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| The Times Leaks on Arnold | |
| 2003-10-07 | |
| What did the Democrats know and when did they know it? by Bill Bradley Senior Democratic strategists knew the particulars of last Thursday's L.A. Times exposé on Arnold Schwarzenegger well in advance of the story's publication, the Weekly has learned from well-informed sources. This knowledge came not only in advance of publication but also before anyone outside a close circle at the Times knew of the story's timing and particulars. (Anyone surprised) While the Times insists that its reporting uncovered the allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Schwarzenegger, there can be no doubt that advance knowledge of the story was very helpful to Governor Gray Davis' efforts to retain his office in the recall election. Meanwhile, Sunday-night tracking polls seem to show the recall and Schwarzenegger running well ahead. Schwarzenegger strategists say their tracking poll shows the recall with a lead in the low double digits, and Schwarzenegger nearly 10 points ahead of Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante on the replacement portion of the ballot. (Actually the lead INCREASED after the story broke) Top strategists for the governor were not available, and Davis spokesman Roger Salazar says he knows no Sunday-night polling numbers from the governor's campaign. (Still in denial) Back to the blockbuster hit on Schwarzenegger in Thursday's Times. According to a well-informed source at the paper, the story, which hit the political world with a thunderclap, never appeared on the paper's internal or external publication schedules. Indeed, project editor Joel Sappell and the three reporters working on what the Times has described as a seven-week-long investigative (A Standard Davis ploy, wait till the last minute to let loose allegations)
(Which means a Davis man was/is IN the building) Whether or not the Times received all or part of the story from pro-Davis sources — and the Times continues to vociferously insist that none of the first story, at least, did — the advance knowledge of the story's timing and particulars enabled Davis and the Democrats to design the closing burst of the anti-recall campaign, which we have seen unfold with an uncanny precision. (hmm all of the women work for Davis people or unions. What do you think?) I had been very impressed with the alacrity with which Davis and the Democrats seized on the Times story and swiftly pivoted into all-out attack mode. A flurry of press statements and highly coordinated events and advertising involving politicians across the state and in Washington, D.C., ensued. It was remarkably efficient. But if you know what is coming in the news flow and when it is coming, it is much easier to design the close of your campaign. Incidentally, the paper Monday backed off its previous contention that none of the women in subsequent stories came forward at the urging of Schwarzenegger's opponents in the wake of the Weekly's revelation that Jodie Evans, who pushed one of the women to come forward, is not merely the peace activist described by the Times but also a former close colleague of Governor Davis and longtime friend of chief Democratic hit man Bob Mulholland. (Translation: After caught in a lie they changed the subject) In another intriguing bit of Times reporting, Schwarzenegger's huge rally Sunday outside the state Capitol was not referenced until the 18th paragraph of Monday's story. The rally was twice as large as the 5,000 people reported by the Times. Of course, observers can vary in crowd estimates. But another element of the reportage was very strange. "Protesters nearly drowned out the early part of Schwarzenegger's nine-minute speech with a steady chorus of boos," the Times reported today. Viewing from the press riser with most of the rest of the press corps, I didn't hear the protesters. They certainly didn't drown out Schwarzenegger. I asked the question: What comes after sleazy? I asked this to a friend because the Davis camp went well beyond sleazy. The sad part if that the LA Times, SF Chronicle, and Sacramento Bee were willing to be a bitch for the Democratic party. Which kinds of leaves a BIG whole for those of us who want/need a newspaper that speaks the truth. I will not defend Arnolds behavior but the most serious charges come from people that have VERY close ties with the Davis administration. Fortunately the Internet sleuths found out the deception and now the local news had to run the story. One of my female co-workers attended the rally on Sunday and she could not hear any protestors. Also the local news showed security escorted two (2) Code Pink idiots out of the rally. Too bad they didn't crack them with a baton and knock some sense into them. I am voting late today with my wife, we like to vote on the day and with our neighbors. I predict a HUGE Yes vote for the recall and Arnold will replace Davis with more than 50% of the vote. | |
| Posted by:Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) |
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| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-10-7 10:15:12 PM |
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| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-7 7:30:43 PM |
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| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-10-7 7:07:00 PM |
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| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-7 6:15:17 PM |
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| Posted by: JFM 2003-10-7 4:32:10 PM |
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| Posted by: Mercutio 2003-10-7 3:53:59 PM |
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| Posted by: Fred 2003-10-7 3:16:32 PM |
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| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-10-7 3:14:24 PM |
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| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-7 12:25:08 PM |
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| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-10-7 12:23:42 PM |
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| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-7 12:23:17 PM |
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| Posted by: Yank 2003-10-7 12:14:20 PM |
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| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-10-7 11:52:17 AM |
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| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-7 11:51:11 AM |