Politico's Joe Williams Blames Suspension on 'Radical Conservatives'
Joe Williams, Politico's White House correspondent that was suspended after stating Mitt Romney was most comfortable around “white folks,” said on a Wednesday radio show that he was a victim of conservative websites that seized upon those words to make a point about the media.
While a guest on “The Bill Press Show,” Williams was asked by the liberal host, “Do you believe those words were seized upon, taken out of context, blown up by people with their own political agenda?”
“What happened in my instance,” the reporter replied to the softball question, “was that those two words,” spoken while a guest on MSNBC's “Martin Bashir Live,” were “the ones that set people off.”
“You know, ‘white folks,’ ‘Mitt Romney,’ it was a match to a tinder keg among certain segments of people who decided that they wanted to push back on what they believe is the liberal media,” Williams continued.
Press then asked the reporter: “Who are these people that are coming after you?”
Williams presented himself as a victim of what he called “radical conservatives” and named two organizations.
“Clearly in my case,” he stated, “it has been two sources that have been the primary ones—The Daily Caller and Big Media [actually called Big Journalism], Breitbart’s organization—the late Andrew Breitbart’s organization.”
Their efforts, he said, gained momentum and forced Politico Editor John Harris to act.
“Deliberately targeting you?” Press asked.
“I would say yeah,” Williams replied. “In all the things that I’ve seen and what Politico was reacting to, stories that Big Media [sic] had put out, one story specifically that Big Media [sic] had put out about me making this remark, they looked at my Twitter feed.”
They saw things on the Twitter feed that they thought justified bias, threw it together in a package, put a healthy dose of cynicism on top of it, and put it out and got retweet after retweet after retweet.
However, the host asked Williams if he had been in similar circumstances before, and the reporter admitted that he had been warned about watching what he said in the past by Politico and was “toning it down.”
Soon after he was suspended by Politico, Williams posted an email apology, which reads in part:
I regret that this incident happened. I understand and respect John Harris’ point of view—that I’ve compromised Politico’s objectivity, and my own. At this point, my suspension without pay is still indefinite, and I don’t know what management has in mind as an appropriate sanction.
I’m not surprised a small group with Internet access and an ambitious agenda can undermine reporting, influence organizations and distort legitimate analysis of political news. It’s quite unfortunate that I landed in the crosshairs this time, calling Politico’s integrity into question and jeopardizing a job and a career that I love. It’s incredibly frustrating that I won’t be the final target.
I'd have more sympathy for Williams if he, as a journalist, would get his facts straight.
If two organizations were attacking me and threatening my livelihood, I'd definitely remember their names. “Big Media” is a blog, and the Breitbart site he's referring to is actually called “Big Journalism.”
Also, Williams says his problem is caused by his use of two words: “while folks.” Then he adds “Mitt Romney” to the mix. So is his problem actually caused by his use of two words or four?
If Williams can't even keep this important information accurate, how can anyone watching a report from him believe he really knows what he's talking about?
- Randy Hall's blog
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Comments
Williams mouth
Submitted by fivestring_assassin on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:14am.
is to blame
LOL. The dummy thought he had a secret twitter feed.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:19am.
"Those racists hacked into it and took stuff from it!!!"
~I'm sure his #ToasterIsVeryLoyal
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:36am.
.
You're not a target until you
Submitted by Lakewood Ed on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:25am.
You're not a target until you make yourself one.
Clearly a Victim
Submitted by Anon150 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:29am.
... Of the well-worn and disgusting "only white people can be racist" belief.
Oh, the shock. Oh, the horror.
Get over yourself Williams. You're a bigot and got nailed for it.
Liberals. There's always
Submitted by rbosque on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:29am.
Liberals. There's always someone else to blame for their stupidity.
Yep.
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:54am.
He is a victim of having people pay attantion to the racist stuff that he says.
Imagine that? I guess he is used to being so obscure that no one actually cared what he said.
He is also apparently the victim of the US public school system as he seems to think that "white folks" is one word and "Mitt Romney" is one word.
Imagine that...a liberal journalist who is actually a racist activist with poor grammar skills.
My advice to him is to not worry about hanging around with "white folks" or "black folks" but just start hanging around with the "smart folks". It will be better for your career.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
He's like the shoplifter who
Submitted by kareling on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 9:58am.
He's like the shoplifter who gets caught and then blames the security cameras.
Joe is a racist
Submitted by jetcat on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:00am.
Who is this joker. He's a racist - he hates whites. How's that for a liberal ad hominem attack. Joe, why don't you lay down and take a nap - a dirt nap.
➚ But why, jet?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:08am.
We like it when liberals admit their racism.
As if libs. . .
Submitted by rickbren on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:01am.
. . . EVER listen to conservatives.
Joe Williams got one thing right
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:05am.
it was a match to a tinder keg among certain segments of people who decided that they wanted to push back on what they believe is the liberal media - Joe Williams
The reference to "push back" is an admission his side already did some pushing.
Williams tried to do some bullying, and now he's crying to the teacher because somebody pushed him back.
What a t*tty baby!
Not to mention
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:07am.
He's a grown man that's crying like a 4 year old. Suck it up, Cupcake.
Have another piece of cake Mr. Angry Person
Submitted by zachlind on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:07am.
Look Dude, you can stack reasons and excuses on top of each other all day long, but at 6pm, you’re still on suspension, and that's what counts. We won, you lost. Go suck an egg and leave us real Americans to enjoy life.
Face it, dude!!
Submitted by sngnsgt on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:12am.
Face it dude, you're a bigot!!
payback...
Submitted by redfox57 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:32am.
how's it feel? Now you know how every "white folk" feels when everything they say is construed as racist when none intended. Walking on egg-shells to be PC with every word publicly spoken... you just got caught in your own trap and now don't like it when your words "get twisted"..although I really think your a bigot at heart...
I am constantly...
Submitted by BBallleaper on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:36am.
amazed at how these morons (left and right) gain access to public forums. In all sincerity, what qualifies Couric , Williams, Roberts, Soledad, etc to lecture anyone????????? They certainly are not Ph.D.s, they have no other qualification other than possibly having slid through some leftist 'journalist' school for the avowed purpose of 'saving the world' (from Conservatives.) How does a dimwit like Beckel or his ilk get elevated to some public airway for the purpose of spewing their own disgusting communistic views???????Obviously, leftist have seized and maintain total control over TV, print media, and colleges and universities. Want to see vacant talking heads? Just tune in O'Reilly or Hannity every night. Or any lame stream media so called 'newscast.' Pathetic.
Actually a very salient quetion
Submitted by gopcongress on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:53am.
The answer is that the Left has taken over the major old news media. My question: Why doesn't CNS or MRC or a similar news medium organization create a business plan to start a new, or convert an existing medium to that of a competitor of Fox? Looking at the ratings alone for many of these embarassments of business acumen, one would think that such a move could only HELP the bottom line of said medium.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
The bright side
Submitted by octavioj on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:57am.
Every time this guy opens his mouth now he indeed shows his true colors and why he cannot be trusted to report fairly on issues of relevance to the population. Not only he has an ideological bent, he is now a full blown activist. Does he realize he is simply marginalizing himself and his career prospects? He can no longer be hired as a reporter but only as an opinion person.
Just another liberal that
Submitted by John21 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 11:05am.
Just another liberal that thinks he can make nasty comments without facts or evidence being attacked by those nasty old conservative. He of course is innocent of anything.
Reality is he expected the propganda media to wink at him and forget, instead they got preasure and actully had to use common decency standards an through him under the bus.
That is what you get Mr. Williams for trusting a low rent liberal propaganda rag.
SUPER JOE-ONCE ONE OPENS HIS OR HER MOUTH-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 1:18pm.
and says something out of the norm-you are going to get feedback.
thats what the 1st Amendment lets Citizens of the USA do.
You sir-have said things America does not like. more than 50% of those folks are Conservative
open mouth insert conservatives.
Bone-up and Own-up....
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 3:58pm.
...You silly bigot!
cajun is taking notes*
Submitted by cajun2 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 4:33pm.
How to become a liberal?
1....Always be the victim no matter how badly you screw up. Make sure it is always someone else's fault.
2....Pull out the race card whenever possible.
3....Believe that you deserve the highest paying job in your profession with a no-cut clause in your contract no matter how stupid or incompetent you may be. (keep the race card handy)
4....Believe with every ounce of conviction that you are smarter than everyone else and know what is best for others no matter the consequences nor the costs.
5.....Make the rich pay for everything for you and your friends but ignore the constant revision of what "rich" means.
6....Rules, regulations, controls, laws, limits or all designed for thee not for me.
7...NIMBY
8...Anyone who dares disagree with you is stupid, racist, Nazi, uncaring, or endoctrinated with lies from any and all conservative news outlets, documents, historical facts, especially those forever archives must be ignored
9...If an issue or event is contrary to your beliefs, it is irrelevant and not news. Ignore
10...Take all psychotropic medications as prescribed especially if you are participating in a protest, OWS event or appearing on any media.
11..Any moral boundaries or beliefs are to be demonized if in any way prevents you from pleasure seeking activities regardless of harm done to others. If some of these activities are currently illegal, your needs and pleasures are more important, so fight to destroy the institutions that create societal civilized boundaries in order to change the laws.
12..Having a college education is absolutely essential, at all costs to others, in order to find employement where you are over paid and never have to sweat for a living.
13....Violence is only acceptable when involved with a mob or video games. Any other violence, including self defense, is unacceptable. Therefore , we must fight to eradicate any military or law enforcement organizations.
14...Any and all laws that protect animals and the environment are exemplery except those that apply to unborns or me.
15...All humans are equal unless one of you gets in my way.
What have I left out folks?
....
How bout this one -
Submitted by Jimbo on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 4:48pm.
When your party's Attorney General is about to become the first sitting cabinet member to be indicted for perjury in American history, have your minority leader join hands with the congressional black caucus and storm out of the building like children.
By the way, where is the congressional white caucus?
Congressional White Caucus???
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 5:09pm.
An organization whose requirement for membership is based on skin color?
Why, isn't that Racism?
Only if...
Submitted by Jimbo on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 5:17pm.
Only if you are white. Otherwise it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged under the rules of political correctness.
Jimbo, That's located right next to the men's center on campus.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 6:09pm.
As if , next to the women's centers.
You Didn't Build That.
Shoe on the other foot
Submitted by Model850 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 4:22pm.
Williams says he was "a victim of conservative websites that seized upon those words to make a point about the media."
Yeah, sort of like every conservative who says something the left doesn't like and launches a campaign to have them fired or removed from the airwaves.
Ask Rush (for one) about being the victim of liberal websites AND the so-called MSM seizing upon words to make a point about the (conservative) media.
Putz. Untwist your panties and man up. You made a racist statement and got called on it. As the saying goes, "You made your bed; now lie in it."
Rush Tax
Submitted by Jimbo on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 4:36pm.
Just wait until the conservative talk radio "tax" kicks in! We are taxing you for NOT going off the air!
Libs don't like
Submitted by nolefan2 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 6:14pm.
it when they get caught with THEIR racist panties down. Now, perhaps Mr. Williams knows how it feels. By the way, what kind of "folks" is he most comfortable around?