Free Republic.com to Speak About MD4BUSH and the Washington Post at Press Conference Nov. 4

US Newswires ^

[UnklMike]

Free Republic.com to Speak About MD4BUSH and the Washington Post at Press Conference Nov. 4

11/3/2005 9:56:00 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: City and Assignment desks, Daybook Editor, Political Correspondent

Contact: Kristinn Taylor, 202-309-1589 or kristinn@verizon.net ; Web: http://www.FreeRepublic.com

News Advisory:

WHAT: Press Conference

Free Republic to Speak About MD4BUSH and the Washington Post

Newspaper Involved in Scandal that Goes Beyond Governors Race and Maryland Politics

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 4, 9:30 A.M.

WHERE: 1150 15TH ST., N.W., Washington, D.C., The Sidewalk in front of The Washington Post Bldg.

DETAILS:

FreeRepublic.com, an independent conservative news and activism Web site, will hold a press conference in front of the Washington Post building in downtown Washington, D.C. at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4.

FreeRepublic.com, one of the most popular and influential political Web sites, was used by a poster at the forum with the screen name MD4BUSH to play a political dirty trick on another FreeRepublic.com poster. The dirty trick breached the confidentiality of the poster with the screen name NCPAC.

The apparent aim of the dirty trick was to clear the path for Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley to run for Maryland governor while hurting the sitting Governor, Bob Ehrlich, who is running for re-election.

The Washington Post played a key role in the furtherance of this dirty trick. Their role in this scandal has ramifications that go beyond Maryland politics and is reminiscent of Watergate, but with the players' roles reversed.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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/© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

[DJ MacWoW]

ping

[tgslTakoma]

In following the links within Spruiell's NR article, I read this hilarious account by the Washington Post, of their "Guidelines We Use to Report the News" written by Leonard Downie, Jr:

(excerpt)

We want to make as clear as possible to our readers where the information that we report is coming from, so they can judge it for themselves. That means attributing information that comes from other news media. It means fully identifying, whenever possible, the sources of the information we publish in our own reporting.
...
At the same time, the culture of anonymity in dealings with the news media has proliferated. Promises of confidentiality reduce risks for sources, but they also deprive readers of important information. Reporters and editors working together must weigh the costs and benefits to differentiate between those sources who truly need anonymity and those who are using it as a cover for their agendas.
...
We want at least one Post editor to know the identity of each unnamed source cited in the newspaper, as was the case during Watergate, so that editors can help decide whether to use the source in a story.
...
In our newsroom, we discuss issues of accuracy, journalistic ethics and standards constantly.

I don't think the Compost meant for this article to be a source of laughter for its readers.

What was the name of Mosk's editor; the one who knew that his writer did not know the identity of MD4BUSH? Maybe it's time those two guys take a refresher course in the Compost's "Guidelines."

[mr.sarcastic]

What is sophomoric about it? I think that it clearly and concisely gets to the heart of the matter.

Judging from some of your recent posts about this and FR demonstrations at Walter Reed, you seem to (1) eager to lash out with criticism, and/or (2) have a personal problem with another FReeper. Why?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

It certainly looks like yet another case of liberal journalists helping to manufacture the news rather than just reporting it objectively. If, as seems highly likely now, The Post writers knew that they were getting information from an operative of the Democratic Party, they should have reported that.

That The Baltimore Sun continued to try to pass off the canard that Steffen was the "source" of the rumors about O'Malley cheating on his wife seems like deliberate deception. We pointed that out on FR back in February. They are either shameless or just incredibly stupid. Take your pick.

[evad]

Verified...

[concretebob]

Now you've done it..this won't be pretty..

[BufordP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1494651/posts

[mewzilla]

BTTT.

[cricket]

a 9:25 a.m. 'heads -up'

[Redbob]

Give 'em Hell!

[Redbob]

Welcome aboard;
GREAT first post!

[rushmom]

So what happened?

[tgslTakoma]

Just my personal observations, here...

It went well this morning. Lots of reporters there, at least 5 TV news cameras; most of the reporters needed to be walked through the story and (of course) what FR is. I think they all pretty much "got it" after a few questions.

Of course, they all wanted to know who MD4BUSH is; but Kristinn explained that it wouldn't be coming from FR without a subpoena and other court-type stuff. All members of FR have a right to their personal information being kept private - even when the Freeper has broken his Terms of Use Agreement with FR, as MD4BUSH did. Basically, if FR gives up MD4BUSH's identity without a fight, then any other Freeper's identity is fair game for "outing." Precedent, or some other legal term.

Kristinn made the point with the reporters that the Washington ComPost violated their own reporting Guidelines, in that they did not know (and are still saying that they do not know) the identity of their source, MD4BUSH. They had only one source for the story, MD4BUSH, and he was anonymous even to them. And, somebody else comes to them with "the keys to the backroom" of MD4BUSH's account on FR, and they take them and do a sneak and peek.

He also made the point that with the ComPost having the login information for the MD4BUSH account, who knows whether it was MD4BUSH or a ComPost reporter that was posting under that user name. Lots of other comments and questions, but I don't have a photographic memory. Maybe Unkl Mike can share his recollections from the press conference, too.

I have photos, but won't be able to upload them for a few hours.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Lead story on WBAL radio news right now.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Audio Links on http://wbal.com

[UnklMike]

I shared some of my thoughts a few minutes ago. I will try to write some more as time permits.

[sauropod]

Especially in MD, lots of conservatives feel all alone in a sea of blue.

Boy, you're not kidding!

[TBP]

Of course, they all wanted to know who MD4BUSH is

Ryan O'Doherty, Communications Director for the Maryland Democrat Party. He's been identified by WBAL, for those who care.

[SolidSupplySide]

He's been identified by WBAL

How did WBAL find out?