Ken Silverstein blows a massive hole in David Broder’s credibility right here. The trouble started with reports that Big Dave was giving speeches at political fund-raising events and lobbbyists’ conventions. Broder refused to speak to Silverstein about this, because reporters don’t have to answer questions, and, when asked about it by Washington Post omsbudsman Deborah Howell, lied about it repeatedly, saying, among other things, that he had never been contacted by Silverstein (a lie), that he hadn’t spoken at such dubious events (another lie), and that when he did speak before a group he checked with Milton Coleman, deputy managing editor, who has his own credibility problems, or Tom Wilkinson, an assistant managing editor, but they don’t remember it that way, so I’m guessing this is another Broder fib.
Bob Woodward (wouldn’t you know it) is implicated as well. Bob’s gimmick is that, yes, he gives speeches for money, lots of it, but he donates it all to charity, like for instance $51 grand last year to Sidwell Friends, the fancy DC prep school that Chelsea attended, and where Bob’s daughter goes. Yeah, it’s not enough to have to hear the kid say “My daddy’s Bob Woodward,” you have to hear her say “My daddy gave $51 grand!” Real moral, Bob!
I’ve moaned and groaned about Dave’s less than honest ways here and here. Deborah Howell girds up her loins like a chick and gives them both a (fairly) firm hand here.
