The Times' Designated Man in the Street (Coulter outs Times)

NewsMax ^

[Republican Red]

Thursday, June 12, 2003 The Times' Designated Man in the Street

When the New York Times needs to find a man in the street to interview they never have to look very far - they have one on tap suitable for every occasion.

Thanks to a sharp-eyed Ann Coulter, one Greg Packer has been outed as the media's designated man in the street - a role Mr. Packer has played more than 100 times, Coulter discovered.

His latest assignment for the Times was to be the average man in the street in line waiting to buy Mrs. Clinton's newest work of fiction.

Wrote Coulter, author of the forthcoming blockbuster "Treason": "Another average individual eager to get Hillary's book was Greg Packer, who was the centerpiece of the New York Times' "man on the street" interview about Hillary-mania. After being first in line for an autographed book at the Fifth Avenue Barnes & Noble, Packer gushed to the Times: 'I'm a big fan of Hillary and Bill's. I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign.'

"It was easy," Coulter noted "for the Times to spell Packer's name right because he is apparently the entire media's designated "man on the street" for all articles ever written. He has appeared in news stories more than 100 times as a random member of the public. Packer was quoted on his reaction to military strikes against Iraq; he was quoted at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Veterans' Day Parade. He was quoted at not one - but two - New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square. He was quoted at the opening of a new "Star Wars" movie, at the opening of an H&M clothing store on Fifth Avenue and at the opening of the viewing stand at Ground Zero. He has been quoted at Yankees games, Mets games, Jets games - even getting tickets for the Brooklyn Cyclones. He was quoted at a Clinton fund-raiser at Alec Baldwin's house in the Hamptons and the pope's visit to Giants stadium."

If the Times and the rest of the New York media don't pay this guy, he's getting short changed.

[Republican Red]

Too funny!

[annyokie]

Ann rules!

[68skylark]

This is really amazing -- I hope some other writers will look into this.

[dirtboy]

check this one out for a good laff...

[Eala]

His latest assignment for the Times was to be the average man in the street in line waiting to buy Mrs. Clinton's newest work of fiction.

As fictional as a New York Times story.

[zip]

Ping

[IGOTMINE]

Given the makeup of the Times reporting staff, I suspect that his guy's first name is "Fudge".

[boycott]

Remember guy whose photo appeared everywhere? Maybe that was Packer?

[KellyAdmirer]

It would truly be amusing if this "Greg Packer" turned out to be a messenger or copy boy or something for the Times. I assume, of course, that he actually exists - and you know what Felix Unger said about what happens when you "assume." ;)

[martin_fierro]

Meet Greg Packer:

[JennysCool]

This is the real news in Ann's column on Hillary. I can't WAIT to read more on "Mr. Packer." Methinks we have another NYT credibility bomb waiting to go off.

[RightOnline]

TOO funny..............:)

[Liz]

You sure his name isn't Kilroy?

[Tuxedo]

Yeah, turns out he looks a lot like the tourist guy.

[zip]

You mean the NY Slimes would be a little deceitful?Say it's not true. </sarcasm

[TruthNtegrity]

I'd be willing to bet that they have been paying this guy - and that's why it's so duplicitous. They tell him where to show up, interview him and a check is in the mail

Oh really. My Dad must be rolling in his grave over the current version of the New York Times. It used to be "the paper of record" and my Dad read it from front page to last page on the LIRR, commuting into Manhatten. I wonder how many of those commuters now buy USA Today instead?

Or the Washington Times, which I think is the best newspaper out there. If you haven't discovered the journalism of the Wash. Times, I recommend you pick up a copy. One issue will convince ya.

[NittanyLion]

Do a google search on him. Unreal!

[PaulJ]

According to the latest New York Times article Mr. Packer is a 39 year old highway maintenance worker from Huntington, N.Y. I wonder how he was labeled in previous articles.