Matt Yglesias

11 Responses to “Times Editors Denies Key Element of CQ Harman Story”

1. Davis X. Machina Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

   Bill Keller. On the Record. Denial.

   The same Bill Keller who refused to discuss on the record his role in the timing of the NSA TSA story with his own ombudsman, Byron Calame.

   Pull the other leg, Mr. Keller — it’s got bells on it.

2. raylward Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

   The CQ source said: “Harman, he told Goss, had helped persuade the newspaper to hold the wiretap story before, on the eve of the 2004 elections.” Keller says: “Ms. Harman did not influence my decision. I don’t recall that she even spoke to me.” How is the Keller statement a denial of the source’s statement in CQ? I suppose only Keller would know why he made the bone-headed decision to postpone the story (flipped a coin, maybe?).

3. Warren Terra Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

   Just because she didn’t do it doesn’t mean she didn’t claim to do it and try to claim credit; Clay Davis, anyone?

4. cmholm Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

   This is supposed to give me a warm fuzzy?

   Per the link:

   I asked Times spokesperson Catherine Mathis for a response to the claim. She emailed me a quote from Keller:

   “”Ms. Harman did not influence my decision. I don’t recall that she even spoke to me.”

   That, sir, seems the very definition of a weasel. The statement is non-responsive to the issue.

5. El Cid Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

   YOU ARE POSTING TOO QUICKLY, SLOW DOWN

6. glenstein Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

   I am going to join the chorus and say that this ‘denial’ is unconvincing. Because

   - The CQ article says Harman ‘helped’ persuade the paper to delay the story, which suggests the participation of other factors.

   - It is therefore still possible that Harman influenced the decision in a manner that makes it not refuted by Keller’s denial.

   So, yeah, I think you jumped the gun on this one.

7. Richard Steven Hack Says:
   April 20th, 2009 at 11:21 pm

   “Non-denial denial”. Typical.

   And I don’t see that as a “key element” in the CQ story at all. The “key elements” were that Harman was caught talking to an Israeli agent about sabotaging the AIPAC investigation and then Gonzales squashed the investigation because he wanted her to be clean when she supported the warrant-less wiretap policy.

   Why is Matt using “key element” here?

8. glenstein Says:
   April 21st, 2009 at 10:27 am

   Just wanted to follow up, with today’s NY Times article:

   Bill Keller, the executive editor of The Times, said in a statement Monday that Ms. Harman called Philip Taubman, then the Washington bureau chief of The Times, in October or November of 2004. Mr. Keller said she spoke to Mr. Taubman — apparently at the request of Gen. Michael V. Hayden, then the N.S.A. director — and urged that The Times not publish the article.

   So Jeff Stein was on solid footing after all.

9. Don Williams Says:
   April 21st, 2009 at 10:36 am

   Yep –plus this morning’s New York Times article also supports the Jewish Telegraph Agency’s speculation that Haim Saban was the Israeli agent of influence involved. The story does not specifically say that Haim Saban was the person Harman was talking to , but does say that the person she spoke to committed that Saban would withhold campaign funds if Pelosi didn’t play ball.

   Haim ain’t talking phone calls, according to the article.
   heh heh

10. SLC Says:
    April 21st, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Re Don Williams

    Since Congresswoman Harmon didn’t get the position, it would appeared that Speaker Pelosi was unimpressed with Mr. Sabans’ threats. Apparently, the longstanding feud between the two women overrode any monetary consideration.

11. Mike Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 1:27 am

    Doh!

    Will Matt run a similar correction???