The Head of Creator’s Syndicate Defends His Brother

This column is an interesting insight into the Newcombe family, obviously full of talent and accomplishment as well as an illustration of gotcha journalism employed by Huffington Post.

One can argue about what a person might say in answer to a question but good journalism requires the reporter to actually ask the question and provide the full meaning of the response.

I think Creators CEO makes a good case here that HuffPo did not do that in the case of his brother Jerry.

Read the article and see what you think.

 

KHQA refuses comment on report of Blagojevich – Obama meeting

I called KHQA to ask why the station twice reported a meeting between Governor Rod Blagojevich and President-elect Barack Obama.
I asked to speak to the public relations staff but was not allowed to do so. The receptionist wanted to know the reason for my call which I explained. Then she said I could read the statement on their website. When I asked why the station twice reported a meeting about which they had no knowledge, she told me that the station had made a statement. After taking my number, she hung up.
I suspect the station is getting many calls which may explain in part the abrupt approach. However, their “clarification” does not clarify why the station made the report in the first place – twice. Human error would be a fine answer, but as for now, their conduct invites speculation.
Why would a news organization not be more transparent about a story of national significance – or any story – about which they now say they may have been incorrect? I have no idea if this is relevant but the owner of KHQA is the Barrington Group which is owned and controlled by the Pilot Group. This finance group is run by Rob Pittman of MTV/AOL fame. Pittman is a New Yorker who supported Obama in the primaries and according to the New York Post, hosted a fundraiser for him along with Huffington Post co-founder, Ken Lerer.

Obama mined for more gold at the Central Park West home of Huffington Post co-founder Ken Lerer, who co-hosted a cash bash with former AOL honcho Bob Pittman.

HuffPo has been known to be a little partial to Mr. Obama. Who knows if any of this is related, but as I said, the curious conduct of the station opens the door to speculation.

Democrats want Obama to put the smack down

When McCain-Palin moved ahead in the polls, Obama’s supporters began to worry. McCain’s lead is not sizable and not even uniform in all polls, but the perception that “we’re gonna frickin’ lose this thing,” as one columnist at the Huffington Post recently wrote, is driving some panic. Ariana Huffington wants Obama to get all huffy and put the smack down.
Various Dems have offered support, including President Bill Clinton. I am also hearing that the word is ignore Palin and attack McCain, specifically on the economy.
Given the ongoing, bad economic news, finding lots to criticize won’t be hard. However, it is very difficult to pin that on McCain since he has been a persistent critic of Bush administration spending.
In any event, the campaign promises to get uglier and uglier.

Obama supporter: Americans are being fooled by "incompetent, corrupt liars"

Liberals cannot figure out why John McCain is doing well in the polls. It is making them restless. Witness Bob Cesca’s column, “Fooled Again,” at Huffington Post (Mr. Obama’s other home page):

It’s happening again. Regardless of the outcome of this thing, it’s clear that half of America is falling for the same superficial trickery that gave us eight years of George W. Bush. You know the routine. Who do you want to have a beer with? Who is more plainspoken? Who would you like to drive your kids to hockey?
Only this time around, America is exponentially worse off than it was in 2000 or 2004, which only makes the degree to which certain voters are being tricked all the more infuriating and incomprehensible.

The left is nonplussed about why people are not lining up for the Democratic ticket. They reason that current events and the Republicans are sooooo bad, how can any thinking person vote for McCain?
According to Cesca, perhaps these McCain voters are thinking, but what they are thinking is just bad. In fact, most likely, these Republicans are just bad, awful people. He says,

Given their record of success in years past, it’s no wonder why the Republicans do what they do. But this goes beyond cause and effect. It’s their nature. They’re simply unable to govern, so all they have left are their basest, most cynical and depraved instincts. Their presidential ticket is composed of two incompetent, corrupt liars who want to continue the Bush legacy (while also lying about their “change” message). But they’re good at whining; they’re good at smearing; and they excel at fear-mongering. John McCain has fully embraced Karl Rove’s brand of insect politics.

Don’t hold back, Bob. How do you really feel about the other half?
Cesca then blames the media for failing to inform the dense American people of how bad the Republican ticket is, saying

With a complicit barbecue media at their disposal — a team of fainting goats on cable news and AM radio — their screaming and stomping gets plenty of airplay.

Strange to hear an Obama supporter complain about the media. A recent Rasmussen Reports poll showed that 69% of those polled perceived that the media plays favorites in their reporting of the presidential race. So Cesca is on to something, right? Not at all. According to the Rasmussen folks,

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of voters think most reporters are trying to help Obama win versus 11% who believe they are trying to help his Republican opponent John McCain.

Five to one, people think the media is biased toward Obama. Maybe Cesca thinks that this is as it should be since a little over half of Americans are so prone to believe “corrupt liars.” Maybe he thinks the media should work a little harder to get Mr. Obama elected.
Being stupified that Americans might resonate with the conservative positions articulated by McCain-Palin may reflect a kind of elitism. Senator Obama got into some hot water for a similar perspective during the primary season when he told wealthy San Francisco donors that rural Pennsylvanians were “bitter” and “cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
I don’t know which is worse, Cesca’s sense of superiority or his dim assessment of the perspicacity of Americans who disagree with him.
No need to decide since I am obviously unable to see through the trickery.

Celebrity Shocker: Matt Damon to run for President in 2012

Damon
Hollywood, CA (TSN) – In a surprise move, Matt Damon declared his intention to run for President in 2012. Damon, who announced his bid on Youtube, cited Sarah Palin as an inspiration.
“Look, it just makes sense. If Sarah Palin can run for Vice-President, which is like a really bad Disney movie, then why not me running for President? Crap, I’ve actually made some really bad movies, so I’m even more qualified than she is.”
Damon, who is an Obama supporter, said he would only run in 2012 if Obama fails in his bid this time around. Damon explained, “I think I could take him, but Obama is the most qualified in this race to hold the nuclear codes since he doesn’t know when life begins but he probably knows when dinosaurs were on earth. You know, Palin thinks dinosaurs were on earth, like 4,000 years ago. I wouldn’t trust anyone with nuclear codes who thinks that.”
Damon, who has criticized Sarah Palin as being just a hockey mom, said he is infinitely more qualified to stand up to world leaders, like Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
“Hey, I took Sarah Silverman away from Jimmie Kimmel so I figure I can stand up to Putin.”
Damon is willing to use his own resources to fund his campaign, saying, “I would have paid like a million dollars to get Kerry elected in ’04, so who knows how much I’ll spend on myself.”
In an unconventional move, Damon says Arianna Huffington would be on his Veep short list.
On the web: Matt Damon speaks out about Sarah Palin