AP tries to link Reid (D-NV) to Abramoff, Josh Marshall crushes the piece

[RSchewe]

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall February 9, 2006 04:11 PM

(snip)

...I got hold of Ron Platt, the lobbyist referenced in the passage above, on his cell phone while he was down at a conference in Florida. I asked him whether, to the best of his recollection, Reid had taken any action against the Kennedy bill. "I'm sure he didn't," Platt told me.

According to Platt, the purpose of his contacts was to see what information he could get about the timing and status of the legislation. Reid's position on the minimum wage issue was well known and there would have been no point trying to get his help blocking it. That's what Platt says. "I didn't ask Reid to intervene," said Platt. "I wouldn't have asked him to intervene. I don't think anyone else would have asked. And I'm sure he didn't."

Now, obviously, both Reid's office and Platt are interested parties on this question. If there were evidence to the contrary you wouldn't necessarily want to take their statements at face value. But as far as I can tell there is no evidence to the contrary. And that's after speaking with supporters of the legislation who would probably know. They don't seem to think Reid had anything to do with tanking the minimum wage bill. Nothing.

In this case, despite the AP story's narrative of lobbyist contacts, there doesn't seem to be any evidence whatsoever that Reid ever took any action on behalf of Abramoff's Marianas clients.

more...

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007647.php


I agree. That piece sounded like a load of crap to me.

[RSchewe]

1. Geez, I look at the threads and see people jumping ship after this article

Is it that easy to get discouraged?

[gkhouston]

2. Perhaps some

are more comfortable in dark places? :shrug:

[Gabi Hayes]

3. Lou Dobbs covering this story right now

says Reid's office denies writing four letters mentioned in AP story, and that he's NEVER taken money from Abramoff's office

[RSchewe]

7. Yeah, the article being referred to is misleading at best.

Some of the headlines that you see among the local sources carrying the AP article are even worse.

[understandinglife]

4. Josh is correct. Recommended.

Peace.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. K & R!!! Put some more truth on the greatest page. n/t

[rpgamerd00d]

6. My standard Reply:

[Justice Is Comin]

14. Even the Republicans cemented in stupid

should be able to comprehend that.

[jasmeel]

8. let's send it to the AP reporter and demand a correction!n/t

[Rainscents]

11. Yes, lets do it!

Lets make them apologizes!

[Rainscents]

9. AP has become... right wing hack!

[Patsy Stone]

10. Yes.

There are those here who only read the headline and don't do the math behind the contents of the article.

Also, this thread makes a point which I make whenever possible. So, thanks! Even if Abramoff himself made a contribution, that's not illegal. For the Tribes to donate to candidates/politicians is not illegal. The illegality is doing it and expecting quid pro quo. Really, it doesn't matter who wrote a check to whom, but what can be traced to any reciprocal actions or legislation.

ed: clarity

[Rainscents]

13. Where is Cali???

Who posted this tread... Jump ship???
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=372729&mesg_id=372729

[UTUSN]

12. Big K&R #5 for the Josh debunking of the smear on REID

I had already gotten an e-mail from my local pet wingnut gloating over the smear on REID. Needless to say, the debunking is on its way back to him as we speak.

[Wordie]

15. K&R

[niallmac]

16. I doubt Dean would deny dem entanglement so flatly if he had doubts.n/t

[Oilwellian]

17. Who is the AP?

Who is the AP? The Associated Press was founded in 1848. It is a not-for-profit news cooperative, some would say ‘monopoly,’ that rakes in about $500 million dollars a year. The AP is owned by its 1,500 U.S. daily newspaper members. Their board of directors is elected by voting ‘bonds.’ However, it is not clear who controls the bonds. AP spokespeople would not give out information on who sits on their board, however AP leadership appears quite conservative.

Burl Osborne, chairman of the AP board of directors, is also publisher emeritus of the conservative The Dallas Morning News, a newspaper that endorsed George W. Bush in the last election. Kathleen Carroll, senior vice president and executive editor of AP, was a reporter at The Dallas Morning News before joining AP. Carroll is also on the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME)’s 7-member executive committee. The APME "works in partnership with AP to improve the wire service's performance," according to their website. APME vice president, Deanna Sands, is managing editor of the ultra conservative Omaha World Herald newspaper, whose parent company owns the largest voting machine company in the nation, Election Systems and Software (ES&S).

http://www.onlinejournal.com/evoting/102304Landes/102304landes.html

[Historic NY]

18. Raw story keeps the story up from Yahooo

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060209/ap_on_go_co/abramoff_reid

despite being debunked.

[KharmaTrain]

19. This Smear Needs The Howell Treatment

Kudos to Josh and the Muckraker people for following up on this and debunking it as fully as they did.

Now, where's the AP on this? Is there an ombundsman who handles questions and complaints from readers/listeners who can explain how such a story was prepared and correct the record...especially in light of what Josh has come up with.

No question, there's a constant Rovian astroturfing action of trying to tar at least one Democrat onto Abramoff...even in the most intangental way. Reid is the "perfect choice". However, as Josh points out, when you look beyond the Rove planted headline, a lot of the pieces don't connect and there's no evidence of any contact between Reid and Abramoff. Whats more, Reid not only was supported the legislation that Abramoff wanted passed...he co-wrote it...and did so in response to protecting his own state's interests. Of course, the AP forgets to cover that side of the story that blows the whole premise out of the water. AP has some 'splaining to do!

For a great example of how this is such a hit piece...check out this Kos article:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/9/21753/93344