On February 18, 2010, I wrote a post titled Progressive Bloggers In The Wizard of Oz, about a trip by several “progressive” bloggers to meet at The White House with Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist to Vice President Joe Biden.
The post carried a photo of serious-looking faces reflecting what I believed — tongue in cheek — was “the moment they realized that they were not going to get to meet with the ‘chief economist to President Barack Obama.'”
Boy, was I wrong. It was more like a reunion. Of Journolistas.
The “Chief Economist to Vice President Joe Biden” was none other than Journalista Jared Bernstein, who — thanks to a post at Volokh Conspiracy (via Instapundit)– I just learned was an adviser to the Obama campaign in 2008 when he was active on the Journolist:
One question that has arisen in the last week is how closely JournoList members, not only discussed how to shape the news to advance the fortunes of Barack Obama, but coordinated with the Obama campaign. Jared Bernstein’s position as an unpaid adviser and surrogate shows that there was at least one direct link between JournoList and the Obama campaign.
In attendance for the meeting at the White House were fellow Journolistas Matthew Yglesias (Think Progress), Tim Fernholz (American Prospect) and Chris Hayes (The Nation). One of the other bloggers in attendance was Oliver Willis, whose name has not surfaced on the Journolist, but who works for Media Matters, so he is practically an Honorary Journolista.
So… An Obama campaign operative interacted on the Journolist with sympathetic media types in the run-up to the election, and then rewarded favored Journolistas with a visit to the White House.
Nothing to see here, move along.
Update: Jennifer Rubin notices the lack of diversity on the Journolist (something I also noted in my February post): “The angry white men and the hate-filled political marionettes aren’t on talk radio. They’re on Journolist.”
Update 7-24-2010: iOwnTheWorld (via Instapundit) has photographic proof of the lack of Journolistic diversity.
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Related Posts:
Put Your Emails Where Your Mouth Is
It Begins: Journolistas Start Preemptive Confessions
Enlighten Us, Ezra, Release All The Emails
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Comments
Somewhere there is supposed to be journalistic ethics that prohibits collusion between journalists and persons in government or running for government. The entire premise of freedom of the press is so that the PRESS can hold the goverment to an honest and forthright performance of their duties. Can't really happen if you are palsy-walsy and repeating the benefits of a conspiracy.The issue now becomes what did the bosses of those jounalistas know and when did they know it and why weren't these journalistas fired. On the other hand, since we all know that the entirety of the media did collude to get Obama elected we should all boycott their papers, oh yeah wait, I heard a few of them are in the tank anyway…oh well too bad -bye bye liars, bye bye
Reinforces my previous assertion that the "Liberal Dude Nation" surrounds Obama of his own choosing. Only one female blogger invited… no surprise.
And where are ALL the ethnic minorities the Liberal Dudes so love? Why were they not invited??
The photo tells me all I need to know about the takeover of my former party.
Joe Biden has an economic adviser? You would think it would be the same guy as the president's. Then again, it seems to be the case.
Seriously, does the Vice President (a position well known to be relatively light in duties except as a spare) have staff that duplicates the president's on public matters? If so, why? Creating or saving jobs? Seems more like make work.
Via Instapundit, according to a commenter at Ed Driscoll's blog, Pete Orszag was also a member of Journolist.
http://pajamasmedia.com/eddriscoll/2010/07/22/speaking-of-the-journolist-acting-as-obamas-non-official-campaign/
Two things that I don't see being discussed anywhere: first, note that the Obama administration is consorting not with mainstream liberals but with out-of-the-closet socialists, and, second, note the age and social profile of the journolististas.
Rewards for shaping the news? Who'd a thunk it? The problem really is that the Republicans don't have ANY ideas so they canNOT get a group together to push "NO". If they had the intelligence to come up with a short list of things the people could BELIEVE they'd actually try to accomplish they might make headway. Otherwise, we're just replacing one Sen. Dodd for another grafty guy. If the Republicans can't stand up for the Balanced Budget Amendment now, why should we ever believe they have principle?
From Insty about Journolist:
"When competitors collude this way, it’s also an antitrust violation."
And they also kicked around ideas of how to shut down Fox News. When competitors get together to see if they can shut down another competitor not of their group, you have something quite awful on your hands.
Just for the record. Bernstein's academic degrees in order of achievement are: music, social studies, and philosophy. It's beyond me where he gained the qualifications to be labeled an economist. A while back, I looked at the academic degrees of some of the appointees and White House staff. A high number of them have sociology type degrees. No wonder our nation is in trouble… we're being governed by people who chose advisors who are social workers!
Here's the info from Wiki:
Bernstein graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts where he studied double bass with Orin O'Brien. He earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from the Hunter School of Social Work, and, from Columbia University, he received a Masters Degree in Philosophy and Ph.D. in Social Welfare. He does not have a degree or any formal training in economics.
Biden has an "Economic Advisor" because it's a way to plump the staff, the payroll, and offer patronage.
The trip to the White House is an offering – a taste of what they can expect on their way to status within the the Halls Of Power, when they finally inherit the Reins of Power – eventually ending their *brilliant* careers as various TV hosts and eminence gris – in the model of Clark Clifford, as they fully expect.
Who pays the bills at Think Progress, American Prospect, The Nation and Media Matters? It'll be an interlocking group that interlocks with the occupiers of the WH.
mmmm… White House strategy sessions with a fawning media?
Can you say Pravda?
The Russians have got to be wetting their pants laughing over this one.
Never Believe Another Word Uttered Out Of Their Malfeasant Mouths.
Traitors. *spit*
And where are ALL the ethnic minorities the Liberal Dudes so love? Why were they not invited??
Jayson Blair must have changed his name.
I doubt that the picture presented is really of "Journolistas". Not nearly enough douche-beards.
It is not hyperbole that this single story represents the biggest scandal in history of the United States, by far.
A coordinated, non-disclosed media propaganda effort to improve a candidate's image while pummeling their shared opponent.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST SCANDAL IN HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
You know, when I've seen (and made) Fourth Estate/ Fifth Column comments in the past, I didn't realize just how much they reflected reality.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is the biggest scandal in the history of the United States.
A candidate was surreptitiously, albeit obviously, assisted and advised by the media, which acted as his propagandists in a concerted effort to steal an election.
This is the biggest scandal in history of the U.S. Think about it.
Considering Bush himself had met several times with Fox News luminaries, I don't see the outrage here.
"Who pays the bills at Think Progress, American Prospect, The Nation and Media Matters? It'll be an interlocking group that interlocks with the occupiers of the WH."
Two words: George Soros
Time to think about the practical benefits of these revelations…
Section 73.1212 [47 CFR §73.1212](e) states:
(e) The announcement required by this section shall, in addition to stating the fact that the broadcast matter was sponsored, paid for or furnished, fully and fairly disclose the true identity of the person or persons, or corporation, committee, association or other unincorporated group, or other entity by whom or on whose behalf such payment is made or promised, or from whom or on whose behalf such services or other valuable consideration is received, or by whom the material or services referred to in paragraph (d) of this section are furnished. Where an agent or other person or entity contracts or otherwise makes arrangements with a station on behalf of another, and such fact is known or by the exercise of reasonable diligence, as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, could be known to the station, the announcement shall disclose the identity of the person or persons or entity on whose behalf such agent is acting instead of the name of such agent. Where the material broadcast is political matter or matter involving the discussion of a controversial issue of public importance and a corporation, committee, association or other unincorporated group, or other entity is paying for or furnishing the broadcast matter, the station shall, in addition to making the announcement required by this section, require that a list of the chief executive officers or members of the executive committee or of the board of directors of the corporation, committee, association or other unincorporated group, or other entity shall be made available for public inspection at the location specified by the licensee under § 73.3526 of this chapter. If the broadcast is originated by a network, the list may, instead, be retained at the headquarters office of the network or at the location where the originating station maintains its public inspection file under § 73.3526 of this chapter. Such lists shall be kept and made available for a period of two years."
There are similar provisions for print and radio journalism. This means there are criminal liabilities attached to this. These are FCC rules and can be used to obtain the initial round of convictions. These convictions can then be used as the basis for a RICO conspiracy complaint. The RICO complaint will carry huge federal prison time and you know that some of these people will roll over on the Obama Administration and tell the whole story. In one fell swoop we can get the journalists, their employers and the Administration.
Biggest scandal in American history? It seems like somebody is taking specific cuts of personal emails and trying to create a narrative. Easy proof: Tucker Carlson asked Ezra Klein for an invitation to the journolist to hear some progressive ideas, and Ezra Klein said YES. If you are plotting something nefarious, you don't invite the opposing party to come watch.
Even the most (in my opinion) scandalous charge, closing down Fox News, involved only two members trying to make the case that the government should shut down an organization for misinformation while others told them they were being absurd. Political disagreement in personal emails doesn't equal a conspiracy.
Also, if you actually read the Volokh article, it shows that Bernstein was not technically part of the journolist once he joined Biden's staff.
"2D UPDATE: I have an anonymous source who has shown me an email thread that appears to be from JournoList. From his search of the JournoList archives, he believes that Bernstein’s last direct email to the list was on December 5, 2008, a charming farewell sent 3 days before he was introduced as Biden’s chief economist. Indeed, months later there were several emails to the list from members who wondered how to contact Bernstein."
He was most likely still friends with the journolist once he joined Biden's staff, but no longer technically part of the organization.
Nothing to see here is right.
Sorry, I missed the post where you (or your readers) behaved ethically. Pot, meet a whole bunch of kettles. Really angry kettles unfamiliar with history, civics, and any narrative that doesn't involve dangerous black people who are simultaneously all-powerful and stupid.
ice9