Dan Friedman, a reporter for the Daily News, acts the innocent in this piece explaining the origins of the rumor that Chuck Hagel received funds from a group called “Friends of Hamas.” The Daily News asserts that Friedman “inadvertently” fostered that suspicion. But as you read his words– not an ombudsman’s words, or an editor’s words, someone who ought to be looking into this matter — reflect that: the Daily News is a big supporter of Israel, and, How innocent is it to send an email to a source on Capitol Hill asking, “Did he get $25K speaking fee from Friends of Hamas?” It’s not innocent; it’s irresponsible. I would ask Friedman: Show me the rest of your emails on this question. What are you leaving out? Why should anyone trust your account?
On Feb. 6, I called a Republican aide on Capitol Hill with a question: Did Hagel’s Senate critics know of controversial groups that he had addressed?
Hagel was in hot water for alleged hostility to Israel. So, I asked my source, had Hagel given a speech to, say, the “Junior League of Hezbollah, in France”? And: What about “Friends of Hamas”?
The names were so over-the-top, so linked to terrorism in the Middle East, that it was clear I was talking hypothetically and hyperbolically. No one could take seriously the idea that organizations with those names existed — let alone that a former senator would speak to them.
Or so I thought.
The aide promised to get back to me. I followed up with an e-mail, as a reminder: “Did he get $25K speaking fee from Friends of Hamas?” I asked.
The source never responded, and I moved on.
I couldn’t have imagined what would happen next. On Feb. 7, the conservative web site Breitbart.com screamed this headline:
“SECRET HAGEL DONOR?: WHITE HOUSE SPOX DUCKS QUESTION ON ‘FRIENDS OF HAMAS’”
The story read: “On Thursday, Senate sources told Breitbart News exclusively that they have been informed one of the reasons that President Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, has not turned over requested documents on his sources of foreign funding is that one of the names listed is a group purportedly called ‘Friends of Hamas.’”
So I’m supposed to believe that a reporter for the Daily News did this “accidentally”??? Please.
Once again comedy as news, it seems the most effective way to tell the igno-cognizanti of this age the truth.
He was just joshing around, can’t we all see that it’s a joke, how more absurd can something be?
Would you fellate a donkey on national tv for Israel Senator?
Yes the United State Israel worship is absurd.
Even if it is SNL that has to tell you.
I actually believe that account. Only a total moron would not get it. So when we chide Dan Friedman for “irresponsibility”, the question is how much allowance should be given to the fact that total morons are present in the Senate chamber? I would say that it merits an investigation how a total moron like Ted Cruz could graduate from a reputable college like Princeton. Nothing should bar morons from elective offices, but some college degrees entail presumption of at least modest intelligence.
From the Breitbart’s Shapiro who is demanding Jewish supporters of Hagel to stop pretending to be Jewish
https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/301369416657039360
If you are a Democrat who claims pride in your Jewishness, and you support the Hagel nomination, why not just drop the charade?
You know anyone who really gets all worked up on labels of “liberal” or “Conservative” or Democrat of Republican must be really dim in the head.
Shapiro might sound slick when he talks, but his rhetoric is stupid demagoguery. And now he is asserting from his perch is a Jew or not based on party and Hagel support? Geesh!
Someone should send an email to Dan Friedman, asking him
“Are you still on the Israeli payroll? Yes or no”
Then post somewhere on the internet
DAILY NEWS REPORTER ON ISRAELI PAYROLL??
and then act so innocent.