Linda Douglass, well-known journalist, becomes a partisan

Linda Douglass, who parlayed a highly successful career as a television journalist in Los Angeles into an even more illustrious one at the national level, made a switch today that already has sparked discussion about media bias: she signed on with Barack Obama's presidential campaign, joining his staff as a senior strategist and spokeswoman.

Douglass, who served as ABC's chief congressional correspondent for several years earlier this decade, had this to say about her switch:

"I see this as a moment of transformational change in the country and I have spent my lifetime sitting on the sidelines watching people attempt to make change. I just decided that I can't sit on the sidelines anymore."

Most recently, Douglass had been writing about the presidential campaign for National Journal magazine (an influential inside-the-Beltway publication) and hosting the weekly "National Journal On Air" program on XM Satellite Radio's all-politics channel. She made the above comment to one of her colleagues with the company that owns National Journal, Marc Ambinder.

He writes an excellent political blog for theatlantic.com, and after an earlier posting on Douglass's hiring, filed a lengthier item this afternoon about her move. Calling her "an eminently fair journalist," he added: "To conservative media critics, the divide between the press corps and modern political liberalism is fairly narrow, and easy to jump over, and Douglass's decision will reconfirm their sense that bias pervades newsrooms."

But Ambinder also reported that conservatives wouldn't be alone ...

in reacting that way. An unnamed Hillary Clinton campaign advisor, he said, sent him the following e-mail: "This is scandalous and further undermines the media’s ability to claim independence overall."

The entire post can be read here. (In it, Ambinder notes that Douglass's husband, lawyer John Phillips, has been a big fundraiser for Obama. That probably didn't hurt her during the interview process), .

Ben Smith of politico.com also posted on the news, and his take was blunter than Ambinder's. Wrote Smith: "It's a home run of a data point for anyone who thinks the press is in the tank for Obama."

A California native and USC graduate, Douglass began her career at L.A.'s KCBS in 1974. She became best known at KNBC, serving as the station's political editor from 1985 until her husband's work took them to Washington in 1992.

A Times story on her departure characterized her as "one of the most respected reporters in local TV news" and as one of her station's "most experienced and no-nonsense reporters."

It was right on both counts.

--Don Frederick

Photo credit: National Journal

 

Comments

[carl29]

I don't see the problem for her to leave one profession for another. She said: It's obviously a move without coming back.

This brings me to another point: For me it is very hard to understand how can George Stephanopolous interview, discuss, and moderate political issues dealing with the Clintons. Everyone in town knows that he is their employee. The guy owes his whole career to the Clintons. He was their strategist. How can someone with straight face see that as objective journalism.

Ms. Douglass is leaving her profession, which what a decent journalist should do. One journalist that works for Bloomberg is McCain advisor. You read his articles and at any point he discloses this information. Just like Mr. Stephanopolous with the Clintons.

[carl29]

She changed her profession. I don't see any problem. I don't mind people jumping from the journalist world to the political world, as far as there is no coming back. It makes me wonder the ones that jump the other way around. I don't know what to make of George Stephanopolous covering Hillary Clinton's campaign. Everyone in this town knows his history with the Clintons.

In my mind Stephanopolous should recuse himself from moderating or debating issues related to his ex-boss's wife campaign. This way owes everything to the Clintons. But he is not alone. Every time I see Mark Halperin I wonder if people know that he has given more than $2,000 to the Clinton campaign. Is he supporting Clinton? Well, I don't know you, but if I'm giving money to a politician you bet I'm supporting him or her.

[Kilroy]

Line 'em up, then knock 'em dowen. Separately but equally. I'd prefer THIS type of journlist below.

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i35889

[sfdem]

And how is this different from Tony Snow???

[Ilah Grant]

I learned something I didn't know but wondered about. Why Mark Halperin comments always sides toward Clinton--now I know. He does have a dog in this fight. Best wishes to Linda Douglass. At least she changed professions.

[Tom]

Pat Buchanan as an MSNBC commentator
Karl Rove as FOX commentator
Harold Ford as an MSNBC commentator
George Stephanopoulos as moderator of THIS WEEK and host of a debate and town hall meetiing featuring his former employer.
Nicole Wallace
James Carville
Paul Begala
Mary Matalin
Here's the point. You are a dedicated journalist (as I believe Douglass to be) who sees all of the chairs around you getting filled by political hacks who bloviate on behalf of their particular candidate. And your opportuniities to do actual journalism continue to shrink while the bloviators increase their unhelpful dominance of the airwaves.
I guess I'd figure "What the hell" also, and jump into the pool.
After all, if the same brainiacs are in charge of network and cable newsrooms a few years from now, Douglass will get hired by one of them at bigger bucks than she's making now. The added benefit is she won't have to actualy work at being non-partisan-as I believe she has during her journalism career.

[Tina]

Response to Ben Smith..."proof that the media is in the tank for Obama"

What about the late Tony Snow leaving Faux News to be White House press secretary?

[e_five]

Karen Hughes was a local TV reporter when GWB made her his Gubernatorial spokesperson. Kay Bailey Hutchinson was a former TV Reporter. So was Jesse Helms. Tony Snow was a newspaper and television reporter.

I guess this just goes to show that the media is hopelessly in the tank for the GOP.

[Allen B. Shay]

This comment is in response to President-Elect Obama asking the public for the "fresh and new thinkers" to provide the new administration with proposals to help get our economy back on track.

I have answered the call and after six weeks of effort, I have received no response. The proposal lay out a clear and comprehensive plan that will stop the foreclosures and create jobs by using small businesses to jump start our economy.

However, I need your help to move this cause foward. I have attached a copy of a letter I sent to Shaun Donovan, the HUD Secretary Designee:

December 17, 2008

RE: Solutions for the Housing & Job Crisis by using small businesses to jump start the economy, which can take effect as of January 21, 2009

Dear Shaun Donovan,

I have made several attempts to contact members of congress, the senate and the new administration’s transitional team regarding solutions for the housing and job crisis but to no avail. I write to you with hopes that we can discuss this bold plan that has been created which will require federal assistance. I also write to you with hopes that you will champion this cause so that we may implement this plan in time to prepare for the second wave of foreclosures projected for 2009 – 2010.

I have been in business since September 1981 in the areas of Real Estate, Finance, Taxes and Business Strategy along with possessing a legal background. I consistently deal with the stress and anxiety of the average American to find real, tangible, solutions. I believe that my many years of service as an expert in these areas, can be transformed into an effective initiative to tackle our current housing and employment challenges.

Below, please find an outline of the above mentioned plan as it relates to a national solution that will improve our uncertain economy. I am confident that this plan can be that “single solution or magic bullet” that Chairman Sheila Bair of the FDIC did not believe existed.

This proposal can be developed to take effect as of January 21, 2009 and will produce a comprehensive and effective business model that will:

Stop & Prevent Foreclosure:

Establish eligibility of loan modification within 72 hours after a complete application has been submitted
Establish a safeguard procedure that will prevent the homeowner from re-entering the foreclosure process

Stabilize Property Values:

Retention of homeownership in order to prevent declining sale value
Reduce inventory of foreclosed properties where homeowners are in possession or retain title of ownership

Stimulate New Investments:

Develop Partnership Investments for new businesses or expansion of businesses
Integrate partnership with financial institutions that received a part of the 700 billon dollar bailout or any new stimulus legislation to be enacted
New tax structure to create incentives for high income earners above $250,000 per year. These participants will contribute to the program which will create capital, job creation and business growth, without a tax increase

Solution for the Housing Crisis and Other Areas of our Economy (Continued)

Create Job Growth:

The program will match employers with employees who are enrolled
Current unemployed applicants will enroll into the program to qualify for employment first by the prospective employer who is a member of the partnership structure of this business model
The job placement program projects a minimum employment growth of 100,000 new jobs per month, 30 days after the implementation of this program

Create Educational Opportunities:

Cost associated with an unemployed applicants requiring training for employment opportunities in emerging industries will be paid by this program
Employers who are members shall have the option of receiving tax credits or matching funds if unemployed applicant is hired and requires additional education or training to pursue a career in an emerging industry
Finance, income tax and credit counseling will be required for all who enroll in this program

Create Accountability:

Each applicant and or transaction performed under this business model will be tracked and all information will be retained for accurate reporting, research, analysis and for auditing purposes

Restore Consumer Confidence:

Upon enrolling into this new program, each applicant will be issued an assigned card to be used with all purchases from merchants that are members under this new business model. The applicant will be entitled to a ten to twenty percent discount for each transaction when using the assigned card

This proposal has been developed to serve as a fast-track program to create the business model the government can use for the 21st century economy that will ride on the innovation of the internet. Please contact me as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Allen Shay

For questions regarding this outline, please contact:

Allen B. Shay 202 S. Lake Ave Suite 260 Pasadena, CA 91101

626-584-0499 (Phone) shayandassociates@hotmail.com (Email)

COPYRIGHT © 2008

Shay & Associates
202 S. Lake Avenue Suite 260
Pasadena, California 91101
(Tel) 626.584.0499
(Fax) 626.584.0703

Make it a Productive Day!

[Magdalena]

Linda Douglass is not "a fair journalist". I was at a rally in Burbank, California where Dan Lungren was running against then Governor Joe "Gray" Davis. Linda snubbed Dan Lungren dismissing him as a nothing while talking up our mess of a Governor Joe "Gray" Davis. I am not surprised she has joined forces with HRH Brack Obama. Linda has shown herself to be a true neo-communist that I saw that day at the rally. We Americans need to do a thorough "House Cleaning" just like "Stretch" Pelosi wants. Next election cycle, LET'S THROW ALL OF THEM OUT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE OUTHOUSE!

[I was there]

She has been a partisan leftie screamer at least since junior high school.