Conservatives are trying to spin the latest McCain scandal -- which by the way has a lot more to do with his hypocrisy on campaign finance reform than it has to with the possible sexual infidelity -- as a NYT hit job on McCain.
That's ridiculous on so many counts. First, the New York Times endorsed John McCain. Second, they couldn't have released it at a better time for him -- after he has basically won the nomination but many long months before the general election. Third, it's just not supported by the facts. In fact, the opposite conclusion is true -- they were intimidated by McCain's campaign into holding the story for as long as they did.
They would have never held this story if it was a Democratic nominee. They would have went to the presses instantly. But they're scared of conservatives because of decades of right-wing whining about the "liberal media."
In this article on our website, I detail three different instances when the New York Times held stories that would have hurt Republican candidates because of political considerations. They only run the stories after the elections or if a rival paper is about to out the story, as happened in this case.
The New York Times and the rest of the media has to find the courage to get beyond this constant belly-aching by the right-wing. If you have a story you believe is true and that you have the facts to back up, it's crazy to get bullied into not running it. The right time to print a story is the minute you have it confirmed. Holding the story makes your actions more political, not less.
To paraphrase Nike: Just run it!
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NY Times Held McCain Story Because of Republican Intimidation
Posted Feb 21st 2008 1:32PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, John McCain, New York Times
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 5)
1. the NY Times scared of conservatives??? THAT, it's the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard!
annamaria at 2:40PM on Feb 21st 2008
2. Hard to believe, a whiny journalist critcizing a Liberal paper on an instance which "might" be percieved to help a Republican. (For those that are not too savvy, that was a sarcastic opening comment).
I think the NYT might have been intimidated becuase they feared the McCain camp might have critcized them loudly and in the media for releasing a story based on unnamed informants when they have been unable to corroborate their stories.
Believe what you will, the above is what I believe and no schmuck with a name I can barely pronounce is going to convince me otherwise.
JectorT at 2:41PM on Feb 21st 2008
3. ALSO, you don't even know if this alegations are true!! you see how BIAS YOU are? wait i heard about OBAMA having a scandal brewing on the same type of thing! seems like the liberal lifestyle seeped into EVERYONE in the US uh? so people are having GAY affairs!WELL,i thought we are tolerant and most want to allow them to marry UNDER THE CHURCH! oh i know the likes of YOU would like that, myself i say CREATE YOUR OWN CHURCH! WHY MUST YOU MAKE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SWALLOW YOUR LIFESTYLE WHEN YOU DON"T EVEN FOLLOW IT'S PRINCIPLES ANYWAY??! pushy phonies! and you writing this note TOO!
annamaria at 2:47PM on Feb 21st 2008
4. Cenk,
I concur this was more about campaign finance and ethics, then infidelity.
But come on - these facts have long been available for both conservative and liberal journalists to research and publish. Are you trying to convince us that Mike Huckabee, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, or their campaign managers wouldn't work their rear-ends off to ensure potentially detrimental information comes out when the timing is best for their candidate?
I would venture to guess the "Timing" is more tied to the Times' lawyers ensuring they can legally support their information. Why are you attempting to make this into a liberal / conservative issue?
Both sides "belly-ache" all the time, isn't that to a certain extent what you were doing when you blogged this?
Why can't we turn our intelligence and energy into finding ways we can improve this country together.
That would indeed be political change - compromising on the small stuff to get the big stuff taken care of.
When was the last time you volunteered to feed the hungry or shelter the homeless in your house? I've done both recently - so does it really matter if I'm a liberal or conservative?
I think we spend so much time protecting our belief systems against those who don't think the same way we do that we lose the energy needed to fight the important issues in our country.
Kevin Klonoski at 3:58PM on Feb 21st 2008
5. OK,ONE LAST TIME
annamaria at 2:58PM on Feb 21st 2008
6. Is this guy for real? Does he really, truly believe the New York Times would hold off on reporting a story because it would offend conservatives? And conversely, does he really, truly think they would have come out with it earlier if it had been a Democrat?
I really hope not, because I have a hard time believing that anyone is that naive, foolish, and/or stupid.
Harlan at 3:01PM on Feb 21st 2008
7. This is SO freakin' funny!!!
TMZ.COM
Obama--The Black Vanilla Ice?
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1427295040
Katherine at 3:09PM on Feb 21st 2008
8. John McCain slept with a hot lobbyist babe and has numerous other ethics scandals. Mrs. McCain was complicit in the Keating Five scandal and is a former prescription drug addict who fraudulently obtained prescription drugs.
We shouldn't be hearing as much about, "family values" from the repugs in this election cycle. Small mercies.
Captain Negative at 3:13PM on Feb 21st 2008
9. Yet another reason as to why stank's at the pinnacle of his "career"-doing garbage reporting from his mom's garage without pay. This "latest scandal" died on the vine almost 10 years ago and even the NYT's recycling job hasn't created traction. So what's next, a blockbuster story about the Keating Five?
The willing inability to tell the difference between wishful innuendo and fact is what makes the NYT a complete joke.
BirdmanJones at 3:21PM on Feb 21st 2008
10. I have no idea what John McCain did or did not do with a lobbyist woman. It is an allegation only and the truth always comes out.
It is known that McCain was not very kind to his first wife, Carol, upon returning from Vietnam. He had several affairs then - yes, that is ancient history and has nothing to do with now. But why is it Republicans are always willing to overlook affairs when members of their own party have them? There has been little mention of McCain's first wife or (by his own admittance) past affairs on the current campaign trail.
From Larry Craig to David Vitter, the hypocrisy on the right is astounding.
David S. at 3:31PM on Feb 21st 2008
11. Cenk,
Did you drink the same crazy juice that former Goldwater Girl Hillary drank in college?
Call me sometime, and I will administer the antidote.
Kent at 4:09PM on Feb 21st 2008
12. John McCain was instrumental in passing campaign finance reform, but he couldn't get it done for years. The NYT knows that it took an attack ad from an unknown source to force all candidates to accept responsibility for their ads in order for the changes to take hold. If McCain were the nominee Republicans could lose in a landslide. If McCain was knocked out, then President Bush could be the "Uniter" and rescue his party with the tremendous reserves not in this race. All the confusion is about limiting the ability to do opposition research on the real candidates. Who wants to get dragged through the mud before being elected? The race won't actually begin until August after the Olympics. All we have seen thus far is the media payoff required to get elected.
Cecil Jones at 4:28PM on Feb 21st 2008
13. Democrats are wasting their resources offering the base a false choice between a Black and a Clinton. It took over 200 million to decide the Clintons were and are still corrupt? It's sad to say, but Democrats would rather have an untested Black than an untrusted Clinton. That's not much of a choice now is it? Al Gore is where the breach happened. Would Democrats select Gore or Obama? Gore and Obama can beat anyone. Is Obama working for Democrats or working to destroy Democrats? This race is far from over.
Cecil Jones at 4:33PM on Feb 21st 2008
14. The Mccain story got more coverage than The Clintons pardon of the FALN terrorist. Sad but true
Dan at 5:15PM on Feb 21st 2008
15. The NY Times does not report the news, they make the news!
Roy at 5:44PM on Feb 21st 2008