Like his namesake from the Friday the 13th horror films, Jason Leopold never seems to tire of goring us with ever more outrageous claims of insider knowledge regarding the impending indictment of Karl Rove.
Also like the slasher from the teen horror movies, Leopold has upped the body count by reporting that Rove is cooperating with Fitzy’s effort to take down Vice President Cheney. Since most of those same observers who believe Rove will be indicted any day also believe that Cheney isn’t even a target of the Special Prosecutor, one wonders what our Jason is smoking and may I please have some.
But the hell of it is, since an indictment of Rove seems imminent, we will be forced to sit and listen while Leopold crows like a morning cock about his “scoop” – despite the fact that his prediction of when Fitzmas actually arrived was so off base that only dyed-in-the-wool Leopoldists will continue to take this charlatan seriously as a journalist.
The sane left has as much skepticism about Jason and his fantasies as anyone on the right. Kevin Drum:
I, of course, have no way to judge the truth of either side, although it continues to be strange that Leopold claims to have multiple sources on this story and no other media outlet has even one. In any case, there’s damn little wiggle room left here. One side or the other is wrong on a truly spectacular scale and is now set up for an implosion of credibility on a galactic scale. Stay tuned.
The problem here isn’t about aggressive reporting that gets “too far out in front of the news-cycle”; the problem is reporting information that appears to be false. Either the Leopold article on Rove’s indictment was true or not. Ash’s “partial apology” doesn’t say either way.
Truthout’s Marc Ash (who Howard Kurtz informs us is a former ad man and fashion photog) is sticking by Leopold and is now simply calling Rove attorney Robert Luskin’s categorical denials about everything in the Leopold article a pack of lies. One would think that this ups the stakes for Truthout if it turns out Rove isn’t indicted until next month but don’t worry. The fact of the matter is that Truthout could print any number of lies, exaggerations, or falsehoods and still be considered a major news outlet on the left. That’s because their heart is in the right place on this and other issues. Why bother with the truth when it’s the sentiment of speaking truth to power that counts. If the story is false, it’s not because Jason Leopold is a serial liar and fabricator, it’s because the MSM has the story and won’t go with it because they are “afraid” of the White House.
Contrast this attitude on the left with the reaction on the right to the Ben Domenech plagiarism scandal, when there was unusual unanimity of opinion regarding the blogger’s resignation. No such disapprobation will fall on our Jason, despite this summary of his record from Mr. Kurtz:
Leopold acknowledges in a new book, “News Junkie,” that he is a past liar, convicted felon and former alcoholic and cocaine addict. An earlier version of the book was canceled by publisher Rowman & Littlefield last year.Salon retracted a 2002 piece by Leopold involving Thomas White, then secretary of the Army. The online magazine apologized, saying it had been unable to confirm the authenticity of an e-mail that Leopold attributed to White. Leopold, a onetime reporter for the Los Angeles Times and Dow Jones, accused the online magazine of being “wimpy” and caving to pressure.
“Jason is a character, but he’s been straight with me and I’ve checked him out very carefully,” Ash says.
One familiar with how sincere drug addicts can sound about “turning their life around” will immediately recognize Mr. Ash’s mistake; trusting Jason Leopold that he’s telling the truth is like trusting a crack head not to steal your car the minute your back is turned. As much as you care for the fellow, its better not to enable him by leading him into temptation.
I like the Commissar’s take on a final outcome here:
Whatever one’s politics, this sure is interesting. I can’t ever recall such a potentially explosive story being presented in two wholly contradictory versions for so long. The Lefties must be freaking out. Popcorn, anyone?
I prefer plain but will eat low fat buttered in a pinch.
UPDATE
Even if Rove were indicted—and no one outside Fitzgerald’s office can say with any confidence whether or not that will happen—everything that has been reported in this latest round of theorizing would still be wrong. And if in the end Rove is not indicted, there will undoubtedly be confidently worded reports that he was saved only by some sort of corrupt dealing. What this latest round of Internet theorizing shows is that there are people who have a deep emotional investment in the belief that Rove is a criminal, and that those people will suspend their critical faculties to accept almost any scenario that supports their belief. Nothing that happens—or doesn’t happen—will change that.
Bill Ardolino waxes cynical:
My money is on further, catastrophic shaming of Leopold. Or at least what would count as “catastrophic shaming,” if indeed there were any real consequences in Blog World …
I have to join Ardolino in his cynicism. Witness the Debbie Schlussel imbroglio where her hate filled rants against Jill Carroll even after it was revealed the journalist’s statements were made under duress only served to increase her popularity.
Go figure…
10:03 am
Walter Pincus’ article in the Wa Po today is not far from Leopold’s in the accuracy department.(See Just One Minute ). And don’t forget that he and Kristoff set off the Plamarama. In the case of his first story in June of 2003 it took the WaPo 2 1/2 years to correct it and concede it was full of lies (the source was Joe Wilson).
Since Kurtz also works at the WaPo maybe his next piece might focus on why his employer continues to allow Pincus to cover the case.
12:30 pm
Instead of beating up on Leopold, whose main sin seems to be to be way overenthusiatic about what he hopes may happen, and what may still happen, why not focus your righteous indignation on a really important issue – the wholly madeup story by Amir Tehari about the yellow stars in Iran. And how the NY Post has continued to push the story, in the most lurid and scare-mongering manner even AFTER the story has been debunked.
That is a case of pure fabrication, far more evil than Leopolds overenthusiasm, with a rather obvious motivation of ginning up a war, not just getting a scoop.
Leopold is already discredited, because the people who most wanted to believe his story are the people most disappointed by its falsity. But Taheri’s story is pure propaganda – its falseness will be downplayed by those who wish it true, because ultimately they dont care if its true or not – they want the effect that the story has, to become part of the assumed background of everyones thinking.
If ever there was an issue on which to criticize the MSM, I dont see how you can top this one.
12:58 pm
‘Alias’ was cancelled today by Abrams.
This really was Valerie Plame in the younger years.
1:44 pm
Tano:
It is a “fact” that the Iranian mandate for Non-Muslims to wear identifying badges is in dispute. But what can’t ber denied is this same Iranian parliament passed a law mandating proper Muslim dress.
There is a difference between being required to wear the Star of David or other such badges but the effect will be the same. Consider what would occur in Iran should a Jew be found wearing the mandated Muslim dress? And if you are not wearing the mandate Muslim dress, then you must be infidel and the implication is you will be treated as such.
You think this is no big deal? Tell ya what – I’ll buy you plane fare to Teheran and have you dress “appropriately”. Then we’ll just see how “outrageous” concern for this idea is. Deal?
5:15 pm
Rick, you seem certain that an indictment of Rove is imminent, do you have a source?
5:25 pm
Kate:
Tom McGuire of Just One Minute believes there is a 70% chance that Rove will be indicted by Wednesday.
If you follow the Plame story you already know that Tom is no Jason Leopold and is in fact, a moderate conservative and next to Murray Waas, the goto guy for anything and everything Plame.
On the other hand, my good friend Clarice (see her comment above) is much less convinced that Rove will do the perp walk. She also is an expert in all things Plame.
I think speaking practically, Fitzgerald has been investigating for three years and all he’s got to show for it is little Scooter Libby. A good prosecutor can get an indictment in this case despite the fact that Rove’s memory loss is probably completely innocent and logical. And if my memory serves me correctly, all Fitzy needs is a majority of the grand jury to vote out an indictment. I think history shows that if a prosecutor is really determined to indict, he can.
I also think Rove would be acquitted in a heartbeat as would Scooter Libby. If you read Clarice and Tom’s stuff (Clarice writes for The American Thinker) you can see what a really weak case Fitzy has. That won’t stop him from indicting, which is all he needs to justify the expense and time of his investigation.
5:29 pm
Rick, thanks for the clarification. I’m not convinced Rove will be indicted, but I agree with you regarding Fitzgerald. He might go for it despite a weak case.
9:43 pm
Leopold-meter
. Clifford Irving
. Janet Cooke
+ Jack Kelly
* Stephen Glass
* Jayson Blair
The Leopold-meter is still going up. He’s got Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass beaten, and he is now moving into Jack Kelly territory.
9:46 pm
Neo:
Ya lost me. Are you talking about Jack Kelly of the Pitts Gazette? Who is he and what did he do?
9:51 pm
hint: Jack Kelly worked for USA Today
10:02 pm
My apologies to Jack Kelly, it was supposed to be Jack Kelley. (Wonder how that happened)