[Congressman Billybob]

This denial of knowledge does not help the Washington Post. Apparently, the reporters signed onto FreeRepublic by using MD4Bush's account and password, "to make sure the messages were genuine."

Hellooo. The messages were, in part, generated by MD4Bush. The credibility of that person obviously bore on the story. Also, in order to run the story, the Post had already identified Steffen by his screen name. Also, when the Post was running the Watergate stories, they insisted that the Editor, Ben Bradlee, know who deep throat was.

One of two things is going on here. Either the Post has lowered its standards about knowing the sources for this story (and didn't a Post reporter get fired and have to return a Pulitzer Prize for exactly that error?), or the Post DID know who MD4Bush was, and are lying now to cover up a gross breech of journalistic standards.

Either way, the excuse above doesn't pass the smell test.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "Democrat Official Outed as 'Sleaze' Source on Mayor O'Malley; Washington Post Ignored Story it Had"

[maggief]

...or the Post DID know who MD4Bush was, and are lying now to cover up a gross breech of journalistic standards. ...

Perhaps that's the reason Matthew Mosk's name is not on the most recent WP article.

[conservative in nyc]

If the WaPo had MD4Bush's password, I wonder if they are the ones who did the MD4Bush FReepmail dump on 2/8 in order to escape any legal liability for publishing private FReepmails. I don't recall the legal theory, but I seem to recall some FReepers were opining back in February that it might have been illegal to publish private FReepmails.

[GOP_1900AD]

RE: Either way, the excuse above doesn't pass the smell test.

I agree.