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Read other letters about this article
His clients (and NBC) aren't deciding whether to drop him.
They're deciding when and how to quietly drop him.
Weiner is trying to salvage some stuff from the shipwreck.
* * * * *
The Dallas Morning News ain't no liberal rag (they endorsed GWB twice).
One of the editors of their editorial page just posted:
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/a-cynics-view-o.html
A cynic's view of Gen. "Sellout" McCaffrey
11:36 AM Mon, Dec 01, 2008The New York Times did a great job exposing Gen. McCaffrey this weekend, opening itself up, no doubt, to criticism that it is anti-American and anti-military. But don't good patriots deserve to know when retired four-star generals offering counsel to Congress and analysis to the general public are profiting from defense contractors who stand to gain from shifts in public opinion?
Now, look. I expect retired four-star generals to get cozy consulting deals with defense firms. I expect them to be wined and dined by the administration looking for some favorable press. I expect them to be a mouthpeice for the administration when the administration pays their way for "fact-finding missions." I am cynical enough to expect all that. But here are the two things that I am 100 percent outraged about:
- (1.) NBC's absolute refusal to accept that the good general's analysis is anything but above reproach. A little disclosure goes a long way, and acknowledging for viewers that his analysis may benefit his business interests is just common sense, if not common decency.
- (2.) Congress should have it on the record when he testifies that he is representing business interests. In this case, it's not that disclosure is just good for a healthy discussion, it is literally good policy. Members of Congress need to know -- and need to make it public -- that they are listening to a lobbyist with an agenda. I don't label the good general that as a smear, just as a fact.
