Kristol Walks The Tightrope: Tries To Defend Both McCain And The New York Times
Kristol Walks The Tightrope: Tries To Defend Both McCain And The New York Times
Today on Fox News, right-wing pundit and New York Times columnist Bill Kristol discussed the New York Times’s damaging story on Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) unethical relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. Kristol tried to have it both ways, juggling his support for McCain with his allegiance to his new employer.
Defending McCain, Kristol said that he is not sure whether the NYT story “is fair” and went on to suggest it wasn’t very consequential:
– “There’s no one showing that McCain did anything.”
– “This is no big deal and no blow to the McCain campaign.”
– “The McCain campaign could be heaving a big sigh of relief…it’s a one day story.”
– “No one’s really accusing him of anything.”
– “At the end of the day there’s nothing there that proves or suggests any wrong-doing by Sen. McCain.”
– “There’s nothing in it that’s really damaging to McCain. … [He] has really put this story to rest.”
At the same time, Kristol was careful not to criticize his new employer, the Times. When Fox anchor Trace Gallagher told Kristol that the story is “almost blatently unfair,” Kristol hedged. “Well I don’t know, they’re reporting on turmoil within the McCain campaign,” he said. Kristol made similar defenses of the Times throughout the segment:
– “The Times is entitled to print a long story about McCain advisers going to a lobbyist and saying she was dropping McCain’s name too much.”
– “I’m not going to criticize [NY Times executive editor Bill] Keller or the Times for publishing it.”
Watch it:
The new Kristol seems to be a much more tepid critic than the old Kristol, who once argued the NYT “isn’t a first rate newspaper” and “should be prosecuted.”
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Kristol is such a putrid whore.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:04 pm“Prosecuted.” That’s a word Bill Kristol should familiarize himself with.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:06 pm“Kristol, who who once argued the NYT “isn’t a first rate newspaperâ€
I don’t know about then, but it isn’t a first rate newspaper now.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pmWhy even bother with what McKristol is saying. Every word comes from his mouth is a lie.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:21 pmMaybe if we get lucky, his head will explode! ;o)
February 21st, 2008 at 5:22 pmAll purpose ass-kisser.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm“torn between two lovers
February 21st, 2008 at 5:27 pmfeeling like a fool”
– “There’s no one showing that McCain did anything.â€
– “This is no big deal and no blow to the McCain campaign.â€
– “The McCain campaign could be heaving a big sigh of relief…it’s a one day story.â€
– “No one’s really accusing him of anything.â€
– “At the end of the day there’s nothing there that proves or suggests any wrong-doing by Sen. McCain.â€
– “There’s nothing in it that’s really damaging to McCain. … [He] has really put this story to rest.â€
So why all the denial?
February 21st, 2008 at 5:30 pmThe laddie doth protest too much.
Pretty much everything Kristol said while defending McPander is wishful thinking. I don’t think that the story will be a “one day story”. Especially since the source of the story is people who worked directly with McPander. What is he going to do, call these people liars? What does that say about McPander, that he had a bunch of liars working for him at one time.
BTW, don’t you just love his name? It’s so much fun coming up with new ways to refer to him.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:30 pmWhy does Rush hate Kristol?
February 21st, 2008 at 5:31 pmThat settles it. The only purpose Kistol serves now is as a font of stupid stuff for those of us on the left to criticize.
But it must be admitted that he does serve this purpose admirably well.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm“Nothing that proves or suggests any wrong doing by McCain” Huh?
Quoting the NYT: “Both (2 former associates of McCain) said Mr. McCain acknowledged behaving improperly and pledged to keep his distance from Ms. Iseman.”
February 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pmThere’s no one showing that McCain did anything.
Yeah, and HOW many months did it take before Ken Starr found the stained dress?
February 21st, 2008 at 5:33 pmKristol looks rather tormented in that pic. Holding two contradictory positions while believing both is tough.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:33 pmChris Matthews finds this entire story amusing. The New York Times should be sued for the truth. He is broken hearted that his boyfriend
February 21st, 2008 at 5:36 pmButch McCain might have been screwing around on him with another blonde.
#13 After he spent years investigating a real estate deal Linda Tripp dropped it in his lap.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pmI just don’t understand why the right isn’t attacking the Washington Post too. They were working on the same story but the Times published theirs a few hours before them and beat them to the punch.
Why aren’t Limbaugh et al going after the Post too?
February 21st, 2008 at 5:43 pmWhat’s with that Chyron screen-shot of “BTWN” instead of “between”? Fox News has gone text messaging trying to get hip with a younger demographic. Lame.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:44 pmKristol looks rather tormented in that pic. Holding two contradictory positions while believing both is tough.
Comment by Xisithrus — February 21, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Sure, but Billy is well-prepared. He’s a conservative pundit, after all.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pmI heard a distant “popping” sound. At first, thinking it was gunfire, I was nervous. Then? I realized it’s just Republican’s heads exploding.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pmAh………… The smell of charred Karma in the morning!………
February 21st, 2008 at 6:14 pmKristol Walks the Tightrope – Quick somebody go steal that net!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:26 pmKristol Walks the Tightrope – Quick somebody go steal that net!
Comment by Shayne — February 21, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
Then cut the rope!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:28 pmIn other words, Kristol gave a perfect example of why you shouldn’t trust someone caught up in a conflict of interest.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pmThe NY Times “isn’t a first rate newspaper†— unless of course they’re paying you.
-AF
February 21st, 2008 at 6:45 pmKristol Walks the Tightrope – Quick somebody go steal that net!
Comment by Shayne — February 21, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
Then cut the rope!
Comment by pete — February 21, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Then empty the pool!
February 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pmAll this is intended to distract from Michelle Obama showing she is part of the “Hate America First†crowd.
Is Michelle Obama claiming that you don’t have any real pride in America, unless it is black pride?
February 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pmso if the NY Times just hires all the republican cultist wingnut whack jobs, corporate media might actually turn out to be fair and balanced after all?
woohoo…who would’ve evah guessed.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:05 pm.
Oh Jason. I see that you are now obsessed with Michelle Obama. That’s okay, I understand, she’s a beautiful woman and will do great things as First Lady.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:06 pmAll this is intended to distract from Michelle Obama showing she is part of the “Hate America First†crowd.
what’s not to hate about corrupt fat old balding white guy America…that is if you’re not a corrupt fat old balding white guy?
Now Thomas Jefferson’s America…mmmm, what’s not to love…there’s a place Michelle could really feel pride in? Too bad we haven’t seen that America since at least 1980 and the rise of repug nation.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:12 pm.
All this is intended to distract from Michelle Obama showing she is part of the “Hate America First†crowd.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — February 21, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
NOBODY CARES
February 21st, 2008 at 7:17 pmI think people who watch fox news are seeing it as more of a soap opera than a source for news.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:25 pmThey tune in thinking ‘well i wonder what so-and-so is going to say/do today ?`
I think people who watch fox news are seeing it as more of a soap opera than a source for news.
They tune in thinking ‘well i wonder what so-and-so is going to say/do today ?
wishful thinking. If the 30% of the country that is confirmed wingnut were that lucid, they would know the serious consequences of voting republican cultists into positions of responsibility and not do it.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:37 pm.
Haw:
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/02/21/timing-sourcing-suggest-gop-behind-mccain-smear/
February 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pmWho cares what neoclown little Billy Kristol says anymore.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:00 pmHe’s become more of a bore than an outrage
The right wing has been reduced to meaningless blah blah blah babble blah blah…..
as have the right wing trolls.
They have become irrelevant to the national discussion.
It is only through corporate cronyism and nepotism that assclowns like little Billy even have jobs.
Why don’t you do yourself and the world a favor Billy and come out of the closet and accept yourself as you are.
Why is it Bill Kristol looks and feels like warmed-over garbage?
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 am80+% polled thinks bush sucks. Why does America hate America?
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 amNote to trolls bush/co IS NOT AMERICA!