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Media, Muslim Family Sabotaged GOP in Colorado in 2010
Townhall.com ^ | May 23, 2011 | John Ransom

Posted on 05/22/2011 10:28:44 PM PDT by Kaslin

It’s official.

Media malpractice combined with disgruntled Muslim Republican family- who later defected to the Democrats- caused the GOP to lose the governor’s race in Colorado in 2010.

The Colorado Supreme Court’s Attorney Regulation Counsel issued a report last week clearing the top Republican candidate of unsubstantiated charges made by the Denver Post and the Hasan family at the end of the campaign. The charges influenced the outcome of the election.

A scan of the report can be found on Complete Colorado.  

Sadly, the report came too late to give Republicans a real choice on who their nominee for governor would be in 2010. 

In a race the GOP was destined to win, the strongest Republican candidate, Republican Scott McInnis, got bulldozed by reporting regarding plagiarism that was not just largely wrong, but wrong in almost every respect, we now know.

The case is almost a treatise on why the public no longer trusts their newspapers and local TV stations to be fair and accurate. If there were any more red flags on the case, they would have had to include the hammer and sickle.   

The Colorado Supreme Court’s Attorney Regulation Counsel issued a report last week that McInnis’ version of events, not the Denver Post’s or the Colorado Independent’s or the Gazette’s, was correct; that in fact McInnis did nothing wrong.    

McInnis however was so damaged by inaccurate, questionable reporting in the weeks leading up to the primary election that he lost the nomination narrowly to a challenger who had no experience in politics. Republicans as a consequence, were left with the most inexperienced candidate by default.

That candidate ended up being a comic-opera politician; the worst nominee for governor in the state’s history.  He was such bad candidate that I can’t even mention his name.  He may have been the worst candidate in the history of the country.

 Mcinnis, a former congressman from the Western Slope of Colorado, looked to be buoyed in the last election cycle by the national trend favoring Republicans in 2010. All told the GOP took 12 governors mansions from Democrats.

McInnis expected, with good reason, to be lucky 13. 

McInnis held a 57 percent to 29 percent lead to the challenger in the primary race in June.  

Then, on July 13th, the Denver Post wrote a story that raised questions about whether the GOP frontrunner plagiarized portions of a report on water that he wrote for the Hasan Foundation in Colorado.

The Hasans are wealthy and prominent Muslim family from the Western Slope and past supporters of the GOP. Their son, Ali Hasan, ran for Treasurer as a Republican but earlier in the election cycle failed to secure enough support at the state convention to make the ballot.

The family was bitterly disappointed.     

“In one of his installments of the musings, titled ‘Pumpbacks and Roundtables,’ McInnis uses four full pages that are nearly reprinted verbatim from [someone else’s] earlier work,” reported the Post regarding the private submission to the Hasan family.

The tip off to the Post likely came from the Hasans.  Who else would be interested in running a plagiarism check on a water report called “Musings on Water?”

McInnnis denied the charge, promptly, saying that the plagiarism was the work of a water engineer who was hired by him as a researcher with the complete knowledge of the Hasan Foundation.  Any plagiarism was an oversight, not intentional. 

“In order to complete this project, I retained a renowned Colorado water expert. That expert, Rolly Fischer, spent nearly three decades with the Colorado River Water Conservation District and is well-respected across the state,” said statement by McInnis in response. “During our collaboration, he provided research for the articles.”

The Post not only hit McInnis on the charges of plagiarism, but then hit him for how he handled the story. In fact, that was the story they killed him on over a period of three weeks. 

“But that's only the beginning,” wrote Post columnist Mike Littwin in his rush to judge McInnis of guilty of lying about the plagiarism a full 3 days after the original report was published.

Talk about investigative reporting. Apparently that’s all they do at the Post, talk about investigative reporting, rather than doing any.

“What's worse is everything that came next” continued Littwin.  “You can start with McInnis' effort to scapegoat his longtime friend and supporter, the water expert Rolly Fischer. It's one thing to be truth- challenged. This is a politician we're talking about, after all. It's another thing to stick it to your old buddy while everyone is watching.”

Most of the reporting was in a similar vein. Fischer, who was 82 at the time, disputed McInnis’ version of events. Media outlets played up the age angle like McInnis was beating up on an old man.

“McInnis lying, says engineer,” reported the Gazette.

“Researcher Says Scott McInnis Lied,” reported the local ABC news affiliate.

The Glenwood Springs Post Independent  wrote: “’Scott's responsible for it,’” stated Fisher, an engineer who worked for the Colorado River Water Conservation District, when asked whether he was responsible for articles attributed to McInnis.”

The Hasan family meantime, disappointed that Ali Hasan failed to make the ballot in the Treasurer’s race, after presumably counting on a McInnis endorsement that never materialized for him, drove the knife in deep.

"In light of the accusations against Scott McInnis regarding plagiarism of articles to the Hasan Family Foundation, I am shocked, angry and disappointed," Seeme Hasan told the Denver Post. “"In addition, there were never discussions nor any knowledge by the Foundation that Mr. McInnis was working with a 'research advisor.' ... The work that the Foundation hired Mr. McInnis to do was to be done solely by Mr. McInnis, and not in concert with anyone else.”

The problem however is that none of that, including the implication from Littwin that McInnis threw over a friend, is true.

The reports from the high court says that despite statements to the press that are contradictory, “contemporaneous, handwritten notes” that both Fischer and Hasan took back up McInnis’ version of events.

“While both Mr. Fischer and Ms. Hasan provided contradictory accounts to the press at the time the issue was raised by the Denver Post,” concludes John  Gleason, Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court, “a more thorough review of their archived material demonstrates that both had forgotten several specific communications with Mr. McInnis that had happened several  years before.”

Those notes prove that Fischer believed that the plagiarized text he used was in the public domain and free to use without citation; that Fischer used the text without notifying McInnis that he was using someone else’s work; that Hasan  told less than the truth when she issued a press release saying  “there were never discussions nor any knowledge by the Foundation that Mr. McInnis was working with a 'research advisor.'”

Oops.    

The question is why the Denver Post didn’t conduct a more thorough review before publishing the story? Where is the outrage from the supposedly “conservative” Denver Post editorial staff like Dan Haley, Vincent Carroll and Chuck Plunkett?

Where’s the outrage from the supposedly centerist publisher?

I paraphrase: It's one thing to be truth- challenged. This is a newspaper we're talking about, after all. It's another thing to stick it to your editorial staff while everyone is watching.

"I'm pretty confident the Denver Post will have a future for a long time in Colorado,” said editorial page editor Dan Haley who recently announced he’s leaving the paper for a job with a bank.

I’m not so sure. 

It wasn’t like the Hasan family had pure motives when they provided Post with the supposedly damning evidence used to do in McInnis. It wasn’t like the Post didn’t know who they were dealing with in the Hasans.

Either the Post knew and ignored the conflicts the Hasans had or…they knew and ignored the conflicts.

Ali Hasan?

Oh, he left the Republican Party in December after being “personally recruited … to join the Democratic Party,” by Nancy Pelosi.

Denver Post never even reported it.

 Ali wrote in the Huffington Post: “my dearest Republican Party, please know this - I will never regret our time together.”

Wish we could say the same Ali. Wish we could say the same.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: alihasan; denverpost; enemedia; hasan; mcinnis; scottmcinnis; slander

1 posted on 05/22/2011 10:28:47 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Ah, the fascist, socialist, communist, Islamist axis at it again.


2 posted on 05/22/2011 10:34:39 PM PDT by Chgogal (American Mugabe, get your arse out of my bank, my car, my doctor's office & my elec. utility.)
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To: Kaslin

You really expected the Denver Post to tell the truth, esp. about a Republican? I hope McInnis sues the Post and the Hasan family for millions.

The Court’s report is all the evidence he needs to convince a jury that he was framed, lynched, and deballed by a bunch of liars, incompetents and media derelicts (as in dereliction of duty to investigate fully the facts).

The only “post” I want in Denver is their obituary “posted” on their front door.


3 posted on 05/22/2011 10:48:35 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

He should sue them


4 posted on 05/22/2011 10:54:44 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Chgogal

FOX could cover the outcome of this saga. Will they? Beck would, if he hears about it.


5 posted on 05/22/2011 10:56:42 PM PDT by RitaOK
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To: Clintonfatigued; Impy; Dengar01; darkangel82; Clemenza; Crichton; AuH2ORepublican; BillyBoy; ...

*ping of interest*

Looks like McInnis was set up in Colorado, which led to that disastrous Gubernatorial election.


6 posted on 05/22/2011 11:06:50 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
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To: Kaslin
The question is why the Denver Post didn’t conduct a more thorough review before publishing the story? Where is the outrage from the supposedly “conservative” Denver Post editorial staff like Dan Haley, Vincent Carroll and Chuck Plunkett?

So what about Littwin, the author of the hitpiece? Is he a "conservative", too? What kind -- a Mittbot? Bushman? RiNO drone? Democrat?

Did the editorial-page editor get punked by a determined Dim or RiNO triggerman out to torpedo a Tea Party person? Is that why the editorial-page editor left to go to work for a bank? Or was it his idea?

The Hasans were obviously involved. Was the bank in it somehow, too? How about Nancy Pelosi?

Which hands were stirring belladonna into the pot? Who poisoned the soup?

7 posted on 05/22/2011 11:17:33 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
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To: lentulusgracchus

“So what about Littwin, the author of the hitpiece? Is he a “conservative”, too? What kind — a Mittbot? Bushman? RiNO drone? Democrat?”

A radical left-wing editorialist.

“Did the editorial-page editor get punked by a determined Dim or RiNO triggerman out to torpedo a Tea Party person? Is that why the editorial-page editor left to go to work for a bank? Or was it his idea?”

McGinnis is NOT a tea partier. He is a VERY moderate R and a terrible campaigner. He was the designated candidate by the Republican money guys in 2010. He likely would have been governor had the whole plagiarism thing not happened, just because that’s the way the wind was blowing. But he was such an inept candidate I’m not sure he wouldn’t have shot himself in the foot with something else. Of course, Dan Maes was an even worse candidate. He shot off both feet, repeatedly and seemed to enjoy doing it.

Ali Hasan is a smarmy weirdo. I saw his speech at the assembly and it was obvious to everyone he was unqualified to hold any office, let alone treasurer. He would not have won the assembly vote regardless whether McGinnis endorsed him.


8 posted on 05/22/2011 11:32:14 PM PDT by ModelBreaker
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To: Kaslin

Get in bed with a CAIR-supporting group of Islamists and you get burned. McInnis did not commit palegerism, he committed a far worse offense. He prostituted himself to a bunch of Islamists.


9 posted on 05/23/2011 12:06:09 AM PDT by rmlew (No Blood for Sarkozy's re-election and Union for the Mediterranean)
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To: rmlew

Colorado also has a subversive network of jihadists.

Zazi isn’t the only terrorist to have a Colorado connection.


10 posted on 05/23/2011 1:46:15 AM PDT by Carley (OBAMA, DO YOU HEAR ME NOW........... '67 BORDERS, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN)
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To: Kaslin

So why didn’t McInnis call out the Post as “putting Joseph Stalin to shame” and threaten to link the Hasan family to Hizbollah funding, or some other such strawman, to force them to back off? The GOP needs to learn to fight dirtier than the Democrats, or we will never get anywhere.


11 posted on 05/23/2011 2:38:20 AM PDT by montag813
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

A good “cut” for any family budget. Useless Socialist Newspapers.


12 posted on 05/23/2011 3:05:29 AM PDT by screaminsunshine (Shut up and eat your Beans!)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Impy; colorado tanker; darkangel82; perfect_rovian_storm; Clemenza; randita; ...

A wealthy Muslim family was in cahoots with a major newpaper to influence an election with false charges. During the 1970’s, this was known as “dirty tricks.” Can a boycott of the newpaper be organized?


13 posted on 05/23/2011 4:43:05 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Muslims are a people of love, peace, and goodwill, and if you say that they aren't, they'll kill you)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Clintonfatigued

What gripes me is that a major newspaper had a conniption over charges of plagiarism, yet other major newspapers have found it only a source or amusement that a proven plagiarist is only a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

These rags will go the way of the dinosaurs and it won’t be soon enough for me.


14 posted on 05/23/2011 5:57:12 AM PDT by randita
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Clintonfatigued; Impy

I remember when Ali Hasan ran for the GOP nominatiob for state treasurer; there was an MSM article claiming that he was a rock-ribbed Republican who just happened to be a Muslim, and he appeared to be a good conservative. What a backstabbing POS.


15 posted on 05/23/2011 6:54:04 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll protect your rights?)
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To: lentulusgracchus
"So what about Littwin, the author of the hitpiece? Is he a "conservative", too? What kind -- a Mittbot? Bushman? RiNO drone? Democrat?

Did the editorial-page editor get punked by a determined Dim or RiNO triggerman "

Mike Nittwit is a commie, useful idiot, 60's Hippie, self hating Jew. Mike Nittwit can write about any subject and before the end of his piece he manages to slam either Palin, the Tea Party or Tom Tancrado.

I read his crap from time-to-time, when the Denver Post gives out a free newspaper. Take the free paper cause I hope it effects their bottom line in the negative. I stopped my subscription right after Jerry Falwell died because the DP ran a despicable cartoon about his death. I wouldn't use The Denver Post to wrap up a cold dog turd!

16 posted on 05/23/2011 8:20:44 AM PDT by FW190
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To: ModelBreaker

Good summary. McInnus never thrilled me. He was the designee of the McCain wing of the Colorado GOP.

That said, the right was srewed by a whole parade of leftisi scum, not the least of which was the Denver comPost.


17 posted on 05/23/2011 9:20:35 AM PDT by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: Kaslin
Yes, McInnis was dealt with unfairly, but this article/thread has some distortions.

Malik Hasan was an MD who was an early pioneer in creating HMO's. He made a fortune organizing, buying and selling them. While nominally Muslim their public image has been secular and Republican.

McInnis was the Congressman from the West Slope district for many years and was popular and "safe." When Ben Campbell imploded as Republican Senator, McInnis had that seat for the taking. Instead, he decided to retire, join a big law firm and cash in. One of the ways he cashed in was to take $300,000 from the Hasan family to write a series of articles on water policy but produced the articles by paying a retired guy peanuts to do the work. That guy plagiarized a lot of stuff written by Justice Hobbs of the Colorado Supreme Court, a former water lawyer.

The Hasans shelled out a bunch of money to promote the candidacy of the son, Ali, for the Republican nomination for State Treasurer, which didn't excite anyone. They wanted McInnis's endorsement, which he refused. The Hasans not unreasonably thought, hey, what did we get for our $300,000??

Then came the Hasan/Denver Post hit piece. When you lay down with dogs, you can pick up fleas.

After all this came out, McInnis paid back the $300,000.

Here's the bottom line. McInnis was never really a RINO, but never really a conservative either. His brand was aging. The party establishment promoted him and cleared the field for him except for that moron Maes. Nobody was very excited about him, but he seemed to be cruising to the Governor's mansion given the dynamics of 2010 against the Democrats.

Then came the Hasan/Denver Post hit. That was all the Tea Party needed to push Maes over the top, a psycho-bunny candidate they had not vetted. Basically, he was an unemployed guy who needed a job and lied about his resume to get it, but he seemed to talk a good Tea Party line.

Once everybody figured out who he was his numbers fell so low the Republican Party was almost de-listed as a major political party in this state.

This happened so late in the process that Tom Tancredo could only jump in as a third party candidate. That, plus all his baggage meant in reality he could not assemble a majority vote even as the Tea Party gave up on their Maes disaster and flocked to Tom.

And that's how we got Governor Hickenlooper.

18 posted on 05/23/2011 10:16:52 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: AuH2ORepublican; fieldmarshaldj; Clintonfatigued; GOPsterinMA; Dengar01; goldstategop; ...

I remember this guy as well. Even before running for Treasurer I believe he ran or flirted with running or did for the run legislature (in a seat we should have had but didn’t IIRC).

I wondered, “is this a good guy”. He seemed a bit like a d-bag (wanna be comedian). And there was some incident with a girlfriend or something.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2812331/

Say hello to him on IMDB is you want.

I don’t think it has anything to do with his region. Guy is just a d-bag who thinks he’s hot shite and is entitled to high office. Guess what guy, nobody likes you and you will never be so much as a county commissioner! Or a Hollywood star or anything other than a spoiled brat. A Muslim ‘Republican’ answer to a skeevy Kennedy cousin.

Another major race lost because of false smears, so how many is that now? You had Ted Stevens and Conrad Burns.


19 posted on 05/24/2011 1:28:36 AM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: Impy
Another major race lost because of false smears, so how many is that now? You had Ted Stevens and Conrad Burns.

I'd stick George Allen (macaca) in that mix. The dinosaur media gets chills up their legs reporting on the front pages any kind of false smears against Republicans, then if there is a retraction or correction, it's in the obituary section if it appears at all.

A Democrat gets an article in section D, if there's an article at all and you'll be hard put to find the word Democrat or the letter "D" in the entire article.

20 posted on 05/24/2011 4:53:22 AM PDT by randita
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