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The views expressed herein are the personal views of each individual author or commenter and are not intended to reflect the views of The Ojai Post or its Authors, Tribal Core or Tyler Suchman as managing editor.

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Michael Tenenbaum and the Republican machine

I have been covering the story of local Republican Congressional candidate Michael Tenenbaum, here, here and here. A few weeks ago, in the Evans-Novak Political Report (yes, Bob Novak, the GOP operative), Tenenbaum was accused of having “strong ties to the trial lawyer lobby." Tenenbaum called me about my story, and forwarded me an email which he sent to Evans-Novak, explaining how that might have been sourced erroneously and was looking for a retraction.

david freddosoI tried to contact Evans-Novak via email, all of which bounced. I finally got ahold of Bob Novak's son at Regnery Publishing, and was given a phone number. On March 27, I was put into the voicemail of David Freddoso (pictured), who penned the article on Tenenbaum, but I did not receive a reply to my inquiry requesting clarification.

I called again today and talked to Freddoso, requesting his source for writing that Tenenbaum has “strong ties to the trial lawyer lobby." Freddoso told me that he "doesn't disclose sources." I explained that the candidate believes that it may have been sourced erroneously, which I documented in a prior post. Freddoso then told me he is "not interested in speaking for publication."

So the Evans-Novak Political Report has written something damaging about Michael Tenenbaum, damaging in the sense that they have connected him with the "trial lawyer lobby" which is vilified in the official GOP party platform. They won't source it, won't address it, and won't retract it.

If Tenenbaum mounts a serious challenge to incumbent Elton Gallegly in the Republican primary, don't be surprised to see further "swift boating" from entrenched Republican publications and operatives like Bob Novak and his newsletter. It's what they do, and it doesn't matter if the target is Max Cleland, John Kerry, John McCain or Michael Tenenbaum - that's your Republican party in action.

Posted by Tyler Suchman on April 17, 2006 01:08 PM | | | Michael Tenenbaum and the Republican machine

Comments (6)

Why wouldn't T-baum demand a retraction himself?

Comment #1 Posted by: Lisa Snider | April 17, 2006 04:08 PM

Lisa - he did. He sent me an email that he had originally sent to Evans-Novak, asking for a retraction. When I sent an email inquiry to the same Evans-Novak email addy (and then about 10 others), they all bounced back. So I would assume that "T-baum" never got his retraction.

Comment #2 Posted by: Tyler Suchman | April 17, 2006 05:52 PM

Well, one would assume that he is aware, as a lawyer, that, if he desired, he could pursue a legal remedy here, for libel.

Comment #3 Posted by: Lisa Snider | April 17, 2006 06:33 PM

Tyler, P.S., welcome back!

Comment #4 Posted by: Lisa Snider | April 17, 2006 06:35 PM

I would think if he started suing people, it wouldn't be the best publicity for his campaign. :)

Thanks for the welcome back. We took an amazing hike down at the riverbottom this evening.

Comment #5 Posted by: Tyler Suchman | April 17, 2006 07:51 PM

Innuendo and guilt by association are easy to do in the murky waters of politics. Sunday morning pundits are masters at this. They get that sound bite, they don't disclose, they don't elaborate.

Tennenbaum's note was in vain and weak. Evans-Novak doesn't have to disclose sources or retract statements automatically, because they're neither journalists nor are they practicing journalism. They are pundits, after a single cause, which is to create as much damage by making vague assertions.

Sure, he can sue. But he'll do more damage by wringing his hands. Rather, he needs to pull out his best strategies and figure out how to override this statement with one hell of a lot of indignation and clarity.

But if you really want to practice journalism, you'll have to do the dirty work yourself. Who are the trial lawyers lobbyists? What organizations do they represent? What causes do they stand for? Who else has accepted funds, and what pieces of legislation have been on the docket prior to the contribution. It's also something Tennenbaum's staff has to do, because if they don't, then not only can't they clarify his position, they can't even begin to create 'spin.'

Comment #6 Posted by: Anonny Mouse | April 18, 2006 03:12 PM

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