Susan Goldberg, Editor of PeeDee in Shitstorm Scramble

Yeehaw! We got Susan Goldberg scramblin' and spinnin' her wheels like mad. From an email from Jeff.

Tonight Cleveland Plain Dealer Editor Susan Goldberg has sent out emails about the situation that contains a critical factual error. Goldberg says that the Plain Dealer "didn't bow to any political pressure" because "had we known that he had contributed to the opponent of a person he was writing about, we wouldn't have hired him in the first place."

First, I have never written about Rep. Steve LaTourette at the Plain Dealer blog "Wide Open," not even once. My only writing about LaTourette was on my own blog long before "Wide Open" started in September 2007.

Second, at least two of the other bloggers involved in Wide Open have contributed to candidates - for confirmation as to one see here. They have not been fired.

Third, I have contributed to other candidates, but only my contribution to LaTourette's opponent seems to be an issue.

This event was clearly, unequivocally caused by LaTourette's pressure.

So now Susan Goldberg, Editor of the PeeDee, is trying to act like they didn't just get caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

The PeeDee is trying to act like their good buddy LaTourette didn't spark this issue - even though political contributions have only become an issue with Jeff Coryell's employment at the PeeDee? I dunno, maybe it's just me, but yanking a reporter at the request of a Congressman seems to be the definition of "bowing to political pressure." Heads up Suzy. Pathetic. Leave the spinning your buddy LaTourette, Suzy.

And aside from Republican David Stacy who's political contributions were not called into question (because Steve LaTourette didn't have a problem with him), I'm curious how many other PeeDee reporters, editors and publishers have made political contributions. It'd be nice if the PeeDee could provide us some information on all of that too. I'm sure they've taken steps to ensure those folks promise never to write about those politicians, for fear of termination, too.

The PeeDee's credibility is slipping lower and lower by the minute. And now the paper's main editor is trying to make everything alright. Classic.

UPDATE: I'm including Jeff's full post from the Ohio Daily Blog because I think it's essential to really see how big of a lie (in my oppinion) in which Susan Goldberg has caught herself.

Here are emails sent out by Cleveland Plain Dealer Editor Susan Goldberg tonight, regarding my firing earlier today.

First:

We didn't bow to any political pressure. Had we known that he had contributed to the opponent of a person he was writing about, we wouldn't have hired him in the first place. Once we learned of the issue, we asked him not to write about the congressman he opposed. When he refused, we decided that we couldn't pay him any longer to blog for us. That said, he is of course welcome (along with every other blogger in the universe) to say whatever he wants about anyone he wants. But the standards are our's - not imposed on us by any outsiders. We, and everyone else, continue to wade into this, learning new things every step of the way.

This is nonsense. At least two of the other bloggers involved in Wide Open have contributed to candidates - for confirmation as to one see here. They did not get fired.

I have contributed to other candidates, but only my contribution to LaTourette's opponent seems to be an issue.

In WHAT ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE did anyone at the PD think that a political blogger would not have contributed to political candidates?

Second:

i don't expect them to be unpartisan. we hired them because they have strong views. but i don't think that someone who is actively supporting a candidate with financial contributions can be using our platform (officially, because we are paying him) to slam the other candidate. That crosses a line for us....

WRONG. I have not written a single word about LaTourette at "Wide Open." Not one. I haven't written about him on my own blog since "Wide Open" started, either ... I simply have not had occasion to do that.

I have not been going out of my way to write about LaTourette, and I never "slammed him" on the Cleveland Plain Dealer site.