Washington Times Names Controversial Reporter John Solomon As New ‘Executive Editor’
Washington Times Names Controversial Reporter John Solomon As New ‘Executive Editor’
Matt Drudge is reporting that former Associated Press reporter and current Washington Post “star” John Solomon has been named the new executive editor of the conservative Washington Times. Solomon, who joined the Post little over a year ago, will “succeed Wesley Pruden, who is retiring after 25 years in The Washington Times newsroom.”
Solomon’s reporting has been heavily criticized in the blogosphere for over hyping minor stories, omitting key facts and twisting out of context the meaning of statements. Here are a few examples of the reporting ethos Solomon will be bringing to the Times:
- Solomon tried to link Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) to the Jack Abramoff scandal by reporting on Reid contacts with Abramoff-tied lobbyist, but overlooked the fact that Reid voted against lobbyists’ favored bill.
- Solomon took comments by Ambassador Joe Wilson out of context in effort to claim he “acknowledged his wife was no longer in an undercover job at the time Novak’s column first identified her.”
- In a non-story, Solomon reported that Reid accepted boxing tickets from a state government agency, despite that he then did the opposite of what the agency wanted.
- In 2006, Solomon claimed that Reid “collected a $1.1 million windfall on a Las Vegas land sale,” even though Reid actually only made a $700,000 profit on the sale.
- Solomon wrote a story calling Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) a hypocrite on campaign finance reform, but buried quotes by critics of big money in government exonerating him for “all the things the article criticizes him for doing.”
- In July, Solomon “devoted nearly 1,300 words to the ‘controversy’ surrounding” John Edwards’ haircut.
- In a front page story, Solomon baselessly suggested that John Edwards had engaged in a shady land deal, but never provided proper context for the sale. His reporting was criticized by the Post’s ombudsman.
At the preeminent conservative newspaper in the nation, John Solomon’s shoddy reporting record has finally found the appropriate home.
UPDATE: The Washington Times confirms that Solomon will be replacing Pruden.
UPDATE II: With Solomon coming in, Fran Coombs — “whom many thought would replace Wes Pruden as executive editor” — announced today “that he is leaving the paper.”
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At the preeminent conservative newspaper in the nation, John Solomon’s shoddy reporting record has finally found the appropriate home.
If The Washington Times really is "the preeminent conservative newspaper in the country", then they really do know nothing about journalism. But it does make an excellent liner for kitty litter boxes.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:35 pmGood. Bat$hit crazy neocons should be penned up together, not spread out among the general population.
Quarantined. That's the word I'm looking for.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:35 pmJohn Solomon: the man who will Moon America.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:36 pmBut it does make an excellent liner for kitty litter boxes.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Or to line a birdcage.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:37 pmSolomon’s reporting has been heavily criticized in the blogosphere for over hyping minor stories, omitting key facts and twisting out of context the meaning of statements.
yep... sounds perfect for the moonie times...
...
speaking of "out of context"... i'm hearing on randi an explanation of bill clinton's "fairy tale" comment... i admit, i'm not so familiar with that story, but after hearing her and listening to the WHOLE comment, it's obvious as hell that the press is manipulating the show and the candidates... the obama camp may have done the initial twisting, i don't know, but how many here know the whole story?
like randi says - these candidates have BIG problems to talk about -
January 14th, 2008 at 3:39 pmthey better lay off the race and gender attacks of each other...
soon...
now.
Yeah, but he was "at home" at AP & Post, too. Is there supposed to be some kind of difference between the three? Used to, maybe, but now?
Funny how we keep giving the Post and NY Times, and others, credit for some kind of objectivity, just because once upon a time they were objective. We all need to face the fact that they are all "Washington Times", now.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pmDISGUSTED?
ANGRY?
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!.....
letters@washingtontimes.com, gpierce@washingtontimes.com, jmccaslin@washingtontimes.com
January 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pmBad Moon on the rise
Overcoming his church's bizarre reputation and his own criminal record, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon has cemented ties with the Bush administration, while his disciples have even gained government funding.
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2003/09/24/moon/index.html
January 14th, 2008 at 3:46 pmFrosty, you expressed my thoughts exactly.
Now that Solomon is at the Moonie Times, there's almost no danger that anyone will take his reporting as serious journalism anymore.
This is a good thing.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:48 pm"Some people may oppose me, but they will go down the drain after a while and end up in hell…. I came with the teaching that the world and religions should become one… Soon, the American president will have to visit me to seek advice."
* Sun Myung Moon, December 10, 2000, East Garden, New York source:
http://www.unification.net/news/2000/news20001210.html
The answer may lie in Moon's own words during a speech in New York:
"America is the most powerful country in the world. But its powerful leaders listen to the Washington Times. A statement from the Times can affect them dramatically. The government of other nations also listen to the Washington Times. Who at the Washington Times is having the biggest impact? [Bill Gertz.] Bill Gertz. How old is he? He is young. He only graduated from high school, joined the Washington Times and became famous."
A speech by a Unification Church pastor, posted on the Unification Church Web site, says the following about Gertz:
"The magazine Weekly Standard, published by Rupert Murdoch, edited by Bill Kristol, a very influential conservative publication. They did a full-page story on Bill Gertz, an exciting story for me because the first paragraph called him a fascinating phenomenon because of the stories he broke. It said that he was one of the early guys at the Washington Times, he is a member of Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, he never graduated from college, and he is 'now known as the most significant national security reporter in America.'
"Furthermore, when Bill wrote the book I saw an early copy. He's bold. He dedicated the book to 'the founders of the Washington Times, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, without which I would never have written this.'"
The speech goes on to say that Gertz and the pastor had been in Alaska studying with "Father and Mother" - Moon and his wife -- for a week.
Let me tell you how this shift has affected the coverage of international affairs in the Washington Times.
A November 4 op-ed in the Times on how we can win the war on terrorism through an alliance with Islam proclaimed:
"The new, interreligious America presents a more attractive partner for engagement with Islam than a 'Christian' America, being less encumbered with the historical baggage of a religion that Islam has seen as an adversary for more than 1,000 years."
January 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pmand another thing... she reminds us about the michigan primary -
you know, the one that kos is asking dems to come out and vote for
romney...
ONLY Hillary, Gravel and Kucinich will be on your Democratic ballot. DO NOT WRITE IN a candidates name – IT WILL NOT COUNT although the ballot says it WILL.
better idea: VOTE for KUCINICH!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:52 pmkeeping him and his ideas in the news can only be good for this process...
it's way too early to have it be a race between 2 - chosen by the PRESS...
ralph:
Exactly!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:52 pmParry also pointed out that "Bush's claims about the newspaper's editorial independence "was not truthful." Practically from the day it opened its doors, Parry wrote, "a string of senior editors and correspondents have resigned, citing the manipulation of the news by Moon and his subordinates. The first editor, James Whelan, resigned in 1984, confessing that he had 'blood on his hands' for helping the church achieve greater legitimacy."
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=BER20070415&articleId=5389
January 14th, 2008 at 3:52 pmBut it does make an excellent liner for kitty litter boxes.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Or to line a birdcage.
Comment by StratRat — January 14, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
You guys forgot all the redneck redstaters who can use it for terlet paper in their outhouses.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pmComment by katy — January 14, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Katy, Obama isn't on the Michigan ballot?
January 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pmbut wait...
January 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pm"Matt Drudge is reporting"... is the TIMES confirming?
Shayne, I saw a poll the other day that listed Hillary, Kucinich and unsure.
I was wondering what the hell that was about?
Hillary Clinton 57%
January 14th, 2008 at 4:03 pmDennis Kucinich 3%
Unsure 12%
shayne -
January 14th, 2008 at 4:03 pmWhy ONLY Hillary, Gravel and Kucinich will be on your Democratic ballot. DO NOT WRITE IN a candidates name – IT WILL NOT COUNT although the ballot says it WILL. Why did this happen?
The Democratic Leadership Council is “very happy about the two candidates†that the American voters are considering for the Democratic ticket. John Edwards is left out!
via http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/live/
January 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pmSolomon will catapult the propaganda.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pmLooks like this particular Media Whore has clawed his way to the top.
He did it the old-fashioned way; he didn't even appear on TV.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:26 pmPet birds love this newspaper.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pmGREAT NEWS!!!!.
The Moon juggernaut found someone who will have no problem continuing to deceive the nation. But more importantly it will be someone who it appears has passed the BIG test…that they can use cult-like rationalization to go along with being paid out of Moon's cash pool - hundreds of millions, if not billions, of which Moon's organization "made" literally swindling widows in Japan - while helping Moon gain face and influence here and around the world.
Funny how that is never talked about in the good old U.S. of A.
You know, that a man who claims to be the Messiah and mocks Jesus Christ as a failure, cliams Jesus now serves Moon's dead son in the "spiritworld" - Moon also claims to be anti-communist yet he funds North Korea, wants Korea (what he calls the “Fatherlandâ€) to be the center of the world, calls for democracy to be replaced with his form of theocracy and spends billions in overseas swindled cash to successfully manipulate our political system is just accepted and even honored in the USA. Moon is literally conservatism’s savior. Without him, his billion, his fronts and his opertatives, today’s conservative is not as extreme, as fascist, as authoritarian, as anti-science, as homophobic nor as theocratic as they have become. Moon molded them into his image.
scroll down here
http:ww.dailykos.com/user/uid:68162
for: Moon's money - the billions that moved America right and theocratic
January 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pm"Solomon’s reporting has been heavily criticized in the blogosphere for over hyping minor stories, omitting key facts and twisting out of context the meaning of statements. "
A true Bushie
January 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pmQuoting James Whelan, the first editor of Moon’s Washington Times. Whelan is the one who left the paper saying he had "blood on his hands" for helping Moon gain credibility.
This quote is from a "must see" googlevid panel discussion with former editors of Moon's media:
January 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
"The Democratic Leadership Council is “very happy about the two candidates†that the American voters are considering for the Democratic ticket. John Edwards is left out!"
This is why true progressives refer to it as the Determined to Lose Council.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:03 pmThanks for the links Katy.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:12 pmDid anyone really expect them to hire someone who was a real journalist or who even would know the truth if it hit him in the head with a two by four? This guy sounds perfect for the job.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:23 pmbetter idea: VOTE for KUCINICH!
keeping him and his ideas in the news can only be good for this process…
it’s way too early to have it be a race between 2 - chosen by the PRESS…
Comment by katy
Or, vote uncommitted. There has been a movement in Michigan the last couple of weeks to get Democrats to vote uncommitted. That way, if the Michigan delegates are counted, Hillary won't have half the delegates and all the uncommitted can go to Edwards or Obama. I like this much bettern than wasting a vote by crossing over and voting for Romney. Besides, I hate to think that the Democratic party could get down in the mud with the Republicans. I would like to think that we are better than that.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:27 pmbilbo - ok... that too...
but randi explains that the WRITE IN votes will not be counted...
she also likes the idea that kucinich could get, besides the press, some
much needed donations...
i HATE the idea of any dem voting for ANY repug for most any reason...
January 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pmoh! you're welcome, shayne...
randi's site is always a wealth of info... "homework", she calls it...
January 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pmComment by judyinnm: Funny how we keep giving the Post and NY Times, and others, credit for some kind of objectivity, just because once upon a time they were objective. We all need to face the fact that they are all “Washington Timesâ€, now.
Spot on!! The Washington Post is just a notch above the blatant partisan reporting of the Washington Times. But, that makes them even more dangerous as they give MSM credibility to a conservative slant (see their editiorial page and David Broder in general - especially on Karl Rove and the Plame case).
January 14th, 2008 at 6:17 pmWow, I wish
could blockquote>only make a 700,000 profit on anything...
January 14th, 2008 at 6:24 pmok, obviously my blockquotes aren't working...
January 14th, 2008 at 6:25 pmWhen I was young, Moonies were a bunch of whack jobs who typified the wrong side of religion and sanity. WTF is going on here? How in God's name could Moon (who rally believes himself to be the second coming) ever attain such a prominent position in publishing or in political discourse. It would be one thing had Moon turned over a new leaf and spent years showing us a normal, sane person. However, he is still the fanatical, criminal that he has always been.
The people of the right (base) are the biggest bunch of ignorant fools that we have ever witnessed. They are led around like stupid sheep. They have the intellect of a newt.
We will now see this once great nation implode as Moon, the corpocracy and the elite families destroy our culture, our constitution and economy while the fools of red state amerika such on their retarded thumbs.
The Repbulican base is exactly what Bush accuses the worst of America to be. They are too stupid to read and educate themselves. The fornicate like bunnies. (Why else do the red states have the highest teenage pregnancy and illegitmate birth rates?) They cannot even learn to live in civil society. (Why else do the red states have so muh more crime, poverty, divorces and alcoholism?) They are lazy. (Why else do red states produce the low tax revenues compared to Blue States and must depend upon Blue State federal tax dollars to subsdize their programs?)
REPUBLICAN BASE MEMBERS ARE ALL OBVIOUSLY MENTALLY INFERIOR.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:48 pmWhen I was young, Moonies were a bunch of whack jobs who typified the wrong side of religion and sanity. WTF is going on here? How in God’s name could Moon (who rally believes himself to be the second coming) ever attain such a prominent position in publishing or in political discourse?
Read the whole awful story in my book Bad Moon Rising, out in March.
"Free sex is centered on...SAY-TAN!"
January 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pm-- Sun Myung Moon
Understandable you might have these thoughts but they show a real lack of understanding as to who Moon is and why he created the paper. It's the kind of opinion Moon loves, drag everyone into his slop. In short, as bad as the WP and the NYT may be, there is NO paper anywhere near what the WT is. None. From financing to stated and unstated purpose for being, NONE.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pmSo the Washington times will...continue being the Washinton Times.
January 14th, 2008 at 11:25 pmOh, c'mon. It's the Washington Times, the Moon-unit, fer chrissakes. It's not like it's a real newspaper. Solomon can do a lot less damage as editor of that cartoon strip than as a reporter for the WaPo...
January 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am