MATT LONDON: A White House memo instructs all U.S. media how to report the Biden impeachment process - accusing 'liars and hucksters' of peddling disinformation. Have they no irony... or shame?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A very blunt memo to the White House : Back off - the American media is not your damn mouthpiece.
On Wednesday morning, the President made his visceral disdain for the press exceedingly clear when his White House blasted a Soviet-style communique out to every major media organization in the country.
It should be received in the spirit that it was sent - and filed in the garbage where it belongs.
'It's time for the media to ramp up its scrutiny of House Republicans for opening an impeachment inquiry based on lies,' reads the note, sent from an official U.S. government email account.
'Or else, what?' must be the unequivocal response.
Perhaps this administration needs reminding: in America, journalists don't take their marching orders from the people in power. And when a 14-page White House script pops up in the mass media's inboxes, there's reason to be very suspicious.
'We hope this document helps provide you with factual information useful in your reporting…' writes Ian Sams, Special Assistant to the President.
What is this agitprop trash? Don't think for a moment that we'd mistake political talking points for 'factual information.'
This is the same White House that trots out Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre to dodge, obfuscate and do everything in her limited capability to avoid answering any serious questions.
Yet the insult was even worse than that. This federal government missive seeks to intimidate.
'Don't cross us' is the unwritten threat, as journalists and ordinary citizens face a growing risk of government-directed censorship.
'In the modern media environment, where every day liars and hucksters peddle disinformation and lies everywhere from Facebook to Fox,' writes Sams, 'process stories that fail to unpack the illegitimacy of the claims on which House Republicans are basing all their actions only serve to generate confusion, put false premises in people's feeds, and obscure the truth.'
The use of the anti-free speech Left's hazy new buzzword 'disinformation' shouldn't be overlooked by anyone.
On Friday, a federal appeals court found the Biden Administration likely violated the First Amendment when they 'coerced' social media platforms 'by way of intimidating messages and threats' to take down content the White House didn't like.
And ironically, the term 'disinformation' was also employed to justify the suppression of reporting that sparked this whole impeachment saga.
When the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop exploded into public view on the eve of the 2020 election, Joe Biden's team was quick to try and sweep it under the rug.
None other than then-Biden campaign toady, now-Secretary of State, Antony Blinken was reportedly part of an operation to organize 51 former intelligence officials to write a letter dismissing the laptop as 'Russian disinformation.'
That was a clear warning to media outlets: if you report on this laptop then you're a Putin stooge. And it just might get you censored on Twitter and Facebook.
Three days later, Joe Biden repeated that same 'Russian disinformation' falsehood when he faced off against Donald Trump on the presidential debate stage.
'There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what he's accusing me of is a Russian plan,' he said.
How's that for 'liars and hucksters' who 'peddle disinformation and lies?'
The hypocrisy is shameless.
But 'liars and hucksters?' That's really too much.
It was Joe Biden, not anyone in the media, who swore up and down that he 'never discussed with my son, or my brother, or anyone else, anything having to do with their businesses, period… There will be an absolute wall between the personal and private, and the government.'
Yet, now we know that as vice president, Joe attended multiple fancy Georgetown dinners with Hunter's shady foreign clients; that VP Biden personally thanked Hunter's partner, Devon Archer, for going into business with his son; that VP Biden called into his son's business meetings at least 20 times and allowed Hunter to hitch a ride on Air Force Two at least 15 times to countries like China, where Hunter had lucrative interests.
And we're the 'liars and hucksters?'
In 2020, then-candidate Joe Biden claimed his, 'son has not made money [from] China.'
But, in court in 2023, Hunter admitted making hundreds of thousands of dollars from Chinese-owned businesses linked to the Communist regime.
Look in the mirror, Joe.
At the very best, this White House memo is little more than a smokescreen intended to hopelessly muddy the waters. At worst, it is meant to frighten news organizations into toeing the line.
But it won't work. For one, it laughably doesn't hold up to even the slightest scrutiny.
'Virtually every single allegation that House Republicans have suggested would be the basis for pursuing impeachment has been refuted,' Sams writes.
Virtually?
A pesky word. It means 'almost,' 'nearly,' 'more or less.'
It begs the question: Which allegations still stand? Which have been proven true?
Sams quibbles with Republican claims that bank records revealed $20 million in payments from foreign sources went to the 'Biden family.'
'The majority of the money was paid to non-Bidens, and none of the money flowed to Joe Biden,' he writes.
That's hardly an exoneration. In fact, there's solid evidence, in the form of emails, that Joe and Hunter's assets were co-mingled. What's also conveniently not mentioned in the memo is that $7.5 million unquestionably did flow directly to 'the Bidens' and the rest ended up in the pockets of Hunter's business partners.
The American public should be aware of that, even if the White House doesn't agree.
Maybe, the Biden administration is seeking to take advantage of plummeting public trust in the media. Call it the 'Donald Trump strategy'.
Every time a damaging revelation about Joe Biden's shifting story or his family's profiting from an international influence-peddling operation surfaces, they want to be able to shout 'fake news.' But there's nothing phony about the allegations detailed here.
When Biden took office his White House pledged to, 'bring transparency and truth back to the government, to share the truth, even when it's hard to hear.' They've done nothing of the sort.
The American media should be universally outraged by such a desperate attempt at manipulation.
The White House should be ashamed.
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And the walls came tumbling down - keep it up Corn Pop - keep it up.
yeah, I'd hide the source of this article and author too if I didn't want anybody to know it's the UK equivalent of the national enquirer. it's story about the UFO alien bodies being found in peru is more believable...
If the day comes where you can dispute the content of an article instead of attacking the source, I hope I'm alive to see it!
The source you are saying is hidden is in plain sight if one bothers to click on the link.
I know, hard to do!
Says a raw story advocate....
The irony….
I swear, you couldn't make up anything as funny
Just can't discuss the topic, eh?
Off topic.
[deleted]
Sure seems very, very odd, after years and years of calling Trump a liar, suddenly you believe him?
I ain't buying it!
[deleted]
You keep shilling for Biden
Off topic
Off topic
There is only one thing wrong with this article that alleges the White House is threatening the media.
There isnt a single thing in the White House statement to the media that represents a threat. The "threat" hint is entirely created by the writer of the article. He shamefully supposes that the use of the word "disinformation" in the White House statement represents a threat to the media.
The irony is this is the same sort of non existent 'evidence' that the Republicans are trying to use to impeach Joe Biden.
Right, cause that couldn't really happen...
Some will always deflect or pretend the Biden Admin is pure as the driven snow.
According to the seeded article, this is what the White House statement to the media said, and I quote
==================
This is the entirety of the White House statement as reported in the seeded article. Please point out the sentence or sentences that constitute a threat? You are on the clock.
Have you even read the entire 14 page document?
If the Trump administration had put this out you damn sure would be calling it intimidation.
You keep (deliberately?) missing the point.
The Biden WH has no place telling the press what to do.
Funny, also, how you support that type of language when you were complaining about the tone of a patriotic ad earlier
Post the link and I will look at it
I dont see the White House statement as "telling" the media what to do. Ronin claims there is more to it so when I get the link I will read it and see if he is right.
I don't pretend to have first hand knowledge of how the administration interacts with media, why would you?
Just because you choose to not see isn't my problem.
I guess next you'll pretend this means something totally different now, too.
Biden and his handlers are imploring the press to cover for him once again.
That is a threat to you? lol.
The opinion of the White House ( and a lot of other people) is that the Republicans are trying to impeach Joe Biden with lies. They are asking the media not to fall for it.
Just tell us where the threat is by quoting the White House statement. I am not interested in any of your other baloney.
The daily mail writer doesnt get to unilaterally decide the white house was threatening the media. he has to have something in the white house statement that shows that.
just tell us , by quoting the white house statement , what that something is.
I am smart enough to know it was improper.
Now, you can pretend otherwise. but I am not here to convince you of tge truth, just to share it with you.
What you do now that you know the truth is all up to you.
lol
An apt mimicking of me reacting to many comments, especially from Biden sycophants such as yourself.
But what else do you really have?
[deleted]
Yeah, it must be boring to not be able to defend a position.
And besides, this isn't about Trump or racism, so probably hard to hold your attention for very long.
That's just funny and wrong. I remember you bitching about a statement from Trump where you stated that Trump was currently in the Oval Office and as such had a bully pulpit unlike any other person could have. But keep on wearing those partisan shades and defending the undefendable.
Just tell us what in the White House memo to the media constitutes a threat as alleged in the seeded article.
A lot of people here are dancing but getting nowhere.
The fact this was ever released was a huge mistake on Biden and his handlers.
What we have seen from this WH and others is threatening because we know how quick they are to turn the dogs out on someone they don't like.
Okay John, the Biden admin just got slapped around for fucking with the 1st amendment by the fifth circuit. Then they release a statement about how the impeachment inquiry should be covered, if you can't see that, it's on you.
It is almost incomprehensible that anyone can ignore what is plainly in their face.
Boring even...
Ok, let's try again. What in the memo today is an "intimidating message" or a threat of "adverse consequences" ? Be specific.
lol
Are you under the impression that those were White House Memos to the public? That would make things so much easier wouldn't it?..
John - that, in pure "Gov Speak" sez "back off".
Funny thing is, he thinks the mass media is picking on him when they cover his screw ups and blunders nearly every day.
He’d be shitting his pants if they treated him like they treated Trump.
Yep and like usual, the Bidenettes here are dancing the hardest.
SOSDD ….
And he has managed to convince his followers that he is being picked on.
Useful idiots are plentiful these days in liberal la la land.
Ahhh - and of course Biden has done nothing wrong????
It's pretty to funny to see. The White House says jump and the media says, How high?
CNN tried to run a fact check of McCarthy calling his claims "unproven" Then, in the body of the fact check, admits they are all true.
This is the memo. Will someone please point out the "threat"
MEMO TO EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP AT U.S. NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS
From: Ian Sams, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor and Spokesman
for White House Counsel’s Office
Date: September 12, 2023
Re: It’s Time For The Media To Do More To Scrutinize House Republicans’
Demonstrably False Claims That They’re Basing Impeachment Stunt On
After nearly 9 months of investigating, House Republicans haven’t been able to turn up any
evidence of the President doing anything wrong. But House Republicans led by Marjorie Taylor
Greene are nonetheless opening a baseless impeachment inquiry of President Biden – despite
many House Republicans openly admitting there is no evidence on which to support it.
Impeachment is grave, rare, and historic. The Constitution requires “treason, bribery, or other
high crimes and misdemeanors.”
But House Republicans are publicly stating they have uncovered none of these things:
• Republican Rep. Ken Buck (Colorado) said that “the time for impeachment is the time
when there’s evidence linking President Biden, if there’s evidence linking President
Biden to a high crime or misdemeanor” but that the evidence “doesn’t exist right now.”
He has also said “I don’t think that evidence has been presented” connecting President
Biden to wrongdoing and that “I’m not convinced that that evidence exists.”
• Republican Rep. Dave Joyce (Ohio) told Forbes he is “not seeing facts or evidence” that
would merit an impeachment inquiry.
• Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson (South Dakota) told CNN that “there is a constitutional
and legal test that you have to meet with evidence” when it comes to impeachment and
that he has “not seen that evidence.”
• Republican Rep. Don Bacon (Nebraska) said, “I think before we move on to [an]
impeachment inquiry, we should … there should be a direct link to the president in some
evidence. We should have some clear evidence of a high crime or misdemeanor, not just
assuming there may be one. I think we need to have more concrete evidence to go down
that path.”
• Republican Rep. French Hill (Arkansas) told CBS that House Republicans have not “even
remotely completed their work on the kind of detailed investigations and quality work”
needed to proceed to an impeachment.
• Republican Rep. Mike Lawler (New York) said, “With respect to impeachment, we’re not
there yet.”
• Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards (North Carolina) said in a House hearing, “I’ve heard
over and over that President Biden has not been implicated or proven for any
wrongdoing here, and I acknowledge that.”
• A Republican lawmaker told CNN, “There’s no evidence that Joe Biden got money […]
There’s just no evidence of that. And they can’t impeach without that evidence. And I
don’t think the evidence exists.”
• A senior House Republican aide told Politico, “We haven’t proven the case for
impeachment yet. How can you start impeachment? We haven’t done what you need to
do to start impeachment.”
2 of 2
CNN has reported that “there are as many as 30 [House] Republicans who don’t believe there’s
enough evidence yet for impeachment.” Perhaps that is why, despite vowing just days ago that
any impeachment inquiry would be opened by a vote of the House, Speaker McCarthy has gone
against his own demands in 2019 to open an inquiry unilaterally – flip flopping on his own
commitment to a vote.
But reporting that solely focuses on process rather than substance is woefully inadequate when
it comes to something as historically grave as impeachment.
It’s time for the media to ramp up its scrutiny of House Republicans for opening
an impeachment inquiry based on lies. When even House Republican members are
admitting that there is simply no evidence that Joe Biden did anything wrong, much less
impeachable, that should set off alarm bells for news organizations.
For years, Republicans in Congress have tried to muddy the waters by attracting media coverage
of their allegations, and as they choose to move forward with impeachment, it is the
responsibility of the independent press to treat their claims with the appropriate scrutiny.
Covering impeachment as a process story – Republicans say X, but the White House says Y – is
a disservice to the American public who relies on the independent press to hold those in power
accountable.
And in the modern media environment, where every day liars and hucksters peddle
disinformation and lies everywhere from Facebook to Fox, process stories that fail to unpack the
illegitimacy of the claims on which House Republicans are basing all their actions only serve to
generate confusion, put false premises in people’s feeds, and obscure the truth.
House Republican leaders should be held accountable for the fact that they are lurching toward
impeachment over allegations that are not only unfounded but, in virtually all cases, have been
actively disproven – including by witnesses and documents in their own investigations, as well
as years-old congressional probes and even the former President’s first impeachment inquiry.
As you begin to cover the House GOP’s impeachment push more intensely, enclosed you will
find a 14-page appendix that comprehensively addresses the 7 key lies House Republicans are
suggesting they are basing an impeachment on. We hope this document helps provide you with
factual information useful in your reporting on their unprecedented, unfounded claims
underlying an impeachment inquiry without any evidence of wrongdoing.
If you can't recognize that this is wrong I don't know what to tell you.
[deleted]
Me not knowing now and you failing to comprehend for 5 years are separate things.
What this memo is doing is asking the media to not report on the impeachment inquiry as simply a "process" story but rather to dig into the substance. And then it gives examples of what they consider the substance to be.
There is no "threat" in this memo.
How 'bout giving the link for that "info" John - can you do that?
Bidenistas, rejoice!
Your hero is laying the groundwork so certain things won't be widely reported.
Yep, absolutely no shame. Hardly any character either …..
Yeah, terrible. Just despicable. Here’s a link to the long screed the White House sent out:
The White House’s scathing and legally dubious impeachment letter, annotated
I mean, where do they get off? They accuse the House of violating the Constitution, and trying to overturn the election. They claim evidence is being falsified. You’d think they’d have the dignity and respect to let the process work itself out. But, no.
Oh wait.
My bad.
This is actually a link to a letter sent out from the Trump White House in 2019, when he was being impeached.
Seriously, what the fuck do people expect? No matter who is being investigated, or in what venue, do you really expect them to not protest their innocence, or bitch about the investigation?
So now you tell me the Biden White House wants to put its own spin on the story? No shit! Big fucking surprise! The hypocritical whining from Washington - or from partisan media - has no end.