Cornyn comments on future speech

[BenjaminFranklin]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/Cornyn_Was_I_wrong.html?showall=

Cornyn: 'Was I wrong?'

Sen. John Cornyn today took exception to my posting, last night, his office's press release in which he commented on the content and delivery of a speech that hadn't begun.

"I'm a little offended by the lack of journalistic ethics. This is really a matter for convenience of reporters and others," he said .

He was asked specifically about characterizing the tone of speech before it was delivered.

"Was I wrong?" he asked. "It was eloquent; he's got a gift of giving a good speech. I think I was exactly right. I wouldn't change a word of it."

He also rebuked me: "I thought that the reporter was blatantly unethical. In fact, we try to do this in a way that accommodates people's schedules and gets information out. I thought it was bad form."

I understand why Cornyn and his office are unhappy about the item and that they intended the early release as a convenience. I respectfully disagree on both the news value and the ethics. My blog item didn't suggest that the mild deception in which his office was asking reporters to participate was some kind of major crime. It was just an opportunity to lift the curtain on a bit of Washington artifice and cast a little light on the way the parties actually interact.

And traditional ground rules, which I've been clear about in the past, are that you can't put something off the record or under embargo without a reporter's consent.

[sonias]

1. Whiner

If the media aren't in his back pocket, he whines. Not that Politico is left leaning by any means. But Corndog expects attention catering and loyalty like he would get from Drudge the sludge or Bill O'Liely.

:spank:

Sonia

[BenjaminFranklin]

2. I hate Cornhole

It was a shame that Ron Kirk didn't get more backing from Washington in '02.

[onestepforward]

3. I really liked Ron Kirk

Needless to say, he would have been SO much better than corndog on any level. It was heartbreaking when he lost.