Chicago Tribune editors go off the Obama reservation
Jontel Kassidy, Senior Capital Correspondent

John P. McCormick, Deputy Editorial Page Editor (left), Bruce Dold, Editorial Page Editor (center) and Gerould Kern ,
The Chicago Tribune, long a media shill for the Obama Presidential candidacy, and then for his administration, has wandered off the Obama reservation on Obamacare. In an editorial posted August 18, 2013, the Trib editors’ lede reads:
“Democrats strong-armed Obamacare into law three years ago. Now they're busy flouting it.”
“Strong-armed?” What sort of language is that for the Trib to use to describe how the problematic legislation was passed?
Their editorial closes with this paragraph:
“Bottom line: Let's delay and rewrite this ill-conceived law. Congress need not start from scratch. Lawmakers can build on what all of us have learned from three years of painful trial and error. Three years of attempting, but failing, to make this clumsy monstrosity work for the American people.”
Oh, so now the Trib’s brain-trust declares Obamacare an “ill-conceived” “clumsy monstrosity” that has brought “three years of painful trial and error” to the American people?
And their recommendation is to re-build Obamacare on its failure?
Sure, that’ll work.
It’s reminiscent of that scene in the Bruce Willis movie Die Hard when John McClane throws a dead crook out the window of Nakatomi Towers on top of Sgt. Powell’s patrol car to get his attention.
In the Trib editors’ case, the body is the “monstrosity” of Obamacare falling on America. “Welcome to the party,” Tribune editors.
Hey Chicago Tribune: What’s on the secret Blagojevich tapes?
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
A reliable source informs IP2P that Tribune Company spokesman Gary Weitman has stated, for-the-record, that the decision to publish or not publish the Blagojevich wiretap transcripts – given to the Chicago Tribune, and only to the Tribune, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and never made public – is a decision that rests in the hands of Tribune editor Gerould Kern.
Weitman knows that the tapes and transcripts were under court seal, and have not been made available to the public. Upon further inquiry, Weitman repeated that the decision to publish, or not publish, is one that would have to be taken-up with Gerould Kern.
To date, Kern has refused to respond to multiple request seeking an explanation for his decision not to publish the Blago tapes.
We call on Gerould Kern to rethink his decision, and publish the transcripts. And, if Kern does not reconsider, and continues to keep secrets, rather than act as a responsible newspaper editor, then we call on the Tribune Co. to replace him with someone who understands the importance of an honest "Fourth Estate".
What is on the Blago tapes that the Feds and Trib editor Gerould Kern do not want the public to know?
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What the Blago camp is saying....
To Trib Editor Gerould Kern: Tear down this wall…
Thomas Barton, Investigative reporter
Chicago Tribune reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen say the Feds gave them access to the Blagojevich wiretap tapes and transcripts they used in writing their book entitled “Golden.”
This access was granted to them when the material was under seal and unavailable to anyone else, in or out of the media.
IP2P has learned that Coen has made another claim – one that takes the cozy relationship between the Tribune and the Feds to a whole new level. Remember, the Feds initially leaked information to the Tribune about the existence of the Fed’s wiretap on Blago.
When asked about the sealed Blagojevich tapes and transcripts that the Feds shared with the two reporters for their book, Coen replied that the leaked material was “the Tribune's business.” He refused to elaborate.
In other words, talk to my boss. So we’ve talked to Coen’s boss.
Tribune Editor Gerould Kern was asked why the Trib has failed to share the tapes and transcripts with its readers.
Kern will not respond.
We call upon the Chicago Tribune to inform its readers and publish the transcripts. After all, they represent news, and the paper is supposed to be in the news business.
There is no legal ban on printing the material. Chase and Coen have already referred to tapes in their book. But there they only quoted material from inane conversations with little news value to Chicagoans.
In other words, they teased their readers, but didn’t inform them.
So to Gerould Kern we say: Tear down this wall that hides the Blagojevich tapes.
Hey Chicago Tribune, what kinda Journalism is that?
Ernie Souchak, Editor-in-Chief
The traditional rules of journalism apparently don't apply to the Chicago Tribune. Now it's the rules of "Forward Journalism" that they follow.
For example:
Basic rule #1 - When you get the inside scoop on a wiretap the government's running on a sitting governor, you don't make a decision at 10:20 p.m. to derail the government's investigation, while, at the same time, flushing the biggest news story of the year down the drain with a John Chase phone call warning Gov. Blagojevich that the feds are listening.
Unless you "report" for the Chicago Tribune.
Basic rule # 2 - When you write the self-described definitive book about the Rod Blagojevich affair, as reporters John Chase and Jeff Coen claim to have, and the U.S. Attorney's office publicly takes issue with the honesty of your claims, you back up your story with evidence that supports your words.
Unless you work for the Chicago Tribune
Basic rule #3 - When the honesty of reporters is challenged by the U.S. government, the Editor stands by his or her reporters, or excepts responsibility for their mistakes and makes the appropriate changes to protect the integrity of the newspaper.
Unless you're an Editor at the Chicago Tribune.
Ever since the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois went on the record disputing claims made by Chase and Coen, the two Tribune reporters have been mute, refusing to comment.
Not only are they not responding to troubling accusations from the USAO, Tribune editor Gerould Kern, and the publisher of "Golden," the Chicago Review Press, are, also, hunkered down refusing to comment.
So is that the new style of "Forward Journalism"?
We, at IP2P, subscribe to the American traditional rules of journalism. We call for honest answers from the Tribune, on behalf of the citizens of Chicago, and Illinois.
They deserve the truth