AP's Ron Fournier To Karl Rove: "Keep Up The Fight"

Via Talking Points Memo: the House Oversight Committee has unearthed a key quote from the 50-page report on Pat Tillman - the former Arizona Cardinals star killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan under circumstances that the military labored to conceal from Tillman's family - and Jessica Lynch, who was caught up in some Iraq War mythmaking of her own.

On page 21 of the report, the committee reprints an email exchange between Ron Fournier - then a reporter for the Associated Press, now the head of the AP's Washington bureau - and Bush's chief adviser Karl Rove:

Rove exchanged e-mails about Pat Tillman with Associated Press reporter Ron Fournier, under the subject line "H-E-R-O." In response to Mr. Fournier's e-mail, Mr. Rove asked, "How does our country continue to produce men and women like this," to which Mr. Fournier replied, "The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish. Keep up the fight."

An email to Fournier, seeking clarification on what "fight" he thought Rove was engaged in at the time, was not returned.

***UPDATE 8:24pm ET, July 14, 2008***

In a story that crossed on the AP wires, Fournier is quoted as saying he was simply interacting with a source in the course of his duties as a political reporter, and regrets the "breezy nature of the correspondence."

From the AP story:

The committee cited one exchange between White House political chief Karl Rove and Ron Fournier, then a political reporter for The Associated Press.

In a chain under the subject line "H-E-R-O," Rove replied to an e-mail from Fournier by saying, "How does our country continue to produce men and women like this?"

Fournier replied, "The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish. Keep up the fight."

Fournier, now the AP's acting Washington bureau chief, said Monday: "I was an AP political reporter at the time of the 2004 e-mail exchange, and was interacting with a source, a top aide to the president, in the course of following an important and compelling story. I regret the breezy nature of the correspondence."

Comments

[Richard729]

By all accounts and given the state of our economy, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, mortgage foreclosures, job losses, soaring gasoline and oil prices, Barack Obama should be leading in the polls by a solid 30%. But he's not. As a matter of fact, according to the latest Newsweek poll the race is statistically tied between Obama and McCain.

Consider the above article which shows a strong Republican bent by the Associated Press reporter Ron Fournier, who exhorts Karl Rove to "keep up the fight." Rove is also a regular columnist and contributor to Newsweek. The "gray lady" New York Times has also added as a regular columnist arch Democrat-hater Bill Kristol who once recommended that the editorial staff of that paper should be arrested and tried for treason when they spilled the beans over the CIA torture techniques.

Pile on one more so-called liberal publication, The New Yorker, whose editors recently featured on their cover a cartoon caricature of Michelle Obama with an AK-47 strapped on her back, Angela Davis-like Afro hairdo, and Barack Obama with a Muslim turban giving the "terrorist fist bump" with his wife and an American flag burning in the fireplace below a picture of Osama bin Laden.

This is the same tune that the Screech Radio hatemongershave been preaching for months. What it says clearly to me is that the Republicans are getting their ducks in a row while Democrats are squeezed in corners trying to define "refine."

[nogimmicks]

Fouirnier's smile reminds of Kristol's : that is how reptiles smile before they eat an animal

[willr]

AP is supposed to be a respected source for NEWS not OPINION.

It is indication how far afield our reporters and the fourth estate have strayed in their jobs as watchdogs of the government when a reporter for the supposed flagship reporting organization that hundreds of newpapers across the country use for their daily news stories puts opinion into his news articles.

If Fourneir wants to write opinion that leans to the right then he needs to go and work for a rightie newspaper not work for AP. If he wants to continue to write news articles then he needs to stop using words in his articles that are associated with opionin not facts.

And if AP does not show some leadership and come out publically stating they are strictly a news organization with no bias then it will be apparent they have an agenda and it is a right leaning agenda at that.

[Bozwellian]

WHen you have FEWER SOURCES, and conglomerated into but 4 or 5 corporate hands who dictate policy/endorse/repay/get paid off/get concessions inderegulations and etc, etc, etc...but a sign of the times. WHO HAS NOT NOTICED, you CAN flick from one outlet or another, see the SAME VID CLIPS, see the SAME PHOTO's and have often the SAME STORY LINES READ/PRINTED to SPREAD whatever HAS BEEN DICTATED/ FORMULATED for public opion to be shaped and coerced and APPEAR either supportive OR in derided dissent. How many were labled UNPATRIOTIC if THEY did NOT GO ALONG with the fearmongering that was set out propaganda style thru these Bushlerized years of reign ? True as well , not the first time such done, but this time, this time around the consequences have led to our nations decline more than ever befor and once unimaginable consequences that few if any ever thought they would see or endure !!!

[poppyseed]

It was the AP reporter Liz Sidoti (sp) who, before a debate, brought a box of donuts to her hero John McCain because she knew he liked them best. When McCain thanked her, he said "with sprinkles?" She laughed and said "Of course, we know what you like."

AP and her reporters are in the toilet and a disgrace to the proud history of that wire service. They exist to do the bidding of their personal buddy and "HERO" John McCain. They could give a rat's ass about professionalism, they just wanna ride the bus up close to their man. And they'll sell out the people and disgrace their alleged professionalism for that "honor."

AP which used to stand for "Associated Press" should be renamed "All Personal" cause that's all we get from them, and it's clear that their personal choice for America is John McCain. Let nothing stand in their way.

[BatedBreath]

This article explains what's going on with the AP since Fournier took over the Washington bureau: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11716.html

[charley0008]

Fournier needs to be closely scrutinized, I do not trust him, he has turned the AP into garbage journalism under the laughable claim of providing more 'analysis' as if what was needed was more talking heads spouting off about everything and everyone rather than just report the damn news.

[thewildlunch]

I've been reading stories with Fournier's byline for years, but never really focused on them. A google search of Fournier turned up this gem, written in March. I don't think Rove could have written this piece on Obama better if he were to do have done it himself:

'''Obama walks arrogance line

By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Writer
Mon Mar 17, 1:57 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Arrogance is a common vice in presidential politics. A person must be more than a little self-important to wake up one day and say, "I belong in the Oval Office."

But there's a line smart politicians don't cross — somewhere between "I'm qualified to be president" and "I'm born to be president." Wherever it lies, Barack Obama better watch his step.

He's bordering on arrogance.

The dictionary defines the word as an "offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride." Obama may not be offensive or overbearing, but he can be a bit too cocky for his own good.

The freshman senator told reporters in July that he would overcome Hillary Rodham Clinton's lead in the polls because "to know me is to love me.".
But both Obama and his wife, Michelle, ooze a sense of entitlement."""

It gets much, much worse. READ THIS:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_campaignplus/20080317/ap_ca/on_deadline_arrogance_2
Note Fournier's characterization of Obama's opposition to the Iraq War as "arrogant." An absolute dimwit journalist.

[blueskybigstar]

The media should not associate with politicians, especially ones in criminal trouble. The show of support has gone over the line and shows what exactly is wrong with this country. The man needs to be fired. It shows how deeply embedded and under the covers the relationship of this administration with media corporations is. IT HAS TO STOP.

[CeeDeeCee]

Rest assured it will stop as soon as Dems are fully in control.

THEN the MSM will decide that they need to be the watchdog they once were.

Scrutiny and criticsm of the administration will be intense and constant.

[truthseeker7]

I read the article you cited and although I agree that about 80% of the mainstream media should resign because they've all lost their cajones and willingness to ask the real questions, but I don't read the article as bad as you.

The longer this campaign goes on the more I see Obama pandering to the status quo. I don't expect him to change things in a radical manner because #1 that can cause more problems than it solves, and 2) he would never get elected on such a platform, but he at least needs to SAY what the issues are and come up with some concrete ideas on how we are going to START to address them. I think McCain is about as bright as Reagan and nowhere near as charismatic, and his administration will be run by the same powerbrokers that run the US now. Obama may be a smart guy but does he have the backbone and the energy to say to the very people who have helped him get here (and I don't mean mr and mrs common citizen who thinks he's the people's choice) "folks, thanks for your support, but some REAL changes are needed and here's where we're starting"). I'm betting no. Power corrupts and there's no greater power than being the prez.

[Driver125]

and the final words were "Keep up the fight"......and with tears welling up in the corners of his eyes Ron closed the book, snapped off the light and settled into a deep, satisfying sleep. Putz.

[dlbdpb]

Where's the justification for even printing this big NOTHING?????? Why not print something with some substance?????

[cungar]

First of all nothing was printed. This isn't a newspaper it's a blog. Second of all it shows collusion between the press and a subject of the press. Maybe you're too young to remember when that wasn't OK.

[andyboy]

They were talking about keeping up the propoganda and lies. They were both creating "heroes" literally out of thin air to use to sell this phony war on terror to their fellow citizens.

They should both be prosecuted.

[sullydog]

Where's the justification for this post?????? Why not post something with some substance dlbdpb?????

[Bozwellian]

...uh, are you one who prefers to just keep on trucking or swallowing ? States of denial of how manipulated public perception has been further refined , SHOULD prepare one for realizing and making better informed decisons regarding those they choose to support or not. If satisfied with the au current status quo, can comprehend how one would consider this but a fluff piece of no subtance or perhaps just a whine as perhaps has long been realized just how propgandic coverage of the Bushlerized years of reign has indeed been ....to some, just one more nail in their coffin, to others to trivial and a whatever for WE, the people have yet stepped forth and taken our OWN responsibility seriously enough to demand different and continue to go along to hopefully get along and some of the pie for ourselves !!!

[robertlockwoodmills]

Maybe Fournier will get to write some breezy letters to Rove in prison. Inmates love to get letters from former friends on the outside.

[spaceman3838]

this is so nothing there isnt even a bit of gotcha there

[CEPHALUS]

The ap is a repugnant arm,just like faux spews,thats what it's all about.

[OgreDaddy]

Is it just me, or would a whole bunch of other people here like to see a Huffington Post Channel?

[Russycle]

I'd consider resubscribing to cable if that happened.

[LiberalDemIda]

I know it's rhetorical but I'll answer with a resounding "No it's not just you". I would be happier than a Repuke-in-war-profits if there was a Huffington Post Channel. I am so sick and tired of America's propaganda media espousing pro-fascism instead of pro-U.S. Constitution information benefiting "We the People" as the Founding Fathers intended.

On the darker side of the coin, Adolf and Benito would've been quite proud of the United States under Republican tyranny - er - governance for the past 12 years...

[Soothsayer08]

Yes Rove should indeed "keep up the fight" especially when it comes to avoiding going to jail for contempt. What happened with the Conyers committee anyway? Nothing as usual?

[levibatgirl]

These two a$$es seemed to be pumped up on the idea of 'heroes' and gawd and all the shi+e that rethugs romantically project into war. Its because none of them have actually fought in a war and they are stuck on childish romanticism the stupid idiots!!

[Thron]

To die for the country, Yes! But under this commander in chief leadership,No! No! No!
It's a shame, a reason not to "R.I.P"....

[EFC]

-another fourth estate stenographer sucking-up to scum-pathetic.

[sugarmoes]

getting fragged in afghanistan is considered "flourising"?????