Althouse: "As a rule I don't go off the record with high-ranking officials, particularly the president."

July 30, 2018

"As a rule I don't go off the record with high-ranking officials, particularly the president."

"As the person overseeing coverage, I don't think officials should be able to tell me things that I can't publish. And I don't want to be courted or wooed."

Said NYT executive editor Dean Baquet, quoted in "Why Dean Baquet Skipped The New York Times’ Meeting With Trump" (Buzzfeed).

57 comments:

Drago said...: Baquet doesnt have to worry about going to meetings when the NYT already receives all classified info anyway from their govt allies.

i.e., a completely unredacted FISA warrant application via the completely compromised Senate Intel Committee.; 7/30/18, 1:08 PM
Oso Negro said...: No Journolist 2 for him, no siree!; 7/30/18, 1:10 PM
Darrell said...: The NYT tells us why Trump already lost in 2020. It's probably like Hillary's 97% chance of winning in 2016.; 7/30/18, 1:10 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: Yeah, great policy...how many NYTimes reporters were picked up (in the emails Wikileaks publicized) wooing & otherwise letting themselves be compromised by Dem. party officials and/or candidates?!
But sure, sure--Dean's pure and we should impute that purity to the rest of the Times. Totally.; 7/30/18, 1:12 PM
Sebastian said...: The actual NYT attitude is that officials can't tell them what they can publish, national interest be damned.

The entirely gratuitous revelations of the Swift anti-terror finance operations in 2006 told us all we needed to know about those traitors. They gave aid and comfort to the enemy directly, openly, and willingly. The program was not illegal. It harmed no Americans. It was important. There was no justification whatsoever for revealing it, apart from their sheer anti-American arrogance.

Of course, they are also happy to do the off-the-record bidding of deep-staters who serve their agenda, and whose cause they support. Witness their collusion on adjusting the collusion narrative.; 7/30/18, 1:14 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: WikiLeaks Reveals All The Journalists Who Schmoozed With Clinton Campaign

At least 65 prominent mainstream media personalities were participating in dinners, cocktail receptions and other functions, according to an analysis of material exposed by Wikileaks. The events were held ostensibly to make them feel like insiders to the campaign and promoters of its objectives.

In what was billed as an off-the-record meeting for drinks with Clinton campaign insiders, at least 38 New York-based media members attended a dinner and drinks party in April 2015 thrown by the campaign’s Joel Benenson.

There were Cecilia Vega, David Muir, Diane Sawyer, Jon Karl and George Stephanopoulos of ABC News; John Heilemann and Mark Halperin of Bloomberg; Norah O’Donnell and Vicki Gordon of CBS News; Brianna Keilar, David Chalian, Gloria Borger, Jeff Zeleny, John Berman, Kate Bouldan, Mark Preston and Sam Feist of CNN; Savannah Guthrie of NBC; and Alex Wagner, Beth Fouhy, Phil Grifin and Rachel Racusen of MSNBC. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was listed as TBD.

There were five staffers from the New York Times – Amy Chozik, Gail Collins, Jonathan Martin, Maggie Haberman and Pat Healey, as well as Alyssa Mastramonoco of Vice, Jon Allen of Vox, Mike Allen of Axios, and Glenn Thrush of Politico, who was later found to have submitted stories to the Clinton campaign for approval.

[My bolds]; 7/30/18, 1:17 PM
langford peel said...: President Lincoln knew how to treat the press.

I recommend that the President follow his example.; 7/30/18, 1:22 PM
Jim at said...: And I don't want to be courted or wooed.

Get over yourself.; 7/30/18, 1:27 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger langford peel said...
President Lincoln knew how to treat the press.

I recommend that the President follow his example.

Better would be the way William T Sherman treated them

As he began reading, Mr. Ewing, a retired Army historian who lives in Wheaton, Md., realized that the family archive was an unexpected source of new details about a military leader whose friends thought he was irrational and whose enemies thought he was insane.

The letters, often written late at night in his tent, followed Sherman through some of the Civil War's bloodiest battles, including the devastating Union sweep through Georgia in 1864 that he directed. Sherman had been reared by Mr. Ewing's great-grandfather after his own father died, so the correspondence has the emotion of a son's letters home. Long Diatribe on Press

Sherman never had a kind word for war correspondents or newspaper editors, and among the Ewing letters is an 11-page denunciation of the press. Mr. Ewing said it was the longest and most revealing piece Sherman ever wrote on the subject, and some historians who have seen the letters say Sherman's anger reminds them of Gen. William C. Westmoreland, who complained about news coverage in Vietnam and later unsuccessfully sued CBSfor libel.

It is the NY Times so the slur was to be expected. Sherman was wildly successful.

Westmoreland was not.; 7/30/18, 1:35 PM
rehajm said...: Virtue signaling. If it were President Leftie he'd be begging for access looking like one more of the seagulls squabbling over an open box of Wheat Thins.; 7/30/18, 1:35 PM
Jess said...: His complaint would have some relevance, if his paper wasn't a tabloid to be perused in the check-out line. Maybe he should concentrate on presenting facts, instead of gossip.; 7/30/18, 1:36 PM
hombre said...: Every time the mediaswine publish anything “without attribution” they are in effect “off the record.” The source is unknown. The data cannot be verified. In essence, there is no record.

Without such fodder there would be no more New York Times.; 7/30/18, 1:45 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: Don't court me, bro.

The MSM is an arm to the democrat party. Then, when you call them out on it, they whine and spasm.; 7/30/18, 1:46 PM
0_0 said...: So he doesn't want the chance to ask the President any questions?

I guess he already knows the answers, or doesn't want to know.; 7/30/18, 1:49 PM
iqvoice said...: Well, at least the failing nytimes is showing some consistency.

https://www.aim.org/don-irvine-blog/obama-meets-the-press-off-the-record/; 7/30/18, 1:50 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: I shall henceforth refer the the Dominate Leftwing Mainstream Media as- The Strozk Media.

devil toothed, squirmy, elitist, biased, George Clintonopolis $75,000 donation to the Clinton Foundation, and above the law.; 7/30/18, 1:51 PM
rhhardin said...: Just a half hour ago, I was pedalling along a back road from the store when VP Pence whizzed by with full motorcade. Lots of red and blue lights and motorcycles.

No other traffic in sight. Cornfields impressed.; 7/30/18, 1:56 PM
MadisonMan said...: Was he invited?; 7/30/18, 1:56 PM
Nonapod said...: "As a rule I don't go off the record with high-ranking officials, particularly the president."
"As the person overseeing coverage, I don't think officials should be able to tell me things that I can't publish. And I don't want to be courted or wooed."

That's certainly a good policy, assuming he's followed it faithfully. But I don't trust the NYT and, via the transative property, its executive editor. So I'm skeptical to say the least.

During the fawning years of the Obama administration, I wonder if this person can honestly say he never spoke "off the record" to any "high-ranking officials" and didn't later report it? I have my doubts.; 7/30/18, 2:01 PM
Wince said...: Presidents of one party have to ask for it to be off the record.

For the other party it's implicit, at least where it may be damaging to the hive.; 7/30/18, 2:02 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: What a profile in courage! He won't be courted or wooed. No, Sir, not Dean.

Ok. How 'bout being mocked as the stuffy, humorless mouthpiece for fussy, chronically depressed hordes of upper West-Side liberals?; 7/30/18, 2:06 PM
rhhardin said...: From Pence snippets on the news, the speeches are awful. They're rallying against Democrats instead of against the deep state.

Nobody cares about Democrats.; 7/30/18, 2:14 PM
buwaya said...: Sulzberger was given a talk about something.

One of those "I wish I were a fly on the wall" things.

Baquet is a hireling and will do as he's told.; 7/30/18, 2:22 PM
Comanche Voter said...: Methinks the lady(or media whore) doth protest too much. Baquet was at the helm of the rapidly sinking Los Angeles Times a few years back. He didn't help matters.

Both the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times today are full of stories saying, "the details of the contract were released by people not authorized to speak about on the record".

So the news gets out--but the names of the leakers are "off the record". Now it may in fact be true that the writer of the story got the information from someone whose name he or she promised to protect, i.e. "off the record". Or it could be that the phrase is simply a marker for the reporter "i'm making this stuff up."

Virtue signal all you want Baquet. Your credibility and judgement (and executive ability) are, as my old drill sergeant used to say, "Lower than whale dung in the bottom of the Marianas Trench". But go ahead, keep on telling the world that you are an Ethical Prince--instead of simply a putz.; 7/30/18, 2:32 PM
William said...: His statement draws more attention to his hypocrisy than to his integrity.......I'm glad he allowed that one reporter who did the undercover work to remain employed. More men will be attracted to a public service career if undercover reporters are allowed to ply their trade. Sadly, the broadcast journalists have a leg up in this field, but it's good to see that woman from the Times make the effort.; 7/30/18, 2:51 PM
FrankiM said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/30/18, 2:54 PM
FrankiM said...: Sulzberger told Trump to knock off the stupid and reckless tweets making the press the “enemy of the people”. One day Trump may actually be held responsible for his words which are basically encouraging violence by unhinged people upon the media.; 7/30/18, 2:56 PM
Drago said...: lefty journalists routinely submit their submissions to democrats/lefty deep staters for review and comment.

Which is why the MSM is never at cross-purposes with democrat intentions and narratives.

Just like LLR Chuck.; 7/30/18, 2:59 PM
Crimso said...: He has a reporter who doesn't need to be courted or wooed. Quite the opposite. She'll suck a dick to get a story.; 7/30/18, 3:00 PM
Drago said...: Mrs.FM: "Sulzberger told Trump to knock off the stupid and reckless tweets making the press the “enemy of the people”. One day Trump may actually be held responsible for his words which are basically encouraging violence by unhinged people upon the media."

I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you over the noise from democrats attempting mass political murder and mass physical assault against republicans.

You were saying?.....; 7/30/18, 3:00 PM
Drago said...: BTW, "Mrs FM" is a terrible pseudonym for "Inga".

Just sayin.....; 7/30/18, 3:01 PM
Tank said...: Repository of bias, misinformation and fake news concerned about listening "off the record."

This is why satire is dead.; 7/30/18, 3:04 PM
langford peel said...: The press is the enemy of the people. They prove it every day and n every way.

President Lincoln closed down newspapers and jailed lying scmbag reporters.

The God Emperor does not have to go tha far. Yet.

Simply mocking and disparaging them will suffice. I would take the step of banning CNN and stripping them of their press credentials. They are obviously an arm of the Democratic Party. I think the rest of the press would squawk a little but ultimately will go along.; 7/30/18, 3:13 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: FM troll-
Please tell us again who is inspiring violence?

Calling out the media as hacks, fakes, democrat party operatives and enemies of the people is not encouraging violence. It's a fact.; 7/30/18, 3:16 PM
MikeR said...: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(journalism)#Using_confidential_information
Don't follow this. Is there something wrong with "off the record"? Seems like it's an essential tool of investigative journalism, to find out a story from those who can't be published, in order to help _get the story right_ and hopefully find those who can be published.; 7/30/18, 3:17 PM
PackerBronco said...: "As a rule I don't go off the record with high-ranking officials, particularly the president."

Unless it's a leak ... and if it's a leak that attacks Trump, well, daaaaammmmmnnn!!!; 7/30/18, 3:22 PM
Francisco D said...: "BTW, "Mrs FM" is a terrible pseudonym for Inga."

Nice catch Drago.

I don't need to ask what gave her away. It's hard to disguise a leftist hack who is not very bright.; 7/30/18, 3:25 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: Please tell us again who is inspiring violence?

*Youtube is glitching out on purpose, me thinks.; 7/30/18, 3:25 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger Drago said...
BTW, "Mrs FM" is a terrible pseudonym for "Inga".

Just sayin.....

Have you thought it might be a acronym for "Fake News."; 7/30/18, 3:28 PM
Jim at said...: One day Trump may actually be held responsible for his words which are basically encouraging violence by unhinged people upon the media.

You forgot the 'LOL,' you snarling, vile, lying sockpuppet.; 7/30/18, 3:29 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: Colbert inspires leftwing hate every weeknight.

I wonder how many Bernie Bros, or Clintonista butt-hurters fantasize about killing Trump? Hillarywoodland is boiling over with rage. daily.

We do recall how the hacks in the media fell all over themselves blaming Trump for the small newspaper shooting a month back, that had zero to do with Trump. AS soon as the facts rolled in, the hacks and liars in the press dropped it.; 7/30/18, 3:30 PM
Jim at said...: We do recall how the hacks in the media fell all over themselves blaming Trump for the small newspaper shooting a month back, that had zero to do with Trump.

The bodies weren't even cold before a certain ghoul was gleefully cackling on this very board blaming Trump.; 7/30/18, 3:36 PM
Darrell said...: Have you thought it might be a acronym for "Fake News."

Fake Mews maybe.; 7/30/18, 3:37 PM
Seeing Red said...: It’s speaking truth to power.

I thought Dems loved that?; 7/30/18, 3:42 PM
buwaya said...: Sulzberger was called in.
One is not called in unless the fellow requesting the meeting has something to say.
Sulzberger did not say what he was called in to hear.; 7/30/18, 3:52 PM
FrankiM said...: Statement of A.G Sulzberger, publisher, The New York Times, in response to Trump’s tweet about their meeting.; 7/30/18, 3:56 PM
Bill Peschel said...: Baquet didn't want to have to explain to Trump why the reporter covering him let the Clinton campaign edit his interview with Hillary. They asked him to take out her attempt to equate gay rights issues with the civil rights issues of the '60s.

(For those curious, this crossed the line into unethical behavior. Read a quote to the source to make sure you get it right? Of course. Give them access to the interview to edit? Firing offense.); 7/30/18, 4:06 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: could never figure out why Sulzberger Jr was called "Pinch"
til I heard A.G. was called "Loaf"; 7/30/18, 4:08 PM
mccullough said...: He’s the managing editor. It’s the reporters who fuck sources for info at the Times and are mouth pieces for douchebags like Mueller and Comey. Dean just works there. He doesn’t gather news and he doesn’t own the joint. His boss is a trust fund baby. He works for Whitey; 7/30/18, 4:18 PM
langford peel said...: Look he is just affirmative action window dressing. Men were talking.

You don't need his input unless you discussing basketball, tap dancing or pancakes.; 7/30/18, 4:22 PM
langford peel said...: It would be the same thing as complaining to as Scatman Crothers about your room in the Overlook

He is only there to roll his eyes and say about his boss. "that boy shines!"

It is a specific skill set.; 7/30/18, 4:25 PM
John Pickering said...: poor Ann, as nonplussed as ever about what happens in big time news organizations, not to mention what her benighted readers are led to believe.

Hey they better let Paul Manafort go pretty quick, his trial starts tomorrow! Free Mike Flynn too!; 7/30/18, 7:38 PM
Michael K said...: what happens in big time news organizations,

Fucking sources is what they do. How about you, boobee?; 7/30/18, 7:59 PM
Comanche Voter said...: Wiilliam---is that undercover work "between the sheets"
?; 7/30/18, 8:28 PM
narciso said...: The only difference between the littlest sparrow and say Zoey is the former still believes in her country,; 7/30/18, 8:38 PM
Howard said...: As a rule, I don't use "as a rule" because that's an expression from the horse and buggy days.; 7/30/18, 8:55 PM
Unknown said...: I dont always leave my ethics at the door, but when I do, I have my reporters screw their sources. Say what you like, it keeps alive the narrative.; 7/30/18, 9:59 PM