The Los Angeles Times has been a huge part of Barack Obama's rocketing to fame and power. It was the Los Angeles Times that sued, persisted and insisted that Jack and Jeri Ryan's child custody files be unsealed in 2004. It was the the Los Angeles Times that insisted their family records be made public against the wishes of both the Ryans, whose agreed-upon intention was to protect their special needs son. Ryan volunteered their divorce records for public scrutiny.
It's a totally different story today. Jack Ryan, you'll remember, had emerged from a tough IL GOP primary as the victor to face none else than Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the 2004 U.S. Senate race, and early polls indicated the race between Ryan and Obama would competitive and expensive.
It was the Los Angeles Times that brought down Jack Ryan. The same Los Angeles Times that today refuses to reveal to the public contents of a video tape it admits it has in possession. A video tape that their own reporter described in April 2008 of Barack Obama toasting Rashid Khalidi, a former Palestinian Liberation Organization spokesman, before Khalidi's departure to begin teaching at Columbia University. There, just a couple of months ago, as director of Columbia's Middle East Institute, Khalidi helped to bring in Iran's rabid dictator Ahmenijhad.
The LA Times admits it has the videotape, allowed a reporter to write about it, but refuses public viewing, citing an agreement with the source. Why not publish then publish the transcript verbatim? Why doesn't someone sue the LA Times to demand they open their self-sealed files? Why not treat the LA Times as they treated Jack and Jeri Ryan?
We agree with Sarah Palin: "If there's a Pulitzer for excellence in kow-towing -- the LA Times is winning!"
