A Funny Little Story About The Media

[phantom power]

(...)

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen came to talk at Yale in 1988, just after I arrived. Following schmancy Yale tradition, he had tea with a small group of students and then ate dinner with an even smaller group. I weaseled my way into attending.

Gary Hart had recently flamed out in the '88 presidential race because of Donna Rice. And at dinner Cohen told all us fresh-faced, ambitious, grotty youths this:

The Washington press corps had specifically tried to push Hart out of the race. It wasn't because Hart had had extramarital affairs—everyone knew this was the norm rather than the exception among politicians. So Hart wasn't at all unusual in this respect. Instead, Cohen said, it was because the press corps felt that Hart was "weird" and "flaky" and shouldn't be president. And when the Donna Rice stuff happened, they saw their opening and went after him.

(I wish I remembered more about what Cohen said about the specific gripe of the press corps with Hart, but I don't think he revealed many details.)

At the time, I remember thinking this:

1. How interesting that the DC press corps knows grimy details about lots of politicians but only chooses to tell the great unwashed when they decide it's appropriate.

(...)

http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/000596.html

[sam sarrha]

1. i heard that Clinton's perjury was for saying a door was open when it was closed..

[Missy M]

2. Why didn't the Washington press corps....

think that of Bush? Not only is he "weird and flaky" he is also as STUPID as they come. It leads me to believe in this day and age the press corps only reports what the guys at the top of the corporation want them to report and Bush was their boy, stupid as he may be.

[blm]

3. Exactly. Friendly face of fascism - - they went after Hart because he was SMART and SINCERE

about doing things that would AVOID wars and corporate dominance in our lives.