DUBYA'S BETRAYER?

New York Post ^ | February 23, 2005 | Eric Fettmann

[Jim Robinson]

February 23, 2005 -- ONETIME George W. Bush friend Doug Wead has leaked from his secretly taped private conversations with the then-governor of Texas as he was preparing to run for president. But somehow Wead hasn't been getting the Linda Tripp treatment from the national news media To put it mildly.

Tripp secretly taped phone conversations in which Monica Lewinsky discussed her sexual exploits with Bill Clinton — and was widely derided as the lowest form of traitor. Back in 1998, ABC News' Web site asked readers who should win the "Ig-Noble Peace Prize": Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic — or Tripp.

So widely demonized was Tripp that she was held up as the touchstone of back-stabbing: When George Stephanopoulos published his insider's look at the Clinton White House, Katie Couric confronted him on-camera: "A lot of people, George, think this is just kinda creepy that you've done this. They see you as a turncoat, a Linda Tripp."

A lot of people no doubt think that what Wead did to Bush was even creepier — and find his convoluted explanation of why he made the taped, and then was "forced" to make them public against his will, downright laughable.

(For the record: Wead says The New York Times learned of the tapes from Simon & Schuster, the publisher of his new book. At which point, he says, "It was a slippery slope; once we let them listen to the tape of a quote in the book, they wanted context to prove it wasn't taken out of context." He doesn't seem ever to have considered simply saying "no" to demands he play the tapes.)

[Jim Robinson]

"But Wead isn't held up as Bush's betrayer. Instead, the Times initial story credits him for "creating a rare record of the future president as a politician and a personality" and providing "insights into his thinking."

[SittinYonder]

Wead is a POS, no doubt, who was only looking to advance himself regardless of friendship. That said, I appreciate what I've heard from the tapes. It shows the President as a decent man who doesn't want to set a bad example to kids (the drug issue) and the tapes also show that he's honest and straight-forward. It's no put-on when he gets in front of the cameras. Of course, I didn't need Wead's tapes to know this.

Admittedly, I haven't heard all the tapes or read a complete transcript, so there may be something I'm missing.

[beyond the sea]

But somehow Wead hasn't been getting the Linda Tripp treatment from the national news media To put it mildly.

Yes, and Linda Tripp was doing it only to protect herself.

The double standard in the media is disgusting!

[beyond the sea]

But Wead isn't held up as Bush's betrayer. Instead, the Times initial story credits him for "creating a rare record of the future president as a politician and a personality" and providing "insights into his thinking."

Positively sickening!

[samtheman]

From what I heard of the tapes, I like W more than ever. Where can I go vote for him again?

[Alissa]

Does the media even understand how transparent they look? I don't think so, it indicates to me they aren't as 'intelligent' as they like to believe themselves. The lockstep, the stupid statements, and then the hypocracy are breathtaking at times.

[Dales]

The Weadsle must be some piece of work. He ran for office in Arizona, sending out some 30,000 videos calling Barry Goldwater his idol and his inspiration, promising the be the next Goldwater for his voters.

Goldwater thought so much of the maneuver that he endorsed his Democratic opponent.

[beyond the sea]

Indeed, one can almost see their eyebrows arching in astonishment once they realize, as the Times wrote, that the George W. Bush on tape "sounds remarkably similar in many ways to the public President Bush." ........ Or, as presidential historian Robert Dallek put it, "What I found most interesting in the tapes is how consistent the personality is with the man we've seen in the White House." ........... Talk about the triumph of cynicism.

Uh-uh. Just wait to see what else this guy is going to pull from his clandestine tapes to put in front of the world!

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

This Wead character does strike me as being a rather sad, naive-almost pitiable-figure.

That being said, I do think that these tapes will burnish the president's reputation, rather than tarnishing it.

-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)

[big'ol_freeper]

This has to go into the "nothing surprises me about the MSM anymore" category. The only thing interesting to come out of these tapes is that Wead is not the sharpest tool in the barn. If you want to make money screwing your friends you should do it BEFORE the election, not after. Wead should not be waiting for an invitation to visit the Crawford Ranch anytime soon.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

He was actually offered a deal by his publisher, which would have released this book in the run-up to the election.

He turned it down.

Yes, this guy absolutely screams, BRILLIANCE!

(Pronounced eye roll.)

[Reform4Bush]

There just isn't that much there for a Tripp-like reaction based on what I've heard so far.

Bush talking in the third person about Al Gore's admittance to smoking pot isn't exactly Presidential Spooge on an ugly intern's dress.

[beyond the sea]

I do think that these tapes will burnish the president's reputation, rather than tarnishing it.

I hope so.

But, not being critical at all, but do you see what we are already doing here. We are considering the tapes effect on Bush. We are not thinking enough about why this guy isn't getting the LindaTripp treatment. Wead didn't even have a good excuse to make the tapes like did Linda!

Remember this from the article?

Back in 1998, ABC News' Web site asked readers who should win the "Ig-Noble Peace Prize": Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic — or Tripp.

This story should be more about the totally biased lefty/commie/socialist/Democrat media than about Wead and Bush.

[snarks_when_bored]

Could the hypocrisy be any plainer? If secret recordings hurt an individual or group the MSM loathes, the person who did the recording is a hero, a brave seeker of truth deserving of praise and admiration. If secret recordings hurt an individual or group the MSM loves, the person who did the recording is a traitor, a piece of scum deserving of scorn and ridicule.

[newzhawk]

I really hadn't given this topic much thought as it came out over a weekend- I haven't hears much coverage either- but your comparison to Linda Tripp is such a good one I will watch to see how it is all handled if at all. Krauthammer called him sleazy and looked so disgusted I think he said it all- just the idea that he would take advantage of someone that thought he was a friend.

[samtheman]

More evidence that the MSM is leftist scum. Yawn. Their under-reporting of the success of the Iraqi election is much bigger news than this.

It doesn't hurt to mention that this is more proof of the left-scuminess of the MSM... but I'm not going to get excited about it. There are too many other examples.

What I personally take away from the story is how good Bush sounds in private. I wonder how Fats Kennedy would sound in an unguarded moment, or Frankenstein Pelosi. Or any number of leftist politico media stars. I bet they would pop off with shameful tidbits at the rate of one or two a minute.

But not Bush. He's honest as the day is long. And the tapes just add evidence to that.

Is Wead a scumbag? Sure. Is the MSM a leftist monstrosity? Sure.

But so what? In the words of the great leftist scumbag of CBS: That's the way it is.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I agree.

Hopefully, this debacle will further diminish the reputation of the mainstream news media, in the eyes of the American public.

[anniegetyourgun]

The Times didn't seem to think this way when Flowers/then Governor Clinton phone tapes came out.

[Vigilanteman]

Because the Wead tapes underscore the secret to George W. Bush's success: He's always been honest with the American people. He may gloss over certain issues, but he doesn't lie. And he doesn't tailor his convictions to political self-interest.

Which is a pretty refreshing change from what we'd gotten used to in a president.

[TUX]

I'm sure the NY Slimes are clamoring to get the Monica tapes she recorded with Bill /sarcasm.

None of the MSM seem to be interested in these tapes.