[dixiechick2000]

Just an FYI. I seems plausible to me.

Check the url for links.

I can't tell you how sick at heart I am over this mess.

[dixiechick2000]

“Romney benefited from similar treatment from Drudge during his last run for the White House, when Drudge went hammer-and-tong against each of his opponents — reserving special scrutiny for Mike Huckabee:

A year ago, Rhodes signed on to Romney’s campaign. Since then, Drudge-watchers have noted Drudge’s consistent refusal to hype–and in many cases to even mention–negative stories about Romney. But now Huckabee threatens to blow Romney’s nomination strategy. Since last week, Drudge has unleashed a torrent of screaming, anti-Huckabee headlines, culminating in today’s “exclusive” (which cites one unnamed Democrat) about the Democrats’ supposed hope that Huckabee will emerge as the G.O.P. nominee.”

Am I a conspiracy theorist?

[saintgermaine]

You may want to watch this short video clip and pass it along if you so desire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=HcBaSP31Be8&vg=medium

[Rashputin]

Unless Drudge is building up Romney to "discover" something on him and break it as a big story, the guy is off my list. He's free to support anyone he likes as are all the networks and all the pundits like Kraut and on and on. When someone has as much baggage and BS in their background as Romney, though, and Drudge virtually repeats Romney attacks ads against Newt while ignoring minor details like RomneyCare, I'm free to put him in the same bin as ABC, NBC, and CBS, who all go in the "Untrustworthy Bin".

Once someone is clearly biased against Conservatives when they're up against a RINO, there's no way you'll ever know what they overlook and shade a little here and there. In the case of Drudge, it's mainly, "so what is he overlooking today " and if I have to cross reference other sites to figure that out, why bother? I can just go to the sites I know aren't ignoring and shading.

[Darkwolf377]

I may not like Romney, but I’m not sure what’s up with all the paranoia.

It’s now close to evil if someone doesn’t agree with one’s particular choice for Republican candidate?

I’ve never seen this kind of atmosphere in a primary. It’s no longer about having political differences—no one is allowed to disagree.

You’d think we were all Newt all the time around here for years, as opposed to the reality—that he was hardly discussed here until a month or two ago.

Now it’s treason to even support someone else as Drudge and others do.

So a news organization supports someone I don’t. (And many others here don’t.) This is news?

[wardaddy]

nice snag lady....proud of ya!

[Just mythoughts]

All these pious moderates attacking Newts morals, (and no I am NOT defending sin) have are hypocrites by bearing false witness... I despise liars as much or more than adulterers, most especially when the lying is done as a pretense protest against adultery. Mitt Romney flat out lied over and over in last night's debate. He is Obama-light and his supporters are little different than the DNC to me.

[ansel12]

That is quite an article, good find.

[Windflier]

Good find.

Sadly, Mark Levin has blinders on about what Matt Drudge is doing to Newt. He went on the air tonight and poo-poohed the whole idea that Drudge is intentionally trying to hurt Newt.

Mark is normally one of the sharper knives in the drawer, but he’s out to lunch on this foul play.

[Brown Deer]

(Posted on October 4, 2011)

Last year, a delegation of RNC officials flew to Miami Beach, where Drudge lives, for a dinner at the Forge steakhouse to introduce the Internet maven to Matt Rhodes, the party’s new opposition research director.

A year ago, Rhodes signed on to Romney’s campaign. Since then, Drudge-watchers have noted Drudge’s consistent refusal to hype–and in many cases to even mention–negative stories about Romney.

[Dogbert41]

You should get this to Rush somehow...

[SpaceBar]

I am glad Matt Drudge and the Drudge Report have been outed as subtle and not so subtle manipulators of public opinion. I have for years felt the slight gravitational pull like that of a massive but distant body imperceptibly attempting to alter my trajectory when I read it. It’s just gotten so blatent recently that it’s now hard to ignore. Cherry picking headlines, careful page placement, expiring some stories while leaving others up, a flattering photo here, a not so flattering one there, with the usual background noise stories to keep it all light and entertaining, lest we become conscious of the brainwashing.

[JohnG45]

From the article: . . . of online media manipulation isn’t exactly new. In fact, it goes back well before Romney’s 2008 campaign got underway in earnest. It seems to date back to sometime in 2005, when RNC operatives arranged a meeting between Matt Drudge and Matt Rhodes — a highly placed operative in the Romney organization.

Last year, a delegation of RNC officials flew to Miami Beach, where Drudge lives, for a dinner at the Forge steakhouse to introduce the Internet maven to Matt Rhodes, the party’s new opposition research director.

I'm confused by the author's narrative.

When exactly did Matt Drudge meet Matt Rhodes? Was it in 2005 or was it "last year" (2010, since the date of this article is October 4,2011)?

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Just what is it with in the closet gays and Romney anyway? Drudge, Coulter...I mean who’s next, Oprah and John Travolta? This guy has the in the closet vote zombified. “You willl dooo asss I saaaayyy...You are under myyy control..”

[Beagle8U]

“One of the mysteries of Drudge is how he continues to be such a mystery. Never clear how or why he leans for or against candidates.”

That is pretty easy to figure out, Drudge is a queer and Romney supports the queer agenda.

[abigail2]

Ping...

[GVnana]

It's more than plausible. It's blatant.

We've known all along there's nothing "objective" about the Drudge Report. Right?

It's high time this all came to light. He's been co-opted. The Drudge Report is a sell-out. Question is, what is he going to do about it.

[mo]

any bets Drudge might have his retirement tied up with Bain Capital?

[Seattle Conservative]

Thanks for posting this. I did a search on Bing using Matt Drudge & Matt Rhodes (I’ve seen it spelled Rhodes & Rhoades). Many of you may have already seen these, but passing along for those that haven’t. I found some of the relationships w Rove, etc. mentioned interesting.

Romney’s inner circle 2007-08 (this link also has a blurb about Rhoades engagement announced last Aug):
http://mittromneycentral.com/tag/matt-rhoades/

Romney’s inner circle 2012 campaign:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/inner-circle/mitt-romneys-inner-circle.html

[Seattle Conservative]

Salon.com isn’t on the FR copyright list, but I want to be careful due to the copyright statement at the bottom of their web page. I normally don’t got to Salon.

Here’s more info on Drudge in the 2008 campaign and oppo leaks to news sources in general. I thought it was interesting that no one seemed to pay any attention to McCain’s singing of Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran until after it went up on Drudge.

Monday, May 14, 2007 5:00 AM 06:11:38 PST
The Matt Drudge primary
How professional political operatives secretly control the news you read about the 2008 campaign. Hint: It involves the Drudge Report.
By Michael Scherer

http://www.salon.com/2007/05/14/drudge_11/

snip>
“The mainstream media prides itself on being objective, yet they often run like lemmings to whatever is up on Drudge,” said a senior Republican campaign aide, who asked to remain anonymous.

In addition to the “Bomb Iran” video, Drudge was one of the first to post links to a 1989 video clip of Giuliani declaring “there must be public funding for abortions for poor women.” In April, he posted a story suggesting that a blotch on McCain’s head (caused from a bump) was in fact a new case of skin cancer, a false rumor apparently intended to fan concern over McCain’s age. Drudge has also posted embargoed text of Romney’s presidential announcement speech in February. On May 10, he posted the first excerpts of Romney’s May 13 interview on “60 Minutes.”

Some campaign aides have suggested that Drudge’s personal relationships have played a role in what oppo leaks he posts on the site. “I think it’s clear that Romney has gotten fairer treatment from Matt Drudge than any other candidate. There is a lot less negative Romney stuff,” said the senior Republican campaign aide. “It stems back to what many people believe is a very good relationship between the Romney team and Matt Drudge.”

In particular, Matt Rhoades, Romney’s communications director, has a long history as the source for Drudge headlines, having previously served as the research director for the Republican National Committee during the 2006 campaign. In their book “The Way to Win,” Time’s Mark Halperin and the Politico’s John Harris recount that Rhoades traveled to Florida for a friendly steakhouse dinner with Drudge when he took the research director job in 2005. Attempts by e-mail and telephone to ask Drudge about the allegations of favoritism were not successful.”

[Seattle Conservative]

Hi Onyx,

You might be interested in this - see also my post #59

Best,
SC