Conffederate
Confederate

October 16, 2008

WaPo's James V. Grimaldi's Dishonest "Hit" On Cindy McCain

I'm going to start doing something I should have done long ago. When I catch a journalist committing fraud or nakedly partisan political journalism, I'm join to make sure that I name them, and not just the organization they work for.

Today's poster child for journalistic corruption is James V. Grimaldi of the Washington Post.

What kind of dishonest, biased journalism is the Washington Post reporter James V. Grimaldi guilty of?

In Exclusive: Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch, corrupt reporter James V. Grimaldi tries to insinuate that Cindy McCain is guilty of some sort of ethical violation because Verizon Wireless and AT&T installed portable cell phone towers to provide coverage at McCain's home in Hidden Valley near Sedona, Arizona.

Unethical reporter James V. Grimaldi writes:

Ethics lawyers said Cindy McCain's dealings with the wireless companies stand out because her husband is a senior member of the Senate commerce committee, which oversees the Federal Communications Commission and the telecommunications industry. He has been a leading advocate for industry-backed legislation, fighting regulations and taxes on telecommunication services.

I have a few simple questions for morally bankrupt Washington Post reporter James V. Grimaldi:

  • Other than Stanley Brand, a former House counsel for Democrats, what are the names of the ethics lawyers you spoke with, and what positions have they held within the Democrat Party?
  • Are any of the ethics lawyers you spoke with currently active as paid consultants or volunteers for Barack Obama's presidential campaign?
  • Did Democratic operative(s) in Obama campaign suggested this story to you?
  • Did you ever had any intention of directly informing your readers that the Secret Service requested these cell towers as a security issue?

Yes, you heard that right. Ethics-challenged Washington Post reporter James V. Grimaldi did his level best to obscure the fact that it was the Secret Service that requested these portable cell towers, as stable communications are a vital part of protecting the lives of Presidential candidates.

This isn't journalism. This is partisan politics.

It's nice to know what kind of corrupt reporters the Washington Post is willing to hire in men such as James V. Grimaldi, and the kind of political hit pieces they're willing to run as legitimate news stories.

Update: Jonathan Martin at The Politico confirms the Secret Service request:

A representative for the Secret Service confirms Verizon's statement earlier tonight that the company only put in a temporary cell service facility near the McCain ranch in Arizona at the request of the agency.

"We made a request of Verizon in I believe May that was covered under our contract and they did address our immediate needs," said Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at October 16, 2008 09:28 AM
Comments

Super point, CY. As a lifelong member of the media (and a Reagan Republican since age 14), you can imagine the rolling waves of garbage and garbled "intellect" and reasoning I've been privy to among my peers. Some of the saddest, most ill-informed rhetoric you can't believe.

Everyone who reads and appreciates CY, please help us make these points on Liberal supremacist sites like pandagon.net. We need to disabuse the real "wingnuts" of their infantile "wisdom."

Posted by: Sugar Ray Republican at October 16, 2008 10:13 AM

An American Socialist Party Hussein O supporting media wonk lie. Say it's not true.

Hundreds of media wonks (enabling crime and covering up crime is a crime) should be caught up in the coming RICO investigation and charges facing Hussein O's organizaton called ACORN. Hussein O will likely face RICO charges also, that is if there are any honest law enforcement agencies left in the country.

Posted by: Firefighter 16 at October 16, 2008 11:05 AM

It's almost a no-brainer to assume that a demonazi will lie to promote the socialist dem agenda. Certainly no suprise here, but GREAT WORK on the part of CY. Thanks!

Posted by: Tonto at October 16, 2008 12:44 PM

Good job!

Posted by: ccoffer at October 16, 2008 05:00 PM

You ought to preface the reporter's name with Democratic Party spokesman or Democratic Party mole, CY, as in "James V. Grimaldi, Democratic Party spokesman employed by the Washington Post."

Posted by: Dusty at October 16, 2008 05:40 PM
James V. Grimaldi, Democratic Party spokesman employed by the Washington Post."

The one problem there is that "Democratic Party spokesman" and "Washington Post" are synonymous, thus making that appellation redundant.

Posted by: C-C-G at October 16, 2008 06:56 PM

Oops: no, they installed temporary towers Dan.

Try reading for comprehension.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at October 16, 2008 08:24 PM

Heh, of course, it was probably a pretty good thing for the press corps follwing the McCain campaign around too. What an ingrate.

Posted by: douglas at October 16, 2008 08:48 PM

Wild, my comment magically disappeared. Anyway, my mistake in saying that the PERMANENT towers underway for TWO YEARS were abandoned by Verizon, um, why, again? Bad business sense?

Bad ethics, maybe.

Posted by: Dan at October 17, 2008 12:27 AM

Uh, from the article you mention:
"Instead, Verizon delivered a portable tower known as a "cell site on wheels" -- free of charge -- to the McCain property in June, after the Secret Service began inquiring about improving coverage in the area."

So, um, he did say that the Secret Service was involved.

Posted by: NutellaonToast at October 18, 2008 01:47 PM