Mother Jones’ David Corn makes award-winning political journalism look so easy, and he doesn’t even have to hire reporters. It looks like Progress Kentucky, or at least former members of the liberal super PAC behind the racist attack on Sen. Mitch McConnell’s “Chinese wife,” donated their services to provide Corn with his secret audio recording of a McConnell campaign strategy session.
Accepting his Polk award for publicizing Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” fundraiser, which was secretly recorded by a bartender working the event, Corn called his emerging specialty “journalism verité.”
At the #PolkAwards, David Corn (47% guy) mentions "journalism verité", gets a big smile from Carl Bernstein…
— Greg Emerson (@emersongreg) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/RileyRebel129/status/322390666904756225
Smart, fearless journalism RT @politico: David Corn 'no comment' on Progress Kentucky report: http://t.co/bemvQGRFif
— CJ Ciaramella (@cjciaramella) April 11, 2013
Interesting how libtool @DavidCornDC never illegally records liberals. Journalist? No, propagandist…and a felon. #tcot #tiot #tlot
— Jim (@WFSecurityNerd) April 11, 2013
Source gives new details how audio obtained, eavesdropping outside locked door in hallway. Felony in KY. http://t.co/JfTP8BAWtU @DavidCornDC
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 11, 2013
@DavidCornDC did u arrange 4 audio to be delivered to U? Justice Breyer will want 2 know 532 U.S. 538
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) April 11, 2013
Call Ithaca College, ask if appropriate to give @DavidCornDC J-prize next week after publishing 0-party consent hallway eavesdropping
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 11, 2013
Recommended
So post-Watergate "reforms" led to the creation of super PACs, which are now committing Watergate-like crimes. Brilliant.
— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) April 11, 2013
The other interesting contrast with Watergate is that this time the conspirators worked hand in glove with a "journalist."
— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) April 11, 2013
So, who exactly are these crack reporters working their way into the news business? Jacob Conway, a member of the executive committee of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, said that Shawn Reilly and Curtis Morrison of Progress Kentucky confessed to making the recording of the meeting.
A Democratic official in KY found out about secret tape in early Feb & neither he nor David Corn nor Progress KY contacted @DSCC about it?
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) April 11, 2013
Seems like Kentucky Democratic Party thinks @ProgressKy is more trouble than it's worth. Throws it under bus. http://t.co/RxnWFe0gyG #KYsen
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) April 11, 2013
Progress Kentucky’s Shawn Reilly Linked To Controversial Fatal Shooting in 2003 http://t.co/fbw1s3dXHj
— DanRiehl (@DanRiehl) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/MyViewMatters/status/322431448793640960
The treasurer of Progress Kentucky reportedly resigned from the group once Mother Jones made the recording public, but he wasn’t the first to resign from the group over its tactics.
On the advice of counsel, ProgressKy's treasurer has resigned. http://t.co/pGclNhJEgJ
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/322399981787021313
Are the remaining members helping or hurting their cause with stunts like secret recordings?
I'll say it again: ProgressKY is a FAR more effective GOP super Pac than Restore Our Future
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) April 11, 2013
.@ProgressKy "Thanks for the great work!" – All Republicans
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/tcstephenson1/status/322401143818944512
@tcstephenson1 Yes, they are Dems, although looks like they're outside any Dem structures http://t.co/tB47P1GVr9
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/jblarson/status/322402636395585537
For their next phase, ProgressKY will burn down My Old Kentucky Home, mix bourbon with diet coke and proclaim Duke the best bball team.
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) April 11, 2013
Corn is keeping his association with Progress Kentucky under wraps for the moment, but he insists the recording was vetted by Mother Jones lawyers and the magazine’s use of it was legal, regardless of how it was obtained originally.
Finally, we have an answer to that immortal question: How do you get @DavidCornDC to shut up? http://t.co/dt1gYarO6Q via @tomkludt
— China is lying (@jtLOL) April 11, 2013
Re legal issues & the McConnell story, read this: http://t.co/WvOmHlcMPo
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) April 11, 2013
Shorter @DavidCornDC — Ok, maybe the secret recording was illegal but Mother Jones didn't have anything to do with it.
— Sean Geary Higgins (@SeanGHiggins) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/jblarson/status/322442643084804098
McConnell might not suffer any consequences, but will the same go for Progress Kentucky?
* * *
Update:
WHAS-TV’s Joe Arnold is reporting that one man reported to have been behind the recording is passing that legal hot potato to the other.
Thru atty, @ProgressKy Shawn Reilly denies taping McConnell meeting, at most a witness, says if anyone's responsible it's Curtis Morrison
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Atty for @ProgressKy's Shawn Reilly: Reilly went to US attorney when Mother Jones broke tape & has been cooperating in federal investigation
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Shawn Reilly atty's disavow Jacob Conways description of how McConnell meeting taped, (standing in the hallway, holding elevator)
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Atty for @ProgressKy's Shawn Reilly says he has provided material support & information to FBI in their efforts to locate Curtis Morrison
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Atty for @ProgressKy's @smarkreilly : Curtis Morrison is – if anyone – guilty of criminal activity in this case @Team_Mitch #KySen
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Atty for @ProgressKy's @smarkreilly:"Mr. Reilly was present,he was present on Feb. 2" but disavows Conway's version of Reilly role in taping
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Atty for @ProgressKy's @smarkreilly: Reilly "was there. He was a witness to Mr. Morrison's activities" @Team_Mitch HQ. #KySen
— Joe Arnold (@joearnoldreport) April 11, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member