Brent Bozell, President of the Media Research Center which runs NewsBusters, appeared Friday night, at about 9:40 PM EST on the Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes -- with Ollie North filling in for Hannity. Topic: New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller's defense of his paper's hit piece on John McCain, Bozell’s call for his dismissal and how the attack has united conservatives.
MP3 audio clip (5 minutes)
Friday morning, Bozell appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal and you can watch an excerpt in this NewsBusters post or the entire 30-minute segment on C-SPAN’s site.
On Friday afternoon, the MRC distributed and posted this press release:
BOZELL: BILL KELLER MUST GOStory Continues Below Ad ↓
ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- New York Times' executive editor Bill Keller continues to defend the paper's unsubstantiated gossip alleging an improper sexual relationship between Senator John McCain and lobbyist Vicki Iseman -- even claiming that "no one has challenged what we actually reported," despite clear denials from McCain, Iseman and three top campaign advisors.
Keller repeatedly admitted in a National Public Radio interview that he and the Times had no facts and no story. As for the alleged affair, "If, hypothetically, we had established that he had a romantic relationship with a lobbyist -- and had done favors for that lobbyist -- that would have been a different story." As to the possible conflict of interest, "We don't know if there was a quid or a quo in this case."
Just last November, Keller laughingly offered, "[W]e are agnostic as to where a story may lead; we do not go into a story with an agenda or a pre-conceived notion. We do not manipulate or hide facts to advance an agenda. We strive to preserve our independence from political and economic interests, including our own advertisers. We do not work in the service of a party, or an industry, or even a country. When there are competing views of a situation, we aim to reflect them as clearly and fairly as we can."
Brent Bozell today issued the following statement:"The New York Times' reputation is now in shambles, and may be unrecoverable. The paper has for years engaged in irresponsible reporting -- but this fiasco may have removed any remaining doubt as to whether it can be trusted to report the facts. It appears it can not.
"Executive Editor Bill Keller continues to shamelessly defend its delivery of rumor and gossip, fit to print only for the likes of the National Enquirer.
"The only hope of beginning to rebuild the Times' reputation is to replace the man in charge of this mess. The New York Times should fire Bill Keller."
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
even claiming that "no one
February 22, 2008 - 21:54 ET by motherbelteven claiming that "no one has challenged what we actually reported,"
Well, since what they actually reported regarding Iseman was that a couple of former staffers told them they were concerned about an appearance of impropriety, I guess that part is true. Unless, the "anonymous source" who supposedly told them that comes forward and denies it: I'm the anonymous source that the NYT says told them about McCain and Iseman, and I didn't tell them anything!
Oh yea, that'll fly....
The rest of the story is McCain's political career. Big surprise that no one's contradicting that!
McCain - The Company He Keeps
February 23, 2008 - 02:14 ET by zeestephenAlthough it's interesting to read Brent Bozell's comments, I am unnerved by other developments in this story.
On Fox News today, in less than one minute, I watched Bob Bennett, Lanny Davis, and David McCumber condemn the NYT and say kind words about McCain.
Bennett and Davis were once lawyers and spokesmen for Bill Clinton. McCumber is the managing editor of the Seattle PI newspaper, one of the most relentlessly hard left publications in America.
Why are guys like this suddenly standing up for the interests of the GOP?
Where was this deep concern for truth during the first seven years of the Bush Administration?
The person directly contradicting John McCain
February 23, 2008 - 05:09 ET by sarcasmoHappens to be John McCain, under oath, 5 years ago. The NYT screwed-up on this story in 2 ways: by trying to overplay the possibly-nonexistent sex-aspect, and by not looking closely-enough at the obviously-effective lobbyist aspect. That doesn't mean "there's not a story," it just means the NYT wasn't particularly good at covering it.
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
I just got done watching it
February 22, 2008 - 22:11 ET by bigtimerI just got done watching it all...
To start off I loved the words to Colmes by Brent about always being on every three months and it is always about the NYTs doing dastardly deeds..(I'm paraphrasing here of course), it never being about all the other papers...it was great.
I loved the lines by Ollie about conservatives not being like liberal lemming that will follow and just jump off a cliff, we are more like herding cats...this was in regard to getting behind McCain over the NYTs BS and Keller...
Good show Mr. Bozell...you've been working overtime today..I saw you very early this morning mountain time on the Washington Journal about this very subject.
I kind of found it funny that Holmes basically agreed with you with the exception of calling for Keller's head.
I also didn't know that Ollie had written an article awhile back on his opinion on us getting behind McCain either...learn something all the time...anyway enjoyed the segment and appreciate all the hard work over the years I have watched that Mr. Bozell has done with the msm bias and support of the conservatives...I would never have had the determination nor the patience.
NYSlimes
February 22, 2008 - 22:41 ET by ScrapironThey simply forgot that McCain is a republican (barely) and ass u med that like a democrat he couldn't have a long term relationship with a female without hitting on her sexually. Kind of projecting the failing of the democrats character onto a republican and hopeing it sticks. It didn't.
Bizarre analogy and advice
February 23, 2008 - 00:12 ET by Lame CherryApparently being a Conservative, here am I not united with other Conservatives over the New York Times nor John McCain.
I do not see Sean Hannity nor Rush Limbaugh so much defending Senator McCain, but lecturing the fact that one can never trust liberals as they will smear one every time.
I do not for a moment believe any intelligent Conservative is being taken in by a manipulation of a bogus attack on John McCain which was designed to unite Conservatives behind him.
John McCain is a liberal. John McCain is funded by George Soros and his cartels.
What better way to once and for all get rid of Reagan in the GOP than hijack the party with liberalism by eastern voting schemes which let "independents" pick a liberal in McCain claiming he is Conservative, then "attack" him and galvanize the unthinking behind him.Voila, one has now Jerry Ford again in charge of a malaise party run by RINO's.
The democrats have Obama or Al Gore in the wings.......and the globalists have funded and own all. That is what is going on.
Why anyone would want Bill Keller fired who is Conservative is like Reagan begging the Soviets to throw out Gorbachev when Gorby is making a disaster.
Is it not better to allow this self formed disaster to continue, for ad revenue to fail, for subscription to fail, for Mr. Murdoch to continue his all points assault on the old grey tart, smash it, buy it for pennies and then have him incorporate the New York Times into his media empire for a fair paper of record?
One does not rescue an enemy from an attack which is harming them when that enemy is promoting a John McCain which will destroy Conservatism as a leading force in the GOP for at least a decade if America lasts that long with inept communist globalist policies.
The above is written with all due respect. But Conservatives have got to start implementing the out of the box God inspired genius Ronald Reagan lived by and fought by.
John McCain is the nag chosen for us. Put him on our feed and make our spurs make him run our race and not the Times manipulation.
Put a real Conservative on as VP. That is our compromise for votign for John McCain........NOT JUST BECAUSE THE NEW YORK TIMES TOOK A SLAP AT HIM.
Thank you for your time.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
No. I don't want a Conservative VP!
February 23, 2008 - 00:20 ET by Free StinkerNo. I don't want a Conservative VP!
I want McCain to pledge to:
He wants my vote? Let him earn it!
I won't be taken for granted.
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
All that AND fire, loudly
February 23, 2008 - 18:04 ET by CrimsonfistedAll that AND fire, loudly and publicly, Juan "MEXICO FIRST!!!!!" Hernandez from his campaign.
In addition, I still want to see someone smack the smug offn' McCrankypants face. Not literally mind you, but some smart talking conservative. Like the way Fred Thompson did to Michael Moore.
WhatAMaroon
Keep Keller...
February 23, 2008 - 09:32 ET by ThalpyKeep Keller. It's possible that they could hire someone with competence."The known devil is better than the unknown angel."
Evils
February 23, 2008 - 11:44 ET by iveseenitallAs I posted earlier, McCain is the least of the three evils. My first reaction was not to vote at all. But that's the proverbial "cut off your nose..." He has got to be better than the two commies. The conservative agenda, right for America, has to be put on hold, unfortunately. Hope for a conservative V.P. is all we have left at this time. Sad.
P.S. Bob Bennett is an old time ( Scoop Jackson ) Democrat. Hard on foriegn affairs, liberal on domestic policies. McCain is too. Guys like Bennett will back McCain because neither wants the far left as represented by B.O.and Hill. BTW, therein lies McCain's chance for victory in Novermber.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
LC..NB'ers want truth in Advertising...and in the Media
February 23, 2008 - 13:44 ET by JayTeeYour suggestion to let the Keller slob keep his Job is somewhat entertaining.
But NB and Company want the Truth from reputable publications, or ones that pretend to still have a reputation for Truth. So if the NB Staff want to be viewed as Sincere in what they do, they have to call for the resignations of Spam Merchants. Printing Lies in Column 4 on page 1, next to the Truth in Columns 1, 2, and 3, lends credibility to the Lies. An Editor's job is to avoid these Column 4 things.
Just as you refer to the "Cartel" in your posts, I keep waiting for the "Cartel" to appear, to Occupy Space and have weight, and put an end to the Person's blowing the whistle on them....that would be You.
You may be in danger, if you keep referring to the long arm reach of George S. and company.....your disapperance would be a confirmation. So write some more nasty stuff about the "Cartel"....so we can confirm the truth of the Cartel's influence, by your disappearance from the NB forum.
Unless the "Cartel" is so confident they don't care that you point fingers at them ?