Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'NEWSWEEK DISSEMBLED, MUSLIMS DISMEMBERED!' (Ann Coulter)
Yahoo News ^ | 5/18/2005 | Ann Coulter

Posted on 05/18/2005 4:19:07 PM PDT by Dan Evans

When ace reporter Michael Isikoff had the scoop of the decade, a thoroughly sourced story about the president of the United States having an affair with an intern and then pressuring her to lie about it under oath, Newsweek decided not to run the story. Matt Drudge scooped Newsweek, followed by The Washington Post.

When Isikoff had a detailed account of Kathleen Willey's nasty sexual encounter with the president in the Oval Office, backed up with eyewitness and documentary evidence, Newsweek decided not to run it. Again, Matt Drudge got the story.

When Isikoff was the first with detailed reporting on Paula Jones' accusations against a sitting president, Isikoff's then-employer The Washington Post -- which owns Newsweek -- decided not to run it. The American Spectator got the story, followed by the Los Angeles Times.

So apparently it's possible for Michael Isikoff to have a story that actually is true, but for his editors not to run it.

Why no pause for reflection when Isikoff had a story about American interrogators at Guantanamo flushing the Quran down the toilet? Why not sit on this story for, say, even half as long as NBC News sat on Lisa Meyers' highly credible account of

Bill Clinton raping Juanita Broaddrick?

Newsweek seems to have very different responses to the same reporter's scoops. Who's deciding which of Isikoff's stories to run and which to hold? I note that the ones that Matt Drudge runs have turned out to be more accurate -- and interesting! -- than the ones Newsweek runs. Maybe Newsweek should start running everything past Matt Drudge.

Somehow Newsweek missed the story a few weeks ago about Saudi Arabia arresting 40 Christians for "trying to spread their poisonous religious beliefs." But give the American media a story about American interrogators defacing the Quran, and journalists are so appalled there's no time for fact-checking -- before they dash off to see the latest exhibition of "Piss Christ."

Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas justified Newsweek's decision to run the incendiary anti-U.S. story about the Quran, saying that "similar reports from released detainees" had already run in the foreign press -- "and in the Arab news agency al-Jazeera."

Is there an adult on the editorial board of Newsweek? Al-Jazeera also broadcast a TV miniseries last year based on the "Protocols of the Elders Of Zion." (I didn't see it, but I hear James Brolin was great!) Al-Jazeera has run programs on the intriguing question, "Is Zionism worse than Nazism?" (Take a wild guess where the consensus was on this one.) It runs viewer comments about Jews being descended from pigs and apes. How about that for a Newsweek cover story, Evan? You're covered -- al-Jazeera has already run similar reports!

Ironically, among the reasons Newsweek gave for killing Isikoff's Lewinsky bombshell was that Evan Thomas was worried someone might get hurt. It seems that Lewinsky could be heard on tape saying that if the story came out, "I'll (expletive) kill myself."

But Newsweek couldn't wait a moment to run a story that predictably ginned up Islamic savages into murderous riots in

Afghanistan, leaving hundreds injured and 16 dead. Who could have seen that coming? These are people who stone rape victims to death because the family "honor" has been violated and who fly planes into American skyscrapers because -- wait, why did they do that again?

Come to think of it, I'm not sure it's entirely fair to hold Newsweek responsible for inciting violence among people who view ancient Buddhist statues as outrageous provocation -- though I was really looking forward to finally agreeing with Islamic loonies about something. (Bumper sticker idea for liberals: News magazines don't kill people, Muslims do.) But then I wouldn't have sat on the story of the decade because of the empty threats of a drama queen gas-bagging with her friend on the telephone between spoonfuls of Haagen-Dazs.

No matter how I look at it, I can't grasp the editorial judgment that kills Isikoff's stories about a sitting president molesting the help and obstructing justice, while running Isikoff's not particularly newsworthy (or well-sourced) story about Americans desecrating a Quran at Guantanamo.

Even if it were true, why not sit on it? There are a lot of reasons the media withhold even true facts from readers. These include:

A drama queen nitwit exclaimed she'd kill herself. (Evan Thomas' reason for holding the Lewinsky story.)

The need for "more independent reporting." (Newsweek President Richard Smith explaining why Newsweek sat on the Lewinsky story even though the magazine had Lewinsky on tape describing the affair.)

"We were in Havana." (ABC president David Westin explaining why "Nightline" held the Lewinsky story.)

Unavailable for comment. (Michael Oreskes, New York Times Washington bureau chief, in response to why, the day The Washington Post ran the Lewinsky story, the Times ran a staged photo of Clinton meeting with the Israeli president on its front page.)

Protecting the privacy of an alleged rape victim even when the accusation turns out to be false.

Protecting an accused rapist even when the accusation turns out to be true if the perp is a Democratic president most journalists voted for.

Protecting a reporter's source. How about the media adding to the list of reasons not to run a news item: "Protecting the national interest"? If journalists don't like the ring of that, how about this one: "Protecting ourselves before the American people rise up and lynch us for our relentless anti-American stories."



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: anncoulter; coulter; isikoff; korandesecration; newstweak; newsweek
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-118 next last
To: Dan Evans

I love it when she smacks down the smarmy bastards. Gotta love her!


21 posted on 05/18/2005 4:44:54 PM PDT by Texas_Jarhead (To hell with Mexico, its policies, and its leaders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob

I admire Ann's phenomenal research talents. She was once a clerk to a federal judge, and I'll bet that gave her a lot of practice.


22 posted on 05/18/2005 4:46:30 PM PDT by Dan Evans
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans

She's put it in perspective. Thanks Ann.


23 posted on 05/18/2005 4:48:26 PM PDT by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans
Ann kills the legacy media with clever wit and a healthy dose of sarcasm and in the process exposes their one-sided agenda. They haven't always reported the truth and here they're come up with feeble excuses to justify their slander of America. How would Ann would this past weekend's rumpus in a quip? "Michael Isikoff slipped, America got whipped." Our country has always been the Left's whipping boy and no amount of after the fact apologies non apologies can change the fact Newsweek wanted to believe America was up to no good. Liberals see nothing good to love in America these days. It takes Ann just ONE column to expose them for who they are.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
24 posted on 05/18/2005 4:53:19 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: expatguy

I will indeed.


25 posted on 05/18/2005 4:54:56 PM PDT by MizRiz9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Ann Coulter

You are absolutely great!


26 posted on 05/18/2005 4:55:30 PM PDT by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans
This is a Fox News Montage of Ann's Best Sound Bites.  This video is a keeper!

Or Click Here to Watch 1.1 MB Low
Quality .wmv Video if You Are On Dial Up

27 posted on 05/18/2005 4:57:38 PM PDT by DocRock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Needs to be modified a bit: Newsweak doesn't kill people, Muslims do.


28 posted on 05/18/2005 5:00:16 PM PDT by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington (Re-elect Dino Rossi in 2005!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans

"I admire Ann's phenomenal research talents."

- Ann has consistently credited Lexus Nexus with her ability to quickly provide her with the "research" information she uses to skewer her targets.


29 posted on 05/18/2005 5:03:20 PM PDT by finnigan2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: JohnBovenmyer
Haagen-Dazs? I always figured Monica as the Ben and Jerry's type.

She's not too particular; she'll slurp anything down.

30 posted on 05/18/2005 5:04:14 PM PDT by wyattearp (The best weapon to have in a gunfight is a shotgun - preferably from ambush.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans

great read


31 posted on 05/18/2005 5:04:22 PM PDT by jern
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tribune7; Ann Coulter

I completely agree.


32 posted on 05/18/2005 5:04:56 PM PDT by Temple Owl (19064)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans

You Go Girl!


33 posted on 05/18/2005 5:04:58 PM PDT by spanalot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans

34 posted on 05/18/2005 5:07:25 PM PDT by ThreePuttinDude (John McCain, the best Dem the Repubs have to offer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DocRock
Doc- That video was tremendous. Thanks for posting it.
35 posted on 05/18/2005 5:11:10 PM PDT by Family Guy (I disagree with what you said, but I'll defend to the death your right to shut up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: woofie
So how did Spikey get his name?

The short answer is 'spiked stories'.

36 posted on 05/18/2005 5:15:36 PM PDT by JoeSixPack1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: JoeSixPack1

Thats what I figured but ya never know


37 posted on 05/18/2005 5:18:15 PM PDT by woofie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: wyattearp

Arkansas is very proud of Clinton--all these women coming forward and none of them are his sister!


38 posted on 05/18/2005 5:19:59 PM PDT by Temple Owl (19064)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Dan Evans

Another great post. Ann just doesn't let the Left get away with their hypocrasy and double standards, does she?


39 posted on 05/18/2005 5:21:01 PM PDT by Ladysmith ((NRA) Wisconsin Hunter Shootings: If you want on/off the WI Hunters ping list, please let me know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: woofie

Spikey ? Is that a new name for Bill Clinton ? ;-)


40 posted on 05/18/2005 5:23:04 PM PDT by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-118 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson