LA Times: In The Tank For Obama

The tape may actually not even be that damaging, who knows? But this really is about as pathetic as it gets.

McCain's campaign is demanding that the Los Angeles Times release a video of a party for a prominent Palestinian activist that Barack Obama attended in 2003.

The Times described the going-away party for former University of Chicago professor, and Obama friend, Rashid Khalidi, in a story in April. The story reported that Palestinians thought they might have a friend in Obama because of his friendships in that community, despite the fact that his positions have never been particularly pro-Palestinian.

"A major news organization is intentionally suppressing information that could provide a clearer link between Barack Obama and Rashid Khalidi," said McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb, citing Obama's friendship with Khalidi, who is now a professor at Columbia University.

If a controversial tape of a Republican were in the vault at the LA Times, you can bet your ass it would be touted as front page news. I guess the LAT doesn't want to risk damaging their boy.

This is about as biased as it gets, folks. Welcome to Amerika, where once we had a free press.

Comments

[Spartan112]

Wow the McCain camp couldn't sound more desperate if they started yelling ni&&er from the rooftops...oh wait that was a palin rally.

[ToddK]

Crap like this, voter fraud, and the blacked out history of Obama makes this all seem like a coup, not an election.
Be careful what you wish for people. You might get it.

[chris]

This is so tragic. The sad old man is 'demanding' a tape to be used for a sleazy last-minute smear campaign. Sorry. You lose. Take some of Cindy's happy pills - you won't be as angry.

DENIED!!!

[jharp]

I'm seeing panic and I'm loving it.

Obama went to party and they won't release the video.

Whiners!

[Amelia]

The media bias in this election is unprecedented. What are they afraid of so badly they won't release the tape? It must be pretty damning.

Can't even say Obama's middle name at a rally. Secret service determined none of the claims of chants, etc. were valid, just more Obama propaganda.

Where is the coverage and outrage about the Sarah Palin hung in effigy in W. Hollywood? Oh, that's OK, I guess. Imagine if it were the Messiah, the Anointed One?

People seem hypnotized by this person. Reminds me of Germany when electing Hitler to power. Same blind following and don't bother me with the truth attitude.

[ET]

If Obama has nothing to hide, or if the tape is innocuous, why won't the LAT release it? We are not whining. The LAT saw fit to run an article during the primaries...we now know they have more information on the event that may help us evaluate a candidate for the highest office in the land. Even you enlightened libtards would have no problem if the American public got to see the tape before election day, right? Seems only fair.

[jharp]

The latest guilt-by-association target that the McCain campaign is using to hit Barack Obama could carry some collateral damage for its own candidate.

As Politico's Ben Smith reported on Tuesday, the McCain campaign is demanding that the Los Angeles Times release video in its possession of a party attended by Barack Obama and Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi.

"A major news organization is intentionally suppressing information that could provide a clearer link between Barack Obama and Rashid Khalidi," said McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb, citing Obama's friendship with Khalidi, who is now a professor at Columbia University.

The McCain camp gambit comes after conservative writers have repeatedly pressed for media outlets to write about the rather tenuous connections between Obama and Khalidi, an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights.

Specifically, National Review writers want much more attention paid to the association, given that the LA Times has reported that Khalidi lavished praise on Obama at a farewell party in Chicago at which Bill Ayers was also present. (Other writers have accused Khalidi of being an aide to Yasser Arafat, a claim which Marc Ambinder and Ari Berman have suggested is not credible.)

In regards to Khalidi, however, the guilt-by-association game burns John McCain as well.

During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.

A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi's Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. (See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF.)

The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman in January. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi's group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/mccain-funded-work-of-pal_n_138606.html

[jharp]

Oh, and ET you are too whining.

Nothing but personal attacks on Senator Obama and lies about his stance on the issues.

Thou reapeth what thy soweth. And the Republicans are headed out of town in a stunningly shockingly one sided election bloodbath.

[ET]

jharp, you dodged a simple question, as usual. Do you have a problem with the American people seeing the tape before the election?

[the asset]

there is no 'truth' in 'news', and no 'news' in 'truth.'

naturally, the leftists are delighted. liberal fascism 101: first dissent is discouraged; then suppressed - way to go LA times - ; and finally outlawed.

[jharp]

"Do you have a problem with the American people seeing the tape before the election?"

Didn't intend to dodge it, just didn't see it.

I'd have to say the tape is the property of the L.A. Times and it is up to them. And if it is damaging to Obama I'd rather they didn't show it.

It'd be a good balance against all of the completely unfounded baseless attacks against Obama, many of them posted right here. Some of which many of the knuckledragging GOP neanderthals no doubt believe to be true.

[SacTownMan]

"And if it is damaging to Obama I'd rather they didn't show it."

This quote could have come straight from Daily Koz, Huffington or the LA Slimes... oh wait it was Harpo after all!

Welcome to the troll world view!!

Never question the great god king Xerxes or his nutjob friends or Chicago hack connections.

Nothing to see here, move along!

[North Dallas Thirty]

"During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.

A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi's Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. (See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF.)"

Funny; before the leftist Obama apologists were arguing that being chairman of a group that distributed funding didn't mean that you supported what they were funding -- at least when it came to Obama and the Annenberg Challenge, as well as the Woods Foundation.

Is jharp demonstrating once again the hypocrisy of himself and Arianna Huffington?

[jharp]

Is jharp demonstrating once again the hypocrisy of himself and Arianna Huffington?

Posted by: North Dallas Thirty | Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 07:30 PM

No. I'm demonstrating that the whole goddam thing is ridiculous and not worthy of mention. Both sides have dealings with people whose policies are in opposition to their own.

And you are stupid to not realize this.

What's the next baseless attack? Obama is really an secret alien invader from another planet?

[mary]

"What's the next baseless attack? Obama is really an secret alien invader from another planet?

Posted by: jharp | Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 07:47 PM"

Not BO but haven't you always wondered about Mary Matlin's hubby?

[mary]

I always put Sean Hannity and Arianna Huffington in the same spot. I dislike them both the same amount.

[mary]

Chris Matthews is saying that Bill Clinton and BO are going to be inseparable this week.

[mary]

I think there is no tape. That this is a total trap set up by BO and his advisers to make McCain look dumb.

[jharp]

I always put Sean Hannity and Arianna Huffington in the same spot. I dislike them both the same amount.

Posted by: mary | Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 07:56 PM

Not a Huffington fan yet she is no comparison to Hannity.

Though I don't hate anybody I cannot stand the lying, phony, hypocritical jackass Hannity.

The only comfort I get from him is his separating the wingnuts from their hard earned money. I figure one of these days it'll catch up with them and he'll be off the air.

[SacTownMan]

Actually Dallas, Harpo likes to use what I refer to as "cut and paste" logic. Others, like Lala call it more simply Plagiarism. He rarely links anything including his famous poll numbers.

What the original author was trying to do was use the leftist worn out and tired tactic of "Yea well your guy did it too".

Nevermind that the point of the post was for the LA Slimes to at least act like journalists and release the video.

If it is as advertised it shows Xerxes hanging out yet again with "the guy who lived in my neighborhood" and his lovely wife. They are celebrating the Jew hating guy who just happened to babysit Xerxes' kids and be best friends with the terrorist couple.

Not as important as Palins wardrobe or the pregnant teenager stuff but hey with the National Enquirer being the last bastion of MSM journalism left in this country what do you want?

[jaime]

"cut and paste" "Plagiarism."

Hilarious!!!! This coming from someone who uses the term Xerxes constantly like he thought of it all by himself. Isn't that right, Sactown?

Have you ever once attributed your stolen pet phrase?

[BobinStamford]

From Politico

Critics have suggested that the Times is witholding the video for political reasons, but there are other possibilities: competitive reasons, or simply out of tradition. In the mechanics of reporting, there's another possibility as well. The video may have been given to the paper on the condition it not be released, or releasing it could compromise its source.

In any case, I say release the tape. If all McCain has is petty personal attacks, well then fine. It's so petty, check out this picture of McCain going on the yacht of convicted swindler (of the Vatican no less!) Raffaelo Follieri:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080929/berman_ames

See. Silly.

[jharp]

"What the original author was trying to do was use the leftist worn out and tired tactic of "Yea well your guy did it too"."

I wasn't asked my opinion on what the original author intentions were. I was simply pointing out the entire affair was meaningless. And I stand by my words.

You said somewhere "I deal with electronic medical records everyday and there is no way I would access information that is not directly tied to my work."

Are you a data entry clerical?

[SacTownMan]

Ah, J-me the poster child for birth control!

Obiwan the hate is strong in this one!

How's the Astroturfing career path doing troll, pays a lot better than that middle management job at Taco Bell I bet.

[jaime]

"How's the Astroturfing career path doing troll"

Yes, I get paid quite well to poke a stick in the eye of the assorted racists, mental retards, and future Travis Bickles that make up the Dan Riehl right-wing readership.

Since you avoided my question, you plagiarist, I'll ask it again? Have you ever attributed your use of Xerxes, thief?

That question must be a real mullet scratcher for you.

[mary]

Recently started watching Hannity and Colmes again. Seriously, is Alan Colmes alright? He doesn't let his guests talk. He insists upon reading the democratic talking points which tonight were such spin. I mean in the face of actual video tape of BO and JB, Alan Colmes continues to read the democratic talking points which totally tries to mitigate and spin what is clear on the tape. Makes you think that Alan Colmes may developing a hearing problem.

[ET]

-- And if it is damaging to Obama I'd rather they didn't show it.

Thanks you, harpo, for illustrating the attitude of the loser left. You all are turning your back on any and all evidence that your lord and master is a disingenuous, lying, corrupt socialist. You want CHANGE so bad that you will put this country in the hands of an anti-American radical bent on self-glorification and the reduction of America to bit-player status on the world stage.

Barry Obama is a dangerous man of questionable character. But, you will deny any flaw in your messiah and destroy and deceive to hand him the reigns of power.

That makes you ignorant. And a liar. And a fool.

All you liberals suck.

[Todd]

I heard Phil Gramm said you're part of the nation of whiners, Riehl. Get a life. Tell me why John McCain is a good candidate who will turn this country around instead of indulging in all of the typical Rethuglican sleaze that no independent thinker is falling for.

[Todd]

Yep, Sean Hannity is a horrible person. It was sweet watching him get chased down by Ron Paul supporters in New Hampshire during the primaries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNZS9ZuZcrg

[Todd]

"You all are turning your back on any and all evidence that your lord and master is a disingenuous, lying, corrupt socialist."

No, we haven't turned our back on that evidence. We have scrutinized all of the activities of George W. Bush, the all-time American Socialist, who nationalized the financial industry, and we deem him indeed to be a disingenuous, lying, corrupt, socialist !!

He needs to be replaced by someone with real integrity: Barack Obama

[jharp]

Quit your whining, ET.

All I said was I'd rather they didn't show it. The whole thing is just another right wing loser baseless attack to inflame the knuckledragging retards on the right.

It doesn't mean a goddam thing.

Or are you so stupid to believe that something that you think is so sinister that the press would be invited?

Go to school son. Uniformed and ignorant is no way to go through life.

[ET]

--He needs to be replaced by someone with real integrity: Barack Obama.

Todddd, you must be joking. Obama is a pretender, hiding his real intentions behind lofty rhetoric. You are just stupid enough to fall for it.

--Or are you so stupid to believe that something that you think is so sinister that the press would be invited?

You are the ignorant one, harpist. It may not be a press video...maybe ayers mother-in-law had her digital camera in her purse. See, you are blocking, son. Incapable of even considering that barry might be a radical America-hating whore. And this video might prove that, so you support its suppression.

Fascist.

[jharp]

"It may not be a press video...maybe ayers mother-in-law had her digital camera in her purse."

Put the bong away.

Interested in your theory of how the L.A. Times ended up with the video?

Maybe Ayers mother in law secretly taped it and blackmailed the L.A. Times into buying the tape. Then, the L.A Times, clearly covering Obama's terrorist ties, let it be know they were in possession of a tape with Obama and a known terrorist and refuse to share.

"See, you are blocking, son. Incapable of even considering that barry might be a radical America-hating whore."

The man is a United States Senator fer christsakes. So now we have U.S. Senators that are radical America hating whores?

You are out of your mind. Get a grip and get used to President Barack Hussein Obama.

[mary]

I think it is a diversion meant to embarrass the candidate and the republican party and the blogosphere. So, since a ruse is meant to send everyone in the wrong direction, what are we not seeing that we should be seeing that would be even more shocking?

[jharp]

I think it is a diversion meant to embarrass the candidate and the republican party and the blogosphere. So, since a ruse is meant to send everyone in the wrong direction, what are we not seeing that we should be seeing that would be even more shocking?

Posted by: mary | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM

mary,

You seem to be a nice enough person though I am astounded that anyone could be undecided at this point.

Just think about what you have just posted. Obama has been running for President of the United States, the most powerful position on earth, for at least 18 months. And has been subjected to the vetting of what the wingnuts call "the Hillary attack machine" and millions of dollars worth of vetting from the GOP.

And one week before the election, when millions have already voted, you honestly think this is some kind of diversion from something that someone is holding back on.

I wish you the best but you are "detached from reality" (a line from the gay hooker and white house frequenter Jeff Gannon)

[MarkJ]

"Tell me why John McCain is a good candidate who will turn this country around instead of indulging in all of the typical Rethuglican sleaze that no independent thinker is falling for."

Nope, tell US why Barack Obama is a good candidate who will turn this country around...without managing to first drive it off a cliff.

Thought for the day: Obama initially claimed that everybody making under $250k will be making a tax cut. Funny thing, he just said in a speech that the figure will actually be $200k. Now Joey Hairplugs says it'll be $150k. Notice a trend? Your Personal Lord and Savior is already on record as having favored a tax increase for people making only $42k, so, if he's elected, what's to stop him from "nuancing" his "ultra-final-I-really-mean-it-this-time" figure downward even more? Short answer: with Pelosi and Reid in control of The Hill, nothing.

One more thought: run the numbers on Obama's new spending pledges. If you have any residual competetence at math you'll quickly discover there is no f***ing way in hell Obama will be able to find the money to fund them without massive, even confiscatory, tax increases. And, even then, he'll still come up way short. Obama is heavily counting on an "Iraq dividend," but that's a fool's notion since he's assuming there won't be a major crisis, even military deployment, somewhere else during his term. What if Russia invades the Ukraine? Iran attacking Israel? Hugo Chavez starting a war with Colombia? Another Katrina? How about massive capital flight from Obama's "patriotic" tax increases? Shucks, in his lucid moments, even Joey Hairplugs can come up with several unpleasant scenarios that could toss a monkey wrench into an "Obamian Revolution." Dare I add that Obama is also assuming that the new "national sport" during his term won't be...tax evasion.

But thinking about this stuff just gives y'all headaches, doesn't it? Much easier, I suppose, to just close your eyes, click your heels together three times, and mumble, "There's nobody like Obama, there's nobody like Obama...."

[gael]

jharp et al... you're missing the point - again! It isn't THAT he palled around with another terrorist (if you are anti-Jew, you're probably Happy about that!) It is that he LIES about it!!! ANd the LATimes is protecting the lie. Barack Obama has LIED about who he is, who his friends are, his work product, his schooling, his family, his writing, his voting record and....HIS TRUE BELIEFS. For a guy who has NO EXPERIENCE to point to that qualifies him to run for this Office, his public record is thin - to begin with and what he has succeeded in blacking out and covering up points to a curious ambition to hide Who He Is. We are voting for someone who refuses to tell the truth, whose past and present associations are troubling, frightening, unsupportive of the "beliefs" he would have you accept, and demonstrably anti-American on many counts. That you would feel it's "distracting" or "irrelevant" to present the public with actual words, pictures etc that reveal your candidate's TRUE STORY -- and would prefer to live with the (oft-revealed) empty words is really quite shocking! The only thing we know about Barack Obama - to date - is that HE DOESN'T WANT US TO KNOW WHO HE REALLY IS! Consider all of his "friends" whom he has verbally disowned during this election: Farrakhan, Wright, Pfleger, Ayers, Dohrn, Rashid, Khalid al Mansour, raila Odinga, Jim Johnson, Franklin Raines ... just to name a few - and don't forget his (now sainted) grandmother Toot who he had to throw under the bus in his book, to support the contrived narrative of a troubled black kid that would support his launch into American politics. Seek truth, jharp, or live with the consequences. Remember, Hitler was a really popular guy with the masses -- until he had total control and it was too late

[befair]

BULL