Oops. More things that Generous George Stephanopoulos forgot to mention

Hotair ^ | 05/16/2015 | Jazz Shaw

[SeekAndFind]

So the dust has mostly settled now and George Stephanopoulos has apologized for making however many donations it was to the Clintons for however much money he gave them. (I’m sure his accountant will sort it all out eventually, and perhaps some younger members of his family can help him monitor his finances in the future.) And with that, we’re good, right? Nothing more to see here, so you all may as well move along.

Or… not so fast. Clinton Cash author Peter Schweizer, who received a rather brutal interrogation from Stephanopoulos on his show, took to the op-ed pages this weekend to point out that there’s even more Generous George involvement with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) which the ABC newsman forgot to disclose during his coverage. Peter is also rather put off by the treatment he received and isn’t holding back. (From USA Today)

When Stephanopoulos invited me on his Sunday program, I knew that he had worked as a top adviser and campaign manager to President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, but I didn’t know about his donations or his other ties to the foundation founded and overseen by the former president and his wife, potential future president Hillary Clinton.

I agreed to be interviewed, expecting a robust examination of my new book, Clinton Cash, and my reporting on the Clintons’ accumulation of massive personal wealth, cronyism and the lack of transparency surrounding the Clintons’ foundation.

I expected probing questions, similar to the ones I’ve received from Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC, Chris Wallace on Fox News and Frank Sesno on CNN.

What I did not expect — what no one expected — was the sort of “hidden hand journalism” that has contributed to America’s news media’s crisis of credibility in particular, and Americans’ distrust of the news media more broadly.

Ouch. Peter then goes on to the meat of this story. It turns out that Stephanopoulos was involved with the CGI in more personal ways than just writing them a few big checks. He was hands on, and Schweizer has been assembling the track record. It includes:

• In 2006 he was a featured attendee and panel moderator at the annual CGI meeting.
• in 2007 he was listed as a featured attendee at the CGI meeting alongside Clinton Foundation donors Lucas Lundin, Frank Giustra, Frank Holmes, and Carlos Slim.
• He was a 2008 panelist at the annual meeting.
• In 2009 he was a panel moderator at the CGI annual meeting.

The list goes on and you’ll have to read Peter’s piece in full to get all the details. Sending someone a check for your hard earned cash is certainly enough to indicate your support, but this sort of hands-on participation and giving of your time makes you a true player in their game. Was it all done in the interest of charitable works and helping out the less fortunate? Perhaps. But in George’s own estimation, nobody pitches in for this sort of organization without at least the possibility of getting something in return. And even if there was no thought of a quid pro quo going on, this sort of dedication demonstrates a fondness for the Clintons and their work if nothing else. How is an independent journalist supposed to maintain any sort of agnostic journalism footing when covering the activities of people who are so near and dear to him?

Why, that would be as preposterous as sending a reporter to interview his own brother if he were a high office holder! (Sorry about that, Cuomos.)

While the media at large may have a definite liberal bias and a tendency to undermine conservatives at every turn, if there’s one thing they hate worse than Republicans it’s their competition. Every news outlet besides ABC is jumping on this story and the drumbeat isn’t softening yet. It’s not much different from the dog pile on Brian Williams in that regard. But unlike NBC, George’s bosses at ABC are standing by their man so far. How long can that last?

[BenLurkin]

Has Stephanoplois apologized for this yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGdkqfBICw

[Liz]

BUT WAIT---THERE'S MORE UNDISCLOSED
The Stephanopoulous-Clinton Foundation 2010-2011--
exclusive "by invitation only" club

The Clinton Global Initiative archives lists ABC's Stephanopoulos as a “notable member” 2010-11 of an exclusive member-only w/ a $20,000 membership price tag.

Breitbart News contacted The Clinton Foundation about Stephanopoulos’ membership, but the organization did not offer a response in time to be included in this story.

A FAQ explaining CGI membership states: “Participation is by invitation only, limited to a select and diverse group of heads of state, CEOs, media voices, philanthropists and foundation heads, religious leaders, original thinkers, and those who run highly effective non-profit organizations.”

Membership usually costs $20,000 per year; however, the FAQ indicates that some complimentary memberships are available. ABC News told Breitbart Stephanopoulos did not pay a membership fee...because he moderated a panel for CGI events in 2010-11.

.....according to publicly available sources, Stephanopoulos also participated in CGI events in 2005, in 2006, in 2007 and in 2009. Therefore, it’s possible he was considered a member for every year between 2005-2011, with the possible exception of 2008, when he does not appear to have taken part in any CGI event.

Stephanopoulos’ failure to disclose those donations when interviewing Peter Schweizer, author of "Clinton Cash," a book critical of the Clinton Foundation, has led to complaints about biased ABC coverage of the Clintons. ABC News continues to stand by him and will allow him to lead its political coverage in 2016. (Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...

=============================================

THIS IS FROM THE CLINTON FOUNDATION ARCHIVES:

[Starboard]

ABC = Always Boosting the Clintons

[Liz]

AN OUTSTANDING POST BY FREEPER TRAVIS MCGEE: "Most viewers of the Jan 7 New Hampshire Republican primary debate, wondered why debate moderator George Stephanopoulos of ABC-News kept asking seemingly off-topic questions about the candidates’ views."

We now understand White House War Room “General” Valerie Jarrett had been coaching hard-left suckups to deliver the administration's “talking points” and strategic memes in the effort to dupe America voters.

Transitioned into an ABC-TV (gag) journo, the Clinton White House War Room “General” George Stephanopoulos just happened to pick debate questions that the cunning Obama White House wanted to float, as a diversion......

[Gaffer]

All this and probably a lot more than we will EVER find out about him, his cohorts in MSM, in government, in his party and all over the world, frankly.

It is so discouraging that revelations like this come near daily. They are coupled with a plethora of unreported (by MSM) minutia on the hundreds, thousands of freedom taking efforts by every victim and special interest liberal group imaginable. Non-MSM reported history is replete with this, even a lot of it outright subversive and revolutionary (against traditional America), e.g., Bill Ayers and killing 25 million patriot they can’t brainwash.

Pile up the violence, riots, protests and duplicitous Federal Government actions and racism and you have a system, a pattern of actions that effectively desensitizes us against that one basic desire these liberals have: if they could, they would kneel you beside a ditch and END you because you don’t think and feel like them.

We’re used to and desensitized to their goals and ideals; to their protests, riots and violence; their lies, deceit and cover-ups in a daily procession of insult added to injury.

I can only think about when that first person (soldier or patriot) stumbles through the woods, brush or plain and comes on that New Dachau, that New Aushwitz or perhaps even a Camp Obama.

[windsorknot]

"General" Stephanopoulos

still a general, but not in uniform.

[GOPJ]

Liz - do you know if any of these “oh so objective” liberal elite ‘journalists’ were paid to be at the Clinton spectacular?

Maybe free luxury accommodations? Gourmet meals?

Gift bags?

New York Times? Washington Post? Fox News... come on Hannity - this could be powerful....

[Iron Munro]

Stephanopoulos is a Clinton “Mini-Me”.

He arogantly uses the sytem to pursue his own interests and further his own interests.

He defies convention, rules and ethics, hides or disguises his conduct, and apologizes only when caught.

Then goes on to do the same thing all over again.

[Liz]

CIRCA 2009--ABC SUCKS-UP FOR GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOUS

When Barack Obama took office in 2009....ABC-TV "Good Morning America" anchors and guests gushed at the (cough) 'sheer brilliance' of Obama's incoming cabinet, and referenced Obama's "team of economic gladiators"...which included "gladiator" Secy of the Treasuey Tim Geithner (who had a problem filing taxes).

BIG BARFER Predictably, reconstituted Clinton factotum, George Stephanopoulos, now an ABC-TV newsman, rhapsodized about the Obama picks: "We have not seen this kind of combination of star power and brain power and political muscle this early in a cabinet in our lifetimes," Steffie gushed.

BACKSTORY Seems phone calls were being made between Obama's COS Rahm Emanuel and ABC-TV's George Stephanopoulous. Media Research President Brent Bozell, a vocal critic, made the claim that these were "strategy phone calls," and requested ABC to respond. "With each passing day, ABC's failure to speak to, and about, this issue tarnishes further the network's reputation as a legitimate news entity," Bozell writes.

ABC-TV responds to Brent Bozell

Dear Mr. Bozell,

Thank you for your letter regarding George Stephanopoulos. To be crystal clear, George Stephanopoulos does not advise Rahm Emanuel nor anyone else in the Obama Administration. He reports on the Obama Administration. He speaks to Mr. Emanuel, a friend he has know for nearly two decades, as a source, just as he speaks to countless sources across the political spectrum each and every day. That is his job as an anchor and reporter and one that he does according to the highest standards.

In your letter, and public utterances, you falsely assert that ABC News has been silent on this matter. That is simply untrue. Upon reading your press release last week, we reached out to the MRC to make it abundantly clear that you had totally mischaracterized the Politico story written by John Harris last Tuesday.

Indeed, Politico posted a story last Friday by Ben Smith pointing out exactly how badly you had mangled the facts. In that post, Harris stated that, " The calls are certainly a fascinating Washington ritual, but by no means do I think that George Stephanopoulos is participating in strategy sessions.

To my mind, he established his journalistic bona fides more than a decade ago, even as the Clinton administration was still underway, when he showed his willingness to report aggressively on Democrats as well as Republicans."

To give further lie to your claim that ABC News has not responded to your distortions, our senior vice president was quoted in the Politico story saying, "George speaks to Emanuel, but he speaks to plenty of conservatives and Republicans every single day -- that's part of his job.

The idea that there is some kind of daily conference call that George hops on is just nonsense and not true." Furthermore, last Friday, a reporter from CNS News, which was founded by you and continues to be directly affiliated with the MRC, contacted our media relations staff for a piece he'd been assigned to write on this very topic.

We cooperated immediately and provided him an on the record response. We have since learned from your reporter that his story was killed. You have said, "if the charges are false, provide the evidence. We will gladly accept it and consider the matter closed."

From the moment you issued your first press release on the Politico story last week - and numerous times since - we have made it clear to you and your staff that your assertions regarding Mr. Stephanopoulos and ABC News are false and based on a willful and knowing distortion of John Harris' original story.

Sincerely,

Kerry Smith
Senior Vice President, Editorial Quality, ABC News

[Liz]

George took this selfie the other day to send around to his ABC bosses.

"Clinton who?"

[rockrr]

I always thought him a general PITA.

[doug from upland]

[Liz]

GOOD QUESTION----even better is how did these "objective" liberal Democrat ***-kissers handle these items on their tax returns?

Did George tell the IRS of the $20,000 free CGS membership.

[GOPJ]

AN OUTSTANDING POST BY FREEPER TRAVIS MCGEE: "Most viewers of the Jan 7 New Hampshire Republican primary debate, wondered why debate moderator George Stephanopoulos of ABC-News kept asking seemingly off-topic questions about the candidates’ views."

We now understand White House War Room “General” Valerie Jarrett had been coaching hard-left suckups to deliver the administration's “talking points” and strategic memes in the effort to dupe America voters.

Do you have a link to Travis's comments? I think Stephanopoulos has been doing dirty work for the DNC for a long time. ABC thinks the American people are fools - ready to be taken because they're trusting... The little sh*ts at ABC play on that ... and they wonder why the press isn't trusted anymore? They wonder why their numbers are down? ABC and NBC have thrown away the goodwill of the people by abusing the trust given to them.

[laweeks]

That little 5 foot midget should be in prison having served time for perjury, suborning perjury, contempt of court, and obstruction of justice.

I’ll never forget him showing up for a Clinton hearing looking like a slob: hair uncombed, dirty shirt, 5 day beard, and hanging on to a water bottle, with his eyes showing nothing but contempt for any question he was asked.

It burns my ass to see the little twerp making millions. The only thing that I like is to see that his feet don’t touch the floor when he sits down. He should be in prison. What a feet dangling little creep!

[P-Marlowe]

Membership usually costs $20,000 per year; however, the FAQ indicates that some complimentary memberships are available.

That equates to a $20,000 gift to Stephanoplois. I'm sure he got back a lot more than the $75,000 he put in.

[JPG]

[Mouton]

As I said yesterday, and I am no Romney supporter, had I been blind sided by this little dump as he was about the birth control stuff in that interview, I would have gotten up and punched his lights out while calling him nothing but a dem shill. I actually think there is a good number of people who would have gotten the message about what was going on and if not they were too dumb to be voting anyway. Besides, if Romney had to drop out, I would have been happy with someone else.

[Timber Rattler]

Ping to #5.