When Patrick Fitzgerald tried to make reporters burn their sources, that was disgraceful. When Mark Halperin and John John Heilemann burned one of their sources, they got an HBO movie out of it.
The difference? Villagers liked Scooter Libby but don’t like Harry Reid.
Bill Arnold
Like MediaMatters, I have no clue what this means.
Roger Moore
In one case it was an outsider trying to do something to a Villager; in the other it was a Villager doing something to an outsider. I don’t think you need to look any further than who was the perp and who was the victim to understand the Village’s reaction.
cleek
this just in : Mark Halperin is a Heather.
Kryptik
@Bill Arnold:
….what the hell.
That…but…guuuuuuuuuuuuuhh…
They just basically left themselves a giant glaring loophole to fuck over their sources at will. It’s not even a good loophole. It’s essentially just rhetorical calvinball.
Balconesfault
If Halperin gets “shut out”, will he just make shit up?
If he does … will anyone notice?
martha
@Balconesfault: Yes and the Village will pretend not to notice. That is all. Also. Too.
Leelee for Obama
It seems that Halperin and Heilemann are, officially, full of shit. They gave the impression that the interviewees were deep background and not to be named, and then named people they wanted to embarrass or sensationalize, or both. I consider these two, along with most of their fellow Villagers lower than snake shit and am glad that I never thought they were anything else. It is time for someone, maybe Jonathon Alter? to expose this crap for what is is. National Enquirer level dreck posing as reporting real information-
To paraphrase the best line in the wrong setting, evah: “Scrap ’em off, they’re scum.”
Zifnab
All this time I thought the difference was $12 billion a month pissed away in the desert. But hey, HBO movie! Who doesn’t love that?
WaterGirl
I don’t agree with what they did, but when I read that passage I understood (I think) what they were saying.
If you tell us stuff about someone else, it’s all on background and we won’t say who said it. But if you tell us something YOU said to someone else, we WILL quote you and we will attribute that quote to you.
Shorter version: if you talk about someone else it’s on deep background, but if you talk about yourself, it’s on the record.
Does anyone else remember learning about yellow journalism in elementary school and what a shameful period that was? I looked up yellow journalism in wikipedia just now. If there’s anyone at BJ who contributes to wikipedia, I hope you will add some new examples of publications that are practicing yellow journalism.
Lolis
Honestly, the Village is so out of touch this recent attack on Harry Reid will probably only help him. It has liberals defending Harry, a rare thing. But Feingold is a big douche, what was with his weird comment.
schrodinger's cat
How is their “reporting” different than the tabloids? Especially the stuff about the Edwardses?
Leelee for Obama
@Leelee for Obama: SCRAPE!!!!!
I didn’t see it, typese dyslexia strikes again!
JGabriel
DougJ @ Top:
Jeepers, I hate to be the one defending the Villagers here, but there really is a pretty big difference.
Fitzgerald was a representative of the gov’t, and his subpeonas* of reporters do raise potential first amendment objections.
I don’t think the objections were valid in the Plame case, but Fitzgerald’s governmental role is a pretty obvious differentiation from Halperin/Heilemann — who are merely assholes, and who can be punished for burning their sources by decreased access from Democratic pols.
Not that it will happen. Just that there is a difference.
(*hmm, the editor marks that as misspelled — should it be subpeonii?)
.
Leelee for Obama
This is vaguely smutty, or perhaps agricultural? Not sure how to spell the word though, off to check!
Leelee for Obama
subpoenas is the correct spelling-little juxtaposing never hurt anyone!
schrodinger's cat
I am officially tired of these two and their tabloidy book, can we discuss something else.
DougJ, how was your trip to SF, where did you finally end up going to eat and did you enjoy it.
DougJ
DougJ, how was your trip to SF, where did you finally end up going to eat and did you enjoy it.
Just getting in….
bayville
I’ve read that passage four times now and can’t make heads or tails of it.
But I continue to be amazed at how the Beltway Boyz get so frenzied over trivia that is 2 years old. It’s like a TMZ journalist today reporting on the Brittney Spears/K-Fed divorce and the Ruben Studdard- American Idol affiliation.
Madness.
valdivia
Excellent point. Halperin gets rewarded for bs gossiping. I really loath HBO for doing this.
jeffreyw
Time to drag out this oldie/goodie.
Zifnab
@JGabriel:
I think the word you’re looking for is subpenis.
In fairness, the comparison would probably be better if it were between Matt Cooper and Mark Halperin, then, since Cooper cooperated with the investigation.
Of course, Cooper was disparaged while Judith Miller was praised as a journalistic hero. That was back when protecting one’s (Republican) sources meant something. Now that Democrats are running the show, it’s all about who can cash out first and fastest.
Cat Lady
I don’t watch any of the reader’s digest TV news infotainment shows anymore – has there been any focus on Sarah Palin’s utter lack of a clue about American history (or anything else) as about Harry’s inartful but truthful statement? What about Cindy McCain’s cuckolding of John? I wouldn’t mind it so much if Halperin’s hackery riled that hornet’s nest up, because the upside would be to humiliate McCain enough to make him disappear. But, since IOKIYAR, unless it involved more than a diaper, two wetsuits, and an Argentine hottie I guess we’ll never know.
FlipYrWhig
I’m not sure about the significance of the key word “scene” in all of that. WaterGirl‘s distinction that “if you talk about someone else it’s on deep background, but if you talk about yourself, it’s on the record” makes some sense, but why would they use the word “scene” to describe it?
eemom
you’ll never guess who said this:
“I don’t think there’s a person walking, certainly not a politician out there, that hasn’t made comments they regret,” he said in the interview. “When you make those comments, as long as you take responsibility for your comments and apologize for them, I think people should accept that.”
John “Misery Loves Company” Ensign.
aimai
I agree with JGabriel, the cases are utterly dissimilar. One is government action, including a jail sentence, and the other is arguably a stupid move with respect to potential future sources. But here’s the thing–no one thinks for a moment that Harry Reid or his friends have any further thing of interest to trade as gossip. And the newspaper reporters are on record, at this point, not caring at all about information and scoops that are not related to gossip. What does *anyone* care if Harry Reid never says another word to these reporters? No one cares what the Senate Majority leader thinks, or knows, about anything but sex, drugs, or race (as it relates to Obama). So there’s no downside to “burning” him, if he was the source.
Reporters will still treat with kid gloves important sources who lie to them–as long as the story is glamorous or insulting to democrats enough–and will happilly burn sources who can’t supply such juicy details. Harry Reid, being the definition of a boring policy wonk, will remain a punching bag.
aimai
valdivia
@Cat Lady:
Lauer apparently committed an act of journalism this morning in regard to that. I think though that The Village got a memo to not talk about Bible Spice because NO ONE is talking about this part of the book which to my mind is the most explosive.
Keith
Does this mean that Halperin’s character in the HBO movie is gonna be played by Steve Buscemi now?
Zifnab
@JGabriel:
I think the word you’re looking for is subpe-o-nis.
In fairness, the comparison would probably be better if it were between Matt Cooper and Mark Halperin, then, since Cooper cooperated with the investigation.
Of course, Cooper was disparaged while Judith Miller was praised as a journalistic hero. That was back when protecting one’s (Republican) sources meant something. Now that Democrats are running the show, it’s all about who can cash out first and fastest.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: I didn’t see the snake at first. I thought you were cleverly implying that they are pond scum.
JGabriel
Zifnab: Yes, I agree. I think Cooper/Miller is probably a better basis for comparison than Fitz.
Was Cooper really disparaged though? I don’t remember that happening, except from Rove’s lawyer of course.
.
Captain Goto
OT–and someone else probably dealt with this before Sully did–but he just set himself to a flaying of the Doughy Pantload, and the result is a thing of beauty:
Sorry, Jonah, Conservatives Do Back Abu Ghraib
I don’t often have much use for Sully, but this is one high quality ass-reaming.
DougJ
In fairness, the comparison would probably be better if it were between Matt Cooper and Mark Halperin, then, since Cooper cooperated with the investigation.
Yes, I know. I didn’t feel like referring to Matt Cooper, because I wasn’t sure everyone had heard of him (it’s a common name so there’s potential for confusion).
jeffreyw
@WaterGirl: lol, that would work, too
valdivia
Who was it that predicted that Sulli would sort of apologize or walk back the screaming for firings? You see the future!
Pasquinade
@valdivia, speaking of Bible Spice
– Andy Borowitz
David Hunt
I don’t think this is a fair comparison. The Enquirer and its brethren actually do some investigative reporting, so comparing them to Halperin and Heilemann is unfair to the Enquirer.
Mr Furious
Also OT and Sully-related:
It appears Sullivan has at last changed his diaper and has started walking back his comments made during his panic/tantrum over the failed underwear bomb attack.
Pasquinade
@Captain Goto, speaking of Jonah Goldberg
WASHINGTON (AP) — In newly released papers from his presidency, Richard Nixon directs a purge of Kennedy-era modern art — ”these little uglies” — orders hostile journalists to be frozen out and fusses over White House guest lists to make sure political opponents don’t make it in.
As his lieutenants built an ambitious political espionage operation that tapped scribes as spies, Nixon is shown preoccupying himself with the finest details of dividing friend and foe…
…
Nixon historians have known for years about ”Chapman’s Friend,” code name for a working journalist who doubled as a paid informant, reporting to the president’s political operatives about campaigning Democrats.
Seymour K. Freidin was the first source, succeeded by Lucianne Goldberg. Years later she became known as the literary agent who encouraged Linda Tripp to tape conversations she had with Monica Lewinsky about the intern’s relationship with President Bill Clinton…
nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/11/us/politics/AP-US-Nixon-Papers.html?_r=1
title and excerpts courtesy of DU
GregB
What was it that Vince Foster said about DC and the Villagers before he blew his brains out?
Destroying people was a blood sport.
-G
Blue Raven
@David Hunt:
The Enquirer broke the story of Cindy McCain’s infidelity during the campaign last year complete with photographs of her with her paramour, so yes, I’d have to agree with you there.
Adrienne
@JGabriel:
Not trying to be the spelling enforcer around here or anything, but since you asked… it’s marked as misspelled because the “o” comes before the “e” in “subpoena”.
Captain Goto
So, Doughy Pantload’s mom was Nixon’s press mole.
Shocked, shocked, I tell you.
JGabriel
Adrienne:
Damn it, I checked for that and still missed it. See what happens, kidz, when you edit before coffee?
Danke, Adrienne.
.
wasabi gasp
Reid stuck his dick in the mashed potatoes. Someone should tell that nice old Mormon that it’s never that kind of party.
maus
@Kryptik:
Everything is a rhetorical loophole when you play by the PoMo rules of modern “journalistic” discourse.
schrodinger's cat
@wasabi gasp: eewww, please pass the brain bleach.
Terry
Try as they might these authors will never find deep throat..Bob Woodward must be amused they call this reporting.
shep
“Villagers liked Scooter Libby but don’t like Harry Reid.”
The long knives of David Broder?
Molly
@valdivia: I want “Committing an Act of Journalism” in the lexicon. It’s a favorite of mine.
asiangrrlMN
Goddamn it. Seriously. I think I might pull a Cole and disappear for a week (a day, if I have Cole pegged correctly) with all this fucking bullshit. Between this book and Palin’s new job and the incessant hand-wringing over the crotch-bomber, methinks it’s time to go Galt on politics!
gbear
@DougJ:
Damn, now I’m insanely jealous all over again.
Anne Laurie
@Zifnab:
That’s what Halperin’s wife said, too.
Anne Laurie
@FlipYrWhig:
Because they were already writing the movie in their own minds. Redford & Hoffman as Woodward & Bernstein, only younger and hotter, baybee! Remember the old joke about DC being Hollywood for ugly people?
As I’ve said before, if Bob Woodward really was a deep-cover CIA mole who dedicated his career to destroying modern journalism (at the sacrifice of a few minor characters like Nixon) it would make much of the public history of the last thirty years soooo much more understandable.
YellowJournalism
I don’t know a single major news outlet that doesn’t currently practice it. (see: Brian Williams quote about Mark McGuire) Hence, my screen name here.
And I want to know what elementary school you went to that actually covered the subject. It sounds wonderful to have had something like that covered in a history lesson. I originally learned about the term on my own as a reference made in certain books and films. I didn’t learn more about it until college in my communication history course. It wasn’t even referenced in any of my journalism or communication courses.
ruemara
I believe the answer is summed up like this, “We are tremendous, gaping, assholes.”
Citizen Alan
@valdivia:
Oh, that’s precious. Even when Andy admits that he was over the top and was playing into the terrorists’ goals by becoming hysterical over the undie-bomber, it’s still Napolitano’s fault because she was “smug” in an interview and that justified his “off with her head!” moment. Of course, he probably still thinks she should be fired for having breasts and ovaries and all that icky stuff.