I write to "The Hill"

Yesterday kerrygoddess wrote this account about comments by Jonathan Kaplan, reporter for The Hill, who said on a reporter's conference call "screw that and screw him" in response to a suggestion that reporters were not truthfully reporting what Kerry had to say. Kaplan refused to identify himself, although he later was identified by his boss.

I listened to all the audio provided in the various diaries on this topic and decided to write a letter to Kaplan and The Hill, which appears below the fold.

As I say in my letter, I don't have problem with a reporter who has the attitude "screw that and screw him" about a political figure.  That was Hunter S. Thompson's attitude about Nixon, for example, and I'm a big fan of Hunter S. Thompson's writing about Nixon.  The thing is, Thompson did not do so anonymously. (The context of my other comments will be clear if you have read the relevant diaries.)

I marked this letter "Not for Publication", but have decided to publish it here after getting an automated "on vacation" response from Kaplan's email address.

Mr. Kaplan,

In the now notorious "screw that and screw him" conference call, you can be heard to say,  when pressed to identify yourself, "Mike, [are] you going to help me out here or what? I mean, come on, buddy."

Can you tell us who "Mike" is?

Also, can you confirm or deny that you were the source who gave Mike Conallen the phone number to the  Murphy/Kerry conference call?

It's unclear what you meant by "screw that and screw him", by the way, although it was clearly rude to the person you were responding to.  If you mean that it's not the job of reporters to be stenographers or spokespeople for anybody, then I certainly agree with you.  One would expect that you would report what the people you're covering actually said, but I don't expect you to be a "house organ" or pr flack for the Senator from Massachusetts or anybody else. Of course it's kind of weird to hear that comment directed at Kerry, for although he is powerful and has been shown some measure of deference by mainstream media (including The Hill), certainly the media, in general, have been water-carriers for the Bush/Cheney administration and their congressional allies for going on six years now.   In general our national media, especially that portion of it that covers politics, has abjectly failed to do its duty--and it is a duty; that's why you get to have shield laws protecting you that I don't have-- during this period.  I don't say that about you personally, since I don't know your work.  But the profession of which you are a member is riddled with liars, whores, shills, cowards, incompetents, crybabies and monarchists who suck at the teat of authoritarian Republicanism, so if anything I think Kerry was too gentle on you.

All in all I don't mind a reporter with a "screw that and screw him" attitude.  That was certainly the attitude of Hunter S. Thompson towards Richard Nixon, and Thompson was a brilliant political reporter.

Only, the thing is, when somebody asked him his name, he told him what it was.

Regards,

John Sundman
Vineyard Haven, MA

•  Kaplan's fault was not in the 'screw you' comment

  That's just the testy defensiveness of someone who thinks they're having their qualifications questioned. Kaplan is also apparently some sort of jock, and he may have some penis envy for Kerry.

  What Kaplan did wrong was repeat the "Lamont shows the Democrats are weak on terrorism" meme to Patrick Murphy, a f*cking war vet.  It just showed the creeping reach of GOP talking points even when they're plainly inapposite--for example, Fitzpatrick, Murphy's opponent, has already backed off hios support for the Iraq war. So the Lamont meme was beside the point.

  by Dartagnan on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 08:45:43 AM PDT

  •  His first question was legitmate

    "How does the Lamont victory affect your chances?"  At least, that's how I remember the question. In other words, it wasn't a leading question, and it is pertinent. It didn't bother me. I was interested in Murphy's answer, as I'm generally interested in what, if anything, Lamont's victory presages for upcoming elections.

    Kaplan's follow-up question, however, did embed the Republican meme, for sure, and Kerry called him on it.

    The "screw that and screw him" comment was out of line if he's not willing to say who he is and what he meant by it.  He was already telling bloggers that Kerry was unfair for blaming the media.  In other words, he was crybabying.  So, if he's got an axe to grind, it shouldn't be hidden, so that readers can take that into account when reading his reporting.

    by j sundman on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 08:58:55 AM PDT

•  terrific letter!

  I wrote Kaplan's editor, but your letter is MUCH better...

  by merryberry on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 08:47:54 AM PDT

  •  Thanks <nt/>

    by j sundman on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 08:59:43 AM PDT

•  I Wrote Kaplan, too

  You're weak on offense

  Silly 'reporter'.
  Thanks for the laugh.
   
   
  And I even got a reply!

  Out of the Office
  I will be out of the office from August 17 to August 21. If you have a great news scoop, pllease [sic] call or email Aaron Blake at [e-mail]. The Hill won't be published for the next two weeks. I'm going to try to stay off of email. JEK

  Of course, yesterday was August 22.

  by GW Chimpzilla on Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 09:08:06 AM PDT