CNN: Washington Post (ombudsman) rebukes Bob Woodward

[UpInArms]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/20/cia.leak.reut/

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Washington Post's ombudsman rebuked journalist Bob Woodward on Sunday for withholding what he knew about the CIA leak probe from his editor and for making public statements that were dismissive of the investigation without disclosing his own involvement.

<snip>

In a column highly critical of Woodward's conduct, Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell said the newspaper took a "hit to its credibility" and called for more oversight of Woodward's work.

"He has to operate under the rules that govern the rest of the staff -- even if he's rich and famous," Howell wrote of Woodward, one of the two Washington Post reporters famed for coverage of the 1970s Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.

<snip>

"He also committed another journalistic sin -- commenting on National Public Radio and (CNN's) "Larry King Live" about the Plame investigation without disclosing his early knowledge of Plame's identity," Howell wrote.

...more...

[tularetom]

1. They oughta rebuke his ass

right out the door. The post is not highly regarded for objectivity and good journalism these days and it doesn't help to have this doofus hanging around making them look more out of it than they are.

[lstrether]

2. Woodward's rebuke

Well-deserved rebuke at that.

Woodward's been a lewinski to the powers that be for so many years now, and hardly anyone has ever called him on it. I'm glad he's done something stupid enough that it was detectable even by the bovine cognitive abilities of the MSM.

--KC

[applegrove]

3. Yeah - that is what gets me - how dismissive he was of the investigation.

[Skittles]

4. I remember seeing him on TV talking about the investigation

I was thinking, what a whore. Now I know he is a self-serving whore at that. :puke:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. Did you notice how complimentary he was of Fitz AFTER he....

...was called before the Grand Jury?

A whore indeed...and finally trapped by a game that he's been playing for more than thirty years.

[Arugula Latte]

17. Did you remember the look on his face when he discussed Plame

before his involvement was disclosed?

He had a deer-in-the-headlights, kinda stunned look, that struck me as very odd at the time ... Now I know why.

[Cha]

12. Calling Fitz a

"junkyard proscecutor and he goes everywhere and asks every question and turns over rocks, and rocks under rocks, and so forth. . . . I think it's quite possible, though probably unlikely, that he will say, you know, there was no malice or criminal intent at the start of this. Some people kind of had convenient memories before the grand jury."

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0546,schanberg,70021,6.html

[IndianaGreen]

5. Deborah Howell: Tough Week for The Post and a Star

Here is the column by the WaPo's ombudsman referenced in the CNN article. It was published in one of the back pages of the Post:

Tough Week for The Post and a Star

By Deborah Howell

Sunday, November 20, 2005; Page B06

The Post took a hit to its credibility with readers last week when Bob Woodward revealed that he had been told about the identity of CIA analyst Valerie Plame more than two years ago but had kept it to himself for fear of being subpoenaed. Readers in droves wrote that they were angry and disappointed. That disappointment was rife in The Post's newsroom, too.

Since Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke the Watergate story more than 30 years ago, they have been heroes to many. Woodward is part of the DNA of the Post newsroom. He is widely regarded as a relentlessly aggressive reporter and a rock-solid member of the Washington establishment.

While Woodward is listed as an assistant managing editor, he has no management duties. He comes and goes as he pleases, mostly writing his best-selling books on what happens behind the doors of power, and he reports only to Executive Editor Len Downie. He is allowed to keep juicy stories to himself until his latest book is unveiled on the front page of The Post. He is the master of the anonymous source.

Last week we found out that he kept the kind of information from Downie that is a deeply serious sin not to disclose to a boss -- the kind that can get even a very good reporter in the doghouse for a long time. He also committed another journalistic sin -- commenting on National Public Radio and "Larry King Live" about the Plame investigation without disclosing his early knowledge of Plame's identity.

The Post's story Wednesday put the paper in a terrible light. Woodward refused to answer Post reporters' questions beyond a prepared statement about his deposition to special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald -- even questions unrelated to his pledge of confidentiality to his source in the Plame case.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/19/AR2005111900964.html

[tularetom]

7. "a relentlessly aggressive reporter

and a rock-solid member of the Washington establishment." Bullshit - he can't be both. If he was truly aggressive he wouldn't stay a member of the establishment for very long. Read his ass kissing books about bush then tell me how "relentlessly aggressive" he is. The only thing this asswipe is relentlessly aggressive about is promoting himself and his dumbass books. I guess this is thee best rebuke we're gonna get for now, but it sure seems kind of wimpy to me.

[MADem]

39. He relentlessly, agressively polishes his own apple!!!

He relentlessly sucks up, and agressively makes money!

I agree with you, he cannot be both, and he will likely be neither before too much longer...if there's any spine left over at WAPO.

[liberalhistorian]

11. I don't know what the fuck has

happened to Woodward, but it's time for him to go now. It's time for the Post to rebuke his arrogant, presstitute for the RW-ass right out the door. I'm really disgusted and disappointed with what he's turned into.

[goforit]

6. What I would like to know is what his REAL involvement in outing NIXON.

I to this day having lived through the Watergate Fiasco
believe Nixon was set up by Poppy Bush and the gang and used
Woodward as the ONLY.........ONLY .........ONLY Witness!!!!

[Catamount]

9. What about Carl Bernstein?

He hasn't turned into a repug shill and has spoken out against his former partner in fame.

[cosmicone]

13. Not really

Carl was supportive of Bob last week and defended him.

[Catamount]

40. I read a thread here last week, where he did the opposite.

But whatever, I guess it's hard to be a hero all one's life.
Woodward knows where his bread is buttered.:)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. IMHO, he was definitely one of the agents of Nixon's demise....

...you don't develop sources like he had after only a year and a half of work experience in journalism. I believe he became an agent for Naval Intelligence before he supposedly left the Navy, and continued in that role afer "leaving" the Navy, using journalism as his cover. The CIA has run a similar program known as Operation Mockingbird.

Nixon had also pissed off the CIA, and I believe they were one of the prime movers of his resignation along with the highest levels of the military.

[RazzleDazzle]

23. I personally would not automatically dismiss your theory after

this stunt by Woodward. Not at all. Where was Poppy during those years, anyway? What years was he at the CIA?

[RazzleDazzle]

24. Look at this -- there's something just not quite right about this

These are remarks I'm pulling from a current article in Village VOice, quoting him from Larry King Live on October 27:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0546,schanberg,70021,6.html

Here are some of his words: "First of all, this began not as somebody launching a smear campaign. . . . When the story comes out, I'm quite confident we're going to find out that it started kind of as gossip, as chatter, and that somebody learned that Joe Wilson's wife had worked at the CIA and helped him get this job going to Niger to see if there was an Iraq-Niger uranium deal.

"And there's a lot of innocent actions in all of this. . . . Well, this is a junkyard dog prosecutor and he goes everywhere and asks every question and turns over rocks, and rocks under rocks, and so forth. . . . I think it's quite possible, though probably unlikely, that he will say, you know, there was no malice or criminal intent at the start of this. Some people kind of had convenient memories before the grand jury.

"Technically they might be able to be charged with perjury. But I don't see an underlying crime here, and the absence of the underlying crime may cause somebody who is a really thoughtful prosecutor to say, you know maybe this is not one to go to the court with."


Oh, there's an underlying crime all right. Finding sufficient evidence to prove it might be another matter. It's appalling enough Woodward either doesn't see any underlying crime or won't acknowledge it. I read these words, tho, and have to come away with the impression he's covering for his masters and at the same time sending a nice, subtle message of advice to Fitzgerald about what he ought to do, what's expected of him.

His comments are breathtaking in their audacity I think.

And Atrios has a lot of Woodward's interview appearances here: http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_11_13_atrios_archive.html#113215921197992541

[laundry_queen]

25. Well, I wasn't even born then.

And THAT theory has been floating around in my head for a couple of days. Makes perfect sense to me.

[Cha]

10. Whoever put judy's hair on

traitorbob was so right!

[WhiteTara]

15. I hope he gets fired just like Judy

He is a traitor too. Doubly so, because he has seen the evil behind those closed doors in the past. I think he drank the kool aid so that he could play with the rich kids and pretend like he was one of them.

[marylanddem]

21. Yep. Pretend he was one of 'em and his entree was

endless suck-up books trying to convince us all how awesome they - the warmongers - are. A nerd trying to curry favor with the "in-crowd" of bloodthirsty scumbags.

[depakid]

16. Only CNN would call that a rebuke!

See, e.g.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5410392&mesg_id=5410619

"I hate to even use the word "ombudsman" to describe the person who wrote this article in Sunday's Washington Post. An ombudsman is someone who writes as a kind of independent watch dog on what the newspaper is doing, then gives their opinion of whether the paper was right or wrong.

In this case, we got a whopping 20 paragraphs of background on the story. And a big 2 paragraphs at the end with the "non-budsman's" milquetoast opinion on the entire fiasco.

And what is her opinion? Woodward really ought to have an editor.

Yes, that's it. She repeats Woodward's outright lies about why he didn't come clean earlier. She doesn't even do the analysis a child could do as to why Woodward's excuse doesn't hold water. She simply, once again, repeats Woodward's absurd excuse that he didn't come clean with his editor because he was afraid Patrick Fitzgerald would subpoena him. Which is fascinating, since Patrick Fitzgerald wasn't even appointed Special Prosecutor until a good six to seven months AFTER Woodward was leaked the info about Valerie Plame."

[psychopomp]

18. Both good points

[marylanddem]

19. I don't think she hit hard enough. nt

[high density]

20. I agree

"Gee whiz, he needs an editor, I guess," doesn't cut it for me!

[marylanddem]

22. A lame "critique"; this kind of struck me as kiss-up:

"Woodward and Downie were more forthcoming after they had breakfast Wednesday at Woodward's house, where Woodward apologized and ground rules were set."

How the hell does she know what went on at Woodward's house? What is her source for THIS information? Why should she believe anything either of them says?

IMHO she is trying to have it both ways: be "tough" and still stand a chance of maybe getting hired on at the Post someday.

[OKNancy]

26. kick

:kick:

[PhilipShore]

27. Fox News/AP: Post: Woodward Committed 'Serious Sin'

Fox News
AP
Monday, November 21, 2005

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,176229,00.html

WASHINGTON — Bob Woodward, while a hero to many journalists for breaking the Watergate story, nevertheless committed a "deeply serious sin" by not telling his editor at The Washington Post that a top Bush administration official had told him the name of a CIA officer, the newspaper's ombudsman said.

[Ravy]

28. I agree. This wasn't deep throat part deux...

Deep Throat was exposing government corruption.

The leaker here was committing it.

Woodward should have known the difference.

[Skittles]

38. he did know the difference

for whatever reason, Woodward is a bush whore

[leftstreet]

29. ROFL! "Fox News" and "sin" in the same story.

I wonder if Fox viewers ever accidentally send in "pledges" to Fox News.

[goforit]

36. It's kinda appropriate!!!.....and funny!..LOL!!!

[marylanddem]

30. The "ombudsman" critique in the Post sucked & whitewashed...

A MUCH larger sin than failing to tell Downie was how Woodward went on TV & bitched about Fitzgerald without telling anyone he had a dog in the race - a clear attempt to discredit the investigation. Although the "ombudsman" mentioned this she failed to explore its full implications. Where is Journalism 101 at the Post these days? Sold out to the Establishment, I'm afraid.

[librechik]

32. too true-- even Len Downie considers what Woodward did not worth firing

He should resign. And Woodward should be fired.

The WP is not a reliable source anymore. Period.

[underpants]

31. I caught some of Fox News Watch this weekend-cat out of bag

Neal Gabler said the unthinkable---the Bush WH didn't have to go to Fox NEws or Novak they were so confident that the major mainstream news organizations would carry their water they went right to NYT Time and the Washington Post. It was funny to actually hear someone say it and to say it on Fox News too boot.

[Bethany Rockafella]

33. It's really mind boggling that none of the FOX journalists are mixed

up in this Bush/Plame story isn't it? They're the ones that usually carry the water for this administration, I wonder why the administration didn't use those guys? Liberal media? Please!

[Betsy Ross]

34. Is treason one of the deadly sins? Or should it be? n/t

[Mend]

35. Hey Bob, the righties are deserting you, don't expect help from us...

sounds like you have no friends left except bush and larva.

[Demeter]

37. Is Stupidity A Sin, Now?