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Media Matters
The Gray Lady's Iseman Problem
The other shoe has dropped in the New York Times saga involving the newspaper's articles alleging Senator John McCain was carrying on an affair with a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. The alleged other woman, Vicki Iseman, filed a $27 million defamation lawsuit against the Times last month. Possibly helping Ms. Iseman's case is that the Times' stories appeared intended to damage McCain's presidential candidacy.
In a front-page February 21, 2008 story, the New York Times went to great lengths to leave readers with the impression that McCain and Iseman had been romantically involved. The story represented a marked departure from the generally fawning coverage the New York Times had given to the Arizona senator over the previous decade. As the major primary opponent to Texas Governor George Bush during the 2000 election and, later, a constant critic of Bush, conservatives and Republicans, McCain was the darling of the Times and other liberal news outlets.
The New York Times-John McCain honeymoon ended when it was apparent McCain would become the 2008 Republican presidential nominee. In classic tabloid-fashion, the Times crafted a lascivious story that left little doubt in the minds of readers that McCain and Iseman were an item.
A more reputable news outlet would not have published the story. It was long on innuendo and short on facts and on-the-record sources. The Times article cited as sources "top advisers," "former McCain associates," "a former McCain adviser," "a Senate aide," and "two former associates." The rampant use of such vague and anonymous sources is disconcerting to most news professionals.
I WAS PERSONALLY AWARE the New York Times was working on the story as early as October 2007. Stephen Labaton, who shared a byline for the piece, had called me several times to inquire about Iseman's relationship with McCain. I did not return Labaton's calls primarily because I viewed much of his work as sloppy and his motives in writing stories to be suspect.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was a corporate lobbyist for my employer, Sinclair Broadcast Group, an operator of approximately five dozen TV stations at that time. I was very familiar with Ms. Iseman as some of the legislative interests of one of her clients, Paxson Communications, coincided with those of Sinclair. In fact, Ms. Iseman joined me in countless visits to House and Senate offices over the course of several weeks to discuss the ramifications of some of the technical aspects of the digital television conversion. (In spite of images to the contrary, the daily routine of some lobbyists can be quite dull.) At one point, I learned some Congressional staffers dubbed us "Ken and Barbie" because we had conducted so many meetings together.
A firestorm erupted following the Times' February 21 story. The newspaper's motive in publishing the article appeared transparent to much of the public. It was widely viewed as a hatchet job. Perhaps to buttress its first story, the Times published a follow-up under the byline of Stephen Labaton on February 23 implying McCain performed a special favor for Ms. Iseman on behalf of a client.
This second article accused McCain of sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission "warning that he would try to overhaul the agency if it closed a broadcast ownership loophole." This assertion was misleading, if not false, on two counts.
First, it had been leaked that the FCC was considering regulations that would run counter to federal statute. In a December 1, 1998 joint-letter signed by McCain and then-Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns (R-MT), the pair warned the FCC that adopting rules that contradicted federal law would be taken into consideration during the next review Congress routinely conducts of the FCC annually.
Second, Labaton's assertion of a "broadcast ownership loophole" was factually incorrect. McCain's three-page December 7, 1998 letter to the FCC addressed the Commission's failure to fully implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996 enacted into law in February 1996. Nearly three years before McCain sent his letter, the Telecom Act directed the FCC to revamp certain radio and TV ownership rules. The FCC had failed to comply with the statute. Contrary to Labaton's editorializing, companies acting in accordance with laws and regulations does not constitute a "loophole."
Labaton's article claimed McCain's "unusually blunt letter" would benefit an Iseman client in a "marketing agreement" with my employer. In fact, there were more than 150 television stations around the country that had identical marketing agreements in place when McCain wrote his letter and they all benefited from the Commission fully implementing the Telecom Act. McCain wrote, "This letter is not written to advance the interest of any particular party to any proceeding pending before the Commission." To imply that only Ms. Iseman's client benefited from the FCC adhering to federal statute was disingenuous.
Further, McCain was late to the garden party when it came to House and Senate members urging the FCC to fully implement the Telecom Act. Beginning eighteen months earlier, at least 16 House and Senate Republicans and Democrats, sent missives to the FCC on the matter. Among them were House Commerce Committee Ranking Member John Dingell (D-MI), House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD). Several more members sent letters after McCain sent his. Singling out McCain's letter to imply he was alone in contacting the FCC was dishonest, at best.
The New York Times' reporting grossly mischaracterized the events surrounding McCain's efforts to encourage an intractable FCC into complying with federal law. In fact, all 1,200 commercial TV stations were impacted by the proper implementation of the Telecom Act.
McCain's actions were no different from those actions by dozens of other members of Congress during that same period that were performed on behalf of hundreds of constituent television stations. Such Congressional letters are common practice. Suggesting McCain was performing political favors for a lobbyist with whom the paper alleged the Arizona senator was having an affair underscores just how low the New York Times would stoop in order to achieve a political goal. Whether Ms. Iseman -- who may have suffered a loss of credibility due to the Times' stories -- has a successful defamation case against the paper will be decided in a courtroom. A verdict in favor of Ms. Iseman could prove most damaging to the Gray Lady.
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Jason| 1.19.09 @ 6:56AM
I hope Iseman wins. This was journalistic malpractice.
http://www.rightklik.net/
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.19.09 @ 9:07AM
What ELSE would you expect from an ass rag like the NYT? The MEDIA is DEAD. The 'Fourth Estate' is a FIFTH COLUMN. They've become nothing more than a MOUTHPIECE for the DEMOCRAT PARTY. And they don't care if they go out of business. They do it fo THE CAUSE. They do it for THE MOVEMENT. They do it cause they are FELLOW TRAVELERS. SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL!
Gerard E.| 1.19.09 @ 9:09AM
This is the kind of story that keeps my spirits high in this period of Obama Hype. How ironic that many of the newspapers that have been fawning for him since approximately last February are in serious trouble on many fronts. Including the Times, grappling with this trashy story that would not have even made the National Enquirer.
Richard, Dubuque| 1.19.09 @ 9:29AM
The NYT, and others, are now on the same level as that of the National Enquirer, meaning publishing sensational stories. In fact, the National Enquirer occassionally breaks an important national news story that the "elite" papers just don't seem interested in pursuing. A number of once prominent papers have abandoned their conservative readership and that, as a business model, is a recipe for disaster. It appears that the chickens are coming home to roost and as they are now going out of business.
Peter McGrath| 1.19.09 @ 9:51AM
Mainstream journalism in America has become a giant hoax. Anything purporting to be "Hard News" in a newspaper is anything but. Virtually every report from any national publication is agenda-driven. Publishing the "Truth" is anathema to mainstream journalists and editors - most of whom don't believe in objective truth anyway. Their double standards and hypocrisy are manifest. Sadly, most Americans are still buying into their distortions and half-baked lies (e.g., Obama, the purest example of a half-baked lie imaginable). Thankfully, the Mainstream Press is becoming a backwater thanks to other, more reliable, outlets (e.g., TAS, for starters).
Vinny Angelo| 1.19.09 @ 10:07AM
What I still find astonishing, since slick willies elections is, just how diseased America really is. I mean with all the visible immorality in other media-- TV, Movies, CD's--it is no wonder this is the time in history God has chosen to leave so many to their reprobate ways. There is no turning back, America is in a coma, on a breathing tube awaiting its removal.
Get what you can while you can. The new obambi moving into the black house is the final nail in the coffin.
Caio
puffdaddy| 1.19.09 @ 10:55AM
I really hate to wish ill of anyone; and I know many nice people will lose their jobs if the Times goes under. So I hope they change their ways before that happens. On the other hand, you reap what you sow. And in the end, people get the governments and newspapers they deserve. Viva Iseman!!
Joseph Baum| 1.19.09 @ 12:01PM
I repeat my standard comment when I read a piece such as this one. I have been saying for months that the USA is the newest "Bannana Republic" and that in ten years it will be Venezuela to the 4th power. If one examines the historical way in which a country goes socialist, one will find that we are following the road map to a tee. We have a government that is as corrupt as any crime syndicate has ever been, a confiscatory taxation system (read extortion system), and a staggering loss of individual freedom. The noble experiment is over.
Kerry| 1.19.09 @ 12:10PM
Not much new here and most all newspapers are just as biased only are a bit more (or less) crafty by using opinion journalism in their so called news stories.
The state of the print media is sad, as when performing their true charter they provide a needed service in getting the public current event articles of interest, rather than being just the lap dog for the left that they have become. A good example of this is the man made global warming sham they continue to help perpetuate.
Louis Jenkins| 1.19.09 @ 12:35PM
Posse comitatis has been revoked, taxes are to the point of being burdensome and are unjust (while an Obama nominee conveniently forgot about paying his-try that at home and see what happens), our children are indoctrinated and filled with useless dribble by government approved and financed (our taxes) education, the privilege to move freely about is under assault by those who would constrain us by carbon taxes, save the planet, etc, free enterprise is suffering under the burden of environmental and employment regulation, state officials offer offices for sale, your property can be condemned (confiscated) by the local government and sold because of its potential value to developers, and the newsmedia is controlled by the Left. They justify or make excuses for all of the above in endless reams of newsprint. Yes, Chavez, Castro, Marx, Uncle Joe, and Mao would be proud. We've come so far.
JRP| 1.19.09 @ 1:58PM
Hopefully Ms. Iceman will win a huge settlement against the NYT, and finally put this useless, left-wing fish wrapper out of it's misery.
William E Higgins Jr| 1.19.09 @ 2:29PM
Wow... stick it to the NYT.. Go for 20% ownership or more! If this hits their shareholders where it counts, their wallets, then it may lead to more fair and responsible journalism. We can only hope...
Howard| 1.19.09 @ 3:16PM
It really is sad to realize what a rag the NYT has become. It used to be known for brilliant reporting and tremendous depth of coverage. Sure, it was liberal, but a sensible liberalism, not the Soros vomit that liberalism has become. RIP Gray Lady!
Earl Anderson| 1.19.09 @ 3:42PM
And we are surprised that the MSM is anything more than propaganda rags why? My wife took a Journalism 101 class in the mid 90's the foreword to the text said that because the common American wasn't capable of arriving at the correct conclusion from the facts that it was the journalist responsibility to interpret for them. BTW the foreword indicated that this became commonplace journalism school teaching around 1963.
If you want a change you will have to disband the Schools of Journalism and start over.
Jeremiah| 1.19.09 @ 5:08PM
The NYT has just been purchased by a Mexican billionaire. Look for more pro third world/immigration crap coming from a dumbed dowd and enRiched sorry piece of rag...
Marc Jeric| 1.19.09 @ 7:21PM
There is a reason I have been calling since the 1960's the NYT "The New York Pravda". Their "news" was no different from the communist papers I had to read before my escape to freedom. I hope Ms. Iseman finds a good judge that will give her all $27 million.
NHdissident| 1.19.09 @ 7:36PM
There is no doubt millions of Americans are at ideological war with this rag and the ivy league schools of journalism that create foot soldiers for this operation. How will the Times survive with false stories and endless cheer leading for the incoming Obama administration.
Nick in Virginia| 1.19.09 @ 8:32PM
As I understand it, one of the requirements for a libel suit to be successful is that the plaintiff is not a well-known "public personality". I would be willing to sign an affidavit stating that when I first saw the headline stating that "Iseman sues NY Times", I said "Who the hell is Iseman?". That should help her case that she is not a "public personality", right?
Anything to make the low-lifes at the Times get their s**t straight.
George| 1.19.09 @ 10:40PM
The NYT is a slithery rag. It has been so for decades. Check out the NYT's of may 10, 1943.
Headline: "Warsaw Ghetto Uprising An Over Reaction." Also on the front page of this unashamedly anti-semetic rag is another secondary headline: "Jewish Resistance Shatters Hopes For Peaceful Final Solution." Some things NEVER change.
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