’m very healthy and expect to live a long time!! But the part about the GOP thinking about what they have done is an oxymoron. They can’t think!
Posted by: jon sid | February 22, 2008, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
Gosh, if the Whitehouse and John Mcain get the vapors and fainting spells over an article by the New York times, how will they ever be able to fight Al Quida?
Posted by: AppeaseThis | February 22, 2008, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
Can’t wait for McCain to take the oath of office.
Posted by: OverTheTopInTexas | February 22, 2008, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
Now… Why would the White-house think this? Why would the supporters of the administration with the LOWEST APPROVAL RATING IN U.S. HISTORY think they were being “targeted”? Hmmmmm? Any takers out there? May I suggest that just maybe.. juuuuust perhaps they are deflecting their inadequate leadership skills onto a specter of their creation that will help explain why their leader now sits at a miserable 19% approval rating… it’s just a hunch… just a guess.
Posted by: RW | February 22, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
So the press has it in for Republicans. Well, if the Republicans quite screwing up maybe the press would leave them alone. I guess the White House just forgot about Tom Delay, racial controversies of Trent Lott and George Allen, the scandals and criminal activities involving such people as Bernard Kerik, Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney, Jack Abramoff, Mark Foley, lawyergate, David Vitter, Larry Craig, Newt Gingrich. etc. Are the Democrats saints? No, but the Republicans took over and made the Democrats look like a bunch of rookies at such activities. They developed it into an art form.
Posted by: methinks60 | February 22, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
There are very few things on which I agree with President Bush, but 90% of the news media wants Barack Hussein Obama elected so badly they can taste it! ABC is no exception. The big difference this time is that the bias is not so much anti-Republican as it is STRONGLY pro-Obama. It’s not even pro-Democrat… they just want Obama in the White House, regardless of what it takes.
Posted by: rmberryman | February 22, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
I see McCain finally found a way to get Republicans to rally to him, just in time to be the front-runner. The Times could have ended his campaign last year, but chose not to. And now he gets his buddy Bill Keller to drop it now when he has the nomination to get the Republicans back in line, and to get the liabilities of him as a canidate, temporarily behind him. (for the so-called conservatives) As well as harm him with independents. Don’t be so shocked to think that this has been orchestrated. It wouldn’t be the first time that the “Grey Lady” (down?) did a favor for the White House or the Republicans. Remember Judith Miller, and the 935 lies that got us into Iraq? The louder they scream, the more guilty they are.
Posted by: cba | February 22, 2008, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Watch the video of McCain as he’s being questioned about the Times article. When people lie, their eyes blink a lot. Look at his eyes, blinking constantly. McCain, known for his temper would have come out swinging, yet he was too calm. Yes, he was sorry the Times came out with this, but his sorrow was because it came OUT, not that the Times was telling a lie.
Posted by: jon sid | February 22, 2008, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Does anyone else love the irony that this story appears directly under the story of the AZ-GOP rep being indicted on 35 counts today?
Posted by: JL | February 22, 2008, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
As usual, the self-serving White House gets it all wrong. The press does not target Republicans – if the Times had the same story about Hillary or Bam they would have run it exactly the same. The press targets people who are hypocritical and corrupt, because that makes for great reading. It not their fault that so many Republican politicians are both (but Jr.’s presidency may have something to do with it….). And if you don’t believe me, tell me again, what political party Rick Renzi belongs to?
Posted by: Rex Galella | February 22, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
The White House is right – the NYT does target Republicans. BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE CORRUPT CRIMINALS! Maybe if Republicans stopped breaking the law they would stop being “targeted” – poor babies!
Posted by: Jimbrowski | February 22, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Yes, Jillian, we have a near-theocracy of “right-wing thugs” (such as Karl Rove). But PLEASE be aware that our Constitution provides for the Electoral College. No, I don’t like it, either, but I’m sick of the incredibly uniformed remarks about Bush “stealing” the 2000 election. For one thing, it’s ancient history, and I THINK time machines are still science-fiction. But MORE importantly, it isn’t the first time a President won the popular vote and lost in the anachronistic electoral college. President Nixon tried to abolish the electoral college, but his enemies ousted him on a meaningless and trivial matter (“Watergate”) before he could achieve this goal. I don’t like Bush either, but he didn’t “steal” the election! Besides, he won it fair-and-square in 2004, like it or not. Let’s live in the present and think about the future. We cannot change the past, no matter how much we’d all like to.
Posted by: rmberryman | February 22, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
Is there any data to back up the claim made in the title of this story?
Posted by: Reason | February 22, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Hmmmm WELL MAYBE IT’S Because… they are corrupt, selfserving liers?
Posted by: Squierghia74 | February 22, 2008, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
“Is there any data to back up the claim made in the title of this story?”
I’m sure there is. It’s filed alongside the data proving IRaq had weapons of mass destruction.
Posted by: JL | February 22, 2008, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
The New York Times greatly assisted the White House in starting the Iraq war. Now that has been revealed, the White House has no further use for them and accuses them of being the enemy.
Posted by: John Tate | February 22, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
I can see why the Democrats rip up the Republicans so much. Until this year I hadn’t chosen to be aware of it, but when I became a Mike Huckabee supporter, I was shocked by how far the press would go to dicredit, smear, and bury him. He has an incredible record of change in Arkansas, but all that you hear from the press is that he’s a bigotted fanatical Christian, not that he was voted one of the 5 best Governors in the US. You don’t hear that the people of Arkansas (mostly Democrats) re-elected him twice (maxxed out by term limits) and then supported him by 61% in the current election. (John McCain only got about 45% from Arizona-what do they know about him?) You don’t hear that he has travelled extensively into foreign countries on diplomatic missions, you hear that he has no experience. He is actually the most experienced and level-minded candidate running. He has consistently ran a clean campaign, refused to attack vulnerable spots of his opponents, and has some of the most common-sense approaches to the issues we face today.
Posted by: Lauren | February 22, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
It is almost comical to see how brainwashed you Democrats are. I too was a Democrat who used to blindly follow the media until the ’92 election changed my mind.
It’s amazing when you really become aware of the coverage it’s easy to see the Republican strengths are downplayed and their weak points are emphasized. In contrast the Democrats are cast in the best light possible. This bias is inventible when 90% of the national media personnel and 99% of Hollywood actors are liberal. I’m not whining about it, I see it for what it is.
Next time you democrats start calling Republicans brainwashed lemmings, take a hard look at yourselves and ask who is really being brainwashed?
Or you can go ahead and keep drinking the Koolaid.
Posted by: Exdemocrat | February 22, 2008, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Plenty more will soon come out about McCain, especially his ties to the big companies who use illegal labor. The republicans reject their conservative base and they will pay big time in the election. It is a certain victory for Obama and so be it greedy rich who sell out the country for illegal labor.
Posted by: rockychance | February 22, 2008, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
To funny! This complaint from the very right wing people who perfected Swift boating.
Posted by: tangodancer | February 22, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
Texas and Ohio—out with corrupt Clinton and McCain. In with honest Obama and Huckabee!!!!!
Posted by: rockychance | February 22, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
To the poster who was shocked by the press when they became a supporter of Huckabee:
The guy thinks the earth is 6000 years old.
You don’t need a liberal press to make him look like an idiot. He does just fine by himself.
Posted by: JL | February 22, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
I had an X-wife that exhibited the same psychological deficiencies that the Republican leadership exhibits.
They keep playing the victim card while they attack … It’s called “passive agressive.”
I’m tired of their charade. It’s time to get ‘em out of office and run Fox news/Rush into the oblivion. Then we can put this country back together into the strong republic that we as citizens have sacrificed for and deserve.
Posted by: Roy | February 22, 2008, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
The GOP made this filthy environment they now wallow in. They STILL support this CHERRY PICKED INVASION that has cost so many of us our children, our national treasure, our national unity, and our world standing. They support a president who rates 19% approval among the citizens of his own country! It shouldn’t amaze them or anyone why EVERYONE dawgs them! They are absolutely PATHETIC! They represent the very core of what is WRONG in this nation. they are people who pass on vicious and bigoted gossip. They vote for an obvious unqualified candidate based SOLELY on his party affiliation or the OBVIOUSLY HOLLOW WORDS that he utters, just so long as he mentions how he believes in GOD. To actually side with the GOP today is a HUGE INDICATOR that you just may well be in need of an education.
Posted by: RW | February 22, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
The biggest enemy of a free society is a so-called “free” press – that is bought and paid for and has its own political agenda.
Posted by: Neo Politicus | February 22, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
JL: And Obama thinks he’s the next Messiah! So? That is not what is of most importance here, because it doesn’t matter how old the earth is, we still have to live on it-together. You see? People discredit him for the little disagreements, but don’t look deeper into what he really stands for. He can’t be put into a box, because he thinks outside the box. My father-in-law, a life-long, agnostic Democrat and his brother-a conspiracy theorist Democrat both support Mike Huckabee because he just makes sense. He is the only one who has introduced a plausible way to stimulate the economy-by improving badly decaying infrastructure. He is the only one who says we shouldn’t have gone into this war in Iraq, but now that we are there, lets leave it better than we found it. He is the only candidate who has not persisted in attacking his opponents, but instead focuses on the future. Don’t try to box him up the all the Christian radicals, but listen to what he really says.
Posted by: Lauren | February 22, 2008, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
newz4i – Yea the right is really pretty good their own type of trash.
A couple of years ago, I don’t remember the news story. But Hillary was in the news was her story the main head liner in all the news sights. All the news sites had her picture to accompany the major story.
Except for Fox news. They had her story as the top news story. But the picture went with a minor story which was about cows being caught in a freak Scottish snowstorm. There was a head shot of a cow stuck in a snow drift.
Yea… The right wing media really lives in a glass house and has no room to talk.
Posted by: Roy | February 22, 2008, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Boo hoo the poor GOP is crying unfair. The party of crooks,perverts and serial wife cheaters should’nt throw stones in their glass houses. Swift boating,lying,cheating is the GOP’s specialty. The most crooked political party of all time: Todays GOP.RIP.
Posted by: AJ | February 22, 2008, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
The NY Times are biased and out of control. They show you what they want you to see.
Posted by: not_a_lefty | February 22, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
AJ: Actually, you have a point there, but they are not all like that, just plenty of them are, just like the Democrats. If only the crooks and liars had a stamp on their heads! I am still very impressed with Mike Huckabee and the amount that he has been able to do with so very little money coming in. Must be a sign of an honest politician. All the rest complain about how much more they could do if they had more, but you give them more and they still complain about how much they need to have to do more. You see, there isn’t enough money printed to satisfy their “needs”.
Posted by: Lauren | February 22, 2008, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Too bad Ron Paul doesn’t have a chance,he’s one of the few honest GOP politicians. He would help the common people,support the Constitution,and stop Americas warmongering ways. Ron Paul is too good for the corrupt,immoral GOP.
Posted by: AJ | February 22, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
No no no, the white house has their commentary backwards, its not that the NYT drops a bombshell on republicans, its that the Republicans are guilty of so many crimes, indescretions, breaches of constitutionality and illicit behavior, that it takes the NYT and other media about a month or so, to keep up with reporting them all.
Any of the reporting the Latest Republican indicted on multiple charges?
one of McCain’s colleagues no less.
Posted by: FormerRepub | February 22, 2008, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
I don’t give a rip about the “who is he doing what to?” crowd, what I am ticked about is that he has consistently NEVER EVEN SHOWN UP to vote on environmental issues while being in league with his land-grab friend from Arizona to assis big mining in making a disaster out of the Native American lands! Meanwhile he has paid lobbyists doing all his campaigning for him. He knows who he stands for, and it AIN’T We the people.
Posted by: choosewisely | February 22, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Oh, for you who just have to vote for him because he spent 5 years in a prisoner of war camp in VietNam, did you ever read James Clavell’s book “King Rat”? It was based off of a true account of a guy who profitted from his fellow prisoners while a POW, to the point that they would not even talk to him when they were finally rescued. I have a feeling that we’ve found the man who the story was about.
Posted by: choosewisely | February 22, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Small town in the south newstand has a local paper that headlines…McCains POW cellmate will not be voting for him…Looks like choosewiselys’ POST is the TRUTH…The whole truth…and nothing but the TRUTH…
repubs just hate the truth, hate the people, hate anything they can’t eat, spend, or cheat on their wives with…WHOOPS THEY IT IS…
Posted by: daddyblue | February 22, 2008, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
Republicans are integrity challenged. But if you call them out on it, you are unamerican. Bunch of Clowns.
Posted by: TruthBeTold | February 22, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
Obama, agent of change, with good ole Teddy helping him!
Posted by: MFM | February 22, 2008, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
At this moment Charles Black, lobbyist, heading McCain’s Campaign-PROOF!- At this moment Buse,Lobbyist, is running McCain’s Senate Office-PROOF!-McCain founded the Reform Institute, 2001, the institute received HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in Donations from Companies that Lobbied the Senate Commerce Committee of which McCain was a member of in violation of the McCain-Feingold Act of 2002, McCain did not sever ties until 2005 due to pressure from the news media about the deception-PROOF!- McCain did write letters and met personally with Bank Regulators and Told them to BACK OFF of his friend Keating (whom Cindy was a partner with in INVESTING in the ARIZONA SHOPPING MALL)-PROOF!- McCain did INTRODUCE LEGISLATION to help his friend Keating and his Lincoln S&L-PROOF!- McCain did help SECURE the nomination of an Associate of Keating to the Same Bank Regulatory Board-PROOF!- McCain is as Dirty as they come. McCain is the Contradicting Candidate.
Posted by: Angie | February 22, 2008, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
Even GW Bush in 2000 Campaign call McCain ‘DOUBLE TALK’ because of McCain Lobbyists friends and the KEATING scandal with the Lincoln S&L and the Bank Regulators. And Buse who was still with McCain at that time who was with for McCain for 7 years then left in 2001 to Lobby for Telecommunications. Now Buse is back running McCain’s Senate Office–PROOF!– Charles Black, Lobbyist, is running McCain’s Campaign as we speak! PROOF!
Posted by: Angie | February 22, 2008, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Administration bashers will stop at nothing to find fault, even chase lies. The latest NYT lie (after the general “Betray-us” ad that the Party of Defeat co-ran) was the “affair”. The NYT belongs on the supermarket shelf next to the Enquirer. Next week on the front page; Elvis Lives!
Posted by: vizorsdn | February 22, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Wah! Wah! Wah!
Poor crybaby wingnuts!
Whatsamatter, snookums? Not feeling the love?
*TOUGH*
Didja catch the 60 Minutes teaser yet, showing that Karl Rove was trying to get a GOP operative to spy on a Democrat, to get dirty tapes of the guy allegedly having illicit sex, who it turns out, wasn’t doing so?
THIS is why the right-wing extremists are are held in such profound contempt, and so roundly mistrusted!
Posted by: adam | February 22, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
John McCain — A lobbyists’ best friend!
McCain, Mr. “Straight Talk” as would-be reformer, has *29* lobbyists on staff as his inner circle of closest advisers and fund raisers. 29!!!!!
If they think we Dems aren’t going to be trumpeting THAT disgusting, hypocritical fact to the high heavens, the right must be drinking its own kool-aid!
Posted by: Mark | February 22, 2008, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Quit breaking the law and there will be no stories about your party, it’s that simple.
Posted by: Patriot2008 | February 22, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
Endless Republican WHINING and CRYING…what PATHETIC WIMPS.
Posted by: wilder5121 | February 22, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
Ed: You need to refer to my previous posts. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE ALLEDGED AFFAIR- IT’S ABOUT ALL THE LOBBYISTS AND BIG BUSINESS MOGULS THAT HE IS IN BED WITH WHILE TRYING TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THAT VERY THING! He can not be trusted to stand for what he takes a stand on, he cannot be trusted with my vote!
Posted by: choosewisely | February 22, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
The exact opposite is true. The press targets Democrats. In what has been referred to as ‘the Clinton Rule’,
Democrats perceived faults, true or not, are harped on for days, weeks, months and years. The smears and innuendoes of the Republican slime machine are made to stick to Democratic presidential nominees, as in the supposed Whitewater scandal, in which Clinton was actually exonerated, or the supposed character flaws of Al Gore, or the supposed cowardice of John Kerry. All of these smears stuck in the public mind thanks in large part to the right-wing owned major newsmedia outlets, who let Republican faults get glossed over but repeat untrue slandars of Democrats for years until they become part of the national mythology.
The Republicans excel at projecting their own faults onto their opponents and although they are guilty as sin themselves, they go on the attack and blame their opponents for faults they themselves reek of.
Posted by: JL | February 22, 2008, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
The NYTimes represents poison in the blood stream of this great nation.
Part of the most corrupt institution in America, our mostly liberal MSM wolfpack, the NYTimes should really change their slogan to:
“Every liberal lie that”s fit to print…….or not”.
All Americans should “shun” this corrupt liberal political newspaper……….unless of course they like to get contaminated in liberal “dogma”.
Really sad indeed…………really sad.
Posted by: Allen Ridge | February 22, 2008, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm
Kelly –” I was an independent, but the GOP lost me after their absolutely disgraceful handling of the Katrina disaster” — Excuse me?? lets see, Louisiana had a Democratic Governor, Mayor, and house… The president called Blanco 4 days before the hurricane and expressed the need for her to start evac procedures.. she refused… She also refused to release state guardsman to assist with rescuee and recovery operations and to assist the police.. again she refused… Louisiana has been Democratic for 40 years.. after katrina.. they now have a Republican Governor (Jindal) and a republican controlled state house.. Why do you think that is??? It isn’t because BUSH or the feds screwed up…
Posted by: givemeabreak | February 22, 2008, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Well said Allen — Amazing what passes as fact thanks to the “spin” of an incredibly biased liberal media..
Posted by: givemebreak | February 22, 2008, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
JL –”The press targets Democrats. In what has been referred to as ‘the Clinton Rule’,
Democrats perceived faults, true or not, are harped on for days, weeks, months and years. The smears and innuendoes of the Republican slime machine are made to stick to Democratic presidential nominees, as in the supposed Whitewater scandal, in which Clinton was actually exonerated,” — You have got to be kidding me???—the press is over 80% liberal Just look at the holdings of George Soros who is a very far left liberal, supporter of HRC and owner of CNN, MSNBC, CBS, The NY times and the Washington Post.. and while we are at it.. Clinton was never exonerated for Whitewater.. Just like the Clinton’s were never exonerated for Troopergate, China gate, cattle futures..et all.. Because the LIBERAL media wanted nothing to do with pushing obvious cases of wrongdoing perputrated by the democrats favorite son (and wife)..meanwhile.. 60 minutes is taking falsified documents on Bush’s guard service and relaying them as fact while he is in office..Sam Donaldson – on national TV made the comment that Reagan needed to “make sure he didn’t drool” during his speech, And when 20 veterans all stood up to question john Kerry’s military record.. the press vilianized them to the point that dirty politics is known as “swift boating” to this day… If you actually think that the media is more conservative leaning than liberal leaning, you really need to take off the rose colored glasses, put down the kool-aid and teach your self how to think objectively..
Posted by: givemeabreak | February 22, 2008, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Mark — “McCain, Mr. “Straight Talk” as would-be reformer, has *29* lobbyists on staff as his inner circle of closest advisers and fund raisers. 29!!!!!” — I have a simple question– How many does Hillary have?? What about Barack? Do you really think he raised 50 Million in one quarter by getting 50,000 different people to give 1000 dollars apiece? and that he does this every quarter??
Posted by: givemeabreak | February 22, 2008, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
Don’t worry Republicans. When you lose the White House (and you will) Obama is going to do something you neber even thought of. I think he will appoint a few Republicans to his cabinet. You’ll have a say in a lot of things, but “We The People” will determine your future. So far twice as many people are voting Democrat, than the Republicans.
Posted by: Ken | February 22, 2008, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
Would that include Faux Newz??
Posted by: Bob, DC | February 22, 2008, 8:54 pm 8:54 pm
Tane55 –”McCain is the only candidate that would pardon George W. Bush for his crimes and abuse of the constitution.” — I must have been napping?? What crimes has GW been convicted of that Mccain will pardon him for? Last time I checked, he has not even been charged with anything, much less convicted…
Posted by: givemeabreak | February 22, 2008, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
Ken –”So far twice as many people are voting Democrat, than the Republicans. OBAMA ’08!” — you do realize that in open primaries, you can vote for either party. That means that whilen some of teh republican votes are cast by dems, alot of the dem votes are cast by republicans as well, do you really think that everyone who voted for Obama in the primaries will vote democratic in the general???
Posted by: givemeabreak | February 22, 2008, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
Ah, poor Republicans. They spent more money on the Clinton witch hunt investigations than they spent on the 9/11 investigations, and now they’re crying that the big bad “liberal media” is ganging up on them?
Tough!
Of course they’re blaming the media, but truth be told I think the far Right of the Republican party is behind this to try to knock Mc Cain out so they can put their golden boy Romney back in. Notice how Romney only “suspended” his campaign???
Posted by: Bill | February 23, 2008, 1:08 am 1:08 am
This coming from the same people who circulated rumors in South Carolina during the 2000 primary season that John McCain had an illegitimate black child? Who are they to pass judgement on anyone’s actions? It gets no lower than what these people have done. I wish they would just shut up and go away.
Posted by: dk | February 23, 2008, 2:17 am 2:17 am
In a televised press conference in Indianapolis yeaterday McCain made a joke about Iraqs new government being able to balance it’s budget when we can’t.
Well McNugget if America wasnt funding a war you voted for we wouldnt be spending 200 billion per year on Iraq. They balanced their budget on the backs of Americas tax payers and soldiers lives. And you make a joke? …sad
Posted by: PollCat | February 23, 2008, 7:40 am 7:40 am
Texans, It’s time to wake up this nation and let them know who the real Pro-life, conservative candidate is!
Posted by: Zita | February 23, 2008, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Normal, middle-of-the-road Americans no longer pay any attention to the New York Times anyway. I think I would trust a story from a newspaper in China over the NYT. Thanks the good Lord for alternative news sources that we can trust. – Bill
Posted by: Bill | February 23, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Rush is right. If you let the media make you it can also destroy you, just as Romney learned as the candidate of Rush and Coulter.
Posted by: luke | February 23, 2008, 10:51 am 10:51 am
To rockychance-I thought Obama was the guy that wanted to give driver`s licenses to the illegals so they can legally drive to the jobs they are stealing from America`s workers?
Posted by: luke | February 23, 2008, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Actually, if you had read my posts through, you would know that I am a Huckabee supporter. One of the reasons I can’t vote for Paul is that he is too combative in his public speaking skills. He would NOT be a good choice to represent us with other countries. Mike Huckabee, on the other hand is very clear-minded and level-headed even in difficult circumstances. (Something that can’t be said about John McCain either). Even though it is considered an impossibility, I still believe that Mike Huckabee would be the very best president we have had (including Reagan)in my lifetime, so I will continue to support him.
Posted by: Lauren | February 23, 2008, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Obama appoint Republicans? Considering he has the most Liberal voting record in the Senate, I seriously doubt that. Man, as he got the Democrats snowed! But… the Leftist press will NEVER look for dirt on him..he’s the second coming, and if they did he’d scream racism!
Posted by: angus | February 23, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Blame the messenger or discuss your many successes. Hmmmm Best to blame the media.
Posted by: Nelly | February 23, 2008, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
This isn’t the fault of one person or party, so sorry to drop the reality check…the mess we are in comes from ALL in the white house, not just the Republicans. Neither party … is where I fit…but will not support any involved with the back door elite. That is Bush,Chenny,Obama,Hillary,McCain, and don’t forget the ones out of the race,Gilmore,Thompson,Romney,Guilianni…listgoes on. If you are in favor of any of these, you are in favor of the corruption that is taking place now…You are media struck and party particulars, not for the good of the nation, let’s keep our country a nation not communist Global merging with other countries. Understand you will get the same outcome with any elected that has been listed, without a doubt. This should not be about what party, this is a big movie production governmental grown. Try taking a look at this country’s options before a front runner gets the keys to Amend the Democracy as we know it. Right or Wrong they all want the same outcome, POWER, and if you think they give a rip about “the people”, we are all living in a movie.
Posted by: regionfive | February 23, 2008, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
Like sheep, each of us follow our “party” line. The name calling and ridiculous comments on here only prove that many Americans cannot think for themselves – only spout what they’ve been told or read. We each have a responsibility to research, think, and improve our knowledge of each candidate. Hating whatever party/person certainly does not accomplish anything healthy or reasonable. Absolutes like “never”, “Always” “Everytime” are real clear indicators that thinking is skewed – it’s how I teach my students to understand fact and opinion writing. Unbiased journalism just doesn’t exist.
Posted by: Marsha | February 23, 2008, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Remember what happened to Obama’s republican opponent in his 2004 senate race? He had to withdraw after the Chicago Tribune published stories of a nothing sex scandal. Now we have McCain getting the same treatment from the New York Times. Is there a strategy out there by Obama’s camp to get rid of the stong republican candidate and replace him by a weaker one that Obama can beat? Has anyone questioned David Axlerod’s part in this?
A little too coincidental that lightning strikes twice.
Posted by: Kevin | February 23, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
Poor Republicans! So thin skinned! Of course, it is no problem when it is a Republican leaks crap about a Democrat. In fact, it is only a problem when there might be truth in the story, then they scream liberal media bias. Well, sissie boys, the news outlets are supposed to report the truth, no matter you party preference, to keep you losers honest (fat chance!) The hope mainstream news is getting its testicular fortitude back after being terrified under the worst president in American history’s administration for the last 8 years.
Posted by: DaveM | February 23, 2008, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Truth continually challenges w’s GOP and WH.
Posted by: wordvarc | February 23, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Anybody remember the crying candidate in the beginning of this race? Let me think..Oh yeh.. Hillary, she had to hand Romney a tissue a little later into the race. Well, we all are a bit thin skinned with certain issues. If you don’t understand the facts that Hillary,Barack, and John, all in the Senate now….no changes, have the same objective! No changes when they have power on the inside? If dems believe like most comments say on here, give it till 2010 and tissues are located in aisle 4 @ walmart.
Posted by: regionfive | February 23, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
I would just as soon move on to something better-HUCKABEE!!
Posted by: Lauren | February 23, 2008, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
All the GOP politicians including Bush and Cheney should be waterboarded when they are accused of crimes. It’s not “torture” according to the GOP.America wants to know the truth about all the extensive GOP corruption.
Posted by: AJ | February 23, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
The good news is that the people supporting Obama have an attention span of 15 minutes and by the general election will be onto something else.
Posted by: jeff | February 23, 2008, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
The smell of scandal is starting to waft early over the McCain candidacy .
This Republican presumptive nominee-to-be presidential candidate can’t hide the smoke, no matter how much he tries to dodge the scrutiny and blame shift and cry “swiftboat” while he continues to smear the Democrats. Truly McCain is beginning to emerge in his true colors to look like a worthy successor to George W. Bush. The Republicans seem to really deserve the title of “the Party of Boss Tweed”. In spite of McCain’s attempts to deny new revelations of impropriety, all you gotta do is put the NYT article about the lobbyist affair together with McCain’s having planned in advance by seeking out a lawyer and swearing out a deposition to deal with a 2002 lawsuit on the lobbyist affair subject. If McCain’s innocent, why did he try so hard to head this story off at the pass way by taking steps to do damage control way before the NY Times broke the story? It becomes obvious that McCain will sooner or later have to slip into the “I don’t recall” mode.
Anybody who votes for McCain has to be brain dead not to realize what a sleazy politician he is. He is a flip-flopping weather vane who will say anything and do anything to pander to voters to get elected. And, despite his wrapping himself in his self-proclaimed ‘integrity,’ another scandal is brewing now: Senator McCain, it seems, actually hired a now-indicted money launderer, Arizona Representative Renzi, to help his Presidential race. And there are new questions also about his going back on a commitment to use public funds to finance his campaign, now that he is the front runner. Periodic outbreaks of scandal now and in his past have seen him involved in everything from betraying his first wife to participation in influence peddling during the Keating 5 affair, to his flip-flopping on the Confederate flag controversy in South Carolina during the 2000 primary season and flip flopping on the Bush tax cuts. Now his campaign turns out to be run by lobbyists who do their lobbying business from telephones right on his campaign bus and airplane. The alleged lobbyist affair is also being borne out by former campaign staffers.
One would think given McCain’s past history that he wouldn’t be so aggressive in pointing his finger at others while he himself is involved in scandals. Then there is the problem of his withering temper and foul mouth,
McCain has some really important answers to provide over issues and questions that raise doubts about his fitness to be president. What other things is he hiding? And what type of people would he put in his cabinet? How can he point his finger at Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton for their alleged wrongdoing in earmarks and associations with shady characters when he won’t address his own ethical lapses? His war-hero status notwithstanding, McCain’s hypocrisy and lack of candor doesn’t bode well for the kind of president he would make. Oh well, pardon me. I guess lack of candor and lack of ethics have never bothered the neocons much if they are found to belong to a Republican. Only Democrats are to be excoriated for them. Many cons secretly or openly still love George W. Bush in spite of his dishonesty, his failures, his stubborn, truth-twisting-warmongering and 935 lies he’s told the public while in office so far. Seems as though the GOP just loves walking, talking disasters.
I can’t imagine what would make the Republicans support McCain, other than putting their party ahead of their country’s wellbeing. In the end even Rush Limbaugh will force himself to become enamored of this really old hack and corrupt, hypocritical backstabber. Who knows, maybe Limbaugh et all will learn to love Rudolph Giuliani and Joe Lieberman.
Posted by: JL | February 24, 2008, 3:04 am 3:04 am
Givemeabreak: Where do you get your facts. Clintons WERE exonerated by the Special Prosecutor investigation started by Ken Star. I remember the news story and if we go back and look it up, you’ll see you’re wrong. They never proved ANY wrongdoing in White Water.
You also have your facts wrong on media ownership> you said George Soros is owner of CNN, MSNBC, CBS, The NY times and the Washington Post, WRONG!
MSNBC is owned by General Electric. CBS is owned by Sumner Redstone of Viacom. ABC is owned by Walt Disney company, and I don’t know who owns the Washington Post but it sure isn’t George Soros.
The mentions you made of the veterans who stood up to expose John Kerry being vilified by the press: well I guess you don’t know that the Swiftboat Veterans organization was DENOUNCED BY NONE OTHER THAN JOHN MCCAIN for being scurrilous slanders who were NOT telling the truth about John Kerry.
As far as the other alleged ‘proofs’ you have of ‘liberal media bias’ you can’t tell me that the ‘liberal’ press is liberal when they let George W. Bush start the Iraq War based on uninvestigated false claims of WMD…and they’ve let this serial liar of a president get away with over 935 documented falsehoods during his presidency.
You cons sure know how to distort and twist facts, don’t you? Nothing you said remotely resembles the truth. So YOU give ME a break, OK?
Posted by: JL | February 24, 2008, 3:16 am 3:16 am
No…. actually, the press goes after corrupt politicians AS IS THEIR JOB, most of whom, though not all, happen to be republicans. Maybe republicans should worry less about attacking largely fine new organizations and more about cleaning up their ranks!
Posted by: Dem in Chicago | February 24, 2008, 11:06 am 11:06 am
JL — First, the clintons were NOT exonerated by Starr.. Starr was unable to get enough evidence to prosecute them on the case (remember Susan McDoogal who went to jail rather than testify against the Clinton’s — Some say it was blind faith others think that she was afraid of the same fate that Ron Browne and about 20 others wound up with). the prosecution ended on lack of evidence — that is not the same as an exoneration – I live in Arkansas and have for 30 years — trying to convince me that there was no wrongdoing by the Clintons in Whitewater is like trying to tell me the sky is purple. Second – You are correct about Soros-_ I misspoke — but before you completly wash away his influence with the liberal media, take a look at the connections his hedge fund has with the media and look hard at some of his donations – they paint a telling story.. While I respect John McCain for his service and i respect him for coming to the side of a fellow veteran who was being scrutinized by the swift boat veterans.. I did some research on my own and while his heart was in the right place, Jogn McCain was wrong. What the swift boaters had to say about Kerry proved in almost every case to be true..
Finally, Are you actually now suggesting that the “conservative” media is responsible for the war in Iraq? I’ts absolutley amazing that the liberals will blame everyone but take no responsibility themselves.. For the last time.. bush may have been wrong, but so was lot of other people including democrats – want some examples: “If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear” – President Clinton feb, 17, 1998 — “We urge you, after consulting with Congress, to take necessary action including, if necessary, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites to effectively respond to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal end it’s weapons of mass destruction program” – A letter to Pres ident Clinton Written by John Kerry and signed by Sentors carl Levin and Tom Daschle on Oct 9, 1998. –”Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process” – Nancy Pelosi dec 16, 1998 those were comments made 2 years BEFORE Bush took office.. How about a few from right before we went to war? “we know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country” – Al Gore Sept 23, 2002 — We have KNOWN FOR YEARS the Saddam Hussien is seeking and developing WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION – Ted Kennedy – Sep 27, 2002.. I can give you over 40 quotes regarding WMDs from democrats – many extending 2 to 3 years before bush even took office.. but you libs still kling to the BUSH LIED crap !!! Face it… Everyone thought the same thing repubs and dems alike.. but the LIBERAL media conveniently forgot the 40+ WMD comments made by democrats and crucified Bush for “Lying to congress” — the media is wholly and throughly liberal and will stop at nothing to brainwash the public whenever they can…Look at McCain — a couple of weeks after it becomes apparent that he has secured the nomination and we get flooded with hatchet stories from unnamed sorces about affairs and lobbyist scandals.. where are the stoies about Obama’s church? his connection with his cousin Odinga (who just placed his country under Sharria law). Where was the investigative reporting on the 73 low income, $1000 Chinatown “contributers” to Hillary’s campaign that don’t actually seem to exist… If you liberal don’t realize that most media is leading you around by the nose, I feel really bad for you, and worse for this country..
Posted by: givemeabreak | February 24, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm