The August 15 New York Times front page boldly featured a menacing headline, "A Businessman in Congress Helps His District and Himself," whose accompanying article slams House Government Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). However, key facts in the story are inaccurate and the headline crumbles without these facts. Amazingly, the New York Times has as of this writing failed to make any correction other than a correcting a typo.
First, reporter Eric Lichtblau even got the description of Issa's building in downtown San Diego wrong. As Politico has reported, contrary to Lichtblau's assertion, the building does not overlook a golf course. While this inaccuracy seems trite at first, it raises further questions of Lichtblau's reporting, such as whether he visited Issa's office at all as the "Vista, Calif." byline suggests.
It gets worse. As Politico reported:
Issa claims that The Times asserted a building he bought went up in value, when it did not and the story said Issa went easy on Toyota during congressional inquiries because a company he founded was a supplier to them, when in fact Issa says his Directed Electronics corporation does not have a relationship with Toyota. Issa's camp also says the Times' assertion that his charitable foundation reaped a windfall from a financial holding is false, as he actually lost money on the investment.
A San Diego Union-Tribune article confirms that a medical complex Issa owns did not enjoy a 60 percent appreciation in value, as Lichtblau alleges. The County Assessor confirmed to the SDUT that Issa bought the building for $16.6 million -- which Lichtblau erroneously reports was $10. 3 million.
Lichtblau's intent is clear: To defame Issa. But the Darrell Issa I have known for over 20 years is honest, ethical and puts the nation before himself. Despite the inference of the New York Times, his wealth makes him a politician immune to special interests and self-dealing. He simply is not motivated by money, but rather gives up almost all his waking moments in a fierce desire to leave the nation better for our children. I understand that the New York Times does not share Darrell's political philosophy. But different views do not justify allowing inaccuracies to go uncorrected.
Darrell is incredibly principled. I met Darrell in the late 1980s because of these principles: I was a young lawyer working for the predecessor to the Consumer Electronics Association when Darrell, as a company owner exhibiting at International CES, insisted on constructing his own exhibit. The union thought otherwise and wanted a work stoppage before the show. I was thrilled that the unions and Darrell agreed that the union could picket his booth after the show. Everyone won.
That experience led Darrell to the Consumer Electronics Association where he helped engineer a merger of another association and quickly moved up the ranks to become our Chairman. No one worked harder for the betterment of our organization. Indeed, he was first elected to Congress in 2000 while Chairman of our Board. When he switched his energies to Congress, he took the same no-sleep, solve-the-problem approach.
While some deride Darrell as the wealthy congressman, this was not inherited wealth. He earned it as an entrepreneur and may be the only patent owner in Congress. He approaches problems as the engineer he is and remains focused on coming up with real business-like solutions to national problems. His plan to save the Postal Service is an example of confronting tough situations with no easy answers. That is why we hire politicians, and sadly too many give silver-bullet, no-pain solutions. Darrell solves problems -- he does not sugarcoat solutions.
We need legislators of both parties who can solve problems. But the first way we get problems solved is by agreeing on the facts. Congress needs to agree on facts to create a common base -- just as a newspaper must do this out of journalistic principles, integrity and an obligation to its readers.
So New York Times, step up. You blew this one. Have the decency to come clean. It will help your reputation in the long run.
Gary Shapiro is president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the U.S. trade association representing more than 2,000 consumer electronics companies, and author of The New York Times best-selling book, "The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream."
Follow Gary Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GaryShapiro
Issa is such an upstanding guy that last year he said that the Obama administration was "the most corrupt in American history" and didn't follow that up with a single example of the "corruption." That's not my idea of an upstanding guy, no matter what facts Lichtbau might have gotten wrong.
And given that, it's difficult to have any sympathy for him. How about if he apologies for that comment first, and then maybe those of us living in the real world can find some sympathy for the devil.
Issa is an irresponsible pest who calls for "investigations" at the slightest imaginary provocation. He's among the phonies who made such a big deal out of the ACORN (non) scandal.
He's not useful being in government because like so many conservatives he really doesn't believe in it.
It’s time we have a Internal Affairs Bureau for Washington, with real power, to arrest, detail, subpoena, our politicians are out of control.
So he didn't work for legislation that personally benefited him?
Cause I didn't see where those denials are in this article.
So then every or most Congressman enhanced the value of the property they own by voting for the stimulus package. Therefore any Congressional vote which enhances life in the Congressman's district personally benefits him.
All I know is that the major facts relied on by the NYT were wrong, the headline was wrong and if the NYT is real quality - they will be corrected.
You stated that what you know about the NYT article is all you know. I think you got that part right.
Let me venture a guess here....you never lent Issa your car, did you?
Actually he made his money selling car alarms - the stereo business mostly has been acquisitions since he left management of the company.
"Darrell solves problems -- he does not sugarcoat solutions." Excellent example of messaging.. did you write it or Issa's office? Are you allowed to call him Darrell?
Just askin'
Neither Cong. Issa nor his office saw or knew or asked me to write what I did.
And you are correct I should call him Cong. Issa. That was disrespectful and when I see others publically portray a friendship - a bit annoying. Yet many if not most Members do ask to be called by their first name when you meet them.
Come clean Mr.Shapiro, your a paid hack for the republicans and really don't believe most of what write.
More, you can look at my political giving and see I have given t candidates of both parties.
More, you can look up my speeches and writings and see that I often state that I am not a Democrat nor a Republican.
Why do so many HP commenters seek to discount a person's views by affiliating them with something they don't like?
The following is a response to Congressman's Issa call for a retraction; the same you as you have noted in your blog.
The letter, worth reading in its entirety, demolishes what’s left of Issa’s demand for a retraction:
#1) Issa Claim: “Directed Electronics is, in fact, not a supplier to Toyota.”
NYT Response: Issa not only calls himself an “auto supplier” to Toyota on multiple occasions, but his Directed Electronics company has licensing agreements with Toyota for aftermarket parts including car alarms, an iPod adapter, and a remote start interface.
The Times then lists Issa’s continued financial ties to the company he once led as an executive.
too be cont.
NYT Response: The office building overlooks the Shadowridge County Club only a quarter a mile away, and Issa’s realty agency for the building advertises “direct views to golf driving range.”
#3) Issa Claim: “Rep. Issa does not have investments dependent on Goldman Sachss (sic) performance.”
NYT Response: “Your interest in Goldman’s performance is borne out by, among other factors, your extensive holdings in its mutual funds, your investigation into the lawsuit brought against the firm by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2008, and the concerns raised in your July 2011 letter about the impact on Goldman of capital requirements. As was noted in a follow-up column by one of our news columnists, Floyd Norris, Goldman Sachs also underwrote DEl’s initial I.P.O., another indication of the ties between you and the firm.” (ThinkProgress has also reported on Issa’s extensive ties to Goldman Sachs here, here, and here.)
#4) Issa Claim: The discussion of earmarks on West Vista Way “fails to mention that at the time he sought funding for his district he did not own this property.”
NYT Response: As the story noted, you secured two earmarks for the road, before and after you bought the property.
No sir, Issa is a thief and a liar and brings disgrace to his district, his office and his country.
The point is a front page NYT investigation with blaring headline and big picture should not present fiction as facts. Is this a concept that HP readers can agree upon?
Why? Because it is "ancient retread history", or because it would make your friend look bad?
Do you not realize that propping up false equivalents is one of the biggest failings of the media today? (right up there with a major newspaper distorting facts in an article).
He is the kind of person we want in politics. Successful, smart, great personal integrity. Think of someone you know like that serving our nation by giving his total energy to our nation - and then think of the New York Times telling a bundle of lies in an intentional hatchet job at worst and sloppy reporting at best. Then ask why they won't correct mistakes that several other news organizations have identified. Why won't they man up?
Darrell is opposed to financial transparenÂcy in governmentÂ, yet his own motives are quite transparenÂt.
And I guess that he might want to retract that quote on " Obama having one of the most
corrupt Admin."
Tally up what is truth and you will see the fire, he has plenty to answer for including his staff he selects from firms that donate to him.
Whats the next hatchet job" transparency of vendors" who donate to chairman's campaign funds!!! he is fighting that one!
Issa needs a story for that also.....Tally up the donations from Merrill Lynch and defense contractors etc.... Has a big mouth when it comes to others, now the shoe is up his a--
Elizabeth Warren got treated like shit from these clowns and staff. They reaped what they sowed.
Maybe Darrell should look at oil speculation contracts since he is tight with WallStreet...BernieSanders hopefully did not blow that for him!
Did he trade any also for his portfolio and profits??
Ever hear of a "trust" when you are in public office?
The facts are inconvenient. The opinions should flow from the facts.