Discounts For Character Assassination
The advertisement accusing General David Petraeus of betraying America got bought on the cheap, the New York Post reports. In a gleeful broadside to their rival newspaper, the Post checked on ad rates and discovered that MoveOn received a 60% reduction from the regular price for a full-page black and white ad:
The New York Times dramatically slashed its normal rates for a full-page advertisement for MoveOn.org’s ad questioning the integrity of Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. …
According to Abbe Serphos, director of public relations for the Times, “the open rate for an ad of that size and type is $181,692.”
A spokesman for MoveOn.org confirmed to The Post that the liberal activist group had paid only $65,000 for the ad - a reduction of more than $116,000 from the stated rate.
A Post reporter who called the Times advertising department yesterday without identifying himself was quoted a price of $167,000 for a full-page black-and-white ad on a Monday.
Before this came to light, the onus for character assassination fell completely on MoveOn and the people it supports. Anyone can buy advertising from newspapers for their products and causes — well, almost anyone. Many publications limit advertising for cigarettes and alcohol, for instance, and publishers can refuse advertising for their own reasons.
However, in this case, the New York Times participated in the advertising effort with its steep discount. By writing off more than half of its normal price, it encouraged the publication of a nasty hit piece on the honor of a serving commander in a theater of war. The Paper of Record helped call Petraeus a traitor, surely one of the worst moments in modern American media.
The Sulzberger familiy should apologize to General Petraeus and issue a retraction. Furthermore, it should act to remove Arthur “Pinch” Sulzberger as publisher of the Times and finally put an adult in charge of what used to be the nation’s premiere newspaper. Offering discounts to a rabidly partisan outfit like MoveOn for the purpose of character assassination has stripped the last fantasies of objectivity from the paper and exposed it as the fringe-Left shill that it is.
Listen on Blog Talk Radio
6 Responses to “Discounts For Character Assassination”
1 Other Ed 13 September 2007 @ 10:08 am
When are you going to denounce the comment that House leader John Boehner made yesterday — that troop deaths in Iraq are a “small price” to pay for defeating Al Qaeda.
I’m sure the troops families appreciated his support.
2 Chinese Arithmetic 13 September 2007 @ 11:48 am
A little out-of-context tweaking going on from Not So Hot and BOther Ed.
3 Betray Us, Petraeus? Righties Can’t Seem To ‘Move On’ « his vorpal sword 13 September 2007 @ 12:06 pm
[…] Edward / Heading Right: Discounts For Character Assassination […]
4 Doug 13 September 2007 @ 1:46 pm
I can’t find the Boehner quote on Google or YouTube. Certainly MoveOn would have it, so when you find it, please provide a link. Here is what Boehner actually said on Sep 12th.
“My Republican colleagues and I have said throughout the year that it is our duty to listen to the commanders on the ground as we make key decisions on the next steps in Iraq. This congressional delegation visit will give us the opportunity to listen to them in person and see firsthand how General Petraeus’ strategy has laid the foundation for important security and political gains ahead.
“Our troops have made irrefutable progress against al Qaeda in Iraq but, as General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker reported to Congress this week, there is still much work to be done – particularly when it comes to political reconciliation. Though reconciliation has begun to take hold in towns and villages across Iraq, everyone – Democrats and Republicans alike – hopes Iraqis will make progress more quickly on a national basis. It is my hope that this trip will give us a chance to see the challenges that lie ahead, while gaining a greater appreciation for the significant strides our troops have made under Operation Phantom Thunder.
“Most importantly, this trip will give us a chance to thank our troops for their efforts in Iraq and service to our country. Our men and women in uniform have joined with Iraqi Forces in taking the fight to al Qaeda and brought greater stability and security in Iraq. It is now our responsibility to make a bipartisan commitment to solidify those gains and bring our troops home after victory, not defeat.”
5 Birds of a Feather…. - The Detroit Times 13 September 2007 @ 2:20 pm
[…] Heading Right, Hot Air, protein wisdom, Captain’s Quarters, The Carpetbagger Report, NewsBusters.org, The […]
6 Red 13 September 2007 @ 4:29 pm
you should like this, in one of the articles on the New York Times Ad, Hillary is quoted as saying Petraeus’ report would require “A suspension of disbelief”-She lifted or one of her writers lifted that from the Johnny Depp movie “Ed Wood” Its the only time I’ve ever seen that line used…Funny…….
Leave a Reply