# Department of Justice emails to Media Matters - big deal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 19, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197 "2012-09-19T18:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/1 "2012-09-19T18:12:26Z")
Googling “Media Matters Department of Justice” brings up a ton of news stories - mostly conservative sites parroting each other - about the Departrment of Justice’s public affairs director sending lots of info to Media Matters about the supposed Black Panther voter intimidation. [Matthew Boyle](http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/18/emails-reveal-justice-dept-regularly-enlists-media-matters-to-spin-press/) seems to have made it his personal quest to make this into another Watergate. Assuming (and I think it’s a fair assumption) it’s all true - the DoJ sent lots of material to Media Matters to give their side of the story - is it a big deal? Or is it just maddening if your POV skews right? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/2 "2012-09-19T18:19:27Z")
I thought it was mainly about Fast & Furious. But, yes, this is a big deal. You have a head person at the DOJ orchestrating with Media Matters as what should be covered and how things should be spun. Hom is that not a big deal. Also, the Freedom of Information Act that enabled someone to get hold of the emails requires that they be turned over within 20 days. How long did it take the DOJ? Nine months. Maybe they don’t know about how the law works or something. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/3 "2012-09-19T18:34:54Z")
It’s just the break the McCain campaign has been waiting for. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/4 "2012-09-19T18:35:23Z")
Well, ‘orchestrating’ is a loaded word. If Media Matters’ stated purpose is to counter right-wing misinformation, and the DoJ has some, and their public affairs director forwards it to Media Matters, is that wrong? The DoJ has a public affairs department, of course. Every organization does. Government organizations get to, also. Of course they talk to the media. Of course they go to Media Matters. I bet they forward info to CNN, and Fox News, too. Does that mean they were effectively controlling Media Matters? I don’t think so. But I’m willing to listen. I’m honestly confused about it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/5 "2012-09-19T18:38:48Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I thought it was mainly about Fast & Furious. But, yes, this is a big deal. You have a head person at the DOJ orchestrating with Media Matters as what should be covered and how things should be spun. > > Hom is that not a big deal. > > Also, the Freedom of Information Act that enabled someone to get hold of the emails requires that they be turned over within 20 days. How long did it take the DOJ? Nine months. Maybe they don’t know about how the law works or something. Yeah, that FOIA rule is bullshit. If they’re back logged they an take longer. Ex: I just got a notice last year (2011) from FEMA that they hoped to get to my request within six month and they apologized for the delay. I filed that FOIA request in _2006._ ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/6 "2012-09-19T18:41:11Z")
Yea, does someone want to quote an email they thought was particularly damaging? Skimming the linked article, it just sounds like Media Matters told the DoJ that they were writing stories about the Black Panthers and asked for information, and the DoJ responded with the requested information. Thats more or less how I’d expect it to work. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/7 "2012-09-19T19:46:41Z")
Considering that the Bush Administration was paying reporters, I think this should be news that the current DoJ is saving taxpayer dollars on their PR programs. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-of-justice-emails-to-media-matters-big-deal/635197/8 "2012-09-19T20:09:02Z")
Thanks for that reminder, **Enkel** - here’s a summary for others like me that had forgotten: [Bush administration payment of columnists - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_administration_payment_of_columnists)