So, it turns out that Kos tried to use a discussion group including “many bloggers and other representatives of the netroots as well as a large number of partisan journalists and grassroots groups” to coordinate a conspiracy of silence on the latest series of stories on (1) Jerome Armstrong’s run-in with the SEC and (2) speculation about the pattern of Kos supporting candidates who hired Armstrong. The relevant excerpt:
My request to you guys is that you ignore this for now. It would make my life easier if we can confine the story. Then, once Jerome can speak and defend himself, then I’ll go on the offensive (which is when I would file any lawsuits) and anyone can pile on. If any of us blog on this right now, we fuel the story. Let’s starve it of oxygen. And without the “he said, she said” element to the story, you know political journalists are paralyzed into inaction.
Now, there’s nothing sinister about having a non-public discussion group – I belong to two such groups, one just for the RedState contributors and a more random, open one run by Jon Henke of Qand) and including a bunch of mostly conservative and libertarian blogs. But it really is revealing of the minset at work here that anyone would even try to get not only bloggers but journalists to not write on a story. Trust me, the idea that you could get, say, Glenn Reynolds, Michelle Malkin, Jeff Goldstein, Hugh Hewitt, Mike Krempasky, Ed Morrisey and John Hinderaker to agree on a single approach to a story or, more particularly, to not touch a story – the idea that you would even broach that topic across a list of the top conservative and libertarian blogs – is inconceivable. Despite the Online Left’s insistence that conservative bloggers march in unison on an agenda handed down by Karl Rove, it’s apparently the lefties who are the ones seeking to enforce message discipline behind the scenes.
It’s unbelievable that a blogger with such a following is trying to cover up someones dirty laundry. But, it does not surprise me that a Lefty would dip to this type of politics. When you have no moral direction you will do anything to win. Coulter is right–Liberal Godlessness.
Good grief. I can only hope that comment is sarcastic…
Crank, I haven’t followed this closely, and don’t plan to. It seems to me that Kos has a beef with TNR using “off the record” comments from a discussion group in a story.
The TNR post is crude hit piece on Kos. Kos then asks that those on the left not fuel the fire by giving it attention. That’s a conspiracy?
Yawn.
The most amusing part of Kos’ request is he partly based it on the fact that since it is a pending case Armstrong can’t give his side. How does that square with his decision to comment on other cases that were pending (Rover, Libby, Marines at Haditha, etc)
Armstrong can’t give his side because he’s a party to the case.
Doesn’t stop Mr. Zuniga from , apparently, having quite a mouthful to say. Not that he wants anyone else to say anything…
Armstrong can’t give his side because he’s a party to the case.
Really? I thought he just wasn’t allowed to deny the allegations.
People should throw everything at Kos up to and including the kitchen sink. Fascism must be confronted and repeatedly smashed in the mouth.