The L.A. Times has no trouble releasing videos of politicians it *doesn’t* like

The L.A. Times has no trouble releasing videos of politicians it doesn’t like

So why do they continue refusing to release the Obama/Ayers/Khalidi tape?

Wednesday, October 29th at 6:56PM EST

23 Comments

In 2006, the Los Angeles Times decided an audio tape it had obtained of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, an apologetic Republican, in which he said of latina Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-80), “She seems to me like Cuban … She maybe is Puerto Rican or the same thing as Cuban. I mean, they are all very hot. They have the, you know, part of the black blood in them and part of the Latino blood in them that together makes it,” was front-page news.

“The governor is heard on a six-minute recording, obtained by The Times, of a meeting with some members of his inner circle last spring,” wrote Robert Salladay in the page A-1 story on the recording. “At the time, Schwarzenegger was struggling to persuade Republican lawmakers to embrace his plan to place billions of dollars in borrowing on the November ballot.”

Now, I know commenting on heritage is, to our P.C.-police media, a far worse crime than palling around with terrorists (or even than committing terrorist acts, to judge by recent events like the LAT‘s call for a full pardon of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh).

However, its history of baring all when it comes to tapes – both audio and video – that it obtains once again begs the question asked repeatedly here on RedState: Why won’t the Times allow the public to see its video of Barack Obama, along with Weather Underground terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, toasting former Palestinian Liberation Organization spokesman Rashid Khalidi at a 2003 event honoring the Arafat disciple and his wife?

Peter Wallsten, writing in the Times about the video this past April, said speakers at the 2003 event celebrating Khalidi “recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians,” threatened that Israel “will never see a day of peace,” and “likened Zionist settlers on the West Bank to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been blinded by ideology.”

However, wrote Wallsten, Obama “adopted a different tone in his comments and called for finding common ground.”

On the latter, we are expected to simply take Wallsten’s word for it, as the Times continues to steadfastly refuse to release the video of the event.

McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb today called on the Times to release the video, saying, “A major news organization is intentionally suppressing information that could provide a clearer link between Barack Obama and Rashid Khalidi. The election is one week away, and it’s unfortunate that the press so obviously favors Barack Obama that this campaign must publicly request that the Los Angeles Times do its job — make information public.”

Based on its decision so far not to let the public see what its staffers claim is a completely innocuous video of the Democratic presidential nominee at an event celebrating a former terrorist mouthpiece, it appears to be a pretty safe bet that this is going to continue to be kept under wraps until after next Tuesday at very least.

This video could very well have nothing on it that would hurt Obama’s chances next week. If that is the case, then the LAT and the Obama campaign are doing their collectively-chosen candidate a disservice by allowing speculation to continue about what exactly is on the video.

Much like the Obama campaign could have nipped the lunatic fringe’s obsession with his birth in the bud by simply releasing his birth certificate — something it continues to inexplicably refuse to do — the LAT would be best served, if this tape really is as innocuous as the public is expected to believe, by simply getting this over with and letting it be seen.

Likewise, the Obama campaign would seem to benefit more from leaning on the Times to go ahead and release the tape already, so as to end the mounting speculation about its contents and prevent more fallout from the perceived coverup of this event — if, that is, the video’s contents are as innocuous as we have been led to believe.

After all, they might not be, and until the LA Times and the Obama campaign deign to release the video for all to see, we will have nothing to do but continue speculating about just what it may contain that so many are so desperate that none ever see.

23 Comments Leave a comment

Why? Oh come on.

Bill S (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:11PM EST (link)

Why won’t they talk about Ayers? Instead they portray him as a “education reformer” or some such dreck
Why won’t they point out how Joe “Gaffe-a-day” Biden is now being shielded from the press, when just weeks ago they were relentless against Palin for the same thing?
Why won’t they point out how a gay porn producer is one of Obama’s big fundraisers and is on Obama’s finance committee?
Why won’t they publicize his plans to raise taxes on the middle class – but instead they parrot his claims about “tax cuts for 95% of Americans?”

Why? Good heavens, I hope that is a rhetorical question, because the answer is bloody obvious – they are covering for their guy. The LAT, like virtually every MSM source, is chocked full of leftists and is just dying to see The One elected. They are protecting him. And the rest of the media is conspiring with them, as you will not hear ANYWHERE except Foxnews.com that such a tape even exists.

“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins

jack and jeri ryan didnt want their records unsealed but court did it

Common_Cents (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:17PM EST (link)

“Why Unseal Ryan’s Divorce Papers?Neither Jack nor Jeri wanted them unsealed. What gives?
By Brendan I. KoernerPosted Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 6:05 PM ET

Records from the 1999 divorce of Illinois Senate candidate Jack Ryan were unsealed Monday, and the revelations contained therein are spooking some of his supporters. The documents contain allegations from his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, that her then-husband had a predilection for taking her to raunchy sex clubs. Both Ryans opposed the unsealing of the divorce records. Why was the court permitted to overrule their wishes?

Because the First Amendment rights of media organizations generally supercede the privacy rights of litigants, since the American legal system favors transparency in all court proceedings. In the Ryan case, the Chicago Tribune and a Chicago TV station sued in Los Angeles (where the divorce proceedings took place) to unseal the records. In keeping with prior rulings nationwide, the court concluded that the public’s right of access outweighed whatever emotional distress the unsealing might cause.”

Geez, isn’t vetting a potential POTUS qualify the public right of access?

Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from, ~~behind~~, the Back Nine.
Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.

Cutting off your nose to spite your face.

KeyWestConservative (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:20PM EST (link)

The L.A. Times just laid off 75 people yesterday. Their circulation numbers are in the tank. They desperately need to break a big story to gain readership, yet they decide to SIT ON the biggest story of the election season. Yes their actions may help Obama win, but the Times might be defunct by the time Obama takes the oath.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face.

barry's birth certificate

Common_Cents (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:21PM EST (link)

And wouldn’t the public have priority on making sure a POTUS candidate is truly a valid citizen?

sheesh.

barry's birth certificate

Common_Cents (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:23PM EST (link)

And wouldn’t the public have priority on making sure a POTUS candidate is truly a valid citizen?

sheesh.

Obama gave him a Hug

GreenAces Wednesday, October 29th at 7:32PM EST (link)

And McCain gave him a half million dollars.

You can’t build bombs with hugs, but you can sure blow a lot of stuff up with $500,000.

So why on earth does McCain think that this is a rational thing to pursue?

Or has all rationality left the building?

Why highlight the issue?

MikeNC Wednesday, October 29th at 7:37PM EST (link)

John McCain gave the guy about $500,000, so why would anyone in McCain’s campaign want this issue exposed?

This reminds me of the issues with ACORN. Yes, Obama is directly tied with ACORN but McCain has been at their events and I believe was a keynote speaker. What’s the point of bringing these issues up if it comes back to bite McCain?

since this makes a back-to-back Front page diary, why wasn't it just response in the already active Front Page diary?

JLenardDetroit (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:40PM EST (link)

just sayin’… IMO… it pushes other things off the front page while this is already and active front page item…

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Meanwhile Obama's folks living in Boston squalor

ElliotE5 (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 7:48PM EST (link)

Meanwhile The Times of London describes Obama’s family living in squalor in Boston. But his auntie can’t talk until after the election.

Barack Obama has lived one version of the American Dream that has taken him to the steps of the White House. But a few miles from where the Democratic presidential candidate studied at Harvard, his Kenyan aunt and uncle, immigrants living in modest circumstances in Boston, have a contrasting American story.

Zeituni Onyango, the aunt so affectionately described in Mr Obama’s best-selling memoir Dreams from My Father, lives in a disabled-access flat on a rundown public housing estate in South Boston.

A second relative believed to be the long-lost “Uncle Omar” described in the book was beaten by armed robbers with a “sawed-off rifle” while working in a corner shop in the Dorchester area of the city. He was later evicted from his one-bedroom flat for failing to pay $2,324.20 (£1,488) arrears, according to the Boston Housing Court.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/usandamericas/us_elections/article5042571.ece

Okay, your point is made... now release the tape.

Crowe (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 8:02PM EST (link)

If what you say about McCain is, indeed, worse than what is on that tape, then releasing the tape in conjunction with pointing out McCain’s involvement with the guy should be a small, easy matter…

but rather than do what you say would show McCain to be worse than Obama vis-a-vis the Palestinians, the LAT simply won’t release the tape.

All we can assume is that there is, in fact, something worse than supporting $500K for some Palestinian causes in that tape.

Either explain to me where I’m wrong, or join the call to release the tape so that it can prove me wrong.

“We sleep soundly in our beds only because ~~rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm~~ Dear Leader Obama gives us leave to do so.”

They want to keep her under wraps utill after the election

ElliotE5 (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 8:07PM EST (link)

Speaking outside her home in Flaherty Way, South Boston, on Tuesday, Ms Onyango, 56, confirmed she was the “Auntie Zeituni” in Mr Obama’s memoir. She declined to answer most other questions about her relationship with the presidential contender until after the November 4 election. “I can’t talk about it, I just pray for him, that’s all,” she said, adding: “After the 4th, I can talk to anyone.”

No one will care.

A. F. Wednesday, October 29th at 8:10PM EST (link)

I dont believe for a second that people will care if that tape is released. If the Wright tape, Ayers, Odinga, Rezko and ACORN didn’t phase the masses why would another radical do so?

I just dont want any whining after he’s crowned and people start to say- “we didn’t know….”

He has been quite clear who he is, what he believes in and who he surrounds himself with. Quite clear.

Uppity Redhead – http://uredhead.blogdrive.com/

Anyone care to ask MA Congressman Barney Frank for comment?

ElliotE5 (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 8:26PM EST (link)

He knows a few things about housing.

I am curious

GreenAces Wednesday, October 29th at 8:31PM EST (link)

What types of acts, as President, do you fear from Obama? I mean, specifically what would he do within his powers in that role that would be harmful to the country?

(apart from exiting Iraq on a shorter timeline than McCain, at least in theory)

The Tape

jcheney Wednesday, October 29th at 9:07PM EST (link)

There is a mock transcript here:

http://chicagoagainstobama.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/probable-transcript-of-the-khalidi-tap

how's this list?

JoeG Wednesday, October 29th at 10:26PM EST (link)

Take away 1st amendment rights of those that disagree:

Enact the “fairness” doctrine, hammering the few right leaning outlets. Of course the left leaning ABC / CBS / NBC / CNN / MSNBC / NPR all are “balanced” and won’t be bothered.
- Create hate speech laws like Canada’s so that right leaning political speech can be labeled hate speech and banned

2nd amendment? GONE. He’ll stuff the court with anti-gun folks.

Taxes: Just like Clinton, Obama will back right out on the campaign promises of a middle class tax cut “because we can’t afford it. I tried really hard and I couldn’t find a way to do it.” The 250K number will be more like 75K. Yeah, I’m above it and I fully expect to get hammered.

I don't think there IS a tape

kbk110957 Wednesday, October 29th at 10:42PM EST (link)

I think it’s another ruse – like Berg’s so-called tape that he was gonna release “in a few days”, and Andy Martin’s crap. It’s all a distraction.

A Good Start

GreenAces Wednesday, October 29th at 10:46PM EST (link)

Thanks for replying. For what it’s worth, I would not want any of those things to be enacted, and I am not a conservative. Obama’s is opposed to the fairness doctrine according to everything I have read – I really can’t see him attempting to squelch free speech, and that is what I honestly believe. He is for some gun control, but again, I think the fear that he is going to “take your guns” is hype, not reflected in his positions
On the tax thing, I think he will do everything he can to help the middle class – that has been his message all along. But as you suggest, politicians do have a way of backing off their campaign promises when they actually get in office. If he wins and actually tries to do what he claims he will, I think it will be a better country for it. We’ll see. Thanks again.

kbk110957, do try to keep up.

Moe Lane (Diary) Wednesday, October 29th at 11:06PM EST (link)

The LA Times itself says that the tape exists: they just aren’t releasing it.

The newspaper reported Tuesday evening in a story on its Web site that the tape was from a confidential source.

“The Los Angeles Times did not publish the videotape because it was provided to us by a confidential source who did so on the condition that we not release it,” the Times’ editor, Russ Stanton, said. “The Times keeps its promises to sources.”

Try the McCain equivalence angle, instead. It won’t work, either, but it might make you feel better.

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I don't care WHAT that article says.

kbk110957 Thursday, October 30th at 12:38AM EST (link)

If there was this evidence – why not release it? It makes no sense.

Why is everyone at this web site so angry?

Really? What makes you think we're "angry"?

Martin Knight (Diary) Thursday, October 30th at 4:53AM EST (link)

I know it’s the media meme of the moment, but really, it’s not true.

Well,

Wayne (Diary) Thursday, October 30th at 6:14AM EST (link)

he opposes any concealed carry law, which are state enacted laws, not federal. He opposes the manufacture, sale and possession of semi-automatic handguns. He favored the draconian tax increases on ammunition. He favored the law that put anyone who used a weapon in self-defense, in their own home, into the court system as a defendant.
So, yes, he does seem to be anti-gun, and anti-gun owner.
As to doing what he says he will do, that’s the frightening thing.

“Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal, and took Iwo Jima, Baghdad ain’t s–t”. Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly, USMC, Deputy CG, First MEF

Hmmm...

HsvConservative Thursday, October 30th at 9:54AM EST (link)

Release the tape and we will see what the public thinks. I think your guy is worried about his long term associations with Khalidi-Ayers-Dohrn-Wright…see a pattern there, I sure do.
So he showed up at a rally that Acorn was one of the participants…did he train anyone in Acorn, does he have an endorsement from Acorn? Hmmm something is fishy.