In Which The LA Times Gives America The Finger

From Andrew McCarthy:

Let’s try a thought experiment. Say John McCain attended a party at which known racists and terror mongers were in attendance. Say testimonials were given, including a glowing one by McCain for the benefit of the guest of honor ... who happened to be a top apologist for terrorists. Say McCain not only gave a speech but stood by, in tacit approval and solidarity, while other racists and terror mongers gave speeches that reeked of hatred for an American ally and rationalizations of terror attacks.

Now let’s say the Los Angeles Times obtained a videotape of the party.

Question: Is there any chance — any chance — the Times would not release the tape and publish front-page story after story about the gory details, with the usual accompanying chorus of sanctimony from the oped commentariat?

So now, let’s leave thought experiments and return to reality: Why is the Los Angeles Times sitting on a videotape of the 2003 farewell bash in Chicago at which Barack Obama lavished praise on the guest of honor, Rashid Khalidi — former mouthpiece for master terrorist Yasser Arafat?

Well, because the LA Times promised it would not release the tape. Besides, they described the meeting and that should be enough. No need to see the tape. Move along, nothing to see here.

'Nuff said.

In a related story:

Facing falling revenue in a stalling economy, the Los Angeles Times on Monday laid off 75 editorial employees, part of a 200-person reduction that began last week.

The cuts represented about 10% of the editorial staff, Editor Russ Stanton said in an e-mail memo.

Monday's staff reduction came on top of earlier cuts this year. In February, The Times slashed 100 jobs, including more than 40 in the newsroom. In July the company reduced the number of pages it published each week by 14% and eliminated 135 positions from the newsroom.

The paper is blaming the economic downturn for the job cuts, but that doesn't begin to tell the story

Here's a news flash for them: the majority of the public thinks the media is biased. The bias in this election campaign has been so pronounced that the media isn't even trying to hide it anymore. Serious citizens wish to make informed decisions about who they elect and reading newspapers is no longer a way (if it ever was) to get balanced information. So who needs 'em?

UPDATE: LA Times reveals contents of an explosive political tape. This one is potentially damaging to.... a republican. Never mind.