The Mother Of All Irony: Playboy Magazine Targets The Daily Bail. We Stand Accused Of Having Fake Boobs
PLAYBOY HAS PULLED THE ARTICLE FROM THEIR WEBSITE AND ISSUED A PRIVATE APOLOGY TO THE DAILY BAIL.
The link below no longer works but I found a link with the original Playboy article cached in its entirety. It seems they not only didn't do their research on us, but they failed even to establish the basic thesis of their article. We assume that Santelli and FreedomWorks and perhaps others have filed a lawsuit for slander. One day you're a hero and the next day a liar. Marc Ames and Yasha Levine, get used to it.
Below is my original article.
I step away from the site for 24 hours and all hell breaks loose. Consider for a moment the succulent irony of Playboy magazine accusing someone else of being fake. Thanks for that collective moment as you become me for a second. I found out tonight that Playboy wrote about us yesterday. And we didn't get a happy ending. (last sex pun.)
It's the lead story on the Playboy Blog. It's a conspiracy-soaked read about Rick Santelli and the organizations loosely aligned behind the Chicago Tea Party. Writers Mark Ames and Yasha Levine did some mundane research and pieced together a decent story. There's only one problem, everything they wrote about us is completely incorrect. The writers tossed us under the bus as they headed to conclusion, simply because of our support for Santelli and the various tea party protests.
Laughably, the authors believe that we're part of a shadowy, right-wing conspiracy creating fake websites to influence public opinion. It specifically accuses us of being an 'astroturf' website, part of an imitation grassroots campaign to advance the corporate interests of the Koch family and others. The accusation might actually bother me if it weren't so comical. Had the writers bothered to contact me before going to press, they would have learned a few things about me politically and personally that would have kept The Daily Bail out of the mud.
I have responded to the authors privately:
Mark and Yasha,
What do they say about controversy when you're fighting for a cause, that any publicity is good publicity. Your article will test that theory for us, because you skewered us and you couldn't have been more wrong. Couldn't you at least have tried to contact me before lumping us into a right-wing conspiracy? You did absolutely no research on us beyond reading our Santelli articles. Nice job.
You made a mistake by lumping The Daily Bail in with these groups. We are an independent news site and categorically non-political. Though my opinions might sometimes coincide with one side or the other, I am not a member or fan of either political party. Bailout politics make for strange bed-fellows and the goal is to stop the giveaway not to solve our differences. Liberals, conservatives, libertarians and political drop-outs are all welcomed here. We are equal-opportunity revolutionaries.
As I said, I do not listen to talk radio or participate on any political websites. As a trader and private-client money manager, I'm completely focused on the markets and financial news. I really am just one person trying to make a difference. It might sound corny but it's the truth. My background in journalism was in radio and then at CNN Moneyline before becoming a sell-side equities analyst for a top-tier investment bank. Yes, I've been on the inside and know first-hand the sleaze that goes on at these joints.
My personal politics are simple and very non-radical: I'm a fiscal conservative and social liberal. I believe in a smaller federal government, fiscal sanity, and I support tolerance for all people and lifestyles. I am disgusted by both political parties and belong to neither.
I believe the bailouts are nothing short of generational rape. Particularly the bank bailouts, plus Fannie, Freddie and AIG. I believe Henry Paulson is a criminal. Both for his role in creating this crisis in 2004 with the SEC rule change that allowed leverage to expand, as well as his decision to bailout AIG so that Goldman Sachs (his former firm from whom he received a $600 million tax-free severance in 2006) would be protected.
Read the following story for more on Paulson's role in this crisis: Rule Bending Banking Bastards
Considering my views, I doubt the John Birchers or any other right-wing factions would claim me as you suggest. And I'd sooner lose my middle nut than be associated with either side. We are a completely independent news site focusing on stopping the goddamned bailouts, with absolutely no political affiliation. And we have received no funding from any source besides my wallet.
Please examine things from my perspective. I have one goal which is to help galvanize public opinion against the taxpayer bailouts of private failure. Period.
Feb 28, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Reader Comments (69)
Best humor on the board all day.
I agree the 'threat' claim by Santelli and then explained as a 'feeling' his wife got from watching the press conference' was complete BS. There was never any threat, implied or otherwise.
"This is some hilarious shit you got going on. The Playboy writers left out one important detail, this site basically attacks everybody. I guess they missed that."
100% agree with you.
@BotKilla
"Consider it as more evidence that your blog is being noticed by a lot of people. I did a search and found this article from CNN from this week that gives you special mention. Word is getting around. Congrats."
Too true. That this blog is getting enough traffic to draw the ire of bailout supporters and banking apologistas alike in the mainstream is evidence enough that word is spreading and your goal of "[helping] galvanize public opinion against the taxpayer bailouts of private failure" is working. I doubt you are going to receive a personal shout out from Robert Gibbs anytime soon, but congratulations are in order. Huzzah!
"The whole thing is getting tired, but obviously it's okay to rant against bailouts and such until you start ranting against one that goes to help homeowners ..."
Please refrain from incorrectly labeling anyone who holds a mortgage loan on a property a "homeowner". A homeowner is someone who has paid for a property in full at the sale or who has paid off the mortgage loan completely and now holds title unencumbered. Just b/c the MSM uses it to condition the rest of us sheeple doesn't mean you should.
Practically speaking, recent home-debtors are highly leveraged, and more akin to high-school Starbuck's baristas on lease-to-buy plans for exotic sports/luxury cars. Rather than renting from landlords, they are renting from the banks.
Ignore that last comment of mine. I see your whole post was a quote. My point still stands though.
To those still unconvinced:
Bloggers want to be read, and when the opportunity comes along to latch onto a popular current event that aligns with your own sentiments, you latch. And you hope that you get increased traffic so that people will read more of your stuff (and it doesn't necessarily work out that way, am I right?). Let's be honest too, posting video is easier than writing. But what happened next? Not even in your wildest dreams....
Just try to enjoy the ride, and I commend you for posting your accusers.
Sorry, I just can't stop laughing
THANK YOU and NEVER stop!
Good post. I totally agree with your thoughts. I have heard similar chuckles from employers when they hear from employees they are saddled with mortgage debt. It's probably a good idea not to broadcast the mortgage loan to friends and colleagues. They are much less likely to lend you a buck and you lose all leverage in work compensation negotiations.
I can promise you it felt bizarre to be accused of being in a nefarious network with individuals and groups of which I had never heard.
As for the Playboy pull, I wish they would offer a public apology instead, for the remaining readers who think we might be associated.
To all those who believed in me, thanks.
And to my critics who actually believed I was part of a nefarious network of right-wing astroturf sites, get your heads examined for tinfoil.
And special thanks to Barry Ritholz of The Big Picture for posting my response yesterday. It means a lot that you stood up for me.
One day you're a hero and the next day a liar. Marc Ames and Yasha Levine, I hope you get fired and end up being forced to snort worms for the rest of your days. Thanks for ruining my weekend, you bastards.
All in one link. http://sqworl.com/?i=d9971a
That they have been smeared over the years for taking principled stands - against communism, against war, against global government, against bailouts, against big government should be to their credit.