RNC group: 'Addicts' in the press come to us before going on TV

[Rose Siding]

Another Win for 'Friends & Allies'
When John G. Roberts is approved as chief justice of the United States, as expected, he can thank President Bush 's "Friends & Allies" program, which went to work on him immediately after he was nominated. The project, started by the Republican National Committee in the 2004 re-election campaign, is simple and effective: Give opinion makers, media friends, and even cocktail party hosts insider info on the topic of the day. How? Through E-mailed talking points, called D.C. Talkers, and conference calls. For Roberts, it worked this way: A daily conference call to about 80 pundits, GOP-leaning radio and TV hosts, and newsmakers was made around 9 a.m. On the other end were the main Roberts gunslingers like Steve Schmidt at the White House and Ken Mehlman and Brian Jones at the RNC. D.C. Talkers would then be distributed to an even larger list filled with positive info about Roberts and lines of attack on his critics. "The idea," said one of those involved, "is to feed them information and have them invested in us." It has even created addicts, he added. "Now they come to us before going on TV."

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/articles/050926/26whisplead.htm

[jasmeel]

1. How sad. The dems have NO counter strategy??? Does

anyone know what's out there from the Dems?

[MaineDem]

2. There are MANY statements put out by the DNC

And by the House Dems and the Senate Dems.

Some of them get posted here and torn apart by some DUers as "not enough". These press releases go to a vast mailing list of media. The talking points are getting out bu tI'm not sure what's being done with them by the press.

[jasmeel]

4. Sounds like the RW has more connections in the press-surprise

surprise.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Uhm, do you realize you can't have insider info if you're not an insider?

Without us being in power, there is no possible counter. We can't feed the media anything like this because we have nothing to feed them with. What, exactly, do you expect them to do?

[otohara]

3. Feed Them Information

today we are serving KoolAid and a heaping pile of pooh.

[gratuitous]

5. RNC: Friend of the lazy journalist

"Don't worry about what you are to say, what you are to think, for your heavenly conference call will come through daily. Just be sure to deny ever being on the receiving end, and indignantly proclaim your independence should you ever be questioned."

I like how Useless News and World Distort is assiduous about telling us who the big shots are who are feeding the information through D.C. Talkers (Ken Mehlman! Steve Schmidt!), but is curiously reticent about telling us who's on the receiving end of these conference calls.

Why so shy, guys? Being a media whore better for your bank account than it is for your professional integrity?

[Supersedeas]

7. are there others?