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The Spectacle Blog
Well, well, well.
So ABC News, according to the Drudge Report and now the Associated Press via Andrew Breitbart has had a little chat with Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife Marianne who boasts she can end Newt’s career with a single interview.
Drudge reports that there has been a “civil war” going on behind the scenes at ABC over whether to air the interview with Marianne Gingrich and ABC’s Brian Ross before — or after — Saturday’s tense South Carolina primary in which the former Speaker, on the heels of a hot debate performance Monday night, may well be on the verge of an upset victory.
Late word in that AP story is that ABC will go ahead with airing the report — tonight.
I hate these stories, tending to believe someone’s private life is their own. But alas, the selective behavior of the media on this score, letting their anti-conservative bias show in these stories (Newsweek trying to suppress the Clinton-Lewinsky story being a classic of the genre, not to mention the repeated suppression of JFK’s White House dalliances in the day) means one thing.
An uncomfortable one thing.
If ABC News is intent on playing this game, then in an era where the mainstream media has lost their monopoly, it is perhaps time to remind all of the way ABC personnel handle these stories when they involve — ABC News itself.
Exhibit A: The late Peter Jennings. Doubtless unmentioned in tonight’s report will be radio star Don Imus’s once hotly controversial talk at the 1996 White House Correspondents Dinner. If remembered today at all it is because the I-Man took some jabs at then President Clinton. What will not be mentioned tonight in the report on Gingrich’s private life? This bit from Imus in that 1996 speech:
And then there’s Peter Jennings, who we are told more Americans get their news from than anyone else — and a man who freely admits that he cannot resist women. So I’m thinking, here’s Peter Jennings sitting there each evening, elegant, erudite, refined. And I’m thinking, what’s under his desk? I mean , besides an intern. (groans) The first place the telecommunications bill should have mandated that a v-chip be placed is in Mr. Jennings shorts. (groans)….
By the way, and this is really awful, (laughter) if you’re Peter Jennings and you’re telling more Americans than anyone else what’s going on in the world, shouldn’t you at least have had a clue that your wife was over at Richard Cohen’s house? (laughter, groans, boos) She wasn’t at my house!
Notice the text transcript includes the editorial note of “groans” and “boos.” Why was this? This was a dinner of mainstream media journalists. It was OK for them to decide whose private life to poke into — but certainly nowhere on the list did that include one of their own, which Peter Jennings very much was. The irreverent I-Man took time in his speech to mock the-then very much alive ABC News anchor Mr. Jennings for — his private life. It was a huge social no-no. In spite of the fact that the Jennings reputation in the day, off-camera and certainly never discussed much less reported about on camera anywhere, was that the then three-times married anchor was your basic womanizer. In fact, Jennings was in 1996 already divorced from wife number three and the very next year would marry a fourth time. The Imus reference to an intern under Jennings’ desk while he was reporting the news on camera was in reference to a gossipy tidbit that had long circulated about Jennings on-air conduct yet mysteriously was never the subject of an investigative report by ABC’s Brian Ross. Powerful public figure boss with an intern under the desk? Can you imagine if, say, the public man at the time had been then-Speaker Newt Gingrich? But it was Jennings, not Gingrich…so…the I-man had crossed a line.
Notice also the next item the I-Man joked about. Again, this reference involved something that was never investigated by ABC News. To wit, as Wikipedia delicately phrases it now:
On August 13, 1993, Jennings and Kati Marton publicly announced their separation in Newsday. The couple had previously split in 1987 for four months after Jennings found out that Marton was having an affair with Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen.
In other words, what the I-Man said that was deeply inappropriate to the mainstream media in the room that night was to joke out loud and on camera to the country about the insider gossip of the day that Jennings’s third wife had once left Jennings for, again in the words of Wikipedia, “an affair with Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen.”
For this offense of saying these things about the private life of ABC News anchor Jennings, Don Imus received a torrent of media criticism. Notably, a then-frequent guest on his radio show was ABC reporter Cokie Roberts. Ms. Roberts was so appalled and angered by this public discussion of Jennings’ private life that she quite publicly and hotly vowed she would “never” appear on the Imus show again.
And remember, in the world of the mainstream media, the “anchor” position at a major network was seen then — and now — as putting the occupant of the job on an equal plane with the President of the United States. As one-time ABC News anchor Howard K. Smith is reported to have said to Jennings when Jennings was first being discussed for the job of ABC News anchor: “It’s like being nominated for President. You can’t turn it down.”
Exhibit B of ABC News hypocrisy in this area? That would be, of course, the hiring of ex-Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos as an ABC anchor, now at Good Morning America. In his own memoir of the Clinton-era, All Too Human, Stephanopoulos openly discusses his role in trying to keep the media from running stories about Clinton’s private life. “Bimbo eruption” is the term this now-ABC News star uses to describe his problems. In one case, involving a Little Rock, Arkansas woman named Connie Hamzy, Stephanopoulos describes no less than now- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as insisting “we have to destroy her story” — with the future ABC News anchor blithely agreeing and going about the task. There’s more with Stephanopoulos and his self-admitted (well after the fact) role of dealing with stories about Clinton’s private life. Much, much more. But it is doubtless going to be viewed by ABC News today, as “old news.” No big deal-move along-nothing to see here kind of old news.
No, the “news” tonight will be this hit piece on Newt Gingrich’s private life. Decided old news indeed. Except for two very important things that make running this hit piece 72 hours before the South Carolina primary a necessity for ABC News.
1. Newt Gingrich is a conservative.
2. Newt Gingrich is not an anchor for ABC News.
View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
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Interested Conservative| 1.19.12 @ 11:24AM
With all due respect, even the Imus episode misses the point, which is the extent to which the MSM "edits" the news. Namely, the extent to which we learn nothing from them about either side.
Apparently the Newt story is simply a retelling of long known details, but with all the professionally decorated one-sidedness the professional media can apply.
As for the "liberal" or democratic side, has there yet been even a peep of gossip about the POTUS? It took all the restraint they could muster to simply report the facts about Rev. Wright, and follow that up with the adoring coverage of the TOTUS' eloquence.
We know about rock painting on Texas hunting lands, and dog transport through New England, so why shouldn't we know about DC domestic relationships?
Meanwhile, Canada cannot decide which way to point its trenching equipment. The mind reels.
florin| 1.19.12 @ 2:39PM
Here's the thing: gingrich recently demanded that everything known about each candidate come out when he was asked why he was bringing out so much garbage about Romeny (most found to be untrue) so that Obama would have no surprises. Now he whines when his mandate was followed...more is coming out about him, past and present...well, he asked for it, didn't he?
Interested Conservative| 1.19.12 @ 3:38PM
I don't think he's whining. Heck, I don't know that he even cares at this point.
It's just amusing the extent to which this is "news". There doesn't seem to be anything new here at all.
If you don't like Newt, I suppose this is more of a reason. If you like him, this doesn't add or subtract from that.
I don't doubt that the POTUS wants this sort of thing, but it may backfire over the summer, to the extent they simply have to start making up stuff about whoever the GOP picks. It seems there's gonna be less to make up about Newt, but only marginally so. I think the democrats, and the media, may be oversmearing too early.
When gas hits $4.50/5.00 a gallon, there may not be much mud left worth throwing.
Jack in Wi.| 1.19.12 @ 11:34AM
Gingrich has more things in his closet then any hoarder on the TV. His ex-wife is just the tip of the ice berg. He is just a bought, shill for the most extreme elements of the Israeli Lobby shilling for endless war to bail out a Israel, with American blood and treasure. Crawl back in you hole Newt. You are unelectable and unexceptable to any sane American. You would not get many Independents, women, young people, disaffected Democrats, and about half of Republicans to vote for your sorry ass
The only thing an unlikely Gichgrich nomination would do is finally drive a stake through the heart of the near moribund Republican party. Then maybe we can rebuild a real America First opposition party, not controlled by Wall Street and Tel Aviv
SCPOret| 1.19.12 @ 12:18PM
Your anti-semitism runs rampant this morning.
Mike Parent| 1.19.12 @ 12:54PM
So is your feigned indignation. Not swearing allegiance to Israel doesn't make one anti Semitic.
Mike Parent| 1.19.12 @ 12:44PM
Why are they being so unfair to Old Draft Dodging Newt. It would be nice if the would pick on someone else, once on a while, maybe Ron Paul. Why does the media always kiss up to him.
Mike Parent| 1.19.12 @ 12:44PM
Why are they being so unfair to Old Draft Dodging Newt. It would be nice if the would pick on someone else, once on a while, maybe Ron Paul. Why does the media always kiss up to him.
James Guglielmino DVM| 1.19.12 @ 12:44PM
Hilarious! You "hate these hit pieces,"
tending to believe someone's private life is their own. But you then go on to criticize Newsweel for not wanting to publish the Clinton-Lewinsky story abd you criticize the "repeated suppression of JFK's White House dalliances in the day").
In other words, it troubles you when the incredible infidelity of a Republican is outed but it is OK when the entire second administration of a Democrat is destroyed by attacks on his personal affairs ( intentionally chosen word). Those affairs having exactly NOTHING to do with his ability as a President. Newt Gingrich is not JUST a serial cheater. He has manifested isociopathic traits. in his relationships with his wives. Why don't you want them described?
Jeffrey Lord| 1.19.12 @ 1:03PM
James....
No...I just belief if we are told sexual harassment is the be-all and end-all of judging Clarence Thomas then, yes, the same standard should apply to Bill Clinton. If powerful men having affairs is everyone's business....then whether that man is the Speaker of the House or the ABC News anchor....the standard should be the same.
Either we treat everyone the same on this issue...or we don't go there. And we have been told over and over in the Clinton affair that it was only about sex, it doesn't matter and has nothing to do with one's ability to be president.
Message received.
You won. Now you're not happy?
Quartermaster| 1.19.12 @ 5:44PM
The Clinton deal was actually about Perjury and Obstruction of Justice. The left was able to change the subject to Lewinsky and adultery.
Cfountain72 | 1.19.12 @ 1:19PM
1. Newt is a conservative.
Umm, no not really. Part of being a conservative includes holding folks up to higher standard in their personal lives. Liberals don't care much about this kind of thing, so calling them on it doesn't make much difference to them. But if we are to be 'conservatives,' we must hold ourselves and those who we support to that higher standard. On this count (and others) Newt fails.
Peace be with you.
Mike Parent| 1.19.12 @ 1:53PM
Red Herring alert. Labeling people doesn't mean what you say about them is true. NG Newt and Romney are for a strong military, but chose not to serve. "Liberals" like Kerry and Gore bothe served in VN. Just the opposite of how one would think the Con/Lib labels would apply. Being for freedom doesn't make one a Liberal.
Jeffrey Lord| 1.19.12 @ 2:01PM
Cfountain...
Being a conservative means understanding the imperfectability of man....the higher standard you cite is utopia...perfection...and it is a false standard. This is not to excuse a thing...it is to understand that failure and imperfection is inevitable...and were this spotlight turned on us all...we would all fail.
Quartermaster| 1.19.12 @ 5:46PM
Part of being a conservative means understanding the imperfectability of man. It is far from the whole. Your propensity to smear Paul is demonstration of the fact.
florin| 1.19.12 @ 2:36PM
Why is this considered a 'hit' piece on gingrich but gingrich's hit pieces, lies and distortions about Romney are considered fair???
Jeffrey Lord| 1.19.12 @ 4:27PM
florin...
I did not agree with the Newt attacks on Bain Capital...said so. With lots of others. The attacks ceased. That's good.
florin| 1.19.12 @ 2:41PM
Newt gingrich is not a conservative..newt gingrich is whatever he has to be in order to get what he wants. he just signed a morality pledge saying he wouldn't have any more affairs...well, he needed to do that in order to win the nomination but does anyone think that a man who could not keep his marriage vows would keep a simple morality pledge...I think not. And there are many things coming out about callista too...again, newt demanded that everything come out about the other candidates so now...it's his turn.
Ron Thompson| 1.19.12 @ 9:54PM
When jennifer Flowers and Bill Clinton had a long affair, it was glossed over. As Al Gore had his affair it was glossed over. Then we have John Edwards, it was covered until his wife (who covered for him also)got sick. But that's ok! The one safe thing a person can say is; the Constitution allows for a free press, but not a fair one!