US campaign begins to get dirty (WP says that if we had photos we wouldn't run them)

BBC ^ | 2/15/04 | Paul Reynolds

[Shermy]

The "we're voting for John Kerry" was too much for me! Only raised suspicions, rather than allay them. Sounds like the statement was written by someone with a campaign-staff mentality, rather than a journalist or lawyer or such.

[Miss Marple]

I am with you, Shermy. I tend to trust the "sleazeball" comment more than the "I am voting for Kerry comment."

If I had to make a guess, I would say the daughter and the parents are scared and have backed off. They are dealing with the thugs of the Rat party, and that can be pretty scary.

I don't see any point in continuing this avenue unless something else comes up. I still want to ask Kerry how often he has contacts with his old buddy Ramsey Clark.

[TommyDale]

Initially, a "tall blonde" was mentioned as the Kerry dalliance. All the pictures I have been seeing show a very brunette person. Where is the "Tall Blonde"?

[1rudeboy]

Heck, what about Bush41 and the allegations of adultery concerning him?

[per loin]

Does anyone here have background info on Peter Maroney, Kerry's campaign finance manager. I've found this:

Peter Maroney, Kerry finance director. Maroney honed his skills under fundraising whiz and Democratic Party boss Terry McAuliffe. His resume includes stints with House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt and Rep. Joe Kennedy.

[commish]

Even if someone came to us with photographs we still wouldn't run it.

Sound familier? "I don't care if you have pictures of Clinton killing someone, you still won't get 67 votes."

F-in sleazebag CLYMER Liberals never F-in change. A POX ON ALL OF THE LYING SCUMBAGS!

[Brimack34]

How about all the Newspapers hiding the Nascar vist by Pres. Bush??? USA Today even dug up Clinton to put on the Cover with a nothing story....In Mn. Nothing.

[KC_Conspirator]

This smells to high heaven like a cover up.

[Julliardsux]

It may not be HIS particular staffer - the woman Identified as his staffer on that committee is a lesbian. Confirmed this morning. There is an article detailing her in the Washington Blade. So, either it is another staffer on the finance committee, or it is someone else - the discussion in the senator's office was that it was a finance staffer. I believe it was my assumption it would be Kerry's personal finance staffer, since that is probably the person with whom he has most contacts. And, maybe he has more than one finance staffer or a new one since the lesbian one is now a member of the Tacoma Park Maryland Council.

[Ohioan]

Neither of those papers are known for journalistic ethics--certainly not in my lifetime. But that said, it would be very well if the media returned to the more genteel policy of not printing gossip about candidates personal lives. One cannot imagine the Founding Fathers ever answering questions about their sex lives, to any reporter. And, frankly, one of the things that was most contemptible about Clinton, was that he did so.

We need to rediscover the importance of privacy; the difference between men's public acts and beliefs on questions of state, and the private lives, to which even public servants are entitled. Our perceptions on this point have been blurred because of the outrageous exhibitionism of those in the "Entertainment" industry; but it is not acceptable to treat anyone else in that light--and frankly, if I had a newspaper, there would be no room for the attention seeking exhibitionism of the former.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...Even if someone came to us with photographs we still wouldn't run it...

Pathetic example of modern "journalism".

[mewzilla]

All the news that's fit to spike.

[VadeRetro]

"In any case, nobody would be too shocked if Kerry lied about an affair. Even if someone came to us with photographs we still wouldn't run it. Lying to Don Imus [the radio host to whom Kerry gave his initial denial] is not a federal offence."

"... But now if you get anything on Bush, please call us!"

[VadeRetro]

But they [Alex Polier's parents] just endorsed Kerry. Methinks this W. Post staff apologist is a liar.

They could be Republicans. They could have had their reasons for saying what they said.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

We need to let this go.

The Dem-Rats are just trying to suck us in like they did with Clinton.

It worked for them; it didn't work for us.

Let it drop.

[VadeRetro]

But that said, it would be very well if the media returned to the more genteel policy of not printing gossip about candidates personal lives.

Whatever the rule is, we have to insist that there be one rule. Right now, we have one rule for Democrats ("Let someone else prove it, then maybe, maybe, maybe maybe we'll run it") and one for Republicans ("If there's an allegation, it's a story").

[KantianBurke]

actually it has plenty of relevence. 30 days before an election we won't be able to respond to such typical press hypocrisy.

[VadeRetro]

We need to let this go.

It does look like a sucker play. At any rate, the "Hanoi John" angle has more national security implications. I hear Katie Couric is big on national security these days.

[per loin]

The introduction of Kerry's campaign finance manager into the scandal invites the suspicion that there is a money trail. The strategy is likely to be that it was not Kerry's campaign that made the payments, but the campaign finance manager acting on his own.

[mewzilla]

Well, he's already thrown one campaign aid to the wolves (whoever was dating Polier). What's another one? What loyalty!

Though, now that I think about it, calling this collection of presstitutes wolves is being way too complimentary.