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Evan Thomas, Newsweek’s Editor-At-Large: Guest on Paula Abele’s Sins of Omission Monday Night (Open Thread)

SHOW OVER . PROMO BUMPED DOWN.

evanthomasREADERS: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION for Evan Thomas, but you can’t call in, please TYPE UP your question in the comments here, and Paulie will collect your questions to ask Thomas during the show. PLEASE MAKE IT CLEAR FOR PAULIE by typing, at the beginning, “PAULIE: QUESTION FOR EVAN THOMAS.”

“Join “Sins of Omission” Monday night, March 2nd, at 9 pm EST for our guest, Newsweek Editor-at-Large, Evan Thomas.

We will be discussing Mr. Thomas’ new book, “A Long Time Coming: The Inspiring, Combative 2008 Campaign and the Historic Election of Barack Obama” with an emphasis on the campaigns of the female candidates. Was there media bias or sexism? And, moving forward what lessons can be learned for future female candidates…Hear it all Monday night at 9 pm from the ultimate “inside source.” Come early, and join in the live chat room.

paulie-s1As always, Paula Abeles [PHOTO LEFT] will be beautifully prepared for this important interview, and YOUR questions and comments will be encouraged during the show! CALL IN at (347) 677-0792!

Here is Evan Thomas’s biography:

EVAN THOMAS, EDITOR AT LARGE 
    Evan Thomas was made Editor at Large of Newsweek in September 2006.  He is the magazine’s lead writer on major news stories and the author of many longer features, including Newsweek’s special behind-the-scenes issues on presidential elections, and more than a hundred cover stories.

Thomas was pivotal in spearheading Newsweek’s award-winning coverage on the war on terror from the Washington, D.C. bureau.  His reporting and writing on the terror events of September 11 and the Iraq War contributed to Newsweek’s being honored with the most prestigious awards in the magazine industry-the National Magazine Award for General Excellence for 2002 and 2004. In 2005, his 50,000-word narrative of the 2004 election was honored when Newsweek won a National Magazine Award for the best single topic issue.  
      For ten years, 1986-1996, Thomas was Newsweek’s Washington bureau chief.  He was an Assistant Managing Editor from 1991 to 2006.  From 1977-1986, he was a writer and editor at Time magazine. He has won numerous journalism awards, including a National Magazine Award in 1998 for Newsweek’s coverage of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.  
      Since 1992, Thomas has been a regular weekly panelist on the syndicated public affairs talk show, “Inside Washington.”  He has appeared on numerous television shows as a commentator, including: NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “TODAY,” CBS’s “Face the Nation,” ABC’s “Nightline,” “Good Morning America,” CNN’s “Larry King Live,” PBS’s “Charlie Rose,” and “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.” He appears regularly on the syndicated radio show, “Imus in the Morning.”

      Thomas is the author of six books, all published by Simon & Schuster: “Sea of Thunder,” about the war in the Pacific (2006), a New York Times bestseller; “John Paul Jones,” a biography of the American revolutionary (2003), a New York Times bestseller; “Robert Kennedy: His Life” (2000); “The Very Best Men: The Early Years of the CIA” (1995); “The Man to See: The Life of Edward Bennett Williams” (1991); and “The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made” (with Walter Isaacson, 1986).  
      In 2003-04, Thomas was a visiting professor at Princeton. In 2004-05, he was a visiting professor at Harvard. In 2006-2007, he was a visiting professor at Harvard and Princeton.  In the fall of 2007 he will begin a five-year term at Princeton as Ferris Professor of Journalism.  He is a fellow of the Society of American Historians and a former trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. He is a graduate of Harvard and the University of Virginia Law School. He lives with his wife and two children in Washington, D.C.  

 
 
Evan Thomas (ALL BOOKS)

  • Pacific John

    Heads up, Paulie! I’ll try to call in about caucuses. Check your email.

    • Andy

      Paulie:

      It would be great if you could discuss with Thomas his reaction to Peniel Cronin study about caucuses and why the media didn’t pursue this
      more thoroughly; like in Texas with all the videos and info. available.

      I am not sure how you can get them directly if you don’t but back
      in the summer TalkLeft published them here:

      http://www.talkleft.com/media/caucusjune2.pdf

      and revised here

      http://www.talkleft.com/media/caucusjune2rev.pdf

      Some highlights from Jeralyn Merritt

      http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/5/27/92144/7994

      They are not about attacking Obama but rather a serious and well documented research about what happened. Hard to argue with the facts she recorded.

      I would be curious to know if Thomas has read them and what his reaction is.

      Many thanks!

      • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

        We have them published here as well. Peniel Cronin has been a good friend to NQ, and she gave us her express permission to use her work.

        And THANK YOU, Andy, for bringing this up! EXCELLENT point! I’d sure be curious to hear his answer on this, too. It’s a huge deal.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/blog/ Truthteller

      Do you have evidence this time? I recall you could not produce any evidence about caucus fraud during our radio show and telephone conversation. You cited statistics, but you could not provide evidence.

      I hope some evidence has materialized.

      • Pacific John

        Yes,

        After that interview, I was part of the team that produced the documentary, We Will Note Be Silenced, which is primarily a collection of first person accounts of irregularities. That’s a subset of witness statements and affidavits that we have.

        The film was distributed to DNC delegates, and to the top staff of superdelegates in elected office. Shortly after the private release to Democratic insiders, we released it on Youtube, where you can see it now.

        • Pacific John

          By the way, Peniel Cronin was a huge help to the project, and is in the film.

        • johninca

          I’ll never forget the scene where this venerable looking black lady, who marched with MLK in the sixties, describes how her vote was stolen by Obammunist caucus goons.

          • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

            VERY powerful. After I saw “We Will Not Be Silenced,” I was just haunted by it. What a staggeringly powerful film, and YES, that woman was an important part of that film. Wow.

    • ttjessie

      Yes, you are right. I got this idea from the my friends on b l a c k c e n t u r y.c o m, which is a niche dating service for whites and blacks.

  • candymarl

    What was historic about Obama’s election?

    He’s not the descendant of slaves and his mother was a Caucasian American. He has no historical ties to those of us who are descended from slaves. His family, on either side, did not participate in the Civil Rights movement.

    So where’s the history?

    • jbjd

      This only establishes that his election is not historic based on those reasons. When I hear this modifier, I always think that people are referring to the degree of rigging the outcome that resulted in his ‘win.’

      • ownaa

        You are absloutley right. That what I always though; it is historic if you think about how the media can choose the president, openly cheating, condoned thuggish tactics by the party and putting into the office the most unqualified person. But nothing else.

  • candymarl

    Also, both Obama and Michelle have touted his familial relationship to Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld.

    What happened to the liberals that talked about the Bush family ties to their support of Hitler? Not one brought that up when the Obama’s touted their relationship to Bush.

    What about cousin Odinga and his incitement of the killing of Christians in Kenya? Where was Newsweek then?

    Why did the US government and the US media overlook the fact that Obama campaigned in a foreign country in violation of the Logan act? Or the fact that Obama raised money for Odinga, a foreign national, in this country? Where was Newsweek then?

    Just asking. Hope that’s asked during the show.

  • jbjd

    I hope Mr. Thomas is as knowledgeable as we are, about whether BO is a NBC; and, specifically, the difference between a birth certificate and a certification of live birth issued by HI, the state that allowed in-state registrations of foreign births. (Maybe that’s why, unlike in every other state, before HI will print on the ballot the name of the candidate for POTUS from the major political parties, the parties must Certify not only the name of their nominee but also that the nominee is Constitutionally eligible for the job. Hawaiian Revised Statutes §11-113.)

    • jbjd

      PAULA, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MR. THOMAS. (SEE ABOVE.)

    • http://www.sonicninjakitty.wordpress.com Sonic Ninja Kitty

      PAULIE–Q’s for EVAN THOMAS:

      Jbjd’s and Candymarl’s Q’s are very good. Imho, everything you ask him can be started with a “Why did Newsweek choose to ignore……?” since they ignored SO MUCH!! Why do they even call themselves a news magazine??

      In addition to the above, Why did Newsweek choose to ignore the caucus fraud? Why does Newsweek choose to play only to the Keynesian/central planning/government interventionist proponents of fixing the economy while ignoring the Friedmanian/von Mises/Ron Paul’s of the nation along with the 300+ economists who signed the Cato Institute’s ad opposing Obama’s approach to the economy (and decrying the stimulus bill)?
      Where is the lively debate in Newsweek about what approach would/will work and the after effects of the actions they are taking?

      Show him no quarter, Paulie! Break a leg :)

  • ownaa

    I won’t be able to watch the show, does she has an email so we can send our question? I like her shows and I am sure she will do a good job

    • Andy

      I think you can leave a comment in advance on the blogtalk radio site for this show (?)

      Alternatively you could email it to

      SusanUnPC@gmail.com

      and ask her to forward it to her.

      • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

        LEAVE THE QUESTIONS HERE, and PAULIE WILL COLLECT THEM!!!!

        However, if you have already sent me the Q, I will gladly forward it. (Great idea, Andy, but it scares me since I may miss the e-mail, given the mess my Inbox is always in. Thank you for always having good ideas.)

  • dawnelle

    OH I’m glad it’s at 9pm cuz at 8pm that John Zeigler guy will be here………… (copied below)….. and I already promised blogger FreeMeNow.

    (it says)
    Free US Now
    FreeMeNow

    Our Guest Tonight- John Ziegler The film, “Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected,” isn’t due for release until late February, but it has already attracted a good deal of attention. Through interviews and poll data, Ziegler makes the case that the slanted coverage tilted the playing field toward the Illinois Democrat.

  • beachnan

    I hope that Paula does not play nice with this gentleman. We need to let these people know, that what they did, i.e., sexim, favortism, etc., should not have been a part of this election. Please Paula, require that he answer the tough question: Why did the media promote one candidate, while villifying the rest?

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Paula is polite with EVERY GUEST. That does not mean that she will not ask him incisive questions. There are ways of getting into the issues without the show descending into a shouting match — which thankfully Paulie NEVER stoops to. She asks the tough questions, but always with the proper manners. THANK GOD she knows how to behave on the air. As opposed to the more attack-dog types who give off a lot of heat but little information.

  • I’m a Linda too

    He’s pushing a book heralding “The One” and The One’s sexist tactics used in the election and he’s appearing on this show basically started with this terrible sexism from Obama and the media promoting him? ???

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Paulie will be honest in her questioning. I fear nothing from hearing what people with his POV have to say. They can’t harm me, and we may actually learn something.

      I was set straight by Lilly Ledbetter about Obama’s support for her bill — she explained, in great detail, how much help Obama actually lent her and her bill. You’d have to listen to that show to get the details, but it was edifying. Sometimes we paint people with a broad brush (no pun), but if we simply ASK, we may learn something.

      Obama is neither a saint nor a monster. And he IS our president, whether we wish that or not. While I am quite critical of him, I will NEVER be in the insane Limbaugh camp of wishing him to fail.

      • Strawberry

        I agree Susan. I really can’t stand Obama but to actually wish him to fail is to wish for America to fail. Frankly, I’m praying for some sort of miracle. I just don’t have much faith in him or his abilities to pull us out of this tailspin.

      • wodiej

        Obviously you did not hear the entire story because Rush has explained himself several times including when he initially said it. I HEARD HIM, I WAS LISTENING TO HIM WHEN HE SAID IT. He specifically said he does not want Obama to fail, he wants his POLICIES TO FAIL. And I do too! He’s a damn socialistic freak.

        And he is NOT my president. He’s a corrupt chicago thug and that’s all he’ll ever be.

        • cynic

          If you doubt Limbaugh’s meaning, read the last half-dozen paragraphs of his CPAC transcript from this past weekend.

          http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/01/transcript-rush-limbaughs-address-cpac/

          Failure is what he wants. He rationalizes this by equating the President’s success with the overturning of all conservative principles–presumably as exemplified in the thinking of Rush Limbaugh. Apparently the fact that such a failure would mean unprecedented economic hardship for millions of Americans is completely beside the point.

          • Ferd Berfle

            Failure is what he wants. He rationalizes this by equating the President’s success with the overturning of all conservative principles–presumably as exemplified in the thinking of Rush Limbaugh. Apparently the fact that such a failure would mean unprecedented economic hardship for millions of Americans is completely beside the point.

            LMAO. As if he is the only one doing it.

            LMAO as if the right is the only group doing it.

            LMAO as your selective indignation, knowing no bounds, brings you to this website to post under pretense of having some sort of objective view of politics, pseudo-cynic.

            LMAO as you’re no centrist or even a former HRC supporter or even a cynical critic of this blog but are indeed an Oblahblahbot in a somewhat opaque disguise that only fools the ones you have aligned yourself with.

            LMAO. You’re outed.

            • cynic

              Limbaugh’s own words clearly reveal his own priorities. If you want to think of me as a mindless Obamabot for pointing that out, fine.

              I’m pulling for success because I have a pretty good idea of what failure might look like. I figure the scale and scope of the collective disaster would probably transcend current partisan politics.

  • http://none Peg

    The Newsweek issue the week of the New Hampshire Primary, which Hillary won, had Obama on the cover, and the articles about the primaries were written as if Obama had won New Hampshire.

    I had just canceled my subscription when, in a previous issue, Jonathan Alter opined that it was time for the leading-edge baby boomers (NOT the ones HIS age) and the Clintons to step aside.

    I don’t think my blood pressure has gone down since then.

    • Andy

      Why don’t you ask Paulie to ask him why did Newsweek did this? or what is his take of Newsweek doing this? I didn’t know it Peg. It certainly infuriating; even today.

      Post the question of the message board in advance and on the chat room
      meanwhile.

      Also maybe email it to susanunpc@gmail.com with

      Q. for Paulie to Evans in the subject line

      I’d love to hear his reply to that.

      • http://none Peg

        Andy, I’m not seeing how to do that (post on message board).

        • Andy

          Peg;

          You need to be Logged in (register if you don’t have an account) it’s free.
          Then once you log in go to

          http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nqr/2009/03/03/Sins-of-Omission

          and scroll down. You will see a box where to leave Comments.

          Let me know if you need further help.

          • http://none Peg

            I registered and am waiting for an email confirmation.

            • Andy

              Great, you should be all set then.

              Glad you’ll post such a good question ;-)

              • http://none Peg

                I never received confirmation.

                I will post here as suggested at the beginning.

  • ford

    I think a question might be managed concerning the ridiculous dependency Newsweek seems to have on Obama’s face. Slobbering love affair?
    The sexist and mean spirited attacks on Hillary and Palin…and the magazine’s slanted view on all things against the Republicans…even the ones they purport to like.
    How does Evan sleep at night knowing that he is turning Newsweek into a print version of the Huffing ton Post?

  • http://none Peg

    PAULIE: QUESTION FOR EVAN THOMAS

    The Newsweek issue the week of the New Hampshire Primary, which Hillary won, had Obama on the cover, and the articles about the primaries were written as if Obama had won New Hampshire.

    Who decides which candidate Newsweek will promote, voters-be-damned?

  • Mr.Murder

    Obama releases secret Bush anti-terror memos
    Buzz Up Send
    Email IM Share
    Delicious Digg Facebook Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print By DEVLIN BARRETT and MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writers Devlin Barrett And Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press Writers – 46 mins ago

    WASHINGTON – The Obama administration threw open the curtain on years of Bush-era secrets Monday, revealing anti-terror memos that claimed exceptional search-and-seizure powers and divulging that the CIA destroyed nearly 100 videotapes of interrogations and other treatment of terror suspects.

    Push harder.
    Hayden knows where the bodies are buried.

  • Joanie in Brooklyn

    sorry I won’t be listening. Most media people who shilled relentlessly for BHO during the primaries are now trying to put a good face on their reprehensible behavior. Just the title of the book tells me I’m not interested. Newsweek became a rag a long time ago. The fact that Jonathan Alter still writes for them says it all.

    • johninca

      I like Paulie and am grateful for her efforts to stop Obama, but Joanie makes a good point. The title of the Evan Thomas book says it all.

    • wodiej

      sounds to me like the media is now trying to backpeddle after their despicable behavior. No amount of guilt will change my view of them. They can all stick it.

    • Ferd Berfle

      Jonathan Alter

      Oh, yeah, that dud. Well, If Bill Richardson, in my estimation, was a butterball turkey with a goatee, Alter is a butterball with comb-over.

      Where do the former democrats, now oblahblahcrats get these uncarved blockheads? This is the Tao of Dumbass for sure.

  • johninca

    PAULIE: QUESTION FOR EVAN THOMAS

    Is it true that you are the grandson of Norman Thomas, six time candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket?

  • politicsIsdirty

    BHO releasing Bush’s era secret memo…so the media can concentrate on that instead of the investor’s lack of confidence in his leadership.

  • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    I don’t think I can call in, because it will be too late, but there was a show with Evan Thomas on Charlie Rose, and he said Obama had a creepy cult of personality. This is a clip of the interview, and Rush discussing it. Someone might have a question in there?

    http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=214933

  • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    “It’s also important for you not to play the race card yourself. You can’t imply, or be seen to imply, that anyone who criticizes you is a racist, closeted or otherwise.” ~ Evan Thomas, letter to Obama

    I would like to know if Mr. Thomas feels that Obama did end up playing the race card, even though he wrote to him that he must not.

    http://www.newsweek.com/id/138611/page/2

    Also, I would like to know if Mr. Thomas felt at all *sleazy* in telling Obama to parade his *white side* of his family out infront of the public?

  • CMartin

    Here’s a question: In 2000, the media jumped all over Gore to concede before the recount in Florida took place. It was later revealed that most recounts showed Gore winning Florida. Eight years later, the media seemed to be constantly trying to get Hillary to concede, focusing on grossly incomplete discussions of “the math”. What goes on in the minds of media folks when this is going on? Do they feel they did anything inappropriate in either situation?

    A very simple question: Do you think History will judge the media kindly for their behavior during the primary? Why or why not?

    • Ferd Berfle

      A very simple question: Do you think History will judge the media kindly for their behavior during the primary? Why or why not?

      I rather doubt it. Her opponent, That One, made every effort to discredit WJC and the progress made during his administration. He distanced himself from the real Democrats and pandered to Republicans by dropping Reagan’s name whenever it was advantageous to him. He also misrepresented himself and HRC throughout the campaign, including resorting to lies. His own background is to this day a complete unknown with the exception of some anecdotal evidence. Apparently he didn’t do much living until he ran for President. Yeah, right, and I’m a three-toed sloth.

      That One, in all honesty, was and is a con-man, a used-car salesman, a carpet bagger, and a panderer all rolled into one slimy whole. I wouldn’t trust him with my garbage cans and the contents therein.

      Bush was on his way to being the epitome of what constitutes the worst in a President. That One will make him look like a piker in comparison.

      We’re screwed.

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      ooh ooh! can i answer that!?!?!
      haha :O)

  • CMartin

    Another: Kathleen Hall Jamieson gave an interview detailing the role of sexism and misogynistic frames on the internet (see: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/12072007/transcript1.html). Do you feel the issues Jamieson brought up were adequately discussed in the mainstream media? Did any of those frames make it into the MSM narrative?

    • Ferd Berfle

      I’ve already answered one of your questions so what would be your answer, to this one, CMartin?

      This is just so we all know what the questioner brings to the table.

  • CMartin

    Another: Obama was chair of the Senate subcommittee on Europe, which included important organizations like NATO which is involved in Afghanistan. The Obama campaign discussed Afghanistan a lot, but he didn’t hold any investigative meetings as chairman. If John Kerry were to have been in a similar situation would the media have covered that more thoroughly? Does the media as a whole consider it an important omission?

    Another: Much was said about Hillary Clinton’s supposedly “negative” campaign. How does the media determine when certain campaigns are “going negative”? For example, Hillary Clinton’s “3 a.m.” ad didn’t mention any other candidate, yet it was considered to be one of the most negative of the campaign, even including the charges of racism.

    Another: The Columbia Journalism Review analyzed the coverage of the various candidates and found that Hillary Clinton received about 50-50 positive-negative coverage while Obama received about 80% positive coverage. How do supposedly unbiased news sources justify those numbers?

  • CMartin

    My questions are for Evan Thomas specifically. Its pretty clear that most folks here believe there was a lot of bias and sexism. I know how I feel about these questions, but I want to know how Thomas justifies the media’s behavior.

  • CMartin

    Here’s another very basic one: By historical standards, how does Obama’s experience relate to other 20th century presidents?

    My intention in all of my questions is to get a feeling for what drives Thomas as a journalist. How did he approach the primary? How did other “top” journalists approach the primary? I’m hoping the answers to these questions can help me understand what happened during the primary. I’m pretty convinced that historians are going to eviscerate the journalists coverage, but I’m interested in the thought processes that led to the outcome.

    • Ferd Berfle

      Then I recommend you divulge your opinions, and only then ask, and not come here appearing to be the Grand Inquisitor, which is how your questions come across.

  • CMartin

    I guess another important one: Do you feel the media was a neutral observer or an active advocate? Were there *any* instances that you felt where the media went from observer to candidate?

  • Pacific John

    Wow, what an amazing interview. Everything Thomas knows boils down to how things played to his peers in the press corps.

    He didn’t know much of anything about the primary itself, but he knew a lot about how it played with people he knows.

    He didn’t exactly leave us with the impression that the press had a credible point of view.

    Dr. Somerby, paging Dr. Bob Somerby.

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