Greenwald: The Politico is owned and run by a right wing Republican

[BurtWorm]

So the epitome of journalistic integrity and objectivity in the blogosphere is shown to be a tool of the far right. What a surprise. :eyes:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/04/politico_funding/index.html?source=rss

Who funds and runs the Politico?

In the middle of an article by The Politico's Mike Allen regarding last night's GOP presidential debate, one finds this paragraph:

She <Nancy Reagan> was escorted out of the hall by Frederick J. Ryan Jr., chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, and president and CEO of The Politico.

So the President and CEO of The Politico, Frederick Ryan, is also the Board Chairman for the Reagan Library. And that makes sense, because Ryan is a long-time, hard-core Reaganite. From a November 1987 Press Release:

Appointment of Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., as Assistant to the President

November 4, 1987

The President today announced the appointment of Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., to be Assistant to the President.

Since February 1985 Mr. Ryan has been responsible for the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives as well as serving as Director of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling. Mr. Ryan began serving at the White House in February 1982 as Deputy Director of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling. In February 1983 he was appointed Special Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling. Mr. Ryan was previously an attorney with the Los Angeles law firm of Hill, Farrer and Burrill. While engaged in his practice, he published several articles on various aspects of the law.

Mr. Ryan graduated from the University of Southern California (B.A., 1977) and the University of Southern California Law Center (J.D., 1980). He was born April 12, 1955, in Tampa, FL. Mr. Ryan is married and resides in Washington, DC.

So the President and CEO of The Politico worked in multiple positions in the Reagan White House, and was continuously promoted until he rose to the level of Assistant to the President. And his close connection to the Reagan family and the Reagan presidency continues through today.

Are we supposed to treat this fact as irrelevant or something when assessing what The Politico is and what type of political coverage it churns out? ...

[devilgrrl]

1. Yes it is. Which is why I incessantly whine that people here cite it!

:mad:

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you! We knew it, and I have tried not to

go there because their slant is so obvious. Now, will Tweety et al stop trying to bolster their standing as a top-notch internet site/source?

[donsu]

3. good research work - thank you

nt

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Who said they were the epitome of journalistic integrity anyway?

I literally do not remember ever hearing of that site before a few days ago.

[buff2]

5. Is there ANYTHING repukes DON'T run???

MSRNC is in bed with Politico. It's no wonder Tweety's all smiles. :puke:

[w4rma]

6. I assumed this was the case when Drudge linked to them so often and also how they suddenly

appeared out of nowhere. Noone but the right-wing corporatist machine can do that.

[scarletlib]

13. yes, I figured the same thing had to be going on.

There are many blogs and political web sites that are many years older and more established than Politico but all of a sudden it is everywhere. I knew it had to have some kind of right wing link to get all that exposure so quickly.

[Robbien]

7. There was an article last month which said Drudge and Politico was thisclose

Drudge/Politico share tips, stories and funds.

Politico is just Drudge in a fancy tuxedo.

[grasswire]

8. I am afraid of politico.com

Something fish is going on with it. It sprang to life with immediate acceptance by the MSM, including partnering with MSNBC on the political debates. I believe they intend to freeze out independent bloggers. And I believe the fact that they have apparent access to the WH is something to beware.

Perhaps they are setting themselves up as the opposition to the coming Democratic WH.

[AX10]

12. They won't freeze out other blogs.

They will be there to assault the incoming Democratic administration in 2009.

[grasswire]

14. exactly what I mean

It will be politico.com that is quoted as the authority in Washington. It will happen over, and over, and over again.

It is a new right wing echo chamber. Drudge, Rove, WaPo, MSNBC, politico.com.

[Old and In the Way]

9. Go read their comments threads.

It's FreeRepublic with an updated interface.

[Vinnie From Indy]

10. LOL! Please!

When Politico was mentioned by Smirky during a press conference just after it went live on the 'Net, it was a crystal clear indication that it was a GOP operation. The mere fact that the Boy King would even know what it was and specifically mention it can only mean that he was told to mention in his earpiece or on his note card. Tell everyone you know that Politico is simply a GOP propaganda platform disguised as balanced, legitimate blog.

[quiet.american]

11. Thanks for the background & confirm - this was clear to me from the start. n/t

[freeplessinseattle]

15. K&R n/t