Robert Parry: 'Cone of Silence' Caper reminiscent of 1980-Carter's debate book stolen

[babylonsister]

Someone learned from history?

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/081808.html

McCain's 'Cone of Silence' Caper

By Robert Parry
August 18, 2008

snip//

If McCain did get pre-briefed on what questions to expect, it would be reminiscent of the presidential debate in 1980 when someone from Ronald Reagan’s campaign stole President Jimmy Carter’s debate briefing book and allegedly used it to coach Reagan’s responses.

********************************************************
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E0DD103BF932A05753C1A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=11

snip//

After the Republican convention, the Reagan campaign hired Baker as an adviser, and Gergen was assigned, along with fellow Bush alumnus Frank Hodsoll, to the task of preparing the candidate's briefing books for the Presidential debates. He thus became party to the most infamous episode of the 1980 campaign -- the appropriation by members of the Reagan camp of the briefing papers prepared by President Jimmy Carter's staff for the campaign's first and only debate.

Gergen says today that he has "a vague memory" of receiving the Carter material, which he remembers giving to Hodsoll. But he claims that the material consisted of "a summary of what Carter had said publicly and public documents." He says he "was not aware that the material was stolen; it could have been leaked by some disgruntled person in the Carter camp." And anyway, he says, "We didn't really use the stuff."

But a 2,413-page report of the House Subcommittee on Human Resources, which investigated the "Debategate" affair in 1984, contradicts Gergen. The report concluded that the Reagan campaign had "obtained foreign policy and national defense briefing papers prepared to assist President Carter," that the papers were the "property of the Federal Government . . . likely taken from the offices of the National Security Council" and that the materials obtained "were not publicly available." It also found that the Carter papers "were used . . . to enhance Governor Reagan's performance in the debates. The persons using these papers were aware that they were using Carter debate briefing materials."

more...

[FrenchieCat]

1. Why Am I not impressed with Gergen?

Gergen says today that he has "a vague memory" of receiving the Carter material, which he remembers giving to Hodsoll. But he claims that the material consisted of "a summary of what Carter had said publicly and public documents." He says he "was not aware that the material was stolen; it could have been leaked by some disgruntled person in the Carter camp."

And anyway, he says, "We didn't really use the stuff." :shrug:

[blm]

2. Gergen has always worked for fascist agenda. Before 2004 he called Bush's character 'sterling' and

I never believed another word from his mouth. I also know better now about the Dems Gergen 'served'under the mask of bi-partisanship. Fascism IS bi-partisan, just heavily tilted to the right.

[babylonsister]

3. My first thought, too. Take whatever he says with a huge grain of

salt. We don't really know what his agenda is, while 'trying' to appear fair and balanced. :eyes: