Right-wing pundits: We're not on the Bush payroll (Salon)

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

By Eric Boehlert

Jan. 27, 2005  |  In light of the second revelation this month that the Bush administration had hired a Republican-friendly pundit to help promote policy initiatives -- payments that were kept hidden from readers and viewers -- conservative commentators are calling on the White House to come clean and detail any other controversial agreements. The opinion makers say they don't want a black cloud of suspicion hanging over their own columns and broadcasts.

"If other contracts exist, then the White House should disclose them," says Jonah Goldberg, editor at large for National Review Online.

(snip)

"I hope whoever does will come forward promptly, as there's a cloud over conservatives and all commentators and pundits," says Tony Blankley, editorial page editor of the right-wing Washington Times. "My suspicion is it will be a very few people. But maybe I'm being naive."

"I don't know anybody who writes columns who's on the take from the federal government and not disclosing it," says Goldberg.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/27/pundits/
(requires subscription or free day pass)
-----------------------------

Gee, we don't know anybody who's on the take, so we don't think anybody is....Please Mr. President, dispel this black cloud hanging over our pristine reputations....

These days you gotta take your laughs where you can find them.

[Cocoa]

1. how much are they getting for these denials?

[Robbien]

20. Interesting. A cover-up must be worth much more than the illegal act

Bush's Secretaries are probably checking available balances in their taxpayer funded slush funds as we speak.

[blm]

2. Bush has his ally, RevMoon, pay for MOST of the propaganda.

The White House payola would be a pittance next to what Moon pays creeps like Tony Blankley and hundreds of "ministers" all around the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.

[liberal N proud]

3. Are they complaining or trying to cover their asses

If they are not getting paid, then they are suckers, because all the other pundits are getting paid.
HA!

[tridim]

5. They're all getting payola

Every one of them. Limbaugh, Hannity and Coulter are just the top tier whores, there are probably hundreds of others. I love how they make it sound like $40,000 isn't all that much. That's a yearly salary for most American families. She was payed that much for a few days of propaganda work for BushCo. Pretty sweet deal there, people will say just about anything for that kind of money.

[Jawja]

4. Good.

All apologists for this criminal enterprise should have to repeatedly defend their position as "bought and paid for." Their credibility as "journalists" should always be questioned.

[Zenlitened]

6. Absolutely. Put them on the defensive at every opportunity.

Frankly, a little taste of their own "guilty until proven innocent" medicine is just what's called for.

[stanwyck]

28. If everyone here

would repeatedly challenge columns and TV rhetoric with the question: "Are you getting any taxpayer money for your "views"? then maybe the message would get out. So far, my wingnut co-workers, as usual, have no clue on this story. Guess the radio hate-talkers aren't covering the Williams/Gallagher stories. Imagine that.

[winston61]

7. what?

if the white house has to pay the true believers to spout the bullshit what does that say about the value of the message? It's all lies and bullshit and if you want me to parrot it, you gotta pay me.

[TahitiNut]

8. "Be carefull what you ask, for you may get it."

Pundits, commentators, reporters, and correspondents ought to disclose all honoraria and fees received, not only from the Reich, but from the front organizations as well.

These people are wallowing in an ocean of payola, favors, and quid pro quo's.

[Just Me]

16. I wanna know how many AEI HOs are getting paid to make the rounds.

:bounce:

BTW, I really, really have a very STRONG dislike for AEI and I am appalled at how they are EVERYWHERE on CM. :mad:

[AlCzervik]

9. "A cloud" says fat Tony-thats not a new thing moran.

[Just Me]

10. Oh, yes, Tony,...I'm sure you are merely "naive".

:eyes:

[susu369]

11. If you want a laugh - take a look

http://www.ldsmag.com/familywatch/031124campaign.html

WARNING: Do not open this if you have recently eaten anything.

:evilgrin:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

15. Whoa! Coulter photo warning

"Ann Coulter, known as a funny, conservative pundit"

They really didn't need the comma between funny and conservative.

:evilgrin:

Hannity, Coulter, Gallagher...yep, they're sold. Er uh, I'm sold.

[Mari333]

18. The Adams apple is

so obvious.

[DearAbby]

29. Place a warning - when you are going to do that!

Spew/hurl/projectile vomit alert! Whoooop Whoooop!

[jbane]

32. Ever seen Coulter and Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister in the same room?

Just give her some shades and a Popeil "Crimper" for that mop....

[Cats Against Frist]

35. Uh...was that a website for polygamists who want to

save "traditional" marriage?


:wtf:

[remfan]

12. Watch out, looks like we found a tender spot!

LOL!

"Right-wing pundits on the take"

This is one of those useful little memes that will keep on giving, and before you know it...BAM! We got conventional wisdom!

[Bouncy Ball]

13. I hate to break it to you little right wing mental midget pundits

but there's BEEN a dark cloud hanging over you guys from DAY ONE.

I've NEVER trusted your asses and never will. If you told me it was snowing outside, I'd have to check with my own eyes. That's how untrustworthy you are.

[raggedcompany]

14. D.C. radio pundit runs eBay auction "Conservative Talk Show Host For Sale"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5952770833

"“Hey—Where’s MY gravy?”

That’s my question after finding out my fellow conservatives like Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher are on the “cash for commentary ” bandwagon. Why not me?

Since the Bush Administration hasn’t called (yet), I’m dropping a not-so-subtle hint that I, too, have bills to pay. I’m making my services as a talk host, writer and pundit available quickly and easily right here on eBay. And, because I’m a true conservative capitalist, my services are available to the highest bidder!

GOP, DNC, NRA, NOW, NAACP, heck, if the price is right, I’ll even sing the praises of multi-level marketing. (Wait—let me think about that one.)

This is a great deal for the winning bidder, too. In addition to hosting a three hour daily talk show on 630 WMAL—the number one talk station in Washington, DC—I also write a weekly syndicated column, I’ve written three books and I’ve appeared as a pundit on NBC’s The Today Show, CNN’s Crossfire, HBO’s Real Time, MSNBC’s Hardball and Fox News Channel’s Dayside with Linda Vester and numerous other national TV and radio programs.

Unlike Armstrong and Maggie, I will of course DISCLOSE the fact that I’m being paid for my opinion, but the passion and professional presentation are all for sale!

I may be a principled conservative, but I ain’t no dummy. Let the bidding begin!

(PS-- Any proceeds from this auction will go to benefit Fisher House and the excellent work they do for our wounded soldiers and their families.)"

[Tuttle]

40. excellent

thanks for sharing!

Tut-tut

[bemildred]

17. "We are not crooks." nt

[daleo]

19. This is like mad cow disease.

There is probably a lot more of it out there than we are being told about. Until this contamination has been totally eliminated, nobody should consume right wing punditry.

[Buns_of_Fire]

21. I'm sure the president and his staff know nothing about this payola

There. That should be worth a couple grand. Please make the check payable to __________, in U.S. funds only, please. /sarcasm

"Would you go to bed with me for a million dollars?"
"Sure."
"How about for five dollars?"
"Absolutely not! What kind of person do you think I am?"
"We've already established that. Now we're just haggling over the price."

[gordianot]

22. Did anyone consider that Novak may be on the payroll?

That would be great paid to commit treason!

[enki23]

23. most of 'em aren't directly on the take from bush

they're on the take from the money sources which bought him the presidency.

[gordianot]

24. Good point. N/T

[Ganja Ninja]

25. No they're not on the Bush payroll.

But their wives or relatives or the corporations they work for are.

[yellowcanine]

26. We are whores but we are not streetwalkers! (apologies to streetwalkers)

[enki23]

27. perhaps the most disgusting angle here....

is that they don't even have to do this. all those heads of corporations which organized tens of millions for bush's campaign and inauguration also shell out gargantuan fistfuls of cash for pro-administration and anti-opposition PR efforts. better yet, there's a huge *market* for their right-wing bullshit. people *pay* to be propagandized. and these corporations pay big money to advertise to them during their favorite propaganda.

there was no need to spend taxpayer money on this propaganda. they just figured it didn't matter. they were so untouchable that even though they didn't need to do it, they figured they may as well. they knew it was wrong, and unnecessary, but they did it anyway. just for the hell of it. just to fucking thumb their noses at us. these deceitful assholes, these "pundits" and others would have said this shit anyway.

these taxpayer-funded payoffs weren't business transactions. they were fucking tips.

[Megahurtz]

30. Yep, paid off, laundered, and

sent offshore somewhere.:evilgrin:

I wonder where their "Laundromats" are at???

[KansDem]

31. To use a tactic from the Bush v. Saddam playbook...

"Prove you are not on the Bush payroll!"

[Zenlitened]

34. Tax returns. Let's see those tax returns!

:hi:

[Thor_MN]

36. Tax returns, Bank Accounts, Credit card statements. It's audit time

[VegasWolf]

33. True, they are not on the payroll, they are more like hired contractors.

[struggle4progress]

37. Translation: "Gosh, a lot of financial records have been lost." eom

<edit: spelling>

[hootinholler]

38. Unreal...

"I don't know anybody who writes columns who's on the take from the federal government and not disclosing it," says Goldberg.

Um, how would you know if they're not disclosing it?

The sad part is that they can't even hire pepople that can express coherent thought.

Agree on the tip angle.

-Hoot

[librechik]

39. please, please goddess make one of em Lucianne Goldberg

I need a good laugh.

that would be a sight worth reading her blight er blog just to see the apology...and make Jonah squirm.

[alarimer]

41. Salon just posted an article about a third one.

Mcmanus is his name.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/27/mcmanus/index.html