Or don’t. There are better sources

The American public’s distaste for and mistrust of the New York Times is understandable. How else would Americans view a paper that would editorially welcome Republicans arriving in town for their 2004 convention with the suggestion they should embrace a policy of amnesty for illegal aliens in order to attract Hispanic and “moderate” voters, but should avoid using the word “amnesty” when describing the policy to voters?

Attempting to dupe a major political party into duping the American people doesn’t exactly burnish a media outlet’s image with said people as a trusted and friendly source for news and opinion.

Nevertheless, Americans should treat as probably accurate the Times’ recent report on John McCain’s friendliness with a lobbyist whose clients had business before the committee McCain chaired. Hold your noses, if you have to, but take the report seriously.

In any case, you don’t have to resort to the New York Times for published reports of the sleazier side of the man Republicans are set to nominate to be their standard-bearer in November. The Arizona Republic exposes a 2005 incident that makes the Times’ exposé look like tiddlywinks.

Billboard Owner Bars Ad Targeting McCain; by The Arizona Republic

Appearance of Corruption

When the Republicans held the Senate, John McCain was chairman of the Senate Commerce committee, which has regulatory power over media ownership. While he was chairman, the media conglomerate, Viacom, through its political action committee, company executives, and their family members gave McCain’s 2004 reelection campaign fund nearly $68,000, the fourth-largest amount from a single interest, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

When ProjectUSA tried to erect a billboard in Phoenix advertising John McCain’s support for amnesty for illegal aliens, Viacom broke its contract with the activist group, saying it wouldn’t allow anyone to "bash" John McCain on its billboards.

Meanwhile, under McCain’s chairmanship, the Commerce committee was permitting decades-old rules on corporate ownership of the media to be gutted.

Viacom decides what you should know

Demonstrable Dishonesty

Regarding John McCain’s denials of the allegations in the New York Times story, how much can you trust a man who repeatedly lied about his support for amnesty? Not only did he lie about an important issue with huge consequences for our nation, he employed the lies circulated in a talking points memo put out by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, an organization at the bottom of the deepest dirtiest barrel in the country.

AILA dictates; McCain regurgitates

Tags:   AILA · Arizona Republic · lobbying · McCain · New York Times · Queens TimesNewsweekly · Viacom1 Comment