The Washington Post just committed suicide today. Unfortunately, the Post isn’t quite yet aware of that fact.
Former Post reporter Mike Allen, now at Politico, is the messenger, informing us of one DC’s most remarkable invites:
“Underwriting Opportunity: An evening with the right people can alter the debate,” says the one-page flier. “Underwrite and participate in this intimate and exclusive Washington Post Salon, an off-the-record dinner and discussion at the home of CEO and Publisher Katharine Weymouth. … Bring your organization’s CEO or executive director literally to the table. Interact with key Obama administration and congressional leaders.”
But that’s not all. Folks with the big bucks ($25,000 for one dinner; $250,000 for a series of eleven) would also be allowed to hang with the Post’s “health care reporting and editorial staff.“
The Post is furiously denying everything, except that, they’re not denying anything. Weymouth, who is “out of town,” according to the Post (yeah, like in Bethesda, maybe) says “At this juncture, we will not be holding the planned July dinner and we will not hold salon dinners involving the newsroom.”
Which leaves the Post free to hold, and charge for, “salon dinners” not involving the newsroom, not to mention perhaps a salon brunch or two where, you know, anyone might show up. You never know!
The Post has printed its own story, here, not too bad, factually, except for the one important fact: The Washington Post is either a pimp or a whore, or both.
