Comments on: Franken reveals private pledge not to do national media … in the New York Times

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:56:56 +0000

Come on chris blame the editor.

By: AC

AC — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:31:17 +0000

I agree that there is a HUGE disconnect between the headline and the actual story. Franken said “been trying to do mainly Minnesota media.” How do you get a pledge from the word “trying?”

I would expect this type of sloppiness on Minnesota Democrats Exposed, but not here.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:25:22 +0000

You make we weep for organized journalism (the kind that understands what words mean).

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:41:25 +0000

Does doing “Letterman” count? And the New York Times is national. I used to get it delivered right on my doorstep when I lived on the West Coast. Of course I cancelled after the trial after realizing what a liberal propoganga rag it is.

By: Chris Steller

Chris Steller — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:50:20 +0000

For clarity, I’ve added the phrase “in an interview” to this post, to explain how Franken’s quotes got in the New York Times. Those are the words the Times used.

By: Dave S

Dave S — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:24:55 +0000

What nonsense on the part of the “Independent!” Being quoted in the NY Times on the day a national news story breaks about your Senate seat is supposed to be “doing national media?” What’s he supposed to do, tell the media he won’t answer their questions? I can just see your headlines if he did that.

Saying you were trying to keep it local (to MN) is a pledge? After many months of keeping things low key and not appearing in national media, and after many months of former Senator Coleman stalling and splashing all over the media (including attending the courtroom day after day), the judges ruled that Senator Franken should take his seat. That’s a national news story. Of course it’s going to appear in the NY Times. Of course, his attorney will be asked by all the media to do interviews. Notice that Senator Franken didn’t do these national interviews; his attorney spoke to the results of the court case when asked.

What’s with the Minnesota “Independent”? Are you part of Fox news now? The Strib? There’s certainly a right wing bias to your headline and story.

By: Billiam

Billiam — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:33:40 +0000

Hey, folks – you don’t see some pretty important distinctions between “I’ve been trying to do mainly Minnesota media and turn down requests for national media, especially national TV” and “Franken reveals private pledge not to do national media…”

“Mainly” and “especially National TV” seem to me to be kinda significant words in that quote from Franken. Do you think that’s a complicated flurry of legalese or hair-splitting, or something?

If Franken made a pledge not to do national media, if he indeed made the pledge you attribute to him in your hed, would you please provide the specific quote and source it if possible?

By: Eric Ferguson

Eric Ferguson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:58:26 +0000

That doesn’t sound like hypocrisy. Franken spoke only about himself, not his lawyers, and these are the first interviews Elias has done other than outside the courtroom to local press. Besides, Franken said “mainly”, not “exclusively”.