Posted on 01/10/2005 6:38:47 AM PST by mhking
Reaction to the Armstrong Williams-Department of Education scandal was swift and furious over the weekend, as I wasn't the only one to make a lot of noise on the issue (LaShawn Barber, Michelle Malkin, Rob Bernard, DC Thornton, Amy Ridenour, Sisu, Nate Livingston, Expertise, Booker Rising, Eduwonk, Wizbang, The American Prospect's Tapped column, Powerline & others too numerous to mention).
In the wake of Friday's revelations, Tribune Media Services, who syndicated his column to newspapers nationally, abruptly dropped his column, and most likely, his television show, The Right Side with Armstrong Williams (syndicated on Sinclair stations and aired nationally on cable/satellite networks TVOne and The Liberty Channel) will be cancelled as well. No word on his radio show, which airs on a handful of stations across the nation.
Williams was apologetic in this morning's column, appearing on TownHall.com.
I understand that I exercised bad judgment in running paid advertising for an issue that I frequently write about in my column. People need to know that my column is uncorrupted by any outside influences. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my bad judgment, and to better explain the circumstances.People have accused me, in various forums over the weekend, of wanting to 'throw Armstrong under the bus.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I certainly want conservative blacks of all stripes and from all quarters to thrive and succeed.The fact is, I run a small business. I am CEO and manage the syndication and advertising for my television show. In between juggling my commentaries and media appearances, I stepped over the line. This has never happened before. In fact, my company has never worked on a government contract. Nor have we ever received compensation for an issue that I subsequently reported on. This will never happen again. I now realize that I have to create inseparable boundaries between my role as a small businessman and my role as an independent commentator.
I accept full responsibility for my lack of good judgment. I am paying the price. Tribune Media has cancelled my column. And I have learned a valuable lesson. I just want to assure you that this will never happen again, and to ask for your forgiveness.
But at the same time, when ethical lines are crossed, I will call people on them. Period.
Many on the conservative side of the coin have railed on about people like Bill Moyers receiving tax monies to promote a political agenda in the past, yet those same voices are silent now.
The bottom line is that wrong is wrong.
I appreciate Williams' apology this morning, and his stock certainly rises a bit as a result. He has owned up to his mistake and is willing to move forward. I, too, am willing to move forward, and while I can certainly forgive his shortcoming in this case, I cannot ignore it.
I stand by my statement of Friday, when I indicated that his word would be suspect in the future.
While his apology appears genuine, only his actions as time moves forward will tell me if he truly has learned his lesson and is worth listening to again.
I guess I was speaking about the MSM (not you)
Sorry for any confusion
*****************
I'm sure you are unaware that the above sounds like a threat. I hope so.
Not a problem.
Gee, I'm impressed with your little band of supporters.
Ping me when you do another Armstrong=bashing thread.
I believe the man stated that he no longer wanted to converse with you. His "little band of supporters" are members of FR who have been here long enough to vet the man. In other words, he has earned the respect given to him.
Now, will you agree to disagree and go on your way in peace, or do we have to elevate it to another level? Michael won't, hence my respectful calling him a "diplomat". But I'll scrap with you with a smile on my face.
Do you think it is worth mentioning that since the 2 posts with 2 different ping lists went out that the result from the band contained not a single defense of the overblown Armstrong-bashing? Cool pictures and anklebites, but no justification for piling on Armstrong.
Very telling, IMO.
I don't enjoy either his syndicated talk show-which I listened to while it was being carried by a New York City affiliate-or his syndicated column-which I've read in the Amsterdam News.
In fact, I shudder whenever I watch him on "America's Black Forum", being bested in debate by people like Deborah Mathis and Julian Bond, who routinely shill for a political party that is both intellectually and morally bankrupt.
Truthfully, I feel that there are so many other bright pundits/commentators who could spotlight the conservative side of the issue, e.g. Clint Bolick or Robert Woodson, inter alia, in a more forceful, eloquent manner than Mr. Williams does on a regular basis.
All criticism aside, however, I don't feel that this incident should be considered an impropriety on his part.
And here, the analogy to Bill Moyers is inapt, in at least one respect.
While Moyers profits at the expense of the American taxpayer to the tune of millions of dollars annually, Williams-from what I recall-admitted to accepting less than half a million dollars in consulting fees from a cabinet-level agency of the federal government.
I'll admit, it does sound like a tidy sum-especially from where I'm standing-but put in the context of a federal budget that exceeds a trillion dollars-it is a paltry, almost laughable amount of money.
The other point that I'd like to dispute is the assertion that what the Bush administration did constitutes a "bribe."
This presumes that Mr. Williams needed a financial inducement in order to be persuaded to tout the Bush administration's education policies in the print and visual media.
Right now, I don't see a shred of evidence to support this allegation.
In fact, Armstrong Williams has vocalized his support for President Bush's policies, in this arena and others, for many years.
From what I gather, this situation appears to be an instance where there is a convenient confluence between someone's personal and political interests.
In my opinion, I don't think what Armstrong Williams did brought any more shame upon the fourth estate than it would have otherwise generated.
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
Well said!
From the very first line to the last.
I'm asking once more that this person not message me further.
I do not appreciate it, nor desire it to continue.
ping.
did you look through the exchange from the top or just accept #91 at face value?
I guess than means "no".
Calm down friend. You're going to get banned. It's not that important.
Otherwise, it's been nice knowing you and having you visit Free Republic for such a brief time before being banned. Is that clear enough for you?
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