The Times Strikes Back, Lamely
posted at 9:59 am on May 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Hmmm. The timing of this Gray Lady article seems a little interesting — and its content just a little hostile. It looks like Elizabeth Bumiller and Lawrence Altman got tapped to provide the payback for getting excluded from John McCain’s press conference tomorrow for the release of his medical records. Let’s see how they position this:
Senator John McCain is set to release 400 pages of medical records, including documents related to his melanoma surgery in August 2000, to a tightly controlled group of reporters on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.
Mr. McCain said late last week that he had nothing to hide. Campaign officials have nonetheless said that even if nothing in the records suggests a problem with his health, a rush of news media reports focusing on the cancer surgery was not politically helpful and that they wanted to play down the information as much as possible — something that the timing of the release would seem to accomplish. …
The news organizations in the pool, selected by the campaign, include ABC News, The Arizona Republic, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News, Reuters, The Washington Post and, possibly, a newsmagazine.
Each organization is allowed two representatives and is expected to file a “pool report” for other reporters detailing the information in the records.
That’s “tightly controlled”? That sounds like everyone — well, almost everyone.
Looks like the Times followed through on its threat. They still fired a dud.
Blowback
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This was McCain’s first shot over the bow to the MSM. Play fair or you will be on the bench. With all the bravado, NYT will be a little better. Every time they “pick” on McCain, he will bring out the “payback” card.
right2bright on May 22, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I’m getting over a bad case of bean burritos. I’ve unfortunately run out of TP. Can someone had me a copy of the Old York Times? I’d get more use out of it that way.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 22, 2008 at 10:04 AM
“All the news that fits, we print.”
Akzed on May 22, 2008 at 10:05 AM
A little Mexican heartburn, eh?
Akzed on May 22, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Excluded from McC’s press conference? Good.
petefrt on May 22, 2008 at 10:07 AM
The brainwashing by the New York Times has been lessened by the internet. Their influence in the mainstream media, while still prevalent, has been watered down by the public’s access to multiple news sources. Lil Artie Sulzburger, the latest member of his family to push their anti-American dialogue as owner of the paper, has crossed the line repeatedly. Can’t get away with obvious lies and deception like the “good ole days.” Poor little Artie.
volsense on May 22, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Was the NYT invited to view Kerry’s military records?
Now watch Obama release his medical records and make a big deal that “everyone” is welcome to view his records, he has nothing to hide.
right2bright on May 22, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Didn’t there used to be a newspaper called The New York Times? I remember it having somewhat of a liberal slant, but it also had good, objective journalism. Did it go bankrupt and the name got picked up by some whiny tabloid?
rbj on May 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Kerry never released his military service records. Even if he had, NYT would have whitewashed it.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM
It’s petty fighting all around. McCain shouldn’t exclude them, that would make them less relevant, since their influence is exaggerated to start with. Preferable coverage for access, a quid pro quo concept used by public officials is part of the reason this country is such a mess.
LevStrauss on May 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM
LevStrauss on May 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM
And I forgot to add that Obama is just as guilty of this when he boycotted FOXNEWS. Apparently even the messiah forgot how you should treat the least of us. So called “conservatives” should remember the rhetoric they used when the Dems boycotted FOXNEWS to avoid being hypocrits.
LevStrauss on May 22, 2008 at 10:18 AM
He should have someone leak bogus records to the Times beforehand and watch them rush them into print.
JammieWearingFool on May 22, 2008 at 10:21 AM
I know, that was a snide remark aimed at NYT bias.
right2bright on May 22, 2008 at 10:24 AM
LOL….
The telling cause….The Washington Post.
‘Neener-neener’ to the NYT, says the McCain campaign.
‘Yo Mama!’, replies the NYT.
Limerick on May 22, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Hmmm… interesting…
McCain not taking guff from the Times…
Bush firing salvo’s at NBC…
Its about Time soneone took action against the blatant Bias of the MSM.
Romeo13 on May 22, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Like the price of oil……you haven’t seen nothin’ yet.
Rovin on May 22, 2008 at 10:29 AM
If McCain carries this style of diplomacy into his presidency, he’ll do very well.
jgapinoy on May 22, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Apple and oranges. The faux indignation against Fox is so Obama won’t have to answer any tough questions.
You have only to look at how Hillary was interviewed by O’Reilly to see how wrong that analogy is. You won’t be able to find one example of Fox treating (legitimate) liberals of the extreme bias that the NYT shows against conservatives and the examples towards McCain.
right2bright on May 22, 2008 at 10:30 AM
The New York Times, you say?
Never heard of ‘em!
gridlock2 on May 22, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Does anyone still read the Times for “news”?
GarandFan on May 22, 2008 at 10:49 AM
NYT: The Paper of Second Hand Record.
It’s well deserved.
Dusty on May 22, 2008 at 10:55 AM
That’s the best they can do?
Maybe they’re not trying do what you think they are? Ever thought of that?
Tom_Shipley on May 22, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Just like any bully, you have to stand up to them or they will continue their intimidating ways. Let McCain keep icing the NYT and they will cower eventually. Unfortunately, probably not before trying to completely trash his reputation. But as Ed said, so far they are firing duds.
Mallard T. Drake on May 22, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Yep, I for one have thought of that. What do you think they are doing?
The fact is, they are on a sinking ship, and their extreme left wing bias still has the better of them.
kirkill on May 22, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Looks like the rumor is confirmed.
Now, how far will the NYT go with the contents of the records when they come out on Friday? I assume they will go too far and make fools of themselves again.
forest on May 22, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Now if only Pres. Bush would ban that vicious old lady (Helen Somebody) from his press conferences. A simple “Helen, please request your news organization to provide a different representative to our news briefs.”
Simple, huh.
TimothyJ on May 22, 2008 at 11:44 AM
“All the News We Feel is Appropriate to Report.”
Or…
“All the News Fit to Contort.”
eanax on May 22, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I work a block down from the Time Building here in NYC, everyday I check to see if theres a big white flag outside or a “For Rent” Sign.
Rbastid on May 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM
In a related pushback to media agendas, advocacy disguised as news, Mark Salter penned a great letter to Newsweek over its multiple misrepresentations of McCain in its haste to crown Obama as The Second Coming.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/136572?tid=relatedcl
onlineanalyst on May 22, 2008 at 12:13 PM
- – Shady Lady
Entelechy on May 22, 2008 at 12:20 PM
The NYT sees itself less as a chronicler and more as a “player” in events – a conceit they will likely not survive.
I eagerly await the day they go out of business – the stress fractures in the MSM oligarchy will be marvelous to behold, and may actually break their stranglehold.
Merovign on May 22, 2008 at 2:05 PM
This causes me to like McCain even more.
Now can he kick Helen Thomas to the back?
- The Cat
MirCat on May 22, 2008 at 2:34 PM
They just aren’t used to anybody but themselves “tightly controlling” things. So they have huwty feewings.
surrounded on May 22, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Unfortunately, my leftie convert brother thinks it’s the Bible.
bikermailman on May 22, 2008 at 3:52 PM
The Los Angeles Times is now whimpering about “limited access” to McCain’s medical records.
Of course they were forced to admit that Osama Obama and Clinton have yet to release their records.
When The Messiah doesn’t feel well, he simply lays hands on himself, I guess.
MrScribbler on May 22, 2008 at 4:20 PM
As Americans kick off the first holiday weekend of the summer Friday, Sen. John McCain will release 400 pages of his medical records to a handpicked group of reporters who can neither photocopy nor keep the documents, illustrating the sensitivity the campaign places on the 71-year-old candidate’s age and health.
Looks like the Washington Times has an agenda against McCain too!
Tom_Shipley on May 22, 2008 at 5:14 PM
I agree with your position, but in this case we’re not talking about preferable coverage. The NYT has shifted from partisanship to outright dishonesty. I believe honest coverage (good or bad) should be an absolute expectation in return for access. Kudos to McCain – about time someone did this. Now Bush should cut off NBC.
DreadWolf on May 22, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Pinch was fired?
91Veteran on May 23, 2008 at 2:31 AM