From the Washington Independent. The Headline says:
Tea Partiers Working With Firedoglake on HCR Whip Count
The article says:
"I’m in contact with folks on the progressive side," said [Kathryn] Serkes. "They’re saying right now that Pelosi’s almost there with the votes. What they’re saying is that there’s some serious arm-twisting — their words were ‘union thuggery.
The source, she said, was Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake, a liberal blog that’s also paid for polls in some Democratic districts asking voters whether "aye" votes on health care reform would help or hurt their re-election chances. "She said that they’re very close — [liberal blogs] are better at keeping a tab on it. And I think Pelosi’s very close. I think we’re right at the edge."
http://washingtonindependent.com/...
"Union thuggery." That's a right-wing meme if I ever heard one.
And who is Kathryn Serkes?
Serkes closed the debate by reminding the audience that no matter what is portrayed by the mainstream media and liberals in Congress, any health care reform proposal that ushers in new, further government intervention will not expand or enhance coverage for Americans.
Update [2010-3-16 18:17:48 by pontificator]: Hamsher has issued a non-denial denial, in which she slimes the reporter, praises Serkes, and, most importantly, does not deny that she was Serkes' source. I will reprint it in full.
I know Katherine, we were on MSNBC together and we’ve spoken about working on the pot legalization measure in California in the future. She tells me that when Weigel approached her and asked her who her "source" was, she didn’t say. He said "It’s Jane Hamsher, isn’t it...I’ve been around." According to Katherine, she didn’t respond.
Weigel decided to print his own suspicions as fact, and didn’t bother to contact me for confirmation. It’s a pattern with him.
Weigel goes on to accuse me of using the words "union thuggery," in quotes. He completely put words in my mouth. That is a totally fabricated quote.
I’m not "working" with the tea partiers on health care. But Weigel doesn’t care about the truth — any reporter would’ve contacted me first before printing something like that. He’s just a fantasist printing propaganda, and the Washington Independent has no higher standards than to print it.
I guess trading in political smears is something their donors approve of.
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/...
Update [2010-3-16 19:24:53 by pontificator]: JANE HAMSHER PWNED!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! (See Dave Weigel's response to Hamsher below)
http://washingtonindependent.com/...