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Pot/Kettle Alert: James O’Keefe Operative Was Accused Of Plying Source With Booze

Video

by Tommy Christopher | 9:31 am, October 25th, 2011

» 66 comments

Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 2:40 PM
subject Re: Interview

Thanks again for the interview. After we spoke, someone emailed me this piece, and I don’t think it would be fair not to give you a chance to respond. You criticized Sam for going drinking with sources, but your operative actually bought drinks for this teacher, and taped what she thought was a private conversation. Are you sorry that happened?

from James E. O’Keefe III
to Tommy Christopher
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 2:51 PM

Click on the video in the article, watch the video at 2:08 – 2:13 the teacher says she “had a glass of wine – my OWN purchase.”

I’ve asked Star-Ledger to print a correction when they said I bought her drinks, and they never did.

I actually use Bob Braun’s refusal to print a correction when the teacher is on tape, as evidence of media bias during my speeches.

from Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 2:54 PM

So, you were the one she spoke to? And you’re saying you didn’t buy her any drinks?

from James E. O’Keefe III
to Tommy Christopher
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 2:55 PM

She said she bought her own drink at 2:08-2:13. (in the video-TC)

She spoke to one of our citizen journalists.

from Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:01 PM

I watched the video, what she says doesn’t contradict her statement in the article at all. She says she bought herself a glass of wine before your operative ever approached her, then that she spent three hours with him. Are you denying that your operative bought her drinks? Does your citizen journalist deny this?

from James E. O’Keefe III
to Tommy Christopher
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:10 PM

Yes I’m denying we bought her any drinks. Bob Braun just made it up. I asked Bob Braun of the Star-Ledger to print a correction. He needed the anonymous citizen journalist to come forward in order for that to happen. But the citizen journalist wanted to remain anonymous.

Apparently you’ve just discovered yet another tactic journalists use: Just make stuff up about O’Keefe and the burden falls on O’Keefe to prove them wrong.

That’s not the standard you hold me to. I’m required to catch them on tape. Bob Braun had NO evidence that we bought anyone any drinks. He thought he could get away with it by slipping it in there.

from Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:15 PM

I’m happy to print your responses, but from his article, it doesn’t appear that he “made it up,” but that Ploshnik told him that. You can’t expect any journalist to remove something that a named source said based on the word of an unnamed source’s second-hand denial. That’s not a reasonable request to make. I’ll print your statement, but also with this context.

from James E. O’Keefe III
to Tommy Christopher
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:20 PM

If you dig a little deeper you’ll see that Ploshnick had said earlier in the story that she was taken out of context and was not talking about tenture. THEN she admitted in this video interview she was not taken out of context with Bob Braun, and was in fact bragging about tenure. She completely changed everything about her story.

from Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:25 PM

Not sure what that has to do with the drinking. Braun has a named source claiming he bought her drinks. You have anonymous hearsay to refute that, and you expect a correction on that basis? That’s an unreasonable expectation, and a false basis on which to claim Braun “made it up.”

from James E. O’Keefe III
to Tommy Christopher
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:29 PM

It has to do with the drinking because it impeaches her credibility. (If it’s true, that she told Braun someone bought her a drink (which we don’t know).

I’m inclined to think Braun just made it up. A lot of people make assumptions in their reporting, particularly an editorial like this.

from Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:37 PM

I didn’t mean to get this deep into this question, but this is why people have a problem with you, James. You began this email chain by telling me that the video in that story proves your guy didn’t buy her drinks, when it clearly did not prove that. I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt by asking you about it, and you lie right to my face. Now, you’re saying Braun probably made it up, or Ploshnick was probably lying? Whether I believe them or not, I know you just tried to lie to me.

from James E. O’Keefe III
to Tommy Christopher
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:51 PM

Why don’t you ask Bob Braun where he got his source from, then?

I know for a fact nobody on my team bought her any drinks.

I have not lied to you once. I acted in good faith here, forwarding a Star-Ledger email to you and explaining what I believe happened, knowing we didn’t purchase anyone drinks.

from Tommy Christopher
to “James E. O’Keefe III”
date Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 4:12 PM

It’s self-evident that she told him that, but I emailed him anyway. Look, I don’t wanna argue with you. You responded to the drinking accusation with this:

Click on the video in the article, watch the video at 2:08 – 2:13 the teacher says she “had a glass of wine – my OWN purchase.”

I’ve asked Star-Ledger to print a correction when they said I bought her drinks, and they never did.

I actually use Bob Braun’s refusal to print a correction when the teacher is on tape, as evidence of media bias during my speeches.

The video does not contradict her at all. That’s lying, James. If you had opened with, “My guy says he didn’t, and I believe him, and here’s why…” that would’ve been the truth.

NEXT: The Newark Star Ledger Responds To James O’Keefe, And To Mediaite

Pages: 1 2 3

Alissa Ploshnick, James O'Keefe, James O'Keefe III, Jeff Keefe, Project Veritas, Sam Stein, The Huffington Post, The Newark Star Ledger

Anonymous

Yawn. Enough redundance.
Jonathan Cantor

“It’s not a noun, it’s a command: Project Veritas.”

This was really lame
Anonymous

Fact: Take two of the do over’s’ sense my first
attempt at bad mouthing O’Keefe was an epic failure to the liberal minions!
Anonymous

Wait… didn’t Tommy just defend Sam Stein for doing this? I’m confused?

And again… what is with all the rape stuff from the left lately? Is that like the “go-to” analogy? Actual rape victims should be getting pissed.
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

“Saying that Sam goes out drinking with sources in DC is like saying he goes out breathing with them,” said Tommy Christopher, a colleague of Stein’s, and a frequent critic of James O’Keefe. “People let their guard down in social situations. Stop the presses!”

“an appearance she says was fueled by the demon booze for which O’Keefe now tries to smear Sam Stein. ”

Where is O’Keefe trying to smear Sam with demon booze? He asked him if he gets his sources drunk, to get info out of them, something you say is like breathing…. Asking a WH reporter if they get their sources drunk is a smear?

I think I tend to believe an email that was written a year ago than the teacher who acted that way and got busted….

From: James E. O’Keefe III
Sent: Mon 11/22/2010 6:46 PM
To: BRAUN, ROBERT
Subject: Your false reportingBob,You continue to falsely report that those associated with me bought Alissa Ploshnick drinks. It is untrue we bought anyone at that conference any drink and the people that work with me have confirmed this.She admits to buying her own glass of wine. Now, other publications are running with your falsehood.

I know you’re trying to make a point, but can you do so without misstating the facts?

In this video, the teacher takes responsibility for buying her wine, and for her comments. Are you trying to blame O’Keefe for what happened?
Chuck, Sacramento

Tommy’s desperate to get something dirty to stick to O’Keafe. Whenever someone comes up with a story or sting that makes liberals look bad you can count on Tommy to attack the messenger. Next we’ll hear O’Keafe is a bad tipper.
Anonymous

Tommy… your e-mail exchange seems to indicate that Alissa Ploshnik was caught lying. If a source is caught lying. Are they still considered a credible source?
Anonymous

yes, lol
Concerned Citizen

Geez Tommy, we can’t take any of your articles seriously anymore as everyone is so liberally biased. As soon as I see you as the author I read it just to get a laugh out of how much water you carry for liberals and democrats. I cant decide who is more biased you or Paul Krugman, difference is that Krugman pretty much admits he’s biased while you still act like your non-partisan.
Obeezy

Tommy is sinking lower and lower into liberal shame..he is reduced to making storys up so he can report on them.. Either Tommy is seething with hatred or he is just so biased he has no idea whats real and whats not
NDanielson

Tommy proves that journalism today is a lucrative prospect for anyone willing to sell out for a dollar against anything conservative. It is the only schtick in “journalism” today. Every Tommy article is a defense of liberals and a slam on conservatives. No matter how much he must twist to do it. A shout out to the MSM, MSNBC, CNN, failing networks like AlGore’s, their hosts, guests, topics, and a slam on anything Fox. That is pretty much mediaite.
http://www.scoamf.com/2011/08/hitler-realizes-obama-is-stuttering.html Unicon

Survey:

Did anybody make it to page three (let alone page two) of this post?
Anonymous

Tommy, are you on a personal crusade here?
jelliebean

Mr. Braun’s e-mail to O’Keefe is exactly the right response. O’Keefe wanted a correction but wasn’t willing to provide evidence that a correction was warranted.
NDanielson

A crusade bought and paid for. One speaks truth to power, one is consumed by his quest to obtain it. Project veritas v project dolus. Project James v Project Tommy.
NDanielson

Project Veritas v est Lorem ipsum dolor (Project dolus)
NDanielson

Es tu, Tommy?
Levi

Man, they must really hate you there at the Mediaite offices Tommy. Good for you man, keep it up.
http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

Yes
http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

“I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt by asking you about it, and you lie right to my face. Now, you’re saying Braun probably made it up, or Ploshnick was probably lying? Whether I believe them or not, I know you just tried to lie to me.”

Heart of the matter…
Anonymous

This is in the Columnist section, not the news section. Editorial columns are supposed to be biased.
Anonymous

This is an editorial, not a news piece. See: big yellow banner on top that says ‘COLUMNISTS’
TomTomisahack

It amazes me how big of a partisan hack Tommy is.
jelliebean

No I’m not Tommy. Es tu Glenn?
Eleanorntho

I am curious as to how many brainwashed OKeefe fans have actually saved the life of a student, or worked with kids that have special needs?

You sad folks need to quit sending you money to Okeefe’s defense funds, and buy yourselves a clue… while youre at it, try finding something resembling a moral backbone.

And that goes double for sarainintaly, tatboy, and the rest of these ugly people. Your mentality is better suited to a Medieval witch trial than it is to any discussion on journalism.

Seriously, you folks arent just brainwashed, you are completely lacking in any ethics, or any sense of right and wrong. For you, the internet is just another way to create edit together a reality that fits your politically slanted dementia.

In another era. you all would have happily tossed an old lady and her cats into a bonfire because a charlatan like OKeefe gave you “evidence” that she was bewitching cattle.

Shame on you all. May you always be shadowed by the dishonest injustice that you applaud. may you live in that chaos forever.
Anonymous

I didn’t even realize there was a 3rd page until you mentioned it. But it doesn’t matter. This is clearly just a desperate hit piece on O’Keefe. Tommy just can’t stand the fact that O’Keefe makes liberals look like fools and he’ll say anything to discredit him.
Anonymous

Exactly. Tommy WANTS to believe that O’Keefe lied to him, when no such thing happened.

“you lie right to my face” … seconds later… “you just TRIED to lie to me”. There you go,… Tommy is a liar. That’s the strength of Tommy’s case that O’Keefe lied to him. What a bunch of made up BS.
Pablo

Tommy woke up with wood. Ewwww.
Anonymous

Haha! You baggers can’t handle the truth!
Tommy is once again “projecting” his own version of “veritas” and that’s why we love him.
He’s right and you’re wrong! I’m sure Sam Stein really appreciates Tommy spending two days defending him.
Anonymous

delete
NDanielson

Wow! Journalists don’t write columns? Who knew? I guess tooth fairy’s write editorial and news columns. Who writes “articles”?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation).
Journalism
News · Writing style
Ethics · Objectivity
Values · Attribution
Defamation
Editorial independence
Journalism school
List of
journalism articles
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Citizen · Civic
Collaborative · Community
Database · Gonzo
Investigative · Literary
Muckraking · Narrative
“New Journalism”
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Online · Opinion
Peace · Photojournalism
Scientific · Visual · Watchdog
Social impact
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Infotainment · Media bias
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Journalist · Reporter
Editor · Columnist
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Category: Journalism
v · d · e

A journalist collects and distributes information about current events, people, trends, and issues. His or her work is acknowledged as journalism. However, a reporter is not a journalist but a “type” of journalists.

Reporters are one type of journalist. They create reports or articles as a profession for broadcast or publication in mass media such as newspapers, television, radio, magazines, documentary film, or the Internet. Reporters cultivate sources for their work, their reports can be either spoken or written, and they are often expected to report in the most objective and unbiased way to serve the public good. A columnist is a journalist who writes pieces that appear regularly in newspapers or magazines. A polemical journalist combines reportage with personal opinion.

Depending on the context, the term journalist also includes various types of editors and visual journalists, such as photographers, graphic artists, and page designers.

Tell us more, sweetpea. We need more of you out there to clarify such important information. I like how you got right to the heart of the purpose of this “article”. Is it fair to even call it that in your estimation?
Anonymous

Tommy is allowed to “project veritas!
Pablo

If she says it, and even if she doesn’t, it is the unquestionable TRVTH!

Of course Tommy is trying to blame O’Keefe. This is based on the glorious unifying foundational principle: Conservative bad, Progressive good.
Pablo

You could have stopped after the first two words.
http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

Not so much. With any academic task you have four options… quote, paraphrase, summary or idea generation. A quote demonstrates the highest level of fidelity toward a source (declining as we move rightward). O’Keefe, in this case specifically, has repeatedly offered inaccurate paraphrase. By offering a set of flawed details (inaccurate paraphrase) he in fact manufactures evidence. I call that dishonest (not sure that O’Keefe understands any of this or how his flawed methods undermine truth) and Tommy called it a lie.
Pablo

Braun has a named source claiming he bought her drinks.

Wait, is the the guy who Ploshnik says (in the video) that she cannot identify, despite having tried to do so by looking for him on O’Keefe’s website?

Would someone name this named source?
NDanielson

Wow, does someone named “Glenn” write here??? I know that someone named Tommy pretends to be a “journalist” here. Just thought that might be you, sweetpea. Did it offend you being confused with the intrepid “journalist”, and truth seeker?
NDanielson

Wow, does someone named “Glenn” write here??? I know that someone named Tommy pretends to be a “journalist” here. Just thought that might be you, sweetpea. Did it offend you being confused with the intrepid “journalist”, and truth seeker?
Moosenuts99

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Who takes this Okeefe idiot seriously? And why isnt he in jail?
NDanielson

Speaking out against liberal lies is an offense worthy of imprisonment now? What next drones?
Anonymous

It’s Alissa Ploshnick. That’s right. Tommy is saying that the “named source” that PROVES Alissa Ploshnick was bought drinks by O’Keefe (and didn’t buy them herself) is in fact… Alissa Ploshnick!!!Ding, ding, ding!!! The woman who was caught on tape saying all that stuff. And then caught lying about what happened. Is now her own named source for the PROVEN FACT that she didn’t buy her own drinks at a bar. Gotta love liberal journalism. PS… did you catch the part where she is looking to sue for getting caught on tape. :D
NDanielson

Actually editorials are supposed to be OPINIONS, and in the case of Tommy Christopher, they show his bias. Get it??? Now you know why you are brainwashed. You may actually learn something today if you keep this little fact straight.
Anonymous

Poor little jimmy, this sad, skinny, ugly little snip wants to be Agent OO7, but there always seems to be a bit of unprofessionalism and “staging”(entrapment) when he catches one in his less than ethical net.
Pablo

What next drones

Don’t give them any ideas! ;)
Pablo

Ad-hominem is not an argument.
jelliebean

I’m not offended I am confused. I replied to the article and you relied to my reply by asking me if I was Tommy. I could have answered es tu a major douch bag? but I didn’t.
Anonymous

Well, apparently you do need more people informing you of the distinction between a editorial column and a news piece, considering that your primary concern with this article is its ‘liberal slant’.

See, editorial columns are opinions. News stories are not opinions. Yet, here you are, commenting on a column and complaining about how this COLUMN does not meet the objective standards you require from NEWS article.

Do you frequently have headaches? Because the amount of stupid you’ve unleashed has got to hurt.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWUMDXSUYVXFOVKEDR7OG3SD7A John Doe

LOL
Anonymous

Again with the painful stupidity….

Do you actually think that there are individuals who have absolutely no attitude, one way or another, in regards to political concerns? Everyone is biased. That’s pretty much one of the big take-aways from cognitive science. If you’re looking for an unbiased person, you might as well be looking for a unicorn that craps winning lottery tickets.

So, other people writing opinion editorials are not biased and are instead only writing ‘opinion’? What if the opinion disagrees with you. Are they ‘biased’ then?

Bias informs opinion and opinion informs bias. It’s not that hard.

“Actually editorials are supposed to be OPINIONS”

Then why is concerned citizen complaining that Tommy isn’t being objective enough in an editorial column?
Anonymous

It is an argument, it’s just not a logical one.
NDanielson

No, I am just amazed that with so much information out there, someone could be as stupid as Tommy’s sheep, because they take so much of his opinion as fact. Notice what I wrote 30 minutes ago, to what you wrote 4 minutes ago? Tommy is a partisan hack, O’Keefe actually seeks out news not just a paycheck for being a liberal hack.
jelliebean

Oh stop being silly. O’Keefe tried to pull off a redo of Nixon’s “Plumbers”. His goal isn’t about truth it’s about sabotage. He should face his perceived enemy head on and be honest in his investigations.
Anonymous

So you think O’Keefe is a newsman rather than a right-wing hack?….LOL
Anonymous

Don’t forget “non sequitur,” particularly ELANTHRO’s first paragraph. (Infer a conclusion not based on the premise) Ouch!

Purveyor
Anonymous

Given these attacks AHEAD of the full release, the rest of it should be very interesting. Remember all the Breitbart attacks while Weiner’s downfall was unfolding? Feels familiar.
Anonymous

transparency is a good thing, right? Rutgers University values its academic reputation, and surely is glad to be informed its pubished studies can be ‘killed’ when the results are aganst the funder’s goals.

Corruption is bad at all levels be it public or academic.
Anonymous

“He asked him if he gets his sources drunk, to get info out of them, something you say is like breathing”

That’s a lie. I said no such thing. I said the opposite, in fact. Do not lie about me.

And please reread the article. The video is addressed several times. I think you know that, and you’re hoping to mislead other readers. Please stop it.
Anonymous

The email chain indicates O’Keefe was caught lying. As for his point about tenure, the article doesn’t say what he says it does. Another falsehood.
Anonymous

Yeah, he tried to lie to me, and I caught him in that lie. The video doesn’t contradict her account to Braun at all. O’Keefe claimed it did. That is a lie.
Omar Locke

did you even watch the video or read this article. this is the trail of destruction people like okeefe leave in their wake. Ill bet you that there are alot of Republican union members out there who are wondering why other “republicans” are attacking all unions!? this is lunacy!

and here you are to comment on something and you “yawn” it off casually. these are peoples lives! these are your friends and neighbors! something is wrong with people who abide by people like okeefe getting away with what he does. he should be arrested!
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

“Saying that Sam goes out drinking with sources in DC is like saying he goes out breathing with them,” said Tommy Christopher, a colleague of Stein’s, and a frequent critic of James O’Keefe. “People let their guard down in social situations. Stop the presses!”
I quoted you in full….I don’t think I am lying, I think I am being a realist. You knew, when you wrote that in the first story, that journos and sources go out boozing. Now you want us to believe that doesn’t include buying those drinks, keeping them flowing when need be, to get the scoop? “ you get some booze in people and suddenly the stories flow.”You actually think we believe that *going out drinking with sources” means he never buys them drinks? Come on. Who’s being dishonest here TC? Where is O’Keefe trying to smear Stein? By saying Stein buys his sources drinks? ooooh! *scandal*

How am I trying to mislead anyone, when the video, emails, and your words are right there?

You called him a pot/kettle using a story that he claimed a year ago contained false info – that they bought her drinks. You buried that on the 2nd or 3rd page….Were you hoping to mislead your readers, who didn’t bother reading the entire thing?
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

I am curious as to how many cats you own?
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

Isn’t this exactly the type of reporter the Professor said Stein is:

How should a journalist evaluate a possible story and sources?
David Higgins, Innovations editor, News Limited

Generally speaking there are many, many ways that journalists find story leads. The traditional — and still the best – way of finding a lead is to cultivate a source in the “real world” over time. In the old days this was often done in the pub, buying drinks, getting to know a potential source, developing trust over time and finally getting to the point where they might give you a tip-off…
http://www.quora.com/David-Higgins-1/Journalists/answers

“he’s old school. he goes out drinking at night with people. that’s real reality, not virtual reality. you get some booze in people and suddenly the stories flow.”

Sounds to me like that is exactly the kind of reporter the Prof was saying Stein is….
Anonymous

You didn’t quote me in full, you lied and said ”He asked him if he gets his sources drunk, to get info out of them, something you say is like breathing”

I did not say that, I said the opposite.Stop lying about me on this site.
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

I am not lying, and your quote from the article was at the very top of my post – in full.

“Saying that Sam goes out drinking with sources in DC is like saying he goes out breathing with them,” said Tommy Christopher, a colleague of Stein’s, and a frequent critic of James O’Keefe. “People let their guard down in social situations. Stop the presses!”

and then I said, “He asked him if he gets his sources drunk, to get info out of them, something you say is like breathing….”

I reworded/interpreted your comments, but I quoted your full comment right above it. That is not lying. I know damn well that going out drinking with sources means you are buying them drinks. And buying people drinks is getting people drunk. Stop splitting hairs, it only makes you appear dishonest.

How is what you said, and what I said, the *opposite*?

You are trying to pretend that you or Sam go out drinking with sources and don’t buy them drinks? That’s being dishonest.

You never answered my questions.

All you can reply with is *you lie*?
Qnique

Isn’t he guilty of gotcha journalism that palin so stupidly decried? I think o’keefe is as lame as a three legged horse, but this stuff must pay his bills.