Should the Los Angeles Times Reveal the Khalidi Videotape?

Fox News thinks it has discovered -- or invented -- the October surprise that will change the outcome of the election in John McCain's favor. It is a dud! They have been devoting hours of television time to publicizing John McCain's demand that the Los Angeles Times release a video purporting to show Barack Obama at an event with a rabidly anti-Israel Palestinian academic named Rashid Khalidi. I admit that I would myself like to see the video. But the LA Times obtained it from a source on the express condition that the video itself not be released. The LA Times did run a story disclosing the contents of the video, presumably with the permission of the source, but they have stated that "the Times keeps its promises to sources."

It is important to remember that without this promise of confidentiality stories like this one might not find their way into the public dialogue. This point illustrates the complexity of the relationship between a newspaper and its sources.

A simplistic view of freedom of speech would favor full and timely disclosure of all relevant information regardless of any promises made to a source. The more complex view of freedom of speech holds that unless newspapers keep their promises (and unless the law allows them to keep their promises) there will be less not more information available to the public. Reasonable people can and do disagree about whether the source privilege furthers or hinders the marketplace of ideas. Most experts agree that the First Amendment empowers newspapers to make decisions about this matter. The LA Times has made its decision, whether one agrees or disagrees with it.

The more important point is that the Obama campaign, to my knowledge, has played no role in the decision made by the Times. Indeed, I believe that Barack Obama would be better off if the videotape were released so that the public could actually see it rather than imagine the worse case scenario that Fox is now pushing. I hope we get to see the videotape before the election, but if we don't we should at least understand the considerations that have led the LA Times to make its decision.

Comments

[veggiequeenmo]

all aboard the hypocrite express!

[slc1950]

That's becoming a very crowded express, isn't it? Standing room only!

[ElBruce]

Just a few problems with the story - nobody sane up until now would describe Khalidi as "rabidly anti-Israel," although I think I recall that the Justice Department was hassling him a few years back about some charity donations.

[Willa17]

The Palestinians are an oppressed people. This fact should be stated more and I hope Barack Obama does something to help the Palestinians (I don't want to hear that I am against Israel for saying that! ). I am tired to see the Palestinians treated like dogs and many progressive Israelis are sick of too.

[sdskelton03]

If they would just stop trying to murder the Israelis, I am certain the Israelis would treat them better.

[dshwa]

If the Israelis would stop trying to murder them, they would probably treat the israelis better. Your bias is so blatant you must be blind not to see it.

[onelovecandy]

Sometimes it helps to imagine yourself in someone else's situation. I am not clear as to how Israel and Palestine got to this point, however If I came home and my neighbor kept moving the fence post and claiming my land as his, until I had to move altogher I'm just not sure what the outcome would be. I can't condone, but I can't critize either.

[Durango]

And you could say if they would simply stop murdering Palestinians I am certain the Palestinians would be better disposed towards negotiations.

There is Blood on EVERYBODIES HANDS.

But somehow we need to move beyond that.

[Durango]

Obviously something has to change.

People who love Israel need to support something besides continuous war.

The Rights of Palestinians have to be respected for any kind of peace to come to the area.

Hopefully President Obama will have the wisdom and judgment to broker such a peace. Certainly President Clinton tried.

Everything Bush/Cheney and the Neo-Conservatives have done in the past 8 years has been extremely harmful to Israel.

[steamboat]

(1) But why did Clinton wait until his last 2 months of his presidency before he tried to get something done? What about trying the first 7 3/4th years?

(2) Why did the Palestinians (not Israel) turn down the deal Clinton brokered which would have returned 97% of the territory to the Arabs that they had before the '67 Six-Day War?

[luckyboy]

Not unless McCain also releases the checks that his organization send to the same person, in the tune of $500,000.0­0.

[TallGrrl]

At this point, who cares?
McSenior Moment apparently forgot that he gave Khalidi $500,000 so he could, what, go on a shopping spree at Neimans?
The Hypocrite Express is on the roll.
Damn those pesky Internets making fact-checking easy!

Move along. There's nothing here to see.

[bearcck]

I don't care if they release it or not. John McCain knows there is no substance to it or he would have gotten on that wagon months ago. This has been out since last April...th­is is no surprise..­.as McCain would like to plant suspition as always.

I suspect by McCain inferences­....this is the very reason we went to War in Iraq. Inference and not fact. That is a strange world McCain lives in. It has, however, served me well. I now go to factcheck a lot and if there is no answer there I can seek out the facts in other ways.

Oh yeah....th­e facts....t­hey do not lend themselves well to McCains campaign. They also do not serve right wing conservatives well....es­pecially evangelists who make their money by the "fear of eternal damnation".

[sevenkdr]

CNN Fact Check Verdict:

MISLEADING
While Khalidi eight years ago hosted a political fund-raiser for Obama, the two men strongly disagree over the Israeli-Palestinian issue and there's no evidence of a continuing political relationship.

[albanaeon]

Thanks.

[sevenkdr]

McCain has more connections with this guy than Obama. This is frivolous.

[bogues]

If the Times should release the video, they should include in that same reveal, the ties that John McCain has to this guy. I cannot not believe that our Presidency could be won again, by underhanded, shifty tactics by the Republican Party. I am praying day and night that the American people have wised up enough not to let it happen again.

[chagedorn]

Of course they should release it, who cares? I doubt it shows Senator Obama in a bad light -- or rather anything on it is bound to be painted in a bad light by his opponents anyway -- and if he was indeed there and said anything, well that's what he said and did. If our public figures can't stand any light shone upon their actions -- and McCain and Palin have gotten away with a LOT in terms of their "associations" -- then they shouldn't be a public figure in this inquisitive and impolite age. I agree with other comments -- it's more valuable as innuendo.

[Marvelousdreams]

This scenerio can be viewed in light of (1) the secret video of Michelle Obama using the word "whitey" that never surfaced; and (2) Dan Rather's being snukered into introducing fake military records of G.W. Bush.

It smells of more of the same. I believe the newspaper will not release it because it knows problems will arise as to accuracy or relevance. It is more effective as inuendo.

[sdskelton03]

The Bush admistration was behind the forging of documents by CBS?

I didn't know Tin Foil was back in fashion.

[TallGrrl]

And by now, even Hannity knows that Michelle Obama was saying "Why'd'he".
God help us, the desperation stinks to high heaven off these people.
Shame, Senator McCain. Look into getting some.
I'm not a McCain supporter, but now I'm almost ashamed FOR him.

Well...may­be not.

[Scott1560]

LAT certainly has the right to protect sources, but can we really trust that protecting a source is the real reason to not publish the tape? The LAT claim that they already gave a detailed account of what was on the tape is completely bogus. Compare the original story they wrote earlier in the year to the "very detailed" story they did in '06 when they got their hands on an audiotape of Gov. Schwarzenegger. Both stories are available on the LAT Website. Just read them both and then make a decision as to which one is "detailed.­"
If LAT can't release the videotape then why don't they at least write a new story w/the details? I'd certainly like to read the anti-Israel poem that was recited at the event, the poem LAT glossed over w/few details. Again, compare to the Schwarzenegger audiotape story.

[TMann99821]

I could understand protecting a source like a whistle blower or a deep throat. But protecting a video of a dinner held in the honor of someone??

[Dadeo]

What some reporters have gone to jail over, to protect their sources, Fox has put a bounty on. Fox & Friends Brian Killmeade goes as far as to suggest maybe there's a disgruntled worker in the mailroom of the L.A.Times who could use the money. The First Amendment, Integrity, source privilege, for sale, you betcha, at Fox News.

[shadowgm]

The tape is irrelevant, unless sitting in the audience or attending an event means you automatically agree 100% with everything another guest says/does. Or that not speaking out against another person's unacceptable views equals the same thing.

It's like saying, "You watched the Godfather, so you must be a mafia sympathize­r."

[rmreddicks]

I went to a talk by Timothy Leary. He was an idiot. But I was there - a seriously wasted hour. (As in all such some thought him quite the something.­) McCain is gaining no traction with his "guilt by association" tactics.

Suddenly the undecideds have developed thought processes? After eight years and/or more?

Beyond that Dershowitz ain't exactly the bee's knees.

[Marie9]

I agree with you. Where are the intellignent leaders in this country. Just because I have sat in on a seminar does not mean I endorse the speaker. I do you respond to the other side if you don't get first hand information? Often translation is distorted!

[sdskelton03]

So it wouldn't be an issue if McCain attended a dinner with David Duke?

I ask that not to equate David Duke with Mr. Khalidi, but just to challenge your initial point that the lecturers one listens to is no reflection on the listener.

[TMann99821]

If McCain had attended a dinner "honoring" David Duke, where he was one of the speakers singing his praises, I would be upset.

It's not just this one dinner. It's the types of people he associates with and sharing their ideals.

If you had a friend that admitted to commiting a crime and got off on a technicality, would you still associate with that person?

[krocklin]

Palin really pushed this latest smear against Obama.
The Media picked it up big time, playing her fearmongering groundless allegations over and over on every channel.
Despite all of Obama's ads, McCain and Palin have gotten more Media coverage 2 to 1 because the Media loves sensation and nastiness.
How often do you see Biden on TV? How often Palin?
It has worked. Obama is on the defensive again and plunging in the polls.
Who needs campaign financing? Just go negative constantly; come up with another smear every rally.
It's working.