Posted on 10/17/2004 6:08:39 PM PDT by hipaatwo
Kerry/Edwards/NYTimes campaign has launched another sleazy attack in an apparent effort to define just how low low really is.
First, the NY Times ran a Bush quote from an event the reporter did not attend, then within hours of the piece running, the Kerry campaign managed to put an ad together and have the press releases done and all the media reporting on it.
New Kerry Ad Exposes Bush's January Surprise - Social Security Privatization Just over two weeks before the election, the Kerry-Edwards campaign Sunday released a new ad revealing George Bush's real agenda - his intention to "come out strong" to privatize Social Security should he be sworn in for a second term. ... JOHN KERRY: "I'm John Kerry and I approve this message."
NARRATOR: "The truth is coming out... George Bush has finally admitted that he intends to privatize Social Security in a second term. 'I'm going to come out strong after my swearing in,' Bush said, 'with...privatizing of Social Security.'"
-- Bush at Private Luncheon: "I'm Going to Come Out Strong After My Swearing In With ... Privatizing of Social Security." "'I'm going to be real positive, while I keep my foot on John Kerry's throat,' George W. Bush said last month at a confidential luncheon a block away from the White House with a hundred or so of his most ardent, longtime supporters, the so-called R.N.C. Regents. ... 'I'm going to come out strong after my swearing in,' Bush said, 'with fundamental tax reform, tort reform, privatizing of Social Security.'" (Ron Suskind, "Without a Doubt," New York Times Magazine, 10/17/04)
There's only one problem. The reporter in question, Ron Suskind, did not attend the event he got the quote from. Further, it was not televised, it was a private event and there were no transcripts available. Yet he reports the quote as fact.
Suskind does not explain how he got the controversial quote so accurate but does say about an earlier quote "According to notes provided to me, and according to several guests at the lunch who agreed to speak..."
So Suskind got "notes provided to him" and that was good enough to run such an important quote. I hope Bill Burkett was not the source. Is this what passes for reporting at the Times today?
The Kerry/Edwards/NYTimes campaign has decided they can't convince voters with ringing endorsements so they'll scare old people to death.
For their part, the Bush campaign is denying the quote and some even claimed Suskind made the quote up from whole cloth. In the end, it is of little use, the media is running wild with the story, facts be damned.
--Oh, and who is Ron Suskind that the New York Times is having write a 10 (web) page story on Bush just days before the election? He is the author of "The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House and the Education of Paul O'Neill.''"
What do you think the odds are that the NY Times would let John O'Neil write a piece on John Kerry next Sunday?
Update: Jim Kouri is working this story for Wizbang and he has been in contact with Fox News who has questioned the Kerry camp. So far, Kerry is saying "Hey, it was in the NY Times". (paraphrased of course)
Are the American people so stupid that they don't know that a President can't even do some of this stuff? Congress has to make these laws in most cases.
PUBLIC EDITOR
To reach Daniel Okrent, who represents the readers, e-mail public@nytimes.com or call (212) 556-7652.
PUBLIC EDITOR
To reach Daniel Okrent, who represents the readers, e-mail public@nytimes.com or call (212) 556-7652.
Ping to #25; I copied parts of the post and sent it to the NYT. Old Media is at it again.
Wouldn't surprise me. It should go over well with the Dems' felon voting base.
Assuming the statement was "made up", of course, you go after this one hammer and tong. First: you deny it (seniors are still getting the SSI checks the Democrats said they wouldn't have if GWB was elected). You explain that the "reporter" who wrote this fiction was not there when the statement was supposed to have been made, and you point out the apparent "advance notice" Kerry had that the "quote" would appear in NYT. Most of all, you deny it, loud and long!
...and while you're at it, provide statistics on how seniors benefitted from dividend and estate tax cuts. Surely the campaign has this info on a state-specific basis (like FLORIDA?).
LOL.. I LOVE your train of thought. :)
Smells like panic in Kamp Kerry to me. Twisted lies, scare tactics. Typical.
Prairie
Using a quote from an event that he wasn't even at? Isn't that EXACTLY what the Jayson Blair deal was about?
I know, I know. It's the New York Times. Fabricating false stories just to hurt President Bush. What else is new?
In a word, "yes."
Doesn't anyone question the timing of the NY Times piece and the Kerry sponsored commercial? Pure set-up.
"Are the American people so stupid that they don't know that a President can't even do some of this stuff?"
Unfortunately, much to my dismay - yes. They see it on the alphabet channels and the liberal print media, and hear it from Kerry's spinmeisters, so they think it's true.
The President's victory will be that much sweeter when it comes in the face of this all out campaign of deceit and dishonesty by the Kerry thugs and the MSM. I am firmly convinced that with these people, any means is justified by their end.
"Smells like panic in Kamp Kerry to me. Twisted lies, scare tactics."
One would expect that to be true except that is the only play in the Democrat playbook ever since 1995. Spread fear and hatred for Republicans,then "vote for us and we'll save you from their evil plans."
I wouldn't worry a lot about this stuff. I just talked to my sister in Fla. She's a "dyed in the wool" Democrat. She shocked me by saying she's voting for Bush. She doesn't like what she's hearing from the Democrats, too vicious, and she says she at least knows Bush will do exactly what he says he'll do especially concerning terrorists. We argued bitterly in 2000 about Gore. I can't tell you how surprised I am but Kerry truly scares her.
Thank you .. you're very kind to say that!!
Oh, you've got to see this one...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.