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Shocking Inside DC Scandal Rumor: A Media Ethics Dilemma
Ron Rosenbaum.com ^ | 10/29/07 | Ron Rosenbaum

Posted on 10/30/2007 6:09:13 PM PDT by jimboster

So I was down in DC this past weekend and happened to run into a well-connected media person, who told me flatly, unequivocally that “everyone knows” The LA Times was sitting on a story, all wrapped up and ready to go about what is a potentially devastating sexual scandal involving a leading Presidential candidate. “Everyone knows” meaning everyone in the DC mainstream media political reporting world. “Sitting on it” because the paper couldn’t decide the complex ethics of whether and when to run it. The way I heard it they’d had it for a while but don’t know what to do. The person who told me )not an LAT person) knows I write and didn’t say “don’t write about this”.

If it’s true, I don’t envy the LAT. I respect their hesitation, their dilemma, deciding to run or not to run it raises a lot of difficult journalism ethics questions and they’re likely to be attacked, when it comes out—the story or their suppression of the story—whatever they do.

I’ve been sensing hints that something’s going on, something’s going unspoken in certain insider coverage of the campaign (and by the way this rumor the LA Times is supposedly sitting on is one I never heard in this specific form before. By the way, t’s not the Edwards rumor, it’s something else.

And when my source said “everyone in Washington”, knows about it he means everyone in the elite Mainstream media, not just the LA Times, but everyone regularly writing about the Presdidential campaign knows about it and doesn’t know what to do with it. And I must admit it really is was juicy if true. But I don’t know if it’s true and I can’t decide if I think it’s relevant. But the fact that “everyone” in the elite media knew about it and was keeping silent about it, is, itself, news. But you can’t report the “news” without reporting the thing itself. Troubling!

It raises all sorts of ethical questions. What about private sexual behavior is relevant? What about a marriage belongs in the coverage of a presidential campaign? Does it go to the judgment of the candidate in question? Didn’t we all have a national nervous breakdown over these questions nearly a decade ago?

Now, as I say it’s a rumor; I haven’t seen the supporting evidence. But the person who told me said it offhandedly as if everyone in his world knew about it. And if you look close enough you can find hints of something impending, something potentially derailing to this candidate in the reporting of the campaign. Which could mean that something unspoken, unwritten about is influencing what is written, what we read.

Why are well wired media elite keeping silent about it? Because they think we can’t handle the truth? Because they think it’s substantively irrelevant? What standards of judgment are they using? Are they afraid that to print it will bring on opprobrium. Are they afraid not printing it will bring on opprobrium? Or both?

But alas if it leaks out from less “responsible” sources. then all their contextual protectiveness of us will have been wasted.

And what about timing? They, meaning the DC elite media, must know if it comes out before the parties select their primary winners and eventual nominees, voters would have the ability to decide how important they felt it to the narrative of the candidate in question. Aren’t they, in delaying and not letting the pieces fall where they potentially may, not refusing to act but acting in a different way—taking it upon themselves to decide the Presidential election by their silence?

If they waited until the nominees were chosen wouldn’t that be unfair because, arguably, it could sink the candidacy of one of the potential nominees after the nomination was finalized? And doesn’t the fact that they “all” know something’s there but can’t say affect their campaign coverage in a subterranean, subconscious way that their readers are excluded from?

I just don’t know the answer. I’m glad in a situation like this, if there is in fact truth to it, that I wouldn’t have to be the “decider”. I wouldn’t want to be in a position of having to make that choice. But it’s a choice that may well decide a crucial turning point in history. Or maybe not: Maybe voters will decide they don’t think it’s important, however juicy. But should it be their choice or the choice of the media elites? It illustrates the fact that there are still two cultures at war within our political culture, insiders and outsiders. As a relative outsider I have to admit I was shocked not just by this but by several other things “everyone” down there knows.

There seem to be two conflicting imperatives here. The new media, Web 2.0 anti-elitist preference for transparency and immediacy and the traditional elitist preference for reflection, judgment and standards—their reflection, their small-group judgment and standards. Their civic duty to “protect” us from knowing too much.

I feel a little uneasy reporting this. No matter how well “nailed” they think they have it, it may turn out to be untrue. What I’m really reporting on is the unreported persistence of a schism between the DC media elites and their inside knowlede and the public that is kept in the dark. For their own good? Maybe they’d dismiss it as irrelevant, but shouldn’t they know?

I don’t know.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008electionbias; abedin; bimboeruption; file13; huma; humaabedin; latimesscandalrumor; mediacollusion; mediaethics; octobersurprise; ratcrime; rumorcentral; yourrighttoknow
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To: ReignOfError
There have been conflicting rumors about her nationality. As far as i can tell, the leading one is: Age 32. Father Indian, mother Pakistani, both professors. Born in the US (Kalamazoo, Michigan), lived in Saudi from the age of 2 until she returned to the US to go to college.(GWU).

Her nationality doesn't matter that much. If it's true that she grew up in Saudi from 2 thru 18, then it is likely that she is an indoctrinated fundamentalist Muslim -- as a close adviser to a candidate for US President

281 posted on 10/31/2007 5:35:05 AM PDT by PapaBear3625
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To: Calpernia

yeah just like they would have been protective of Reagan? that’s just silly. the LAtimes would be protective of NO republican.


282 posted on 10/31/2007 5:35:51 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy

I disagree.


283 posted on 10/31/2007 5:37:06 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: MortMan

Rudy has worked in the beltway though. Or is the DOJ not considered the beltway?


284 posted on 10/31/2007 5:41:21 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: jimboster

Hmm, the key is “what about a marriage belongs in a political campaign”. Also another key is when he says “Or does it go to the judgement of the candidate”.

Maybe a piece like this is to prep us so that when this comes out, we will understand that those who knew REALLY had a conscience, and decided to let it out with great dispair, for the public to consider. Yeah, okay.

Best guess to me is that it will be a GOP candidate. If it was a Dem, they would never tell it because they know that no one in the GOP would tell either.


285 posted on 10/31/2007 5:44:16 AM PDT by dforest (Duncan Hunter is the best hope we have on both fronts.)
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To: CheyennePress

The MSM must not feel Giuliani is a safe lock yet.

They can get rid of nyc liberal A if they have nyc liberal B as a backup.


286 posted on 10/31/2007 5:46:27 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: 9YearLurker

>>>Thompson is the one I’m aware of as having old rumors floated

There already was a story posted here months ago about Thompson and some woman. So that can’t be it. It wouldn’t be ‘shocking’.


287 posted on 10/31/2007 5:47:22 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: CatoRenasci

I say whatever happens or doesn’t happen to Hussein doesn’t matter to the election. He is not in the running.Mrs. Bill has no opposition unless Algore jumps in and even he would be dealt with .


288 posted on 10/31/2007 5:47:31 AM PDT by arthurus (Better to fight them over THERE than over HERE)
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To: longtermmemmory
>>>The MSM must not feel Giuliani is a safe lock yet.

This is exactly what makes this Rosenbaum piece curious. There are already stories out about Rudy's marriage to his cousin, Rudy and his gay roommates, and of course, Rudy in drag

So what on earth could be worse or more shocking than this? Or do I really want to know that?

289 posted on 10/31/2007 5:54:53 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: neodad
It's gotta be the "Hillary is a lesbian" thing.

The media wouldn't be "debating the ethics" if it were a Republican, it would already be front page news.

The debate has to be: would it hurt Hillary or help her (with left wing supporters) if a lesbian sex story broke?

290 posted on 10/31/2007 5:55:18 AM PDT by Washi (Support the country you live in, or go live in the country you support.)
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To: arthurus

>>>unless Algore jumps in

I think he will.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1911243/posts
I think Al Gore is Running 2008


291 posted on 10/31/2007 5:56:32 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: jimboster
"By the way, t’s not the Edwards rumor, it’s somethingelse."

So we have to believe it's not Edwards.

I'll wager Harvey Levin is working on this story without rest..We should see it on TMZ or the Smoking Gun before it breaks.

Tick, tock..

sw

292 posted on 10/31/2007 6:01:14 AM PDT by spectre (spectre's wife)
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To: All

If you really want to look deep, think in terms of salvaging the “Clinton Legacy”. Maybe he will backstab her. A Hillary lesbian story would justify Monica to future history.


293 posted on 10/31/2007 6:09:16 AM PDT by Owen
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To: Calpernia
If the Hunter announcement (that one of the top-tiers would be dropping out) is related to this rumor, then who of the top tier could Hunter gain with. Which candidates supporters will go to Hunter, over one of the other top tiers?

I doubt it would be Rudy in this case, my guess is either Fred or Mitt, based on this speculation alone.

294 posted on 10/31/2007 6:10:37 AM PDT by codercpc
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To: spectre

i want quidam to come back and tell us who it is!!!


295 posted on 10/31/2007 6:10:53 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: tcrlaf
If it were a Republican, the networks would be running with 24/7 coverage. There ARE no “Ethical Dilemas” if it’s a Republican, especially with the L.A. Times.

Timing is everything. If there is really a scandal, the MSM would hold it until they could use it to best advangage if it were a Rep. If it is a Dem, they will hold off using it to see if they could salvage someone's career by not disclosing it publicly, i.e., if that person does not get the nomination.

I think it is a Rep and it wouldn't surprise me if Carville, Mandy Grunwald, and Begala are behind this "rumor." The Dems and the MSM are really just two sides of the same coin. They work together to achieve their objectives.

296 posted on 10/31/2007 6:17:42 AM PDT by kabar
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To: codercpc

The comment wasn’t made in reference to gaining a voter block. It was general on the current standing of the running candidates. You can hear the interview on demand if you want to get a feel for how it was made.

It is on my blog under Hunter’s Rangers:

http://blog.barofintegrity.us


297 posted on 10/31/2007 6:19:39 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: Owen

Now that is an interesting thought!


298 posted on 10/31/2007 6:20:23 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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To: Calpernia

We might look really soon to see a candidate announce they are getting out the race for personal reasons.

Especially if they know the story is about to break.

I think it will maybe center around one of the wives.

I would think it will be GOP.

oh, all the gossip!


299 posted on 10/31/2007 6:24:45 AM PDT by dforest (Duncan Hunter is the best hope we have on both fronts.)
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To: indylindy

I think it is a top tier GOP candidate too. I just can’t think of what could be more shocking than the news that has already been out there.


300 posted on 10/31/2007 6:27:05 AM PDT by Calpernia (Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
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