Posted on 07/02/2009 9:51:05 AM PDT by RatherBiased.com
The Washington Post has long prided itself on its access to the capital's elite. Now, it appears, the paper is willing to sell that access.
In a flier circulated to Beltway lobbyists, the Post touted a "salon" program which gives "exclusive access" to "Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds" for between $25,000 and $250,000. (View an image of the flier.)
White House officials said privately Thursday that the administration had no idea that the Post was peddling access to its officials.
The first event, entitled "Health-Care Reform: Better or Worse for Americans" is scheduled for July 21, at the home of Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth.
"Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No," the flier states. "The relaxed setting in the home of Katharine Weymouth assures it."
The flier, first reported by former Post editor Mike Allen on the Politico web site, offers the chance to "hear and be heard as an equal with key policy-makers and other stakeholders," including Weymouth, Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli and health-care "reporting and editorial staff members" at the Post.
Post company spokeswoman Kris Coratti issued a statement Thursday morning claiming that the flier was a "draft" that hadn't been "properly vetted" before being dispatched.
"As written, the newsroom could not participate in an event like this," Coratti's statement said. "We do believe there is an opportunity to have a conferences and events business and that the Post should be leading these conversations in Washington, big or small, while maintaining journalistic integrity. The newsroom will participate where appropriate."
Washington Independent columnist David Weigel posted an e-mail from Brauchli which said that the "language in the flyer [sic] and the description of the event preclude our participation."
"We will not participate in events where promises are made that in exchange for money The Post will offer access to newsroom personnel or will refrain from confrontational questioning. Our independence from advertisers or sponsors is inviolable," Brauchli's e-mail states. "There is a long tradition of news organizations hosting conferences and events, and we believe The Post, including the newsroom, can do these things in ways that are consistent with our values."
Like many newspapers, the Post has been hemorrhaging money. In the first quarter of this year, the newspaper reported an operating loss of $53.8 million.
After news of the salon program circulated widely on the Internet, the Post canceled them.
"This should never have happened. The fliers got out and weren't vetted," Weymouth told her paper. "They didn't represent at all what we were attempting to do. We're not going to do any dinners that would impugn the integrity of the newsroom."
Shocker
“Like many newspapers, the Post has been hemorrhaging money”
And doing what comes naturally, liberals whore themselves.
Ping for later
Another layer in the pay-for-play Democratic Administration of B. Hussain Obama.
How much does it cost to talk with his wife?
How much to chat with B.O. hisself?
República del plátano
(spits, when walks away muttering)
In other words.......”damn, we got caught”
I would think Fox News would be running this above the “fold”. It’s breathtaking, and WaPo is their competitor.
But, so far, nothing.
I wonder if they’re doing the same damn thing.
Kinda makes those requests to see Zero’s WH visitor lists all the more important.
Unintentional laugh line of the day.
I somehow doubt that Rahm has Fox News on speed-dial.
The WaPo is hustling for cash? Lol. Dipping their beak.
“canceled after being exposed” Makes a person wonder what’s out there that hasn’t been exposed.
Wow. This is shocking. The Washington Post has no ethical standards whatsoever.
(yawn)
There’s a new ‘Burn Notice’ on tonight.
We'll never get it from the Democrat "mainstream" newsrooms.
EVERY aspect of this White House and its enablers is Pay To Play.
Hmm, Didn’t know Bill Ayers was a terrorist, Didn’t know Tony Rezko was a crook, Didn’t know Blagojovich was offering his(obama)former senate seat for sale, didn’t know J Wright was an America hating racist, now this...
For a man who is the “leader” of the free world, he certainly doesn’t know much.
that is exactly what the major liberal media is! Just a bunch of whores prostituting themselves to the left. Obama even stated as much during his session at the correspondance dinner. They are in bed together and money does change hands. This flier only documents what is already happening. Just a bunch of whores with no integrity.
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