2 Clintons, 2 Stories -- But Just 1 To See Print

[babylonsister]

2 Clintons, 2 Stories -- But Just 1 To See Print

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 28, 2007; Page A06

Two stories, both about politicians named Clinton, collided recently at one of the nation's most prominent magazines, raising questions about journalistic integrity and hardball political tactics.

GQ killed a 7,000-word article about infighting among aides to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, a move that came after the magazine began work on a cover story on the philanthropic efforts of Bill Clinton. The final decision was made after a spokesman for the Clinton camp told GQ that running the piece on Hillary would endanger the piece on Bill.

GQ Editor Jim Nelson insisted in an interview that the two events were not directly linked. "Hillary didn't kill the piece; I killed the piece," he said. While the author, Joshua Green, is a "terrific reporter," he said, "the story didn't end up fully satisfying. . . . I guarantee and promise you, if I'd have had a great Hillary piece, I would have run it."

Green said the spiking had nothing to do with his work. "GQ told me it was a great story and a hell of a reporting job, but they didn't want to jeopardize the Clinton-in-Africa piece," he said. "GQ told me the Clintons were unhappy and threatened to revoke access to Bill Clinton if the Hillary story ran."

The incident, first reported by Politico.com's Ben Smith, reflects the kind of pressure tactics that are not unusual in political campaigns but may be practiced with unprecedented aggressiveness by the tightly controlled Clinton media operation. It also demonstrates how the former president's star power -- he is a media magnet riding a wave of favorable publicity -- can be employed on his wife's behalf.

The freelance article was submitted to GQ by Green, a meticulous and well-regarded Atlantic Monthly writer but not a popular figure in what insiders call Hillaryland. In a cover story for the Atlantic last year, Green portrayed her as a "diligent" New York senator who skillfully forged alliances with detractors but also a cautious politician with "no big ideas."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/27/AR2007092701942.html