Presstitution Ring
(Late to this story since I am still lucky enough to have a job.) The Washington Post has apparently recrossed its legs and decided not to offer full access to itself, its reporters, staff, members of Congress and assorted Obama administration officials to any and all well-heeled lobbyists.
Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth said today she was canceling plans for an exclusive “salon” at her home where for as much as $250,000, the Post offered lobbyists and association executives off-the-record access to “those powerful few” – Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and even the paper’s own reporters and editors.
The astonishing offer was detailed in a flier circulated Wednesday to a health care lobbyist, who provided it to a reporter because the lobbyist said he felt it was a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff.”
With the Post newsroom in an uproar after POLITICO reported the solicitation, Weymouth said in an email to the staff that “a flier went out that was prepared by the Marketing department and was never vetted by me or by the newsroom. Had it been, the flier would have been immediately killed, because it completely misrepresented what we were trying to do.”
The flier stated the goals thusly:
“Underwriting Opportunity: An evening with the right people can alter the debate,” says the one-page flier. “Underwrite and participate in this intimate and exclusive Washington Post Salon, an off-the-record dinner and discussion at the home of CEO and Publisher Katharine Weymouth … Bring your organization’s CEO or executive director literally to the table. Interact with key Obama Administration and Congressional leaders…..
One assumes the promotion went astray by failing to appear more as an upscale bordello instead of like a streetwalker near a lamppost.
Whatever they were trying to do was simply pay for play. No matter how they try to dress it up. One is reminded of the quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw: “We’ve already established what you are, ma’am. Now we’re just haggling over the price.” Only they appear to be haggling over the presentation of the wares, not the money.
UPDATE: The Post’s ombudsman reports that the Post has only committed to canceling the first bordello “salon“. Apparently, the “repackaging” will commence “Post”-haste. Perhaps a nice “personal Services” ad on Craig’s List.
This was more than a public relations disaster. This is several notches above that and well into “apocalypse” territory. The cancellation of just the one event pushes it past that line.
By J, July 3, 2009 @ 6:51 am
What is the problem people? We have clearly known for the last year that the “free press” no longer exists in this country. It has had a shaky past, but it came out into sunshine during this last election…..it’s just now putting the price tag on what it already sold.
By martian, July 3, 2009 @ 7:05 am
What this shows is that the press is firmly, completely and happily deep in the pocket of the Obamessiah and his thugs, er, Adminisrtation. It also shows that they know full well that the Obama Administration is available for sale. Nice of them to demonstrate it in so obvious a manner.And STILL his worshipers will make excuses and live in the land of denial.
By Ropelight, July 3, 2009 @ 7:42 am
Boycott the WaPo and the products of its advertisers, or sit back and see more of this sort of malfeasance. It ain’t much, but it’s all you got, because in a republic you really do get the leadership you deserve. Caveat emptor.
By Mockingbird, July 3, 2009 @ 9:28 am
Sheesh!
By feeblemind, July 3, 2009 @ 9:33 am
This stunt surprised even me. If the WaPo was pimping for ‘those powerful few’, it leads me to wonder how they were to be paid? Surely they weren’t going to appear at a fundraiser for the WaPo for free, were they?
By Bleepless, July 3, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
I wonder who in the administration or Congress agreed to come, and for what compensation.