NBC’s David Gregory To Headline Conference For Major Republican Advocacy Group

[babylonsister]

SHOCKED I am...not. And journalistic ethics?

http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/05/12/482926/david-gregory-republican-nfib/

NBC’s David Gregory To Headline Conference For Major Republican Advocacy Group

By Josh Israel on May 12, 2012 at 3:00 pm





The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which calls itself “the voice of small business,” is one of the Republican party’s strongest allies. The group spent over $1 million on outside ads in the 2010 campaign — all of it backing Republican House and Senate candidates (and, Bloomberg News reported last month, “another $1.5 million that it kept hidden and said was exempt” from disclosure requirements). The group is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Obamacare law and bankrolled state governments’ challenges to the law. The NFIB has also taken stances against allowing the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases, opposing regulations on businesses, and supporting curtailing union rights.

Given the group’s obvious Republican alliance, it comes as little surprise that the NFIB’s three-day 2012 Small Business Summit, which begins Monday, will feature headliners Karl Rove and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).

But the first name and photo on the invitation for the $150-per-person event — Tuesday’s “keynote address” speaker — is NBC’s Meet the Press host David Gregory. He is marketed by NBC as an anchor and “trusted journalist.”

The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics states:

Journalists should:
— Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

Regardless of whether Gregory is being paid for this event and of what he says in his keynote, allowing the NFIB to raise money for its political mission using his name, reputation, and celebrity appears to be at odds with journalistic ethics.

Gregory did not to respond to a ThinkProgress request for comment.

[liberal N proud]

1. He is the republican Sunday morning tool

[crazylikafox]

2. Ahh, reminds me of why I never watch Meet the Press anymore.

[tularetom]

3. Ha - journalistic ethics are for losers, not big shots like Gregory

Wonder if he and Rove will do a little rap for the small bidness people.

[monmouth]

8. I wonder if Tom Brokaw will announce Gregory is losing his soul. Bwahahaha..n/t

[KamaAina]

4. Wait a minute. Didn't KO get suspended by MSRNC for donating to a Dem?

[bahrbearian]

9. Yes he was,, He donated to a Dem, though, thats the reason.

[KamaAina]

19. And yet Gregory hosts a repuke fundraiser with no consequences?

[Initech]

5. Um... what's this liberal media I keep hearing the Republicans blathering about?

[HangOnKids]

22. Come On Now You Know They Love To Make Shit Up

Give them a break, a lie here, a whopper there. Who cares.

[Politicalboi]

6. “trusted journalist.”

Is that suppose to be a joke. LOL David Gregory is a joke and is no journalist by any means.

[brooklynite]

7. Not an issue...

David Gregory us one of many journalists who can be hired through a Speaker's Bureau to make remarks on Washington and politics to any group that hires him.

[HangOnKids]

24. Granted It Might Not Be A Legal Issue

But it does give one pause as to Dave's allegiances. He is after all, a host of a major "purportedly" non-partisan talk show. Good to see you sticking up for a RW toady like Dave though.

[brooklynite]

29. If a Union or Liberal-leaning group wanted him to speak at their Conference...

...I have no doubt he'd attend if his fee was paid.

I also notice that Charlie Cook, who's analysis of elections is respected on both sides, is also on the program. These people are picked because of their "name recognition" to bring in attendees, not because of their political allegiances.

And observe that I didn't feel the need to throw out a personal insult.

[spanone]

10. no surprise there, maybe little luke can be his opening act?

[freshwest]

11. No surprise, he outted himself dancing the night away with Karl Rove...

What lapdog. Cute and fluffy, but just another fawning lackey.

[Tikki]

12. Separated at birth..

If I remember correctly...the little fuzzy one is nice.



Tikki

[Mutiny In Heaven]

15. He looks like a muppet to me

It's in the mouth.

Apologies to the Henson family, of course.

[Creideiki]

13. And this is different from every other Sunday morning how?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

14. Why not?

He's Mc Rove's backup dancer already.

[Blue Owl]

17. He's really blossoming...

Turd blossoming, that is...

[JoePhilly]

18. He's auditioning to be Romney's press secretary.

Not that Romney will win ... but he's never going to be Obama's press secretary.

[WCGreen]

20. He is not a journalist...

He reads a script prepared for him, he sits behind a desk and pretends he is a moderator and he is really just a celebrity.

I just have one thing to ask, would Walter Cronkite do something like this...

[MrSlayer]

21. Gregory is just another corporate tool.

But we all knew that. He should be suspended or fired.

[mfcorey1]

23. Why am I not surprised? nt

[Mc Mike]

25. Seconded. Still, thanks to the OP for the info.

[deacon]

26. Weasel.

[DFW]

27. Both Gregory and Candy Crowley need to move to Fox

Their transparent support for the Republican Party and agenda is fooling no one and insulting
all tho whom they would claim impartiality. At least with Fox, their claim of fairness and balance
is believed by no one, including those who use the slogan.

[Cass]

28. This violates all 3 of the code of ethics points listed. I remember him questioning Bush

aggressively at times at press conferences. He changed though - I think the change in him came around the time he was dancing with Rove at some event while Bush was still in office.