As reported by Michael Calderone over at Politico, Ellen Hale, AP VP of corporate communications has issued "talking points" to push back against the observations regarding Fournier and his consistent support for Sen. McCain. Hale attempts to push back against the well reported lack of objectivity Fournier has demonstrated in his role as as AP Washington Bureau Chief. Fournier has consistently published and approved articles for publication that could (might as well) have been written by John McCain campaign. Fournier's admiration for McCain is not limited to attacks on Democrats, he defends Sen. McCain against all challengers even fellow republicans.
More below the fold.
Previous complaints were written off as the "liberal blogosphere" but now even the MSM is starting to notice which makes "left wing zealots" a much more difficult charge.
As noted by Steve Benen at CBS news.
FOURNIER IS AT IT AGAIN.... The latest piece from Ron Fournier, the AP's Washington bureau chief and the man responsible for directing the wire service's coverage of the presidential campaign, on Joe Biden joining the Democratic ticket, is drawing a fair amount of attention this morning. More importantly, McCain campaign staffers are pushing it fairly aggressively to other reporters, in large part because it mirrors the Republican line with minimal variation.
First he questions the quality of the piece..
First, on the substance, Fournier's analysis seems a little lazy. By his logic, any potential running mate shows a "lack of confidence" -- picking Hillary would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over women voters; picking Bayh would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over independents and conservative Dems; picking Webb would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over voters concerned about national security; picking Kaine would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over voters in the South; etc. For that matter, "the status quo" in Washington has been conservative Republican rule. Biden may be an old pro and a DC insider, but he's anything but "the status quo."
But more important he points out the obvious conflict..
Fournier spoke about the job possibility with members of McCain's inner circle, including political aides Mark Salter, John Weaver and Rick Davis.
And outcome..
It's led to a series of AP reports that can, at best, be described as "questionable."
The thing is this isn’t new, Fournier has been kneecapping Democrats for far longer than most notice. In this article attacking Hillary Clinton , Fournier points out that Gore really never said he invented the internet but still got painted with that quote.
Gore never said he invented the Internet; his mistake was to place himself more centrally than warranted at the creation of the technology. But such nuance was lost on people who voted against him in 2000.
Yet as Eric Boehlert points out smartly here in his Media Matters Article Fourner was one of the chief propagators of that false story on these dates.
"Silly voters. But how on earth did they come to the false conclusion that Gore ever claimed to have invented the Internet? Answer: By reading Ron Fournier."
"He [Gore] claimed credit for inventing the Internet, and comics had a punch line for months." [November 13, 1999]
"Gore, who once claimed to have invented the Internet, e-mailed Bush and said Democrats won't air TV ads purchased with unlimited, unregulated donations called 'soft money' unless Republicans do so first." [March 15, 2000]
Today’s posting of the AP Founier Talking Points
only advances the story illuminating the issue facing the AP, which to save, legitimacy or face.
Time will tell which, I fear the AP has finally jumped the shark.
Keep up the letters and contacts, if they choose to allow Fouriner to continue his advocacy for McCain, it will be at a cost, a high cost.
For those who would like to read a great fact based piece on the subject and the source for most of this diary please read this Eric Boehlert article.