The Times' Designated Man in the Street (Coulter outs Times)

NewsMax ^

[Republican Red]

Thursday, June 12, 2003 The Times' Designated Man in the Street

When the New York Times needs to find a man in the street to interview they never have to look very far - they have one on tap suitable for every occasion.

Thanks to a sharp-eyed Ann Coulter, one Greg Packer has been outed as the media's designated man in the street - a role Mr. Packer has played more than 100 times, Coulter discovered.

His latest assignment for the Times was to be the average man in the street in line waiting to buy Mrs. Clinton's newest work of fiction.

Wrote Coulter, author of the forthcoming blockbuster "Treason": "Another average individual eager to get Hillary's book was Greg Packer, who was the centerpiece of the New York Times' "man on the street" interview about Hillary-mania. After being first in line for an autographed book at the Fifth Avenue Barnes & Noble, Packer gushed to the Times: 'I'm a big fan of Hillary and Bill's. I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign.'

"It was easy," Coulter noted "for the Times to spell Packer's name right because he is apparently the entire media's designated "man on the street" for all articles ever written. He has appeared in news stories more than 100 times as a random member of the public. Packer was quoted on his reaction to military strikes against Iraq; he was quoted at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Veterans' Day Parade. He was quoted at not one - but two - New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square. He was quoted at the opening of a new "Star Wars" movie, at the opening of an H&M clothing store on Fifth Avenue and at the opening of the viewing stand at Ground Zero. He has been quoted at Yankees games, Mets games, Jets games - even getting tickets for the Brooklyn Cyclones. He was quoted at a Clinton fund-raiser at Alec Baldwin's house in the Hamptons and the pope's visit to Giants stadium."

If the Times and the rest of the New York media don't pay this guy, he's getting short changed.

[TC Rider]

Believe it or not, most of the references Ann used can be Googled. I entered "Greg Packer" NY and got every one.

Don't need no Lexus-Nexus.

[kegler4]

OK I agree he should not be described as the average man on the street, but Coulter seemed to present the guy like he was planted there by the Times. Somebody at the Times (and other outlets) should be flagging this guy every time he shows up in a story and take him out. He's nothing but a publicity hound with an unhealthy hangup about celebrities. The actual reporter who wrote this probably had never met the guy -- the Times has hundreds and hundreds of reporters.

As to what he said, you would have gotten similar comments from anybody who was willing to do something as dumb as stand around waiting for Hillary's book.

[nravoter]

"Worst New York Times article ever!

[1Old Pro]

What was his first name? Fudge?

[ewing]

How can he get into NY that often without losing his job?

[TontoKowalski]

Ugh. That photo of Packer holding up a "missing" poster during the WTC disaster is extremely unsettling.

Given what we know, you've got to wonder if he even knew that lady, or just grabbed a poster of some poor woman so he could get his picture in the paper.

Sadly, one has to suspect the latter.

[Bryan24]

All,

The NYTimes cannot explain this away. If they claim they did real interviews, they show themselves to just walk up and talk to the first person they come to, or more likely comes to them. They do not do ANY indepth looking into the matter at hand. VERY shoddy reporting by any standard, interviewing the same guy over and over.

Now if they claim he is an anonymous "throw away" name, they admit to making up people and quotes. Either way, they have screwed up again. I predict this will become very big.

[ewing]

Packer claims it was a picture of a friends wife after 9/11.. this guy reminds me of Rupert Pupkin in the 'King of Comedy'

[Feiny]

That name will be taken very soon.....

[heleny]

bump! this is too funny!

[Socratic]

"Coulter seems to be trying to create a scandal where there isn't one"

"Scandal" is a strong word, but it remains at the core that Mr. Packer is presented as an average person, which he certainly is not. This is one of the hidden deceptions which is so often foisted upon the unknowing public. The Times and others should ban any future quotes from the guy if the intention is to convey the view of an average person.

[kegler4]

I agree he should be banned, unless they decide they just have to do a story about his mania for celebrities.

[RinaseaofDs]

I agree completely.

This is a bombshell. If the newspaper of record was using either a fake man on the street, or an employee of the NYT as their random man on the street, then there is nothing that paper won't lie about.

It amounts to dishonest manipulation of public opinion. Sony got crucified for manufacturing false critiques of its movies.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[tictoc]

[cubreporter]

Good for Ann...what a gal.

[kuma]

**DU is populated by Freepers in disguise**

Now now, someone is in denial that we have quite a significant population of mentally/socially ill folks in the USA and they most often prefer to vote Democrat.

*~_~*

That's right. Pull your head out of the sand. America really is under threat from extremists. It's okay to cry. Men can cry and still be men. Really.

[RonDog]

From a Google search for "Greg Packer" "New York Times":

New York City - Awaiting News
Greg Packer, center, and Eriko Migagawa, right, watch the overhead giant
video screen in New York's Times Square for news from Iraq. ...
www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/ nyc-3r0320,0,7136500.photo?coll=nyc-topheadlines-left - 3k - Cached - Similar pages

Boston.com / Latest News / Nation / US Reaction to military ...
... had to do. And tonight is the night.'' Greg Packer, 39, a highway maintenance
worker from Long Island, in New York's Times Square. ...
www.boston.com/dailynews/079/nation/ U_S_Reaction_to_military_strik:.shtml - 17k - Cached - Similar pages

Greg Packer of Huntington, New York, eyes the spot where the ...
Greg Packer of Huntington, New York, eyes the spot where the traditional
crystal ball will drop New Year's Eve in New York's Times Square.
www.cnn.com/interactive/world/0112/ new.years.gal/content5.html - 2k - Cached - Similar pages

BBC NEWS | World | When words are not enough
... No that Greg Packer, 36, would agree. "I want to go to sleep, but the spirit is
keeping me up," he told a reporter while partying in New York's Times Square. ...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/586993.stm - 47k - Cached - Similar pages

BBC NEWS | World | When words are not enough
... No that Greg Packer, 36, would agree. "I want to go to sleep, but the spirit is
keeping me up," he told a reporter while partying in New York's Times Square. ...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/586993.stm - 16k - Cached - Similar pages

Newsday.com - New Year's Eve 2001 in Times Square
... Thomas Tewell, left, rings a bell in New York's Times Square Monday. ...
www.newsday.com/.../ ny-timessquaregallery,0,6727827.photogallery?coll=ny-nycphotos-features&index=7 - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

Newsday.com - New Year's Eve 2001 in Times Square
... Mayor Rudolph Giuliani kisses his girlfriend Judith Nathan just after midnight in
New York's Times Square Tuesday ...
www.newsday.com/.../ ny-timessquaregallery,0,6727827.photogallery?coll=ny-nycphotos-features&index=6 - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

Newsday.com - Awaiting News
Greg Packer, center, and Eriko Migagawa, right, watch the overhead giant
video screen in New York's Times Square for news from Iraq. ...
www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ nyc-3r0320,0,6305134.photo?coll=ny-nynews-headlines - 3k - Cached - Similar pages

Charleston Daily Mail
... And tonight is the night.'' -- Greg Packer, 39, a highway maintenance
worker from Long Island, in New York's Times Square. ----In ...
www.dailymail.com/static/apnews/?story=ap0682n.php - 14k - Cached - Similar pages

TranZfusion [Australia] - DJ Mixes, Dance News, Reviews, ...
... that every time he comes out to Australia the scene “just gets better and better
out here.” “Now people like Greg Packer (Perth) are ... New York Times, US. ...
www1.tranzfusion.net/shownews.asp?newsid=2415 - 24k - Cached - Similar pages

ABCNEWS.com : Poll: Americans Optimistic About 2002
... Packer, from Huntington, NY, looks up Monday on Dec. 31, 2001, at where the traditional
crystal ball will drop to ring in the year 2002, in New York's Times ...
abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/ poll_newyear020101.html - 50k - Cached - Similar pages

TranZfusion [USA] - DJ Mixes, Dance News, Reviews, Interviews
... notes that every time he comes out to Australia the scene “just gets better and
better out here.” “Now people like Greg Packer (Perth) are ... New York Times. ...
www2.tranzfusion.net/shownews.asp?newsid=2415 - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

heraldsun.com: US Reaction to Military Strikes
... And tonight is the night." -- Greg Packer, 39, a highway maintenance
worker from Long Island, in New York's Times Square. ----. ...
www.herald-sun.com/nationworld/national/30-333197.html - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

revival
... Among those interviewed was Greg Packer, who said he came to the mass to pay ... Catholic
Register to the Irish Times of Dublin to the New York Times and National ...
caribou.cc.trincoll.edu/depts_csrpl/ RINVol4No3/revival.htm - 25k - Cached - Similar pages

A Subdued Hurrah for 2002 in a Patriotic Times Square
... Richard Perry/The New York Times The ball dropped, the confetti flew and revelers ... Like
many revelers, Greg Packer, a Huntington, NY, resident who has been to ...
www.bebeyond.com/LearnEnglish/DailyReadings/ Arts/Subdued.htm - 43k - Cached - Similar pages

ABCNEWS.com : Poll: Americans Optimistic About 2002
... Packer, from Huntington, NY, looks up Monday on Dec. 31, 2001, at where the traditional
crystal ball will drop to ring in the year 2002, in New York's Times ...
more.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/ poll_newyear020101.html - 33k - Cached - Similar pages

Chicago Tribune | Sept. 11 casting shadow on NY this Christmas
... going to miss the green and red this year," said Greg Packer, 38, craning ... are about
the terrorist attacks, according to the latest New York Times best seller ...
www.chicagotribune.com/search/ chi-0112250115dec25,0,3558055.story - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

Chicago Tribune | Sept. 11 casting shadow on NY this Christmas
... going to miss the green and red this year," said Greg Packer, 38, craning ... are about
the terrorist attacks, according to the latest New York Times best seller ...
www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/ chi-0112250115dec25,0,2115307.story - 28k - Cached - Similar pages

Greg Packer of Huntington, New York, eyes the spot where the ...
Greg Packer of Huntington, New York, eyes the spot where the traditional
crystal ball will drop New Year's Eve in New York's Times Square.
cgi.cnn.com/interactive/world/0112/ new.years.gal/content5.html - 2k - Cached - Similar pages

[RonDog]

From a Google search for "Greg Packer" Huntington:

www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2002-07-07/syndication/Epstein-FIRSTINLINE.txt
... Reid J. Epstein -!-!- 2002-05-02 -!-!- Spending a day waiting in line to meet celebrities
is not unusual for Greg Packer, a 38-year-old Huntington, NY, native ...
7k - Cached - Similar pages

Columbia News Service
... Spending a day waiting in line to meet celebrities is not unusual for Greg Packer,
a 38-year-old Huntington, NY, native, but his position so far back in the ...
www.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2002-07-07/ - 69k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.jrn.columbia.edu ]

TimesSquare.com On Stage Feature: From Arkansas to Broadway
... By 8 o'clock on the coldest morning of the year, Greg Packer was already in ... line
to meet celebrities is not unusual for the 38-year-old Huntington, NY, native ...
www.timessquare.com/bway/features/feat_guy.html - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

NBA.com: DRAFT 2002
... Greg Packer, of Huntington, NY, who was attending his second draft, had an opinion
as to who the Knicks would draft. "They need Wilcox," Packer said. ...
www.nba.com/draft2002/notebook_020626.html - 28k - Cached - Similar pages

OrlandoSentinel.com: Destinations
... Thank you to all our heroes. May God Bless America. Greg Packer. Huntington,
New York, USA. It is more than a swelling stream of sentiment. ...
www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/destinations/ la-031702nytour.story - 51k - Cached - Similar pages

Ground zero still a powerful draw for Manhattan's visitors:
... Officer Shane Keeney. Northern Correctional Institute. ... Thank you to all our
heroes. May God Bless America. Greg Packer. Huntington, New York, USA.". ...
news.theolympian.com/stories/ 20020331/Travel/137342.shtml - 24k - Cached - Similar pages

Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/05/2003 | Phils open with nods to the ...
... Greg Packer, 39, of Huntington Park, NY, took the 9 am train to 30th
Street Station and showed up at the stadium without a ticket. ...
www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/5566744.htm - 58k - Cached - Similar pages

NY Daily News - Breaking News - Joy amid tight security at St. ...
... It’sa day for happiness and to be together,” said Greg Packer of Huntington,
who sported a bright green wig and a painted green mustache. ...
tinyurl.com/7ndq - 33k - Cached - Similar pages

XFL Board - Start Here for Info About the XFL
... were rarely buttoned. "I'd like to take one of them home to my mother,"
said Greg Packer, 37, of Huntington, NY. "It's winter and ...
www.xflboard.com/game-summary/ 01-02-11-bolts-hitmen.htm - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

ABCNEWS.com : Poll: Americans Optimistic About 2002
Greg Packer, from Huntington, NY, looks up Monday on Dec. 31, 2001,
at where the traditional crystal ball will drop to ring in the ...
abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/ poll_newyear020101.html - 50k - Cached - Similar pages

ABCNEWS.com : Hundreds Gather for 9/11 Ceremonies
... The staging area is as close to the towers as we're ever going to get again," said
Greg Packer, a maintenance worker from Huntington, LI "In a way, they're ...
abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/ sept11memorial_020311.html - 42k - Cached - Similar pages

Greg Packer of Huntington, New York, eyes the spot where the ...
Greg Packer of Huntington, New York, eyes the spot where the traditional
crystal ball will drop New Year's Eve in New York's Times Square.
www.cnn.com/interactive/world/0112/ new.years.gal/content5.html - 2k - Cached - Similar pages

Newsday.com - New Year's Eve 2001 in Times Square
10 of 16, Greg Packer of from Huntington, NY, looks up Monday, at where the traditional
crystal ball will drop to ring in the year 2002 in Times Square. ...
www.newsday.com/.../ ny-timessquaregallery,0,6727827.photogallery?coll=ny-nycphotos-features&index=10 - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

MTV.com - News -Madonna — All Five Of Her — Invades ...
... US debut of Madonna's Drowned World Tour on Saturday night, Greg Packer knew exactly ... the
show.) Parker, who made the trek to Philly from Huntington, New York ...
www.mtv.com/news/articles/1445328/ 07232001/madonna.jhtml - 72k - Cached - Similar pages

Thousands in NYC Mark St. Patrick's Day
... It's a day for happiness and to be together," said Greg Packer of Huntington, on
Long Island, who sported a bright green wig and a painted green mustache. ...
quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bv/ Anyc-st-patrick_s-parade.RRLe_DMH.html - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

VH1.com : Madonna : Madonna — All Five Of Her — Invades ...
... US debut of Madonna's Drowned World Tour on Saturday night, Greg Packer knew exactly ... Parker,
who made the trek to Philly from Huntington, New York, knew about ...
www.vh1.com/artists/news/1445330/ 07232001/madonna.jhtml - 62k - Cached - Similar pages

[PDF]Capitol Security A Balancing Act
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... I’m disappointed, but obvi- ously he can’t greet everybody,” said Greg Packer
of Huntington, NY, who camped out for 12 hours to be first in line when ...
www.nwaonline.net/pdfarchive/2001/ January/22/RZ%201-22-01%20A2.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF]Extreme Football In Extreme Decline
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... I’d like to take one of them home to my mother,” said Greg Packer, 37, of
Huntington, NY “It’s winter and nothing hap- pens in the winter, so this ...
www.nwaonline.net/pdfarchive/2001/ February/12/2-12-01%20B3.pdf - Similar pages

A Subdued Hurrah for 2002 in a Patriotic Times Square
... Like many revelers, Greg Packer, a Huntington, NY, resident who has been to the last
10 Times Square ball- dropping parties, said that he would scale back his ...
www.bebeyond.com/LearnEnglish/DailyReadings/ Arts/Subdued.htm - 43k - Cached - Similar pages

Ground Zero goodwill: 7/21/02
... Greg Packer of Huntington, NY, participates in discussion during a historic 21st
century town hall meeting yesterday to consider World Trade Center site plans. ...
www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/ 07-02/07-21-02/b03wn067.htm - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

Welcome to ktla.com - The Nation
... First in line was Greg Packer, 37, a highway maintenance worker from Huntington,
NY, who wore a T-shirt that said "May God Bless NY" on the front and "This ...
ktla.trb.com/news/nationworld/nation/ la-091701nymain,0,1438503.story - 44k - Cached - Similar pages

Marshalltown Class of 1981
... Hulsizer Jim Hunt Mark Hunt Sheila Hunt Teresa Hunt Kevin Huntington Pat Huss ... P (Index)
Greg Packer Lori Paglia BJ Parks LaDonna Partin Susan Patton Mark Paul ...
www.iowaschools.net/ma/marshalltown/1981/ - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

The Holland Sentinel: News: Bush opens White House to tour in ...
... I'm disappointed, but obviously he can't greet everybody," said Greg Packer of
Huntington, NY, who camped out for 12 hours to be first in line when Park ...
www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/ 012201/new_starting1.html - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

Hannibal Courier-Post News StoryBush spends Sunday welcoming ...
... 'I'm disappointed, but obviously he can't greet everybody,'' said Greg Packer
of Huntington, NY, who camped out for 12 hours to be first in line when Park ...
www.hannibal.net/stories/012201/new_0122010041.html - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

[WL-law]

Coulter seems to be trying to create a scandal where there isn't one -- and it isn't even her own discovery, since this guy's been written about before.

And you are totally and hopelessly clueless, I'm afraid...