Jason Linkins

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Jason Linkins

The Huffington Post

NYT Misses True Nature of Clinton-Drudge Relationship

October 22, 2007 05:06 PM


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2007-10-22-drudgehill.JPGIn today's New York Times, Jim Rutenberg reports on the synergy between the Clinton campaign and Matt Drudge's eponymous Report. The article is a great way of introducing the public to the vagaries of this seemingly strange-bedfellows relationship--or it would be, if this relationship hadn't been previously made clear in the press in abundance.

More to the point, Rutenberg notes: "In April, Mr. Drudge scored exclusive access to a first round of Clinton fund-raising figures." But he fails to mention that Drudge was fed deceptive information and promoted an entirely misleading headline -- "AMERICA LOVES HILLARY -- TOP FUNDRAISER FOR ROUND ONE: $36 MILLION" - when in fact the big news of the first quarter fundraising was that Obama actually beat Hillary in the only number that mattered: primary donations. The $36 million figure was gallingly misleading - it included ten million dollars that the campaign transferred over from Clinton's Senate campaign, plus $6.9 million that was raised for the general election.

All of that was left out by Drudge, and Hillary ended up benefiting from the siren's red glare as it birthed a spate of favorable and erroneous press. For Rutenberg to omit mention of this completely glosses over the true nature of the relationship between Clinton and Matt Drudge, who's been more of an official campaign stenographer than an observer - impartial or otherwise. As Andrew Sullivan noted weeks ago: "He helps her win the primary. She potentially doubles his traffic for at least four years. Win-win."

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Hillary has be anointed and she will be your candidate ....and you will all vote for her.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:43 PM on 10/24/2007

Who gives a rat's ass who raised more money? I'm more interested in what these candidates have to say about what their philosophies are. How will they lead? What do they want to accomplish? I'm sick to death of reporting on political process.

"The only numbers that matter"...political donations?Aare you all nuts? The only numbers that matter are those figures counted after a real primary or election.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:10 PM on 10/24/2007

It's the same symbiotic relationship that bacteria have in our digestive system, or remora fish clinging to the underside of a shark.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:31 AM on 10/24/2007
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Absolutely.

The relationship is completely parasitic. If Drudge didn't post links to the New York Times, NOBODY would be reading it anymore.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:37 AM on 10/24/2007

Matt who?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:06 AM on 10/24/2007

drudgery : dull, irksome, and fatiguing work...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:54 AM on 10/24/2007

It seems to me that on some level HRC is actually indebted to Matt Drudge for helping her with her political career: after he broke Hillarygate, the outpouring of sympathy and subsequent approval ratings helped her to win the senate seat.

How and Why else would someone 'woo' an individual who could have, and seemingly attempted to, ruin your husband's career, and perhaps more importantly at that juncture, his legacy AND your own political aspirations?

Further, the bonding, relationship between these two (Hillary and Drudge) and clearly mutual respect and perhaps even budding frienship, further demonstrates she's far too close for comfort to bed of the GOP establishment & Co.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:29 PM on 10/23/2007

I agree - the Political Donor Class knows that the GOP cannot win the White House next year (do the electoral college math, it's easy!)...

So the election will be decided in the Dem primary, and it's between Obama and Clinton...

So these are your choices Americans:

CLINTON: RIGHT WING PRO WAR DLC MORE OF SAME CANDIDATE

OBAMA: THE CLOSEST CHANCE TO PROGRESS WE HAVE.

(BTW - does anyone know ANYONE who is passionate about a Hillary Clinton Presidency? Anyone met someone passionate about an Obama Presidency?
BOTTOM LINE: Hillary won't win. Her so-called "momentum" is PR bullshit!)

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:15 PM on 10/23/2007

When I vote in the Democratic primary, I'll carefully consider the qualifications of each candidate (omitting the likeability factor that put Dubya over the top in 04)including whether or not he or she has the knowledge, experience, and leadership ability to actually get things done in Washington. Our next president will be heavily burdened by the mess Dubya will leave behind. We're going to need an extraordinary leader, folks.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:17 AM on 10/24/2007

"But he fails to mention that Drudge was fed deceptive information and promoted an entirely misleading headline -- "AMERICA LOVES HILLARY -- TOP FUNDRAISER FOR ROUND ONE: $36 MILLION" - when in fact the big news of the first quarter fundraising was that Obama actually beat Hillary in the only number that mattered: primary donations."

And you miss the equally important point that Obama's donations are plumetting like a brick. More anti-HRC/pro-GOP-proxy spin from the Nader herd.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:30 PM on 10/23/2007

Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:24 PM on 10/23/2007
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One thing Drudge always has been, is biased against Democrats. But he's also smart, and knows that there's no way a Republican is going to win. So, he'll put his stock in the most conservative, nearly Republican Democrat he can find.

Just like...most of the mainstream media? How many people come away from a debate feeling that Sen. Clinton was trumped on the issues, and playing a game of catch-up with the other candidates, only to hear the media say "she looked very presidential" afterward. And the insane fervor of her fans to demand everyone call her "Senator Clinton", as if everyone must be reminded that she is a Senator, is priceless. Most folks all call Obama, Obama...and Edwards, Edwards. If she needs to be called "Senator Clinton", then she probably isn't taking this whole thing very seriously. At some point, when a person is interviewing for a new job, they've got to separate themselves from the old one.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:16 PM on 10/23/2007

http://www.alternet.org/story/65596 hillary"s mystery money men"same as bush"s"who"d a thunk it?
If you're semi-intelligent and informed, you already know that the pig Rupert Murdoch is funding and advising Shillary--read the above article and see who else is buying the election for that traitor

in other news--the Dems won't act for the American people, but Ron Paul has introduced a bill to strike down the horrible Military Commission's Act
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/october2007/231007Commissions.htm Paul introduces bill to rid us of the Military Commissions Act

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:21 AM on 10/23/2007

News Flash:
All news is biased. By definition, getting a scoop and just access requires the reporter to allow themselves to be manipulated. It's a rare news story were an insider is leaking information for none political reasons.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:03 AM on 10/23/2007

Another News Flash:

William Colby, a former Director of the CIA once revealed, "The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:11 AM on 10/23/2007
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Why do I never see/hear a good rant favoring Joseph Biden? I like him. But that's not a very good rant. LOL.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:56 PM on 10/22/2007
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You mean Snake Biden? Ask him about his Rave Act (it holds establishments responsible for any drug use by its patrons and has been used to deter NORML fund raising events)which he secretly attached to the Amber Alert bill in conference AFTER it had already been rejected by the Senate.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:07 PM on 10/23/2007

Similarly, HuffPo praises Obama's every move and we "coincidentally" see Obama banners all over the site.

The editorial/advertising separation is no clearer here than at Drudge.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:27 PM on 10/22/2007

You're a master of the obvious...good job! If Hillary farts, Huffpo has it on the home page! Any disparaging way to bash Clinton is used by "Arianna Rove" on a daily basis!! Obama-who has no chance to win the presidency in such a bigoted nation as the USA-is praised daily! In fact, I'm surprised Huffpo included the blog about Obama STUPIDLY travelling in S.Carolina with a gay gospel singer who says "GOD turned him straight". Nice decision,Barack....NOT!!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:06 AM on 10/23/2007
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I dunno, you are just so twisted, narrow, petty, snarling, mean and unjust in your outlook, you might make a really good Republican. I didn't think Democrats came in your "size."

When I see this kind of thing, I think "cue bono?" and then I think "MOLE."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:34 AM on 10/23/2007

"Obama-who has no chance to win the presidency in such a bigoted nation as the USA"

seriously? i guess there really are people on the left who hate america. i'm not one of them, and i have a hell of a lot more faith in this country than you seem to. and i believe the majority of the left feels the same way i do, regardless of whether they support clinton or obama (or edwards or biden or...)

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:38 AM on 10/23/2007

Plenty of sites out there for Hillary-love, albeit smaller. Let me suggest theleftcoaster, where Hillary can do no wrong, Obama is a fool and Edwards a phony.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:45 AM on 10/23/2007

You read my mind, then posted what I was thinking!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:37 PM on 10/23/2007

Why didn't the above post under JasoninOakland? WTF?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:39 PM on 10/23/2007
- LIR I'm a Fan of LIR permalink

Matt means nothing...and so does this clear Obama puff piece...face it...what has he done to make it clear he will win? Endorse radical evangelists who want to "cure" gays? That's a real sign he wants the Democratic nomination! And many will make sure that never happens. I will personally work to that end.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:46 PM on 10/22/2007

Who Cares About Matt Drudge? His site is awful; it's worse than awful, it's cheesy-looking, and he never has any news on it anyway. Sheesh. Matt Drudge is boring.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:29 PM on 10/22/2007

Drudge features this "front page" so-called "investigation" of him on his website - without a bit of irony. Doesnt he realize that he has become a puppet of all those who feed him and court him?

The only subjects that get more attention from Matt than these manipulators, are those young British princes Harry and William. (giggle)

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:14 PM on 10/22/2007
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