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Obama aide quits after making 'monster' gibe against Hillary Clinton

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Published Date: 07 March 2008
AN AIDE to US presidential candidate Barack Obama has quit the campaign after branding Hillary Clinton a "monster" in an interview with The Scotsman.
Samantha Power made the remark in an interview with Scotsman political correspondent Gerri Peev.
"She is a monster, too – that is off the record – she is stooping to anything," she told the newspaper.

"Here, it looks like desperation. I hope it looks like desperation there, too."

Robert Gibbs, Obama's communications director, said: "She made the decision to resign and we accepted it."

In a statement issued following publication of The Scotsman story, Ms Power said her comments "do not reflect my feelings about Senator Clinton, whose leadership and public service I have long admired" as she apologised to both Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama.

"I should not have made these comments, and I deeply regret them," she said.

"It is wrong for anyone to pursue this campaign in such negative and personal terms."

More on this story in Saturday's Scotsman

The full article contains 174 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 10 March 2008 8:42 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Barack Obama , US elections
 
1

,

07/03/2008 18:00:39
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

YKMB,

Washington DC 07/03/2008 18:09:21
Is anyone else appalled that she made this comment *off the record* and yet it was still publicized?

It's a shame she had to step down. Nice ethics, Scotsman.
3

Nathan17,

Eugene, Oregon, USA 07/03/2008 18:10:01
Congratulations to the Scotsman for publishing off-the-record remarks that led to the resignation of Samantha Power. You and your "reporter" have now won your 15 minutes of international fame. Samantha Power has been tremendously intelligent and tireless in her work against genocide and for a new kind of U.S. foreign policy--and now she will be less effective in the presidential campaign. You have your fame and your glory. I hope that your future interviewees all take note of the character of your reporters and your newspaper.
4

,

07/03/2008 18:15:31
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
5

Kentucky Woman,

Kentucky 07/03/2008 18:16:52
We need to trust in our Government. We need to trust that the American people come first. We need to know that our president will not be impeached for past criminal acts. We need to know our President will not be impeached for future criminal acts. This country has too many problems ( the war and the economy ) to work on. We don't need a president with this kind of baggage. If this is out there from a past Senate race God only knows what has been done for the presidential race. We deserve better.

See for yourself. www.hillcap.org

P.S. A friend gave this site to me please make sure other voters see this clip.
6

FrancesP,

07/03/2008 18:21:30
"I hope that your future interviewees all take note of the character of your reporters" - you mean the sort of 'character' that won't allow some political figure to browbeat you into retrospectively treating an on the record comment as off the record because it might look bad for them? Yes, whatever happened to journalistic standards?

Personally, I'm more interested in accuracy and balance in a newspaper, than hushing up the stupid mistakes of someone like Samantha Power.
7

Christopher Perkins,

France 07/03/2008 18:27:12
Many might think the editor of the Scotsman is mischief-making in publishing remarks which are acknowledged to be 'off the record' thereby bringing about the resignation of so eminent an advisor. In so doing, I suggest that the paper demeans itself if not the nation. Off the record of course, I think the man's a vieux con.
8

Waiguoren,

Beijing, China 07/03/2008 18:29:51
Previously I'd had the notion that The Scotsman was a serious newspaper, not some cheap rag intent on making sales at the expense of ruining people's reputations and careers.

"Off the record," thanks for clearing up my misconception. Cheap, vicious rag it is. I don't care at all whether Clinton or Obama wins the nomination, but there's zero excuse for so-called "journalism" of this sort. Utterly vile. You owe Powers, Obama, Clinton, and the world an apology.
9

iodine,

07/03/2008 18:36:52
I really did not expect to read such from the Obama camp, I really thought he wanted us to believe that he was a mister goody two shoes guy who was totally above the fray, and would never stoop so low as to tarnish his rival.
Well now we learn that Obama is no different than any othe politician.NO CHANGE HERE. SO WHY NOT JUST VOTE FOR HILLARY AND GET REAL CHANGE LIKE FROM MEN TO A WOMEN.
10

anthea,

seattle wa 07/03/2008 18:37:32
kennedy191406 - It would be interesting to see how you would *prove* any of the slanderous invective in your post - other than your avowed hatred, which is in any case irrelevant. And no one who would vote for John McCain, for any reason whatsoever other than to prevent a *worse* form of Republican from gaining the office, has any right to call himself a Democrat. (I use the masculine as I deduce, from the tone of your comments, that you couldn't *possibly* be female - unless you are a more virulent form of dyke than anything you accuse Ms Clinton of being. As a female and a bisexual myself, I find your use of "lezbo" as a derogatory term offensive in the extreme.)

I am indeed appalled at off-the-record comments being published in violation of the confidentiality that Ms Power obviously expected. However, I am infinitely *more* appalled at the nature of the comments themselves. If her judgment is no better than to voice something so inflammatory to a journalist, then she got what she deserved - a hard lesson in discretion. I am personally disgusted by politicians and their flunkies not being able to campaign on the candidates' own merits rather than by mud-slinging at their opponents - especially when they are members of the same party, ostensibly with the same goals and ideals. Faugh.
11

matt2222,

Kentucky, USA 07/03/2008 18:41:51
As a journalist and someone who has studied media ethics, I believe The Scotsman did nothing wrong here. You cannot just say "I meant that to be off the record" after already saying it, just like you cannot tell a reporter what to write. "Off the record" is just a way for journalists to find sensitive information without putting their source in jeopardy.

Journalists are supposed to try their best not to take comments out of context, but considering this woman's other quotes, she meant exactly what she said.

Also, it is worthy news when someone who could become an advisor to the president is calling another politician a monster. However, the bigger issue is her talking about people in Ohio being obsessed. Is this woman really that big of an idiot? Doesn't she realize that if they win the nomination they will need the support of Ohio in the general election?
12

Sgurr,

07/03/2008 18:42:15
This is merely another Scottish National Party bungle. Scottish Nationalism is badly damaged. Oh wait....the Scotsman is doing a political story that disnae involve slagging off the SNP...how odd.

~Saor Alba~
13

Sgurr,

07/03/2008 18:44:53
...incidently, Obama isn't a card-carrying member of the SNP is he? This would explain their actions in this story.
14

Lee Bryant,

here 07/03/2008 18:54:32
You should be ashamed of yourselves for publishing an off-the-record remark and causing one of the best hopes for US foreign policy to resign and damaging the Obama campaign.

For a local rag to impact on an issue of international importance like this is very sad. I just hope that at some point Scotland needs friends in an Obama government and you live to regret these petty actions.

So much for Scotland being above the gutter press of England - at least we nailed that myth.

Pathetic.
15

sandra wallace,

USA 07/03/2008 18:59:44
I'm a Scot living in the USA. I'm ashamed of my country's press - this was clealy of the record and the Scotsman ought to be ashamed. The reporter in question should be asked to resign. Good luck Samantha. I'm so sad that Sen Obama has lost such an asset. Oh, and by the way "monster" was tame - I'm more with Barbara Bush Clinton is something that rhymes with rich.
16

Stu_R_20,

Edinburgh 07/03/2008 19:00:00
#14
I wouldn't take the Scotsman as anything more than gutter press.
I'd love to know how many Americans joined the site in the last 24hrs in order to comment on this revelation.

Anyone but Hillary for president 08!
17

pops.2nd,

Wisconsin, USA 07/03/2008 19:10:56
I would suggest that you update your incorrect headline that MS Powers' remarks were made during an interview with your reporter ....... the remarks were made after the interview was declared over ...... you are compounding your poor editorial judgement by this misrepresentation of the facts ......
18

Oor_Wullie,

ma_sick_bucket 07/03/2008 19:13:24
@11 - You Sir, are talking nonsense - the Headline and Article consisted of nothing other than the "monster" quote, a single remark which this "Newspaper" saw fit to inflate for all it was worth. Which actually wasnt very much either (Todays Headline! - Somebody Calls Hilary "A Monster!!!"), but nevermind.

"Ethics" is not even the question here, more one of how, in the name of God, it can possibly prove to be in the Public Interest for one gutter-scrape-for-an-exclusive rag to get an otherwise blameless aide fired by printing in Headline Type *one* off-the-cuff remark that was even at the time immediately withdrawn?

When we all have to resign for calling a boss or rival or colleague "a monster" in a *private* momentary remark, then, be a few of us looking for new jobs shortly. Thankfully, the majority of us dont have to deal with Scotsman "journalists" and "editors" in day-to-day life, otherwise, that which crawls under our feet would demand so much attention, we may well forget that which flies over our heads otherwise.

Shabby, Shabby behaviour and a new low in Scottish Journalism, all for nout, end of.
19

Free Tempe,

Arizona, USA 07/03/2008 19:16:45
Is the reporter who published this "off the record" remark going to the honorable thing and resign as well? Or does this "newspaper" have any ethics at all?
20

Peter Edward,

Cambridge 07/03/2008 19:28:11
I am very happy to go on the record that I am appalled by this story. Frankly the content of the story is trivial in the scale of the US election. In a few days the resignation will be a non-story.

But printing off-the-record comments is unforgivable. Acknowledging that it was off-the-record is no excuse, if anything it only makes it harder for the interviewee to defend herself against the Scotsman's unforgivable behaviour.

Anyone who is used to gathering inside information should know the importance of respecting the off-the-record quote. If the Scotsman was only jeopardizing its own reputation that would be one thing. But this breach of confidence undermines access to truth for all of us. A very sad day for civilized society. Personally I think the resignation needed is that of the Scotsman's editor and the journalists who gathered this story. They are the real deceivers in this by not honouring their commitments to their interviewee.
21

Simon18,

Austria 07/03/2008 19:31:28
congrats! i wonder who's ever going to agree to an interview about controversial topics with this trustworthy newspaper again.
22

esther-johns,

Boston 07/03/2008 19:32:13
The Irish star, Samantha Power shame on you. The Clintons played a undisputable crucial role in Ireland's peace process. Samantha Power is an ungrateful, and disgraceful person. It is not so much of what Clinton has or has not done for you, but it is very low for a high profile person with Ivy League education to use a street language. Again, shame on you Samantha Power
23

Roybot,

USA 07/03/2008 19:40:24
Never heard of this website before, wont remember it in 15 minutes. Just wanted to say its sad that reporters have so little integrity, at least for this site. Off the record means off the record. Enjoy your days worth of traffic. And if Mister Scott comes back to life to run as engineer for the enterprise, I'm not going to vote for him either.
24

Bryden,

Los Angeles 07/03/2008 19:40:24
That was clever, unbelievable, now as a Scotsman living in the USA I have to convince my friends here that not all Scottish are as ******* clueless as this reporter.
25

Madbagpypr,

Stornaway 07/03/2008 19:41:18
Who cares? Puir bit Yanks. They can vote for Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend's bitter wife, a man who asked to be sworn in using the Koran because his dad is Islamic or someone who seems to have half a brain (no doubt grafted from the pompous little Antichrist who's in the White House now) but want's to continue throwing lives away in Viet...Iraq.
Not much of a choice.
Eventually though the yanks will be breeded out and everyone will speak Spanish, and sell drugs. Everyone will collect unemployment insurance or welfare or Social Security that they didn't earn and petrol will be unaffordable and there will be a swarm of locusts and a plague of frogs, a fire will rain down....

It's like watching the Fall of Rome, ins't it?
26

Andrew Chapman,

Newcastle upon Tyne, England 07/03/2008 19:44:19
If you read the original article there is a helpful explanation towards the end about off the record comments. Basically, as one would expect, an off the record agreement has to be made in advance. In this case, the comments were made in an on the record interview, so there is no strong reason why the Scotsman should not have published them.
27

J McAllister,

Vancouver 07/03/2008 19:46:50
I don't give a hoot about the prior agreement about on the record stuff...this is scumbaggery of the highest order from The Scotsman. Disgusting journalism.
28

Jock MacSprog,

Embra 07/03/2008 19:53:17
if you agree to an "on the record interview" you cant then in mid interview select which comments you want to be on and off the record. One would have thought that this supposedly highly intelligent, power woman would know that. Also, as an unpaid volunteer, how does one quit ? Obama has had a free ride up until now. He has existed soley upon superficial platitudes and detail free Jesse Jackson like motivational, preacher type speaches. He is like every other politician, single minded about one thing... himself, his career and getting elected. Now that he and his wife and those who have been supporting him financially are open to more scrutiny its going to be a slightly different show. I could care less as both he and Hillary are liberal, socialist, tax and spend types who essentially would do the exact same thing if elected.
29

Grahamski,

Falkirk 07/03/2008 19:54:31
Presumably Ms Power would have been horrified if the Scotsman had used her 'off the record' pronouncements to form a negative opinion of Ms Clinton?
No, I didn't think so, if Ms Power is going to play dirty then hell mend her...
30

Sgurr,

07/03/2008 19:57:48
#25 :D A Plague of frogs!!! :)

How's Steòrnabhagh tonight?!
A wee bit on the windy and rainy side, i've nae doubt.

As for this rag - they've shown, internationally, what a kak rag they are. As usual, only their Labour-supporting numpties are in agreement. I'm gutted that its called "the scotsman" because it in no way represent what the majority are about.
31

hagedorn,

Denver, CO 07/03/2008 20:00:19
Congrats to the Scotsman! Powers is an idiot. I've seen her on TV and she's a real dumbass. Totally leftest and out of touch with reality. There's is no off the record. One would think she would know this by now. But better now she shows her pea-size, Chavez butt-kissing brain, then when Obama gets elected and shows the world Obama's true inexperience. Congrats to the Scotsman!! And she's only met Obama twice. Ain't no senior advisor like she wants everybody to believe. Clinton-Obama in 08!!!
32

DonaldK,

Brussels 07/03/2008 20:05:57
I would put journalists and politicians in the same boat - preferably with an iceberg fast approaching on the starboard bow. Having said that, it's a dog eat dog world and it's no use these Obama evangelistas starting to wail and gnash their teeth when the their candidate picks up a bit of slime/ sleaze as he tries to sail silently on to picking up the nomination. That comes with the job - it's the airhead speeches he gives that try to convince people he's above such behaviour that could prove to be his downfall. If he was prepared to get down in the mud and wrestle like a true politician then people would have something to believe in and some confidence that he could be president. I'm not surprised it's being reported he's cutting down on gathering large crowds for his speeches and going for round table discussions instead - sometimes in the campaign up to now you can't tell the difference between him and Billy Graham from the way the crowd gets hysterical any time he utters the word 'hope'.
33

Stephen H Campbell,

Boston 07/03/2008 20:06:35
No doubt a silly mistake by Samantha Power. Having been a journalist she should know better. On the other hand, it will make US thought leaders think twice about speaking to Scotsman reporters in the future. Does "off the record" not mean anything in Scottish journalism?

Samantha Power is a voice for humanity in a country that is consumed by its own military power. As a Scot who has been away from Scotland for some years I had the impression that Scotland also stood up for humanity, for those who do not get a voice. Reporting these "off the record" comments might have gotten some short-term attention, but is unprofessional and out of character.

Or am I just out of touch?
34

sad "poor lady named janet" from alabama,

alabama USA 07/03/2008 20:06:49
i had posted a comment last night. It was in no way negative about either obama nor hillary. I stated that i was totally offended by Powers and that she attacked voters of a certain economic and social class. I am one of those voters, I stated that her Harvard degree did not do her well and her tuition was wasted. I have more common sense in my little toe than she does in big mouth.
35

abarefootboy,

United States of America 07/03/2008 20:07:31
Powers is brilliant. Scotland blew it.
What exactly does 'off the record' mean in Scotland anyway ?

I think the reporter should be fired.

Well Scotland .. you just got your 15 minutes of fame .. but at the expense of Obama losing a brilliant, foreign policy advisor.

Look around and see if you can help get another Republican elected President in the USA and thereby destroy the world just a little more.

36

J. P. ,

Gainesville, FL USA 07/03/2008 20:12:02
I am SHOCKED and NOT AWED!!

I think your reporter, Geri Peev, was TOTALLY UNJUSTITIED in saying that Ms. Power's comment was NOT OFF THE RECORD, when Samantha cleared stated it was, and is quoted as saying "that's off the record". I think Mr. Peev should be ashamed. He has ruined Samantha Power's career and tarnished Barack's Obama' reputation, all because this lady was trying to let him know what was really going on with the Hillary campaign. SHAME ON YOU. I expect more out of the papers and reporters in the UK - but this could land you a job at FOX NEWS!

Maybe the next time you ask to interview someone, you should preface the interview with "anything you say can and will be used against you"! I'll bet Samantha will never talk to the press again!

THE EDITOR SHOULD ASK PEEV TO STEP DOWN!!!!!!!!
37

abarefootboy,

07/03/2008 20:12:49
Well .. looks like the right wing scumbags of Scotland joined up with the right wing sumbags of Canada to try and swing the American election towards the Corporate Candidate.

Scotland just stained itself.
38

richardstack,

new haven ct usa 07/03/2008 20:18:04
Maybe one has to be something of a monster to do the things that one's advisors suggest in a US campaign ?

Why has there been no "contextualization" of this obviously smart MS Power's comments ?

In what SENSE can Hillary (and, no doubt Barack) be described as a monster ? This is, after all, what we read the paper to find out, not to see some gotcha idiotic blurt, such as we all might make in an off-moment, transposed to a world screen, and thereby ruining someone's career.

In the current London Review of Books, John Lanchester covers a scathing account of the quality of the British press, Flat Earth News by Nick Davies. Perhaps the Scotsman's reporters should be required to read it.


39

DonaldK,

Brussels 07/03/2008 20:18:24
#35 - I'm intrigued by you and several others who have mentioned that if you say 'off the record' to a journalist then that means it is never reported. Is that really what happens in the US? You have a rose tinted view of the world if that is the case, journalists in other parts of the world will use anything and everything to make a story with no regard for people who can't keep their mouth shut and regret it afterwards.
40

Carolyn 1,

Boston, MA 07/03/2008 20:21:40
Ms. Powers, no doubt made similar comments about Hillary to the liberal US media and gave her a pass.

Congratulations to The Scotsman for doing first what the New York Times and others should have printed months ago.

And by the way, thank you Gerri Peev for having the courage to write the real news.
41

HEN BROON 5,

07/03/2008 20:23:58
The tactics being deployed by this paper are disgusting.

Is it any wonder that their figures continue to slide. Not content with spinning stories to try and discredit the SNP goverment here they now meddle in American politics.

The teetering organs of the unionist state just cannot help themselves in their death throes.

ALBA GU BRATH
42

micky t,

london 07/03/2008 20:26:53
totally agree with all others, you should be ashamed of yourselves for quoting off the record comments. As a professional journalist myself, I can only wonder how much experience the writer ane editor of this story have. No wonder hacks have a bad name in the UK.
M
43

Duchess-Of- Drumnadrochit,

USA 07/03/2008 20:31:53
Go and f****n shame yirsels, hopefully the aide above is not the only resignation over this - best o luck to you in future Samantha, personally, ahm away to read the Sun, at least theyre honest aboot being trash.

Read the Record its a better Bird Cage liner - see yae in The times.
44

Madbagpypr,

Redlands 07/03/2008 20:53:28
#30 Tha i fuar agus fliuch. Ciamar a tha sibh?
45

Madbagpypr,

Redlands 07/03/2008 20:54:04
#30 Tha i fuar agus fliuch. Ciamar a tha sibh?
46

Oor_Wullie,

ma_fulla_sick_bucket 07/03/2008 20:54:15
#43 - "..Go and f****n shame yirsels, hopefully the aide above is not the only resignation over this - best o luck to you in future Samantha, personally, ahm away to read the Sun, at least theyre honest aboot being trash.

Read the Record its a better Bird Cage liner - see yae in The times.."

- cheers, Duchess, for quoting a bit of my original post at #4 (now removed) - The Fine Art Of Selective Censorship (and removing comments when it you lot fits) is a great thing, eh Hootsman?

God, What Utterly Dim & Dismal Hypocrites You Lot Really Are.
47

Kim T.,

Maryland 07/03/2008 21:03:32
Gerri Peev was unethical in publishing a comment that the interviewee said was off the record - I don't care what country's "rules of journalism" you follow. What pathetic excuses Peev just gave in her MSNBC interview, and the wild, scared look in your eyes show that you know what you did was wrong. No wonder so many people feel most journalists are slime balls.
48

Neilji,

Baltimore 07/03/2008 21:06:30
The rules for journalism are higher in the U.K. than in the U.S.A., and this reporter did a wonderful job in reporting the truth. She had no agenda, and had no idea this story would draw so much attention. Being two-faced is not right, in life, nor in presidential campaigns. Anger management, meditation and practice holding one's tongue, are recommedations that perhaps Mahtama Gandhi would suggest. Better to say and think good thoughts and positive ideas.
49

Neilji,

Baltimore 07/03/2008 21:08:49
Oh, it was a book review interview, and this comment was added in.
50

Bob Dob,

Los Angeles, California 07/03/2008 21:10:24
I have read your past articles with great interest, but I'm extremely disappointed that you would publish this particular comment for the sake of more sales. Everyone is now fixating on Samantha Power calling Hillary a monster rather than on the great reporting she has done in the past on real genocidal monsters (some ignored by the Clinton administration in the 1990s). Off the record, shame on you!
51

admgr1,

Westminster, Maryland USA 07/03/2008 21:16:44
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900972.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/02/20/GR2007022000447.html
52

Angus Ogg,

07/03/2008 21:39:18
#2 Don't worry about the standard of journalism in The Scotsman, as sadly this once fine newspaper is going bankrupt big time....

The Scotsman Circulation...

Or alternatively.... The Gerri Peev Standard Of Journalism Effect.....

2000 100,000 +
2001 79,000
2002 82,270
2003 72,200
2004 69,600
2005 65,392
2006 57,866
2007 55,175
2008 53,520

(2008 = Worse if you discount the freebies and giveaway copies, then its only 47,551. Good grief, the journo's must all be desperately scribbling out their cv's for the imminent P45's)

Mr Powers was decent enough to resign, even though the creep Peev reported OFF the record comments.

Whereas Peev is likely to be looking for a new job soon, and very UNLIKELY to secure an interview with anyone newsworthy above Kermit the Frog.
53

Tris,

dundee 07/03/2008 21:45:38
This woman shouldn't have said what she said. All politics demands an element of diplomacy, and she was talking about someone from her own party. Probably Hillary is a monster. Successful people often, although not always, are. By that token Barak is likely to be a monster too.

All that said, this paper has become shabby. Edinburgh and Scotland deserve better. They really do.
54

Julianne B.,,

Las Vegas, NV 07/03/2008 22:00:16
Hooray for Ms. Peev! And now the layers of the onion begin to be peeled. Were Obama a genuine agent of change, he'd be running independent of any political party affiliation. A phony, right out of the gate. Can't wait to see what else is revealed in the coming days and weeks. OBAMATONS, hold onto your hats for further OBAMINATIONS!

I'd rather elect a "monster" than an imposter any day!
Vote MAMA, NOT OBAMA!
55

Julianne B.,,

07/03/2008 22:08:39
To San Francisco Rose: It would behoove you to get your facts straight before condemning Ms. Peev. Ms. Power agreed UPFRONT to an on-the-record interview, then tried to retract her comment. Nice try.
56

Daniel B,

US 07/03/2008 22:16:11
Shameless attempt for a irrelevant reporter to have her 15 minutes of fame. Obviously you cant trust the press. My guess is she has trouble sleeping at night. Anyone who believes the Hillary campaign isn't calling Obama much worse names "off the record" is fooling themselves.
57

KarenB,

Vancouver, BC 07/03/2008 22:16:52
What a week. First we have my right-wing government (Mr. Harper is well-known in Canada as Mr. Bush-Lite) vilify Barack Obama, when in actual fact, it was the Clinton camp that whispered in the government's ear, not Obama's. Nafta-Gate (or I prefer to call it Can-Afta-Gate) was born. Lots of proof to be found, leading up to it, that Clinton really WAS for Nafta, but when Obama spoke the truth, and won the final debate a week before that big primary, out came the big lie. She wins Ohio.

Now Scotland gets involved, and decides to meddle in the US election as well, by publishing an "off the record" remark made by a remarkable woman, a winner of a Pulitzer prize, a humanitarian, a woman of immense intelligence and integrity - and for what? Saying Clinton is a monster? It's surely something most of us agree with, and even worse.

How many pounds have The Scotsman made on this fifteen minutes of fame? Is it worth the damage that you have done? Is it worth the loss of a brilliant advisor to Obama's campaign?

Does integrity in journalism mean nothing anymore? Thanks to you Samantha Powers has resigned.

Many congratulations on a job well done! Someone mentioned the reporter would have a great job at Fox News (Noise). Perhaps The Scotsman can work on an affiliation with them as well. I'm a firm believer, however, that what goes around, comes around. You sold your soul, and with it, your trustworthiness. I hope it was worth it.

Between Harper, and this, I am truly disgusted.
58

Zyskandar A Jaimot,

orlando , fl., usa 07/03/2008 22:20:37
SAMANTHA POWERS a HARVARD grad labeled HILLARY a 'monster' - imagine if she had read/compared HILLARY to say 'THE EVIL QUEEN TEMORA' in MASTER SHAKESPEARE's 'TITUS ANDRONICUS'??? In this play wriien over 200 hundred years ago - 'TEMORA the EVIL QUEEN' couples with 'AARON-the-MOORE' representing BARAK OBAMA and they combine despicable forces/intentions to sever the legs/arms, gouge out the eyes, cut off the tongue of LAVINIA who represents AMERICA sucumbing to HILLARY/OBAMA's 'socialist' schemes on a orostrate AMERICA. WILL MASTER SHAKESPEARE's bloodiest play foretell the greatest tragedy of the world yet encountered??? TIME WILL TELL WHAT TRANSPIRES??? 'TITUS ANDRONICUS' MASTER SHAKESPEARE's most modern gruseome play - coming soon to be a true AMERICAN TRAGEDY.
59

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 07/03/2008 22:24:44
#3 Nathan 17

I don't get your point. Why will she be less effective? She can stand by her remark, or retract it, or even say it never happened. What kind of of journalistic integrity do you expect?

Well done, Gerri Peev. Of course, you may not get an interview ever again. Never mind, come and hear how I killed Kennedy -- off the record of course.
60

SqueezeMyPips,

07/03/2008 22:24:51
The Scotsman is a joke newspaper with no integrity - a national (and international) EMBARASSMENT. But what do you expect from the plaything of a politically motivated tired unionist agenda ?

It's standard if reporting is cheap and runs counter to the noble aims of this once proud paper to stand for fairness and integrity.

Top readers outside Scotland, please don't take this as an indicative standard of all Scottish papers.

SHAME ON YOU.

61

Carolyn 1,

07/03/2008 22:26:44
Gerri Peev, a Scot, has done the impossible.
She has put the election of the American president back into the hands of the people.

Peev has single-handedly taken the election away from the biased editors of the liberal newspapers who chose the president months ago.

Peev has printed the truth. Now she faces the wrath and hate speech for doing do. Hopefully she will have the support of her editors the same as the Dane editors supported the cartoonists.
Good luck, and thank you Scotland.
62

photo1foru,

Richmond, VA, USA 07/03/2008 22:39:54
That's a poor piece of journalism for numerous reasons. More importantly, it's a dissappointment to ethical journalists and an insult to our profession. Trading a vindictive assault on a professional advisor for 15 minutes of fame truly reflects the real personatlity of your publication.
The quote was totally unnecessary to the meaning of the story. It's not as if we didn't well understand Ms. Powers' feelings toward the Clinton campaign. It was muckraking at its worst, sensationalistic to a National Enquirer level.
Congrats to Ms. Peev; She's ready for FOX news.
63

ArchieMal,

Sydney, Australia 07/03/2008 22:42:35
Samantha Power's expertise lies in foreign policy, not managing the cowardly and duplicitous UK press. Congratulations Gerri Peev! you just finished the political career of one of the few people on this planet with both the will and the potential means to stop man being 'wolf to man'. The next time a genocide unfolds in real-time on TV I hope you feel a salutary shiver.
64

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 07/03/2008 22:55:08
#64 "She's ready for FOX news."

For printing what was said. I don't think so.
65

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta, CA........captured from Mexico 1845 07/03/2008 23:05:45
Barack Hussein Obama,

His campaign is coming unglued. he head-hunted Samantha Power in 2005 . that was 3 years ago.

If he was not a SMOKE and MIRROR dude. He would have seen through SP long before now. And he picked SP to advise him on foreign relations...WOW

But it took a "nasty name call" by SP, for this Dude to expose his lack of experience in the human selection process. 3 years was a long time for Dude Obama to get it right.

Just shows the Dude is a SMOKE and MIRROR preacher.

The 60 year old Hillary (politically battle hardened), has met with world leaders and other political crooks. She is highly intelligent, and a strong woman (American males hate that)
They like to keep the women under their thumb. And never every allow them to crash through the so-called glass ceiling.

Hillary can and will change all that.

Hillary knows and understand how to operate inside the political Beltway in Washington DC. She has no illusions about that.

Barack is out "in left field" in that regard. Inside the Beltway he will be turned into mince meat.
His is too tribal and no one wants that . We are a nation of individuals with a live and healthy 250 year old Constitution.

As for the John McCain, that old F*rt is a fossilized warmonger. Another potential Bush disaster should he get elected. WAR WAR WAR and more WAR is McCain's solution.

"OFF the RECORD" Unless that was agreed to BEFORE beginning the interview then it is null and void .

Get a grip dudes. SP called Hillary a monster .Why ? because SP believes she is a monster. The question is does BHO think likewise.

Our "Smoke and Mirror" Dude (Barack Hussein Obama) had SP advising him on foreign relations.

GC
66

steve's here,

07/03/2008 23:16:00
This just in...The ScootsMon is relevant on the world stage....the end is near. Someone better go and tell chicken little
67

Louis H.,

Columbus, OH 07/03/2008 23:17:09
Ms. Peev is certianly within her rights to write what she wrote, but I think her article says more about her and what type of reporter she is than anything about Obama's aide, Samantha Power. I saw Peev on multiple American news programs, and she was reveling, simply glowing in the notariety. No doubt this will help propel Peev's career, which was the real point her story, since her reporting didn't provide any crucial information or insight about Obama or his advisors. Peev tripped up a presidential campaign, and that's her personal victory. I'm not familiar with her career, but I hope that she has and will apply her reporting tenacity to areas beyond political schadenfreude.
68

Duncan in Edinburgh,

07/03/2008 23:33:47
#68 San Francisco Rose, you appear to have made the same mistake that Ms Power made. You cannot un-say something. You can wish you had, you can even browbeat people into agreeing that you had, but you can't actually do it.

The woman made an unguarded statement in an on-the-record interview. She will learn from her mistake. I'm sure if she is the great saviour of American foreign policy that so many of her supporters seem to think she is, she will be back in politics in time. This isn't a career-killing issue.

But you simply cannot suggest that saying "that's off the record" after making an unguarded statement should give you immunity from it being reported. People should say what they mean, and it should be reported honestly. In my view, that is exactly what happened here.
69

BrianJ,

Glasgow 07/03/2008 23:43:28
I am disappointed that the Scotsman chose to print this. I dont think its good journalism. It seems more like a deliberate and malicious career assasination. I think Gerri Peev's ethics and motivation are questionable. I'll never buy the Scotsman again.
70

Kaytoc,

Maryland 07/03/2008 23:44:48
None of the American media is questioning the validity of reporting her statement. They would have done no differently.
The reality is that this advisor on foreign policy went to another country and was indiscreet. Can you honestly say you are comfortable with that?
71

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 07/03/2008 23:47:01
Some are presenting Samantha Powers as someone of significance, and that she fell foul of unethical journalism. If her position is so significant, then I want to know that she thinks that one of the candidates for the presidency of the United States is a monster. I smell hypocrisy from some of the self-styled journalists here.

Once again, well done Gerri Peev.
72

Kaytoc,

07/03/2008 23:52:10
Sorry, Rosie, it just won't fly. Gerri Peev did not need to make an issue of 'off the record' after the fact.
It strikes me that the point was being made that the person who screwed up wanted it covered up. That speaks volumes for the mindset of the campaign she is working for.
73

Kaytoc,

07/03/2008 23:55:22
I wouldn't be suprised to see the DNC trot out Al Gore at the convention as an alternative.
Taking bets....................................
74

Lastsocialist,

Paris, France 08/03/2008 00:01:22
Underhand journalism worthy of the Daily Mail. Scots interfering in American politics, whatever next - a Scotsman as UK Prime Minister?!
75

SilverShred,

in the jam jar 08/03/2008 00:02:04
Wow! Well done Gerri. What a fabulous scoop!

How the hell do you get to be a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist when you are incapable of understanding the basic rules of off the record quotes? I've known school newspaper scribblers who understood the rule better than this so-called great mind.

If Obama's aides are all of this pathetic calibre thank the Lord his presidential ambitions have just crashed and burned.

And a wonderful bonus to have the entertainment of hordes of numpty Americans and sundry other foreigners spluttering their (characteristic) self-righteous indignation and usual failure to understand simple rules all over the internet. They're as ill-informed as this stellar member of their commentariat. It's priceless!

Hope Gerri bags a whole load of awards for this one.
76

Duncan in Edinburgh,

08/03/2008 00:03:29
#82 How arrogant. Just because someone disagrees with you on this issue does not mean that they don't "get it". Get yourself a little humility. Consider that you might be wrong here.

Would it be discretion if a news broadcaster failed to report Pat Robertson's homophobia or Bush's "crusade" remark? Or is it only "discretion" when the person who has said something stupid is someone you happen to agree with?

I suspect Obama would make a good president. I suspect Power would make a good adviser to him. But they made a mistake here. Live with it and stop blaming a journalist who in fact did a good job.
77

,

08/03/2008 00:14:15
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
78

peggysuz,

Kansas, USA 08/03/2008 00:52:52
There is nothing wrong with The Scotsman reporting what Samantha Power said, because she knew she was being interviewed, she was in the middle of the interview, which had started ON THE RECORD and had not gone OFF THE RECORD. Ms. Power said the wrong thing, said, "That's off the record", but continued to talk. Therefore, the interview just continued on and Ms. Power kept saying other negative things.

No one should fault The Scotsman and no one should fault the reporter. The mistake was made by Ms. Power and, in her position, with the knowledge she has of what Senator Obama has proclaimed to be his "transformational" way of campaigning, she has merely shown everyone that she has not really been transformed -- she is just like other people who get into a very long and very strenuous struggle, and she did not use self control. Instead, she said what she really thought, and in doing so, she not only said something very bad about Senator Obama's opponent in the campaign to be the nominee for President, she also talked in a derogatory manner about the people of Ohio, saying they are obsessed.

She is not the only person in the Obama campaign who has said something wrong. In an interview on Wednesday, one of the other advisors was on one of the same programs at MSNBC that had Ms. Peev on today. The other Obama advisor said that neither he nor Senator Clinton were ready for that three a.m. phone call. That was something that was against both the candidate she supports and the candidate she is campaigning against! The only difference is, she did not call anyone a name, and she did not speak badly of the very people she wants to vote for Obama.

The Scotsman reporter, Ms. Peev, should never have been treated the way she has been over this story -- especially by the MSNBC personnel who asked Ms. Peev to talk with them, and proceeded to unfairly chastise her and insult her. They had no right to do that, and neither does anyone else. MSNBC has been extremely bia
79

peggysuz,

Kansas, USA 08/03/2008 00:57:36
Part 2

The Scotsman reporter, Ms. Peev, should never have been treated the way she has been over this story -- especially by the MSNBC personnel who asked Ms. Peev to talk with them, and proceeded to unfairly chastise her and insult her. They had no right to do that, and neither does anyone else. MSNBC has been extremely biased in their reporting on the campaign, and they certainly are not in a position to lecture Ms. Peev on anything! She is a journalist, and she reported the story without making it worse than it was, nor better than it was. She simply reported the story as it really was. And, that is something that MSNBC has failed to do, with the exception of Dan Abrams, who is the only person who takes an objective look at the campaign every night on his program.

And, if anyone believes that everyone who supports Senator Obama is all sweetness and light, go to this website and read some of the really terrible things they write. Be sure to notice what is said at the very top of the page at this website. You will notice it says it is "pro-Obama".

http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/

Politics is not for people who cannot control the words that come out of their mouths. That is just the way it is! This is not the first time Ms. Power has said the wrong thing. It is merely the first time she said it in the middle of a formal interview -- ON THE RECORD!

Some of the name calling in the comments here is pretty outrageous -- and certainly not in line with the message Senator Obama says he is trying to deliver. If you are one of his supporters, perhaps you should consider that thought, the next time you write a comment on something like this or on a blog somewhere. Otherwise, you are not transformed. Instead, you are making things worse!

80

,

08/03/2008 12:25:06
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
81

swgilkey,

St.Louis,Missouri 09/03/2008 10:52:52
Ms.Power should have secured off the record status before she made that statement. Perhaps journalism is different in Scotland than is in the United States. Geri Peev did what she was there to do,interview Ms. Powers and report her story.
82

Outraged121,

NY 09/03/2008 13:27:39
Gerri Peez or whatever her name is, as has been alluded to here in the other posts has certainly gotten her 15 minutes of fame. She has reduced the entire UK media to new levels of desperation and cheap unethical reporting tactics. Her decision to publish an interview even after the interviewee requested it be an "off the record" remark goes to show how low her standards are.

Now making the rounds of US new media defending this outrage makes it more outrageous. This award winning and intelligent thinker of my generation was obviously tricked into believing she was having a civil off the record chat with a journalist who was really supposed to be interviewing her on her new book.

Shame on you Scotsman! Shame on you Gerri Peev! Now that you have you 15 minutes of infamy, go back and learn how to be good journalists.
83

Jack Crowley,

09/03/2008 21:26:37
This famous paper should hang its head in shame. "Off the record" is a well known and well understood expression.
One can undrstand an inexperienced and over enthuseastic journalist seeking a scope. But one expects higher standards from an editor.
This treachery will return to haunt this journal. The Scotsman will become a byword for mean and low standards in gutter press tactics.
Again shame on you and also for seeking to justify such low carry on.

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