# LA Times protecting Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 30, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218 "2008-10-30T05:18:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/21 "2008-10-30T11:52:28Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Story [here](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-na-video30-2008oct30,0,7519467.story) > > About 5 years ago, Obama went to a dinner and praised former PLO spokesman Rashid Khalidi. The LA Times refuse to release the video and they claim it is because they made a promise to the source. > > 1. If it were McCain, would they still hold the video back? > 2. If it were released, how would it effect the election? > 3. Should the LA Times release the video? I’m afraid that your link only led to adverts when I tried it but I’m sure that it was incredibly interesting. Now what are your views on candidates who are so bankrupt of any workable policy ideas that they have to resort to unsubstantiated smears on their opponents rather then explaining why their policies are the best? Another question for you,how good a POTUS and VP do you think that candidates who allowed these tactics to be used in their campaigns would be in office? How trustworthy would you consider them to be? And how honest when speaking to the electorate? My final question is what would your moral evaluation be of the people who actually used the unsubstantiated smear tactics in the first place and what sort of person do you think would vote for somebody based on these tactics? I await your reply with mild interest. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/22 "2008-10-30T11:54:09Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Sounds like the LAT agreed to take the tape under the condition that they protect Obama. > > Has Obama been asked about the event or the tape? I haven’t seen any response directly from him. > > Isn’t there an LAT/Chicago Tribune/Axelrod connection? Have you READ the thread? Sounds like the L.A. Times **BROKE THE STORY** , as opposed to covering it up to protect Obama. And they probably refused to write it without any evidence from their source, which the source provided on the condition that the contents could be written about but the tape itself not be released. You can actually read about the contents of the tape in the original article that was published last April! > [@](#): > > [Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-obamamideast10apr10,0,1780231,full.story) > > It was a celebration of Palestinian culture – a night of music, dancing and a dash of politics. Local Arab Americans were bidding farewell to Rashid Khalidi, an internationally known scholar, critic of Israel and advocate for Palestinian rights, who was leaving town for a job in New York. > > A special tribute came from Khalidi’s friend and frequent dinner companion, the young state Sen. Barack Obama. Speaking to the crowd, Obama reminisced about meals prepared by Khalidi’s wife, Mona, and conversations that had challenged his thinking. > > . . . > > And yet the warm embrace Obama gave to Khalidi, and words like those at the professor’s going-away party, have left some Palestinian American leaders believing that Obama is more receptive to their viewpoint than he is willing to say. > > Their belief is not drawn from Obama’s speeches or campaign literature, but from comments that some say Obama made in private and from his association with the Palestinian American community in his hometown of Chicago, including his presence at events where anger at Israeli and U.S. Middle East policy was freely expressed. > > At Khalidi’s 2003 farewell party, for example, a young Palestinian American recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians and sharply criticizing U.S. support of Israel. If Palestinians cannot secure their own land, she said, “then you will never see a day of peace.” > > One speaker likened “Zionist settlers on the West Bank” to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been “blinded by ideology.” > > Obama adopted a different tone in his comments and called for finding common ground. But his presence at such events, as he worked to build a political base in Chicago, has led some Palestinian leaders to believe that he might deal differently with the Middle East than either of his opponents for the White House. > > . . . Explain to me how that article “protects” Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/23 "2008-10-30T12:00:38Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Those seeking to advance America, should strengthen moderate Palestinian voices, not undermine them. Inserting moderate Palestinians into smear campaigns is a shameful use of an Arab ally. QFT ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/24 "2008-10-30T12:02:04Z")
Well, that clinches it. They’ve convinced me that Obama is a terrorist. My suspicions have been confirmed :rolleyes: McCain is such a piece of shit. Can’t we just scrape him off our collective shoe and move on? He’s beyond redemption, both as a politician and as a human being. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/25 "2008-10-30T12:59:10Z")
Last night on The Daily Show, they showed a clip of McCain talking about this at one of his rallies. As soon as he brought up Khalidi’s name, the crowd booed. What a piece of human garbage McCain has become. Nobody can tell me that he’s not pandering to racism and xenophobia at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/26 "2008-10-30T13:06:39Z")
Fox News is still pounding the shit out of this. They just had Joe the Dumber on ranting about it. They’re still going shamelesly with the lie that Khalidi was a spokesperson for the PLO, and they’re still making no mention at all of the fact that McCain funneled money to Khalidi’s Palestine Center. I usually don’t watch that “Fox and Friends” show. Is it always this retarded? There’s not even the slightest effort at balance, fairness or even basic accuracy. Those are three of the dumbest people I’ve ever seen in my life. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/27 "2008-10-30T13:49:03Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Being a Palestinian who wants a bit of their Homeland back does not make you a terrorist. It does in this country. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/28 "2008-10-30T13:52:08Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Many, many years ago I took a couple of courses as an undergrad from Professor Khalidi–Modern Middle Eastern History 1 and Modern Middle Eastern History 2. Apart from a tendency to spontaneously shout “Death to America! Death to Israel!” whenever I play solitaire–and hey, who doesn’t do that, right?–I seem to have suffered no ill effects. > > Ooh, I just checked my transcripts and I got an “A” both quarters. Well, there go _my_ chances of ever being elected President. \*\*MEBuckner \*\*got an “A” in _Terrorism 101_ and _Terrorism 102_? OMG!!! McCain’s campaign keeps trying the same tactics over and over again, and they just aren’t working. The SJ Merc shows Obama leading McCain in CA by 22%. Now, it’s been pretty clear that Obama was going to take CA for quite some time, but 22%? That hasn’t happened since FDR. Even Reagan (former Governor that he was) didn’t do that well. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/29 "2008-10-30T13:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes] I usually don’t watch that “Fox and Friends” show. Is it always this retarded? There’s not even the slightest effort at balance, fairness or even basic accuracy. Those are three of the dumbest people I’ve ever seen in my life. [/QUOTE] This stuff is so rich. A significant portion of the GOP establishment seems determined to hitch their wagon to a pair of semiliterate cardboard cutouts. Laws-a-mighty. Is this what long-term exposure to Fox News does to people? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/30 "2008-10-30T14:04:51Z")
What bothers me about this stuff is that given his own connections to Khalidi (and also to ACORN), McCain can’t possibly believe what he’s saying. When he says Obama doesn’t have the experience, has the wrong ideas about defense and negotiating with Iran and the wrong strategy in Iraq and things like that, I am sure McCain believes it. This stuff is considerably lamer, and much of the public seems to have acknowledged the same. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/31 "2008-10-30T14:09:15Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Sounds like the LAT agreed to take the tape under the condition that they protect Obama. I can think of other, more plausible reasons. [ul][li]The person who made the tape might not have been authorized to do so and didn’t want to get in trouble.[/li][li]The person who gave the tape to the Times may not have been authorized to do so and didn’t want to get in trouble.[/li][li]The person who made the tape imagined it had financial value down the road and didn’t want the Times releasing it.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/32 "2008-10-30T14:10:53Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Sounds like the LAT agreed to take the tape under the condition that they protect Obama. This is vague, so I’m not sure what you mean. But I think it’s been established that they accepted the tape from the source on condition that they not release it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/33 "2008-10-30T14:19:20Z")
More crap from an increasingly desperate GOP. Jeez, I used to actually respect McCain. He’s doing himself no favors by these kinds of ridiculous, unfounded cheap shots. History will not be kind to him. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/34 "2008-10-30T14:28:46Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > More crap from an increasingly desperate GOP. Jeez, I used to actually respect McCain. He’s doing himself no favors by these kinds of ridiculous, unfounded cheap shots. History will not be kind to him. No it won’t, but like Obama, McCain had choices. Obama _decided_ to stay above bar in the mud slinging, and \*decided \*not to take public financing. Any idiot can see he has run a superb campaign. McCain included. But until the final ballot is cast, McCain will continue to be the evil GOP candidate with a pitbull who where’s lipstick by his side. The only person beig written into the textbooks will be Obama, winner or not. Right now, I don’t see how he won’t win. Last night’s broadcast was brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/35 "2008-10-30T14:35:57Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Have you READ the thread? > > Sounds like the L.A. Times **BROKE THE STORY** , as opposed to covering it up to protect Obama. And they probably refused to write it without any evidence from their source, which the source provided on the condition that the contents could be written about but the tape itself not be released. > > You can actually read about the contents of the tape in the original article that was published last April! Explain to me how that article “protects” Obama. Yes I did. I like the part where it says Obama is more receptive blah blah blah “than he is willing to say”. Seems like a curious media would want to make him say more than he is willing to say. Haven’t seen much indication of that. The article says only what a pro-Obama writer wants people to know about the dinner. Not putting out the video is what is protecting him. If it were anti-McCain I’m sure it would have leaked out some how. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/36 "2008-10-30T14:39:38Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Yes I did. I like the part where it says Obama is more receptive blah blah blah “than he is willing to say”. Seems like a curious media would want to make him say more than he is willing to say. Haven’t seen much indication of that. > > The article says only what a pro-Obama writer wants people to know about the dinner. Not putting out the video is what is protecting him. If it were anti-McCain I’m sure it would have leaked out some how. When come back bring something other than wild speculation, insinuation and completely made up shit. I guess you are outraged that the NAVY is apparently protecting McCain from a homicide charge.[News Orgs Investigate Possibly Fatal McCain '64 Car Crash | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/news-orgs-investigate-pos_n_138449.html) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/37 "2008-10-30T14:45:20Z")
At this point, is there any functional difference between what the McCain campaign is doing, and simply picking Arabic names at random and alluding to Obama’s connection with them? ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/38 "2008-10-30T14:45:35Z")
Now I want to start a pool for the next “irrevelvant baseless accusation I’m actually much more guilty of, but maybe the librul media won’t figure out this time” McCains going to barf out of his lying mouth. I’m going with “Senator Obama, through his own recklessness, personally destroyed several million dollars worth of essential, state of the art, military equipment during war time” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/39 "2008-10-30T14:46:32Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > If it were anti-McCain I’m sure it would have leaked out some how. Ah yes, the unprovable “if something else happened” assertion. Debate over, **What the … !!!** wins. Certainly nobody in the Scooter Libby case took their confidentiality promises seriously. It’s not like anyone went to jail for it. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218/40 "2008-10-30T14:50:29Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > The article says only what a pro-Obama writer wants people to know about the dinner. Not putting out the video is what is protecting him. If it were anti-McCain I’m sure it would have leaked out some how. Great. I now await a demonstration of your premise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-times-protecting-obama/470218.md?page=3)