Don’t blame the messenger

[ProSense]

Don’t blame the messenger

By Steve Benen

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There is a pretty standard tactic in Political Crisis Management 101: discredit those asking the questions. The strategy, however, is not without flaw.

For example, Team Christie has not yet uncovered any factual errors in MSNBC reporting, which would presumably be the prerequisite to any complaints. When allegations of wrongdoing surface, this is not a sound defense: “The allegations are wrong being they’ve been reported by journalists we don’t like.” A better defense would be, “The allegations are wrong and here’s why.”

What’s more, whether or not the governor and his supporters like MSNBC, it would appear Christie’s office wants the public to distrust reporting from this network, the Wall Street Journal, the Star-Ledger, the Bergen Record, and other news organizations from across the Garden State – all because of reporting on corruption that Christie himself has already admitted happened.

Indeed, recent history offers a helpful perspective. When the bridge controversy first arose, the governor’s aides characterized the allegations as “crazy,” and mocked journalists for having the audacity to even ask questions about it. We now know those denials were wrong and top officials in the Christie administration were lying – misconduct for which the governor has since apologized. And yet, here we are again, with Team Christie dismissing credible allegations and condemning journalists, not for having erred, but for raising questions the governor and his admirers don’t like.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/dont-blame-the-messenger

N.J. mayor raises new corruption allegations

By Steve Benen

In the wake of Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) bridge scandal, the broader questions about the governor’s team retaliating against other perceived foes have grown. Last week, for example, some other Democratic mayors in New Jersey came forward to suggest they, too, may have faced political retribution at the hands of the governor’s team.

The list included Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer (D), whose grant application for post-Sandy relief had been largely ignored by the Christie administration last year. But in this instance, the story isn’t about a non-endorsement; it may actually be far worse.

MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki aired a stunning report over the weekend with detailed charges from Mayor Zimmer about alleged Christie administration corruption. The above clip is well worth your time, but for those who can’t watch clips on line, Kornacki’s published report summarizes the crux of the story.

Two senior members of Gov. Chris Christie’s administration warned a New Jersey mayor earlier this year that her town would be starved of hurricane relief money unless she approved a lucrative redevelopment plan favored by the governor, according to the mayor and emails and personal notes she shared with msnbc.

The mayor, Dawn Zimmer, hasn’t approved the project, but she did request $127 million in hurricane relief for her city of Hoboken – 80% of which was underwater after Sandy hit in October 2012. What she got was $142,000 to defray the cost of a single back-up generator plus an additional $200,000 in recovery grants.

Many in the Republican Party were shaken by Christie’s bridge scandal and were admittedly fearful of another shoe dropping. With this in mind, Kornacki’s report represented a pretty powerful stomp over the weekend.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/nj-mayor-raises-new-corruption-allegations

DING DING DING! Why would Christie try to TORPEDO the billion $ Fort Lee redevelopment
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251349067

US attorney inquiry into Christie widens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024358948

[Cha]

1. Thank you, Steve.. Benen that is.. We've been down this road before..

"Indeed, recent history offers a helpful perspective. When the bridge controversy first arose, the governor’s aides characterized the allegations as “crazy,” and mocked journalists for having the audacity to even ask questions about it. We now know those denials were wrong and top officials in the Christie administration were lying – misconduct for which the governor has since apologized. And yet, here we are again, with Team Christie dismissing credible allegations and condemning journalists, not for having erred, but for raising questions the governor and his admirers don’t like."

Thank you, PS

[ProSense]

5. Yeah, that isn't

working: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024362855

[Cha]

7. I can see that..

Thanks!

[SummerSnow]

2. Good read.

Christie is going rabid cause he plan didn't work in all of this. All he did was try to throw the attention off of him and try to direct the attention towards Bridget Kelly. He repeatedly said she was a liar over and over again. He kept throwing shit against the wall and it didn't stick where he wanted it too.He played he victim. He wanted the media to go after her, instead its sticking on him. The ultimate backfire.

[UTUSN]

3. CRISTIE has Joe Scabs & Mika Mouse to do his assaulting of the messenger/mayor for him

I stopped following the Joe Scabs & Mika Mouse carnival in mid-Campaign'12, but flipped it on this morning because of all the anticipation about what they would say about the mayor's allegations. Dozing through it was enough to confirm that they assaulted her up and down. Joe is excellent at beating up on women, got his chops daily with Mika Mouse and years ago I sent them e-mails complaining about his beating up on PELOSI daily for a month.

So sure enough, he claimed that the mayor was "a hypocrite," because she was privately calling CRISTIE corrupt while publically praising him, that she was "corrupt" herself for lying to her constituents, that if he were what she said he was she should have been going through the legal channels. Mika murmured her Joe-support throughout. HALPERIN sort of defended the mayor, saying that she was trying to get the needed funds through cooperation, that speaking out would only garner her "getting shouted down, intimidation".

The Joe/Mika franchise is just beginning. They have been talked up for development into other venues, even a network morning show. The S&M gambit appears to be appealing to some kind of audience, maybe the 50 Shades fans.

[ProSense]

4. They're trying out Christie's bullying act, blowing hot air. n/t

[Hekate]

6. KnRnThanks

[YoungDemCA]

8. The irony in this thread is kind of hilarious....

Even if the content is good.

YMMV.

[OilemFirchen]

9. It is?

How so?

Is it like rai-ai-ain on your wedding day?