Kentucky paper prints massive expose of GOP Senator Mitch McConnell

[DeepModem Mom]

Editor&Publisher: Kentucky Paper Probes McConnell -- But Will Return Research Money
By E&P Staff and the Associated Press
Published: October 14, 2006

LEXINGTON -- A six-month examination of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's career by the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, based on thousands of documents and scores of interviews, "shows the nexus between his actions and his donors' agendas," the paper concludes in a major report today. "He pushes the government to help cigarette makers, Las Vegas casinos, the pharmaceutical industry, credit card lenders, coal mine owners and others.

"Critics, including anti-poverty groups and labor unions, complain that McConnell has come to represent his affluent donors at the expense of Kentucky, the relatively poor state he is supposed to represent. They point, for example, to his support last year for a tough bankruptcy law, backed by New York banks that support him."

The massive report is titled "Price Tap Poltics." It features quotes referring to McConnell's allegedly "thuggish" and "shakedown" practices.

At the same time, the owners of the Lexington paper said they will return funding the newspaper received to pursue a the series of stories that looks at McConnell and his political fundraising.

Howard Weaver, vice president for news at McClatchy Co., announced that company that owns the Lexington Herald-Leader would reimburse the Center for Investigative Reporting for a $37,500 grant the newspaper received from the Center for Investigative Reporting, a California-based nonprofit that has financed or conducted groundbreaking work in television and print journalism.

"If we want one of our staff members to do a report for one of our papers, we should pay for it," Weaver said....

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003254918

[MadMaddie]

1. This is good journalism.....investigations like these

are critical to the American way of life....because many of these lead to criminal investigations.

[frogcycle]

2. you got that right - deserves an Algae Award!

http://www.algaeawards.com

[MadMaddie]

3. Thanks for the link

Welcome to DU!!:hi:

[frogcycle]

15. You're welcome!

I hope you enjoy the Algae Awards, and that you and others will "nominate" more winners.
The Herald-Leader piece is there now.

I just put the site together a week or so ago on a whim after seeing the Mad Donkey rant. I just couldn't let that sink into bloghistory! Be sure to nominate your favorites. I need more categories, more awardees. Olbermann is dominating (justifiably so, but nevertheless...).

[blm]

6. Yes. And McConnell has been a heavily involved hitman for BFEE, and

many of have been hoping this would hit. I called Kentucky papers alot over the past 2 years questioning McConnell's role in protecting the BUshes and the terrorist banking networks back in the 80s and 90s.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. There must be something going on, because the Orlando Sentinel

wrote an expose similar to that one. It didn't out an elected official, but it did look deeper into improper donations being made that might affect decisions regarding development.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2392670&mesg_id=2392670

[Patiod]

19. The Philadelphia Inquirer had a front page expose of Weldon

who is involved in a hotly contested race for the House. Well, not its own expose, but a report of FBI investigations into money he is funneling to his daughter's PR firm.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15760138.htm

[speedoo]

4. Good. We'll get this slimeball in two years.

Anyone know who the dems are lining up to oppose him in 2008?

His wife is the incompetent Labor Secy. Elaine Chow.

[SharonAnn]

9. She's not incompetent. She's been very successful at Mgt vs labor

issues and she's accomplished just about everything that capitalists and managers wanted.

Of course, labor (workers) have suffered grievously but she doesn't care about that.

She's part of the Evil Empire.

[speedoo]

11. Yup.

Can't argue with that at all.

[Peace Patriot]

5. I don't know about you'all, by my head is spinning, trying to keep up

with the Bushite scandals. Are there any Bushites who are NOT involved in thuggery, shakedowns, bribes, dirty campaign money, illegal practices, coingates, plamegates, lies, deceit, dirty tricks, trading votes for money and favors, looting the treasury, "losing" billiions in Iraq, child prostitution rings, child molestation, illegal spying, torture, treason, assorted coverups, and/or mass murder?

Have I left anything out?

[napi21]

7. My head has been spinning for quite a while now!

There are so many scandals, I know I've forgetten about some of the older ones!

Remember Scooter Libby? I remember that was almost all we were talking about! Now, it's easier to try to think ofwhich Pub ISN'T involved in some scandal!

[Auntie Bush]

13. No, You did an excellent job! Thanks!

[wiley]

10. That rotting swill sucker smells 1000 miles away.

How can the people of Kentucky stand it?

[alfredo]

12. Here's the original link

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15763570.htm

I posted the article in GD and DailyKos

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Thank you, alfredo! nt

[alfredo]

18. Glad it is coming to light

[happydreams]

14. Let's start a nickname for him: "Mitch 'We took Iraq' McConnell".

He let that slip out on Press the Meat a coupld of months ago.

[saltpoint]

16. It's real tough to warm up to Mitch McConnell. He's a bully in a suit.

[Kurovski]

21. I've had turtles that made for warmer company.

I remember him as a blathering and frequent guest on the old "Crossfire" program.

Bye, bye Mitch. Enjoy your legacy.

[saltpoint]

22. Turtles! LOL!

Agree whole-heartedly about the turtle comparison.

Turtles aren't known for their civic-mindedness especially, but they look pretty good next to Mitch McConnell.

[Kurovski]

25. In every way possible, turtles are more appealing than Mitch McConnell

So that's settled. :-)

[9119495]

20. So long Speaker McConnell

He's an asshole. Hopefully this will prevent him from getting the Speakership post-Hastert--before the election or after.

[pampango]

23. Damn corporate media. No, wait! This if good journalism. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

24. Thank you. There's quite a lot of it, especially in the print press...

still. People, I think, make a mistake by completely writing off the "MSM." For proof, check out LBN any day.