Posted on 01/28/2012 12:19:22 AM PST by dixiechick2000
. . . of online media manipulation isn’t exactly new. In fact, it goes back well before Romney’s 2008 campaign got underway in earnest. It seems to date back to sometime in 2005, when RNC operatives arranged a meeting between Matt Drudge and Matt Rhodes — a highly placed operative in the Romney organization.
Last year, a delegation of RNC officials flew to Miami Beach, where Drudge lives, for a dinner at the Forge steakhouse to introduce the Internet maven to Matt Rhodes, the party’s new opposition research director.
Due to Drudge’s now-close friendship with Romney’s chief aide and longtime GOP opposition researcher, it’s a safe bet Perry supporters won’t have many positive headlines to look forward to from the erstwhile gadfly. Having apparently been fully co-opted by the dread Republican Establishment, Drudge has been feeding the conservative online community a steady diet of pro-Romney headlines for years and, more recently, anti-Perry headlines — just to strike a balance, you see.
Just this week, for example, five of six Drudge headlines about Perry include bad news, from polling to policy: “PERRY APOLOGIZES FOR CALLING GOP VOTERS ‘HEARTLESS’… Iowa: Romney 21%, Bachmann 15%, Perry 14%, Paul 12%…POLL: CAIN ON TOP, PERRY PLUMMETS…PERRY: MY WIFE PRODDED ME TO RUN.”
Romney benefited from similar treatment from Drudge during his last run for the White House, when Drudge went hammer-and-tong against each of his opponents — reserving special scrutiny for Mike Huckabee:
A year ago, Rhodes signed on to Romney’s campaign. Since then, Drudge-watchers have noted Drudge’s consistent refusal to hype–and in many cases to even mention–negative stories about Romney. But now Huckabee threatens to blow Romney’s nomination strategy. Since last week, Drudge has unleashed a torrent of screaming, anti-Huckabee headlines, culminating in today’s “exclusive” (which cites one unnamed Democrat) about the Democrats’ supposed hope that Huckabee will emerge as the G.O.P. nominee.
Rhodes (or Rhoades — the correct spelling is unclear at this time) was brought back on board to head up Romney’s “Free and Strong America PAC” as executive director early in 2015. As Ben Smith noted at the time:
Rhoades, who’s moving to Boston, is a well-regarded guy whose return to Romney pretty much confirms what will surprise nobody: That he’s running in 2012. He’s also, incidentally, been valued for his relationship with a key player in any GOP primary, Matt Drudge.
And by June of this year, Romney had already established a dominant position in what has come to be known as the “Drudge Primary” — which is apparently modeled on the Cuban electoral process:
A survey of the past 13 months of Drudge headlines found only one debatably negative reference to the 2002 Olympics CEO (“Bachmann Outraises Romney”) — and a survey of aides to his rivals found a rising level of frustration at what one described as “favoritism” by one of the most important, if also one of the quirkiest, referees.
“One of the mysteries of Drudge is how he continues to be such a mystery. Never clear how or why he leans for or against candidates. But there is a lot of behind-the-scenes, very quiet and secretive mojo that goes on,” said Mark McKinnon, who, as a top adviser to John McCain in 2008, watched with dismay as Drudge gave top billing to questions about the Arizona senator’s health.
“It looks like someone in Romneyland has figured out the secret code,” McKinnon said.
Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with an outlet having a preference for one candidate over the other. Matt Drudge is certainly entitled to support whomever he thinks is the best candidate and for whatever reasons he chooses to do so. At the same time, though, conservatives who frequent the Drudge Report to glean information are entitled to know of his connections to people involved in campaigns irrespective of whether or not he feels his editorial decisions are affected by those connections.
This post is by no means a call to boycott the influential online news source. That would be as stupid as just about all boycotts are. Instead, it’s a simple reminder to those who read this blog that going to Drudge’s site in search of information on any candidate other than Mitt Romney is going to be a discouraging experience the vast majority of the time. So, when you see the bold red headline with flashing sirens announcing some explosion of support for Mitt Romney, or some manner of crippling blow to any other candidate, keep in mind that it’s been placed there with a specific purpose — and that is to further discourage you.
What’s disappointing about all of this, though, is the fact that from Matt Drudge’s earliest days posting Hollywood gossip on Usenet discussion boards, he’s set himself up as the answer to the biased media that refuses to air, and often actively suppresses, information that shows conservatives in a positive light. Since then, it appears that Matt Drudge has become the new boss . . . same as the old boss.
We've known all along there's nothing "objective" about the Drudge Report. Right?
It's high time this all came to light. He's been co-opted. The Drudge Report is a sell-out. Question is, what is he going to do about it.
any bets Drudge might have his retirement tied up with Bain Capital?
All these guys (Hannity, Levin) are out to sell books first. If Mark Levin can’t see the Drudge bias towards Romney than he has very little analytical skills and isn’t worth listening to.
How few prominent conservatives we have on our side that will just stand up and tell it like it is. That’s why Palin was so endearing.
Thanks for posting this...Drudge got rid of his FR link? Again!
ping
I would suggest that the 'news' part of this is the misleading & deceiving stories, and way over the top, constant barrage by Drudge. It smells of coordination with a candidate, masquerading as news.
It’s going to be fun watching your frustration if Romney wins the nod.
You guys are going to learn a hard, painful lesson about the enemies you make and the people you step on to make it to the top.
The sheer number of people like myself who’ve always pulled the lever for Republicans, but will actively work for Romney’s defeat in the General, is going to blow your mind. I know, because I’m out here in the field.
Folks like myself will fall bleeding on the pavement from exhaustion working to save the Conservative movement from extinction by Team Mitt. There is noone I fear giving more power to that I do Team Romney - just look at what they’ve done to us with the power they already have.
I will rejoice on that wonderful day when Mitt Romney gives his last concession speech for the great victory is is for America and the Conservative movement.
What paranoia? Drudge is in the tank for Romney and has been for a long time.
Is it possible that the RNC has Drudge’s dress or is acting as Drudge’s sexcort service?
I think so too.
I like many others have read The Drudge Report every day for years and I have never seen such an obvious anti campaign.
Wouldn’t necessarily say he’s been pro Romney, but he hasn’t had to, the wounds he is trying to inflict on Newt would have the desired effect in pushing Romney over the line.
Thanks for posting this. I did a search on Bing using Matt Drudge & Matt Rhodes (I’ve seen it spelled Rhodes & Rhoades). Many of you may have already seen these, but passing along for those that haven’t. I found some of the relationships w Rove, etc. mentioned interesting.
Romney’s inner circle 2007-08 (this link also has a blurb about Rhoades engagement announced last Aug):
http://mittromneycentral.com/tag/matt-rhoades/
Romney’s inner circle 2012 campaign:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/inner-circle/mitt-romneys-inner-circle.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
CHICAGO TRIB
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
CNBC
CNN
CNN POLITICAL TICKER
DAILY BEAST
DAILY CALLER
DAILY KOS
DAILY SWARM
DAILY VARIETY
DATELINE HOLLYWOOD
DER SPIEGEL
E!
ECONOMIST
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
EMIRATES 24/7
ENT WEEKLY
FINANCIAL TIMES
FORBES
FOXNEWS
FOXNEWS NATION
FRANCE 24
FREE REPUBLIC
GALLUP
GAWKER
Romney’s negative ratings soaring among independents
Romney, Drudge, Coulter, Beck, and many others are the enemies of conservative.
All of Romney’s operatives should be identified and blackballed.
basically no different than Obots...
and somehow that was bad for the country but this bizarre mentality we are seeing is good for the country.
It is no wonder our country is where it is. People have absolutely no desire to hear the truth or do the work to understand the truth.
God is watching and even though I think USA still has God’s blessings but I am not a fool to think that those could go away.
Conservative = conservatism
While you are correct in your analysis there is a reason why we are all so animated about supporting Newt and not Romney. Zero has destroyed the country so much we need a candidate who is 80% devoted to conservatism instead of 50%! Sounds funny I know but that's our choice.
If we can't be sure of undoing what the regime has done we are screwed as a country and many are beginning to realize it.
I just checked the Drudge Report and our link is still there and it working properly.
Salon.com isn’t on the FR copyright list, but I want to be careful due to the copyright statement at the bottom of their web page. I normally don’t got to Salon.
Here’s more info on Drudge in the 2008 campaign and oppo leaks to news sources in general. I thought it was interesting that no one seemed to pay any attention to McCain’s singing of Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran until after it went up on Drudge.
Monday, May 14, 2007 5:00 AM 06:11:38 PST
The Matt Drudge primary
How professional political operatives secretly control the news you read about the 2008 campaign. Hint: It involves the Drudge Report.
By Michael Scherer
http://www.salon.com/2007/05/14/drudge_11/
snip>
“The mainstream media prides itself on being objective, yet they often run like lemmings to whatever is up on Drudge,” said a senior Republican campaign aide, who asked to remain anonymous.
In addition to the “Bomb Iran” video, Drudge was one of the first to post links to a 1989 video clip of Giuliani declaring “there must be public funding for abortions for poor women.” In April, he posted a story suggesting that a blotch on McCain’s head (caused from a bump) was in fact a new case of skin cancer, a false rumor apparently intended to fan concern over McCain’s age. Drudge has also posted embargoed text of Romney’s presidential announcement speech in February. On May 10, he posted the first excerpts of Romney’s May 13 interview on “60 Minutes.”
Some campaign aides have suggested that Drudge’s personal relationships have played a role in what oppo leaks he posts on the site. “I think it’s clear that Romney has gotten fairer treatment from Matt Drudge than any other candidate. There is a lot less negative Romney stuff,” said the senior Republican campaign aide. “It stems back to what many people believe is a very good relationship between the Romney team and Matt Drudge.”
In particular, Matt Rhoades, Romney’s communications director, has a long history as the source for Drudge headlines, having previously served as the research director for the Republican National Committee during the 2006 campaign. In their book “The Way to Win,” Time’s Mark Halperin and the Politico’s John Harris recount that Rhoades traveled to Florida for a friendly steakhouse dinner with Drudge when he took the research director job in 2005. Attempts by e-mail and telephone to ask Drudge about the allegations of favoritism were not successful.”
Hi Onyx,
You might be interested in this - see also my post #59
Best,
SC
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