McCain campaign accuses L.A. Times of 'suppressing' Obama video
Editor's note: We're looking at McCain's charges on this today. Be sure to watch Dana Bash's report tonight on AC360°. Here is the L.A. Times' account of the story.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/29/art.mccain.1029.jpg]
L.A. Times staff writer
L.A. Times
The Times says its promise to a source prevents the paper from posting the video, which shows Barack Obama praising Palestinian activist Rashid Khalidi at a 2003 banquet. The story first appeared in April.
John McCain's presidential campaign Tuesday accused the Los Angeles Times of "intentionally suppressing" a videotape it obtained of a 2003 banquet where then-state Sen. Barack Obama spoke of his friendship with Rashid Khalidi, a leading Palestinian scholar and activist.
The Times first reported on the videotape in an April 2008 story about Obama's ties with Palestinians and Jews as he navigated the politics of Chicago. The report included a detailed description of the tape, but the newspaper did not make the video public.
"A major news organization is intentionally suppressing information that could provide a clearer link between Barack Obama and Rashid Khalidi," said McCain campaign spokesman Michael Goldfarb. " . . . The election is one week away, and it's unfortunate that the press so obviously favors Barack Obama that this campaign must publicly request that the Los Angeles Times do its job - make information public."
The Times on Tuesday issued a statement about its decision not to post the tape.
"The Los Angeles Times did not publish the videotape because it was provided to us by a confidential source who did so on the condition that we not release it," said the newspaper's editor, Russ Stanton. "The Times keeps its promises to sources."
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Filed under: Barack Obama • John McCain • Rashid Khalidi • Raw Politics |
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"mccain should go get on his train wreck and ride the bridge to no where for the good of the human race. They say he is already being embalmed. He should giv e his money for education of the American population of biggots.. They need the education very badly. T hat would be his greatest contribution because he is too OLD to be a president. "
I've heard about this and my rhetorical question for McCain is why hasn't Palin and her husband publicly explained why they were part of the Alaska Independent Party. Why were they in a party for 7 years that advocates seccession of Alaska from the U.S. because they (the party) hate the U.S. government – the so called government that she has been representing since she became mayor. She even made a statement that the AIP did a great job so who really is unpatriotic? I find it pathetic that McCain is up in arms over this videotape yet Obama has the civility to not drudge up Palin and her husband's connection to the AIP.
Once again the lies-hate-fear-and-division mongers of the Republican party are doing their evil and vile work. They do not have the truth, all they have is attacks and insinuations.
CNN has not covered an interesting story about Todd Palin belonging to the Alaska Independent Party, A SECESSIONIST party. Google them and become informed.
Todd Palin was a member from 1994-2002, that's a FACT.
And Sarah Palin spoke at their convention this year!
ISN'T WANTING TO SECEED FROM THE UNITED STATES UNPATRIOTIC? (yes, Anderson, I am shouting!)
McCain/Sread the wealth on her family Palin called Florida the H–ker state due to all the immigrants (Hispanics) there & called Pennsylvania a racist state. I think he should look in the mirror before making nasty comments!!!!
it says something about mccain's campaign, doesn't it? in fac, it says alot about their platform. this is just getting sad.
the approach they are taking is that diplomacy is never a first option and that they would pre-judge people and take up arms first. wanting to twist this video into something sinister, instead of a man telling people to find "common ground" is just consistent with the desperation of a campaign that never really put the country first..
for those who think that mccain's campaign was never consistent are wrong. they are consistent with their campaing. they have a campaign of desperation and lies. this is just getting sad that a man would end his political career just like george bush....on the threshold of disgrace.