Since I mentioned Bob Woodward's increasingly erratic behavior yesterday, it's only fair to close the loop and note his comments last night on Fox News. (Woodward was the opening act for Ann Coulter on Sean Hannity's show. Insert joke about "how the mighty have fallen" here.)
For those who can't watch clips online, there was some good news and some bad news in the interview. On the former, Woodward initially appeared to backpedal a bit on the nature of his complaint against Gene Sperling, telling Hannity, "[Y[ou know, people have said, well, this was a threat or I was saying it was a threat. I haven't used that language."
Woodward made clear to Politico and CNN that he saw Sperling's email as a veiled threat, but if he's now prepared to move away from the claim, I'm glad.
But by the end of the interview, the Washington Post reporter couldn't leave well enough alone. He argued on Fox News:
"[Sperling] says, I'm going to 'regret,' you know, that's -- that goes into the coded, you know, 'you better watch out.'"
Oh for crying out loud.
Look, this really isn't complicated. As we've discussed, last week, after their phone conversation got a little heated, Sperling emailed Woodward directly and said, "I apologize for raising my voice in our conversation today.... But I do truly believe you should rethink your comment about saying that Potus asking for revenues is moving the goal post. I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim."
Sperling added in his email, "I agree there are more than one side to our first disagreement, but again think this latter issue is diffferent. Not out to argue and argue on this latter point. Just my sincere advice. Your call obviously. My apologies again for raising my voice on the call with you. Feel bad about that and truly apologize."
Even now, after having a week to think about this and reflect on the exchange, Woodward is still convinced Sterling was speaking in "code," trying send a subtle "you better watch out" message.
And this is why it seems something has gone very wrong with Bob Woodward.
There is no code. There is no secret message. There was no between-the-lines threat. Woodward was advancing an argument with factual inaccuracies and Sperling told him "as a friend" that he will "regret" the embarrassment that comes with getting a big story wrong.
That Woodward feels the need to run to Fox News, of all places, to argue once again that a White House staffer sent him a "coded" threat is just sad, and unbecoming of a journalistic giant.
Woodward fell in a ditch. Why he wants to keep digging is a mystery.
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The guy needs to see his doctor.
"I'm going to regret" is open code. It means that if Woodward values his reputation, he should be careful not to say things that are wrong. Or stupid. And he should regret it. It can't be all that comfortable going on all these shows to defend himself.
Exactly. Woodward richly deserves to "regret it".
Maybe the code didn't appear until he put an X on a window in masking tape. Then he had to go to a deserted parking garage and meet Hal Holbrook, and HE told him it was a code!
Woodward, you're paranoid.
That's code for "everyone is out to get you"
First Hannity and then Scarborough. Amazing how the mighty have fallen.
I'm not familiar with Gene Sperling's voice and manner of speaking, but if he sounds like Marlon Brando in The Godfather, I can picture the above as a threat (go ahead, try it). Otherwise, Woodward is just being a whiny little baby.
It was code for FOX viewers predisposed to fear the President's secret Black Army.
That's all it was. He was feeding chum to the mindless audience. Duh.
Woodward is accomplishing exactly what he wanted to accomplish. What outlets are still discussing that Woodward was wrong about the sequester. As it stands we're all focusing on whether Woodward was threatened or not and ergo he's doing his job of taking the focus off of the GOP and the sequester. Oh and for good measure Woodward threw a little Bill Ayers into this interview to really throw people off. Woodward no longer has to "regret" his article because no one remembers it was wrong they just remember the possible veiled threat from the bully white house.
Excellent point!
His next media appearance will be on the Simpsons, yelling at clouds.
Woodward is delusional.
Robert, what is the frequency?
That we are even talking about this makes me sad. Politico should be ashamed for pimping the story in the first place. Everybody in journalism should be ashamed for not helping a fallen giant who truly needs our pity.
Bosh. By now, Woodward no longer merits pity.
It seems to me that Gene Sperling did try to reach out to him as a friend. He comes across as Bob's only ally in this whole spectacle. Agree, Politico milked this for all they could and so did Fox. Morning Joe to a lesser degree.
He doesn't need anyones pity. All of this publicity is great for book sales. Woodward belongs in the company of Ann Coulter and the writers of the National Inquirer.
Obviously what Sperling was saying is that being so wrong is bound to hurt Woodward's reputation and it did. Now very few people will consider Woodward to be anything other than another hack. He didn't get thrown off his pedestal. He swan dived without a bungee cord.
Keep digging, Bob. What little you had left of your reputation is just about buried.
I think he has been watching reruns of "All the Presidents men" and has started to think he is actual as cool as Robert Redford...it must be all the "fill-in-the-blank-Gate" scandals giving him flashbacks
oops
Not really a mystery because he isn't alone in that Fox hole, he's among like-minded people who are purposefully digging right along side him, working 24/7 against the president and any forward momentum of their own nation.
Is Woodward any more delusional or paranoid than Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, or any number of other conservative voices polluting the national airwaves and book shelves with their fears and hates?
Sperling was right. Surely Woodward DOES regret going with the story, even if won't say so.
Must be cozy and warm in the right-wing echo chamber. The place-to-be for lonesome old white men with increasing difficulties to keep their racist id under control.
There are way too many of them on this blog! :-(
If Woodward doesn't feel shame and disgrace about running to Sean Hannity to whine about his tribulations, then it seems unlikely he'd be ashamed about pushing factual inaccuracies. I never cared about Woodward one way or the other, but man, this is just pitiful.
Woodward is regretting it now. He had to go on Faux News to explain it. What a comedown!
He said something different on Morning Joe:
Liar.
Bob, Mr. Eastwood would like his chair back.
Yes, it really does seem like it's on that level. A once highly respected man, making a fool of himself right before our eyes. I felt bad for Eastwood. Woodward has proven himself to be a liar. He gets no sympathy.
Simple.
Right Wingers will buy your book, regardless of the quality, if they feel it's sufficiently anti-Obama.
Mystery solved.
Donde esta el trollo's...