I’m going to try to lay this out in three pieces. First, an article appears in Vanity Fair over the weekend implying among other things that Bill might be sleeping around while he’s on the road for Hillary:
Old friends and longtime aides are wringing their hands over Bill Clinton’s post–White House escapades, from the dubious (and secretive) business associations to the media blowups that have bruised his wife’s campaign, to the private-jetting around with a skirt-chasing, scandal-tinged posse. Some point to Clinton’s medical traumas; others blame sheer selfishness, and the absence of anyone who can say “no.” Exploring Clintonworld, the author asks if the former president will be consumed by his own worst self.
Second, Bill blows up on the ropeline, handshaking supporters, he gets asked for a reaction to the article:
Former President Bill Clinton today unleashed a salty stream of epithets to describe former New York Times reporter and current Vanity Fair writer Todd Purdum, calling him “sleazy,” “dishonest,” “slimy” and a “scumbag.”
The former president made the comment at a local campaign event after I asked him if Purdum’s much-commented upon Vanity Fair story was weighing on his mind…
“[He's] sleazy,” he said referring to Purdum. “He’s a really dishonest reporter. And one of our guys talked to him . . . And I haven’t read [the article]. But he told me there’s five or six just blatant lies in there. But he’s a real slimy guy,” the former president said.
When I reminded him that Purdum was married to his former press spokesperson Myers, Clinton was undeterred.
“That’s all right– he’s still a scumbag,” Clinton said. ” Let me tell ya– he’s one of the guys — he’s one of the guys that propagated all those lies about Whitewater to Kenneth Starr. He’s just a dishonest guy– can’t help it.”
Third, Bill Clinton has apologized for his language; but, another question is raised in the NY Times coverage of the incident:
Speaking to a reporter for the (Huffington Post) Web site — who campaign aides said did not identify herself as a journalist and said she hated the article before asking for his reaction — Mr. Clinton said the article was part of a pattern of media bias against Mrs. Clinton and in favor of her rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama.
A blogger should observe journalistic conventions if they want the rights and responsibilities of a reporter. I didn’t hear anything about blogging or reporting in the recording.
#17, he’s not deteriorating. He’s always been this way. It’s the press that has been more adversarial, so he’s acting up more, and they are reporting it more.
For example, when he was president, he blew up at a reporter who asked him when he would hold a press conference. The media at the time didn’t report it much.
Having read the Vanity Fair article, I don’t think Slick Willie can control himself. He was born a poor boy, and now that he’s been prez, is out to get all he can. Uses his perceived power to commandeer women and money for personal use… My 2 cents
Bobbo..I’m not talking about burning a politician I am talking about burning a source who is giving you good inside stuff. I should blow his cover and get him fired because he failed to follow the rules? What is wrong with you?
#22–JDC==I just woke up and was going to update my post to clarify an ambiguity that is almost always present. “The Media” covers a lot of disparate and varied elements and it follows that those that report on those elements do too.
Its the difference between day and night the difference between an investigative reporter on a national scandal and a technical maven reporting on a product review/industry trends.
Should a deep throat source have their confidentiality maintained in order to mark the trail?==Of course.
Should illegal bride taking of an official be kept secret in order to get future stories?==Few would say yes.
So, I think we all agree on the main points and disagreement is in the ambiguity.
I’m just upset the Washington Press Corp isn’t doing its job–the lack of follow up/challenging questions. I think a few of those name reporters should get kicked out of the daily briefing room or not called upon for being too aggressive until there is no one left in the room. Let the President/Congressman/Governor shill for themselves without getting the stamp of approval from a fawning press.
I haven’t seen John C Dvorak fawn on any political leaders in this blog, so, I’d be a happy camper if my router would assign an IP address.
Regarding the Vanity Fair blow up, “Morning Joe” panel was in general agreement this morning that “something was wrong” with the reporter not identifying themselves as such. I still don’t get that and I don’t think there is any protection to any politician trying to get something not published by claiming it was off the record. Those are unenforceable agreements hinging on the “honor” of the participants. There is NO reporter shield provision in Federal Law. Reporters have gone to jail to protect sources–sometimes nobly, other times to hype their story and own position.
Maybe all interviewees should be Mirandized? I will keep your identification secret unless your background information places you in violation of the law and I change my mind? How many pages would an appropriate “off the record” agreement be?
JCD–thank you for an open/informative/entertaining blog. Its one of the best, and you must have much to do with that. bobbo/curmudgeon in training.
I think we should talk about the future second lady of this nation with a little more respect.
Second lady. Ha. Story of Bill’s adult life.
#23, JCD
Bobbo, … What is wrong with you?
Aahh, so we’re not the only ones stumped on that.
#24, Bobbo,
Should illegal bride taking of an official be kept secret in order to get future stories?
I dunno. I guess it would depend on why the bride is illegal. Is she a wetback looking for a greencard, is she underage, polygamy, or what ever?
Hey Catshit==glad to see you back posting in good form===not in correcting typos like some frustrated schoolmarm but in silencing Thomas regarding capital punishment. Good stuff==now leave me alone!!!!
It turned out to be bogus. VF is bracing to be sued at least by the female being attached to Clinton
#15 – Cripes, a friend from back in the day emailed to remind me that Hillary worked on the same court case.
Phew!
Speaking of Mr. Clinton:
It is opined that Bill Clinton committed racist hate crimes, and I am not free to say anything further about it.
Respectfully Submitted by Andrew Y. Wang, J.D. Candidate
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
(I can type 90 words per minute, and there are probably thousands of copies on the Internet indicating the content of this post. Moreover, there are innumerable copies in very many countries around the world.)
_________________
“If only it were possible to ban invention that bottled up memories so they never got stale and faded.” Off the top of my head—it came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.