I have not seen the video, but the international media has been reporting this story for over 24 hours. I now see this story being reported on a couple of US media online sites. The New York Post is now reporting that in 1999, Vice President Biden’s daughter was arrested for drug possession and the Huffington Post is reporting that Ms. Biden was arrested for obstructing a police officer in Chicago, in 2002. The San Francisco Examiner is reporting that the same New York Post refused a $2 million dollar offer for the video.
“On the tape a man cuts up five lines of what is said to be cocaine,” Radar online reported.” The woman who the seller says is Ashley then jokes with the man that the lines aren’t big enough.
“The man hands her a rolled-up dollar bill and she proceeds to walk a few steps to a table where the cocaine is cut. She pulls her hair back, bends down and snorts a line.”
I have no idea, nor do I care if any of this is true, but I do have questions for the media:
I have spent the better part of my adult life interacting with politicians and on occasion with their families. It is an unforgiving life, especially for the spouses and children.
–
Update: I am now getting the impression that the criminal background of the adult Biden children were well known to the media. I respect the media’s decision to not disclose this information, but I cannot help but feel outrage that the underage children of Governor Palin were targets at the same time the decision was made not to report on the Biden’s.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
This administration better hurry up and legalize street drugs if they want to help out Biden’s family.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Kristofer,
New Palin AK numbers post-stimulus….they seem to be holding up.
Palin AK pre-stimulus
Overall: 61/33
Palin AK post-stimulus
http://www.haysresearch.com/OC032509.htm
Overall: 60/35
Very Postive: 35%
Positive: 25%
Negative: 14%
Very Negative: 21%
March 30th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
The link to the Palin AK pre-stimulus poll is here:
http://www.haysresearch.com/OC031309.htm
Didn’t link above because it would go into moderation….
March 30th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I do not care about the silly antics about Mr. Biden’s children anymore than I care about the antics of any other politician. All I know is that Mr. Biden himself is one of the biggest buffoons in America. With respect to Metro and his Suburban friends, if those Independent are too stupid to realize that Mrs. Palin is several times more intelligent that Mr. Biden than I fear our country is in more trouble than we realize. It is almost hillarious how the same people who mock Mr. Palin and her family fail to see that Mr. Biden is a total fool and is a disgrace to his office.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
“I respect the media’s decision to not disclose this information, but I cannot help but feel outrage that the underage children of Governor Palin were targets at the same time the decision was made not to report on the Biden’s”
This is the Democrat playbook. Never take a stand against any moral issue so you will never be called a hypocrite.
This is why the Republicans always get more coverage on the moral issues.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
#5, I would normally agree with you but….
It has been reported that Senator Biden coined the term, ‘drug czar’, and he has been a fierce critic of ‘drugs’…whatever that means.
Overall, this is very sad.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Tommy Boy, thank you for the polls. I am sure Aron will have them up on the front page very soon.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Kristofer,
If you crunch the numbers and assume a 90% favorable among the 26% of the Alaskan electorate who considers themselves born again white evangelical Christians (data from the 2008 AK exit poll), she’s still polling at almost 58% favorables among non-white born again evangelical Christians.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
#s 5 and 6,
The Dem vs. GOP argument morals might be applicable to candidates – but we’re talking about coverage of their kids. Ashley Biden and Bristol Palin are not political figures in themselves and have little or no role in issue debates. This is just about a pure, simple double standard on the issue of leaving kids alone.
That said, Biden has been a drug crusader – so in this case thhe argument that Dems can get away with drugs due to their moral stances would not apply here.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I agree Kristofer:
Wasn’t Obama himself a crackhead? Then what does it matter if the VP’s daughters snorts her nose candy? Heck, this will probably further her political career.
Seriously, those who are in power and in the media simple don’t care.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
“but we’re talking about coverage of their kids. Ashley Biden and Bristol Palin are not political figures in themselves and have little or no role in issue debates.” BINGO
Thank Tommy Boy for posting the Palin #s both on this site and on another site.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Thank should be Thank you.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
#10, I don’t think any of this should be reported, unless it directly impact the VP’s ability to govern.
They used Rudy’s children against him, they published the military unit information and deployment location of where’s McCain son was serving (in combat), they beat up (and still do) on a handicapped baby and a teeage girl, yet they protect the families of Democratic candidates.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Those sons of guns have no shame Kristofer, it is a bloody shame that more on our side do not get it.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Was Palin’s then-pregnant daughter the target, or was Sarah, herself, being exposed as a pro-abstinence hypocrite whose own family wasn’t practicing what she preached? Should it reflect negatively on the parenting and priorities of a politician if/when their teenage daughter drops out of high school, or her son has a longstanding behavioral problem with his temper? Obviously, no one was scrutinizing a newborn with Down syndrome. Legitimate questions were raised, however, by those concerned whether Palin, with a special needs infant, could also meet her time-consuming duties and responsibilities as vice president (not to mention, governor).
Agreed. Bernie Goldberg echoed those precise sentiments in my interview with him:
I don’t think reporters have any business delving into private lives of players — or politicians for that matter, if it doesn’t affect what they’re doing.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
It’s irrelevant on its own. The relevance is only in terms of the double standard — same as the Virgin of Guadalupe, Obama’s DVDs, and the reset button.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
#15, so you believe both Palin (abstinence) and Biden (drug-war Senator) both showed hypocracy, and thus, their children should be made examples of?
Do you believe that is was fair to focus on Rudy’s many infidelities and his ‘poisoned’ relationship with his children?
–
Aron, do you not find it sexist that Palin was questioned on her ability to balance work-life, but not Obama, who had two young children and a wife who worked?
And…with all due respect, you are omitting the slander and attacks that were made directly at the newborn, suggesting that his sister, was actually his mother.
That was disgusting….do you not agree?
March 30th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
“no one was scrutinizing a newborn with Down syndrome.” You miss the whole point Aron, the children of politicians should be seperate from the politicians themselves.
“Aron, do you not find it sexist that Palin was questioned on her ability to balance work-life, but not Obama, who had two young children and a wife who worked? ”
Bingo, it is funny how they miss the double standard.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
#18,
I still go back to when Governor Engler had triplets (making a total of four children), and continued to govern for 5-6 years, yet no one questioned him.
People who are ignorant to those double standards are just as sexist as those who knowlingly perpetrate misogynistic behaviour.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
#9 Adam
“The Dem vs. GOP argument morals might be applicable to candidates – but we’re talking about coverage of their kids. Ashley Biden and Bristol Palin are not political figures in themselves and have little or no role in issue debates. This is just about a pure, simple double standard on the issue of leaving kids alone.”
Agreed. But the Democrats could never concede this.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
The children? Absolutely not. The hypocritical parents who pander to prospective voters on those specific issues? Most certainly.
No, because there was no evidence of his private life adversely affecting his job performance as mayor. If it was impairing his ability to function properly on the job, then it should definitely be fair game. Furthermore, it was irrelevant where Rudy was concerned because he never, hypocritically, advanced the Catholic church’s position in condemning divorce. Nor did he ever attack political opponents who committed adultery, or had strained relations with their kids.
That sounds like a bit of a red herring. I don’t know of any reporter questioning Palin’s ability to raise Piper and Willow as VP. The focus was almost exclusively on Trig, whose nursing needs and special care as a newborn could not be fully met by a father, especially one whose own job requirements took him away from the family for prolonged stretches of time.
Of course that was disgusting, and without any merit. And that is why I ignored Andrew Sullivan’s absurd accusations. The slanderous charges and attacks were made directly at Sarah, not Trig or Bristol. It was the mother, not the newborn, who was being wrongly accused of lying about her own pregnancy. For the record, I do not recall any MSM sources running with those tabloid trash allegations.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I thought the children were ‘off limits’. Can’t have it both ways.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Ohio,
I don’t hold Biden (or any democrate) to a higher or lower standard than Palin. ALL need to find out that families come first. If that means you don’t get to do your ‘career’ because of the issues in your family, so be it.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
#21, Salon Newsweek CNN People CBS4Denver NBCPhilly MSNBC
Aron, everyone.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Tommyboy.
A poll of under 400 people is not a true reflection of what is happening on the ground there. I’ve been doing a lot of reading from a lot of sourses. She’s not as popular as your numbers seem to indicate. And we just learned from the NPR poll, that polls can be manulipated.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
#25, she has remained in ‘landslide’ territory.
And btw, 500 voters in Alaska means: 1 our of 50 voters were polled….and that makes it as accurate as possible,
March 30th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Knickers,
Governor Palin favored for re-election
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2009/02/28/11/DRC_Press_Release_Palin_2_25__2_.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
“By a wide margin (56% to 37%), Anchorage residents report Sarah Palin deserves re-election as
governor in 2010.”
Since McCain and Stevens both ran about six points ahead of the numbers they received in Anchorage, we can infer that if this question was posed to all Alaskan residents, that 63% would report Sarah Palin deserves re-election as governor in 2010.
Of course you could argue that the poll I have cited to above is dated from January 28-February 5th and a lot has happened since then…however, the Hays Research polls that I have cited to above show no significant change to her favorables/unfavorables on November 2nd, 2008 to March 25, 2009.
What are your sources, hahahah?
March 30th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
The November 2nd poll that I cited to in post 27 can be found here (didn’t post above to avoid moderation):
http://www.haysresearch.com/OC102308.htm
As you can see, she was at 63/33 on November 2nd, 2008. The most recent poll that I have cited to in earlier posts show her at 60/35 (coming after her stimulus announcement)…not a significant change in my opinion.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Kris,
Can you please provide a link from CNN, CBS, NBC or Newsweek? If so, I will stand corrected.
I do not consider Salon or People to be MSM sources. I would also exclude anything from Olbermann, Matthews, Maddow or Shuster at MSNBC as news with journalistic integrity.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
#29, no problem..
CNN Investigating Palin Daughter Pregnancy
9/1/08 | cp124
Posted on Monday, September 01, 2008 7:20:12 PM by cp124
Wolf Blitzer went to his female reporter in Alaska investigating the Palin pregnancy. They were there to investigate whether Trig was the daughters child and this came out today. She said she was also their to investigate the “trooper gate” scandal. She went back to Wolfie and Bill Bennett said this was disgusting and pretty low, even for CNN. He was pretty mad and looked like he wanted to pop Wolfie. Donna Brazil said it was a personal matter, but ok to investigate.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Kris,
What you posted is an unsourced blog entry on Free Republic that went up on their site the same day the nation learned that Palin’s daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant.
The writer of this, without so much as a legitimate news or youtube link to substantiate his claim, asserts in his headline: ‘CNN Investigating Palin Daughter Pregnancy’, and says that CNN was “there to investigate whether Trig was the daughter’s child and this (the announcement of Bristol’s pregnancy) came out today.” That’s utter nonsense. Because Trig was born (April 18) when Bristol was already pregnant, the absurd allegation was biologically impossible. I have no doubt that Bill Bennett was upset because, instead of covering the RNC, already squeezed out of a day’s coverage by Gustav, they were spending so much time focusing on the ‘news’ of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy, but it wasn’t because the network was running with a ludicrous conspiracy theory.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Sorry to doubt your number, but Landslide for Palin .. Doubt it. The people have tee shirts and buttons over there that say ‘Where’s Sarah?’. Meaning, she’s not playing gov as much as she’s trying to play candidate. Neither are working for her.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I doubt the numbers. I have been doing the reading, and find her becoming a very unpopular gov!
March 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Sources? About as credible as yours are! We’ve learned in the past week how credible polls really are! But, I do talk to folks in AK, I read their newspapers, and their comments section as well. ADN has a good one. I use that as a bell weather. It seems to be more relibable about what the pulse of that state is.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I think for accurate coverage of US News, I’m going to have to start reading the international section of the British papers…
March 30th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Knickers,
I’ll go really slowly for you…..the polls that I have cited for you are scientific polls. The NPR Mock Tournament and CPAC Straw Poll are unscientific polls, meaning that they are essentially useless from a scientific polling perspective.
Am I going slowly enough for you? I’ll try again…scientific polling: good, unscientific polling: useless.
Scientific polls, especially when three scientific polls say the same thing, are almost always accurate or close to accurate.
I’ll try to ignore the argument that you just seemed to advance: are you really arguing that a comments board section is representative of the general public? I’ll let you take back that comment before you expose yourself further as a complete idiot.
I usually don’t charge for polling classes and tutorials, so come back anytime.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
“I think for accurate coverage of US News, I’m going to have to start reading the international section of the British papers…” Unfortunately, I’ll have to agree with that.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
This is why we lose, we simply have more class then our opposition, they play to win at any cost, and it’s effective.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Aron, It is not unsourced.
I will send you links on Facebook. I am not posting that BS on this site.
I did not want to post it on here. I have links that show MSM printing Sullivan’s articles and local news covering this story. I also have the CBC special report which of course, reaches million of Americans along the boarder.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
39, You’re now against posting BS on this site?
March 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I still don’t understand why in the world obama picked biden??? i’d guess the ted kennedy crowd thought it was a neat idea and pushed hard for that pick but come 2012, my advice to obama would be dump biden as veep. As for his kid, she needs to go to rehab pronto and folks should respect her privacy.
March 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
#37, it is really very sad, There seems to be more of a balance in the UK between right and left publications.
Although the BBC is still run by socialist labour-party wacko’s!
March 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Martha,
I refuse to post Andrew Sullivan on this site.
March 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Aron, I started to send you links on FB…will do so over the next 30 minutes.
March 30th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
43 – Keller videos are okay, though?
March 30th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
#45. Yes.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Coke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx2P4ZGXW9Y
March 31st, 2009 at 1:00 am
Kris,
The closest thing you presented that, journalistically, was arguably objectionable from an MSM source in America (VF, CBC, FP don’t count) was CNN marginally lending credence to Sullivan’s batshit claims, by cross-posting his Atlantic article under the skeptical headline: Why not release Trig Palin’s birth record?
And while Washington Post media critic, Howard Kurtz, aired Andrew’s argument, perhaps unnecessarily, by no means did he share Sullivan’s skepticism; and the paper’s news department sure as hell didn’t run with the baseless rumours.
I wrote earlier that I did not recall any MSM sources running with those tabloid trash allegations.
After looking at all of the links you provided, I am glad to see that I recalled correctly.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:50 am
“Why not release Trig Palin’s birth record?”
Don’t make me laugh, the same people who do not want to realize Mr. Obama’s records. Quit grasping at draws and use some logic.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Aron, read the final message I sent you. It was discussed in a major Time article.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Whoa,
I’m hearing the video was a fake. O’Reilly did a segment questioning the authenticity of this video. He even bleeped out the allegations.
Any update on this?