Journalist James O’Keefe: Looking More Innocent by the Day, to the Dismay of ACORN, Liberals, & the Media

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Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on January 29, 2010

Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe, undercover as a prostitute and a pimp, in seven ACORN sting operations

Sorry, ACORN and MSNBC and Media Matters… James O’Keefe is looking more and more innocent by the day.

What I love most about this story is that because information was slow in being delivered about the circumstances behind what O’Keefe and his buddies were doing, being doled out slowly and deliberately, this put the predictable liberal media wheels into action. The media and liberal pundits went crazy — like snarling, rabid wolverines — with their innuendos, falsehoods, and factless speculations against O’Keefe, to be judge and jury and throw away the key before ANY information based on evidence was made available. It wasn’t just liberal zealots and media who were ready to crucify O’Keefe; sadly, many conservative bloggers, pundits, and journalists did the same thing (no names mentioned here, you know who you are).

Had O’Keefe declared his innocence immediately, spilling out full details the same day he and his three friends/associates had been arrested in the office of Sen. Mary Landrieu, well, then, there would be pretty much no story. The story here is NOT only what “O’Keefe and Company” did and what they didn’t do, but how the mass media treated the incident, without any facts to corroborate their accusations and defamations.

As the saying goes, “give ‘em enough rope and they’ll hang themselves.”

Much like those ACORN sting operation tapes last fall. By holding back on releasing them, doling one out each few days on BigGovernment.com, YouTube, and FOX News (only because no other news station was interested in them), ACORN was given ample time to hold many press conferences, spew outrage, and lie up the wazzoo, thus giving the liberal media time to go overboard defending ACORN and denouncing Hannah Giles and O’Keefe. Then, there’d be the unexpected, embarrassing smack down a day or two later with a new video exposé, discrediting their claims of innocence and exposing their lies, bias, and hypocrisy. Oops, wipe that egg off your faces.

James, if this was indeed the master plan from the start, I heartily applaud you. Well played, young man, if this is indeed the way it looks. Looks like they’ve all been PUNK’D. Hilarious…

From GayPatriot, Statement of James O’Keefe… this is the opening:

As you may know, Bruce and I have had different reactions to the James O’Keefe situation. Bruce has quickly rallied to his defense, while I have been more skeptical, choosing pretty much to steer clear of the fracas in the blogsophere.

All that said, as the facts drip out, O’Keefe is looking less and less guilty and may well be completely exonerated before this even gets to trial. Newspapers have had to retract “many glaring errors in their gleeful coverage of the O’Keefe story.” So, in this one case where Bruce and I differ, the more we learn, the more justified Bruce becomes in his initial defense of this investigative journalist for the age of youtube.

From Washington Examiner, Did James O’Keefe even commit a crime?:

Claims that he had attempted to wiretap the Louisiana offices of Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu are false, said activist blogger/videographer James O’Keefe in a statement on BigGovernment.com this morning:

The government has now confirmed what has always been clear: No one tried to wiretap or bug Senator Landrieu’s office. Nor did we try to cut or shut down her phone lines. Reports to this effect over the past 48 hours are inaccurate and false.

I learned from a number of sources that many of Senator Landrieu’s constituents were having trouble getting through to her office to tell her that they didn’t want her taking millions of federal dollars in exchange for her vote on the healthcare bill. When asked about this, Senator Landrieu’s explanation was that, “Our lines have been jammed for weeks.” I decided to investigate why a representative of the people would be out of touch with her constituents for “weeks” because her phones were broken. In investigating this matter, we decided to visit Senator Landrieu’s district office – the people’s office – to ask the staff if their phones were working.

I suggested this in an earlier post, noting that the affidavit issued by the government lacked any indication of actual wiretapping equipment. While it certainly invites criticism to enter a federal building supposedly “under false pretenses,” putting on a particular kind of outfit and enter a federal property that is open to the public is not itself a crime (especially if you provide all identification asked of you and don’t lie to security). And is misrepresenting oneself to a Senate staffer really a crime? Picking up a phone (which is federal property) with permission given based on false pretenses might be a problem, but if no harm was done or intended to the equipment, this also seems unlikely to be prosecuted.

The relevant law, about “making false statements,” is in U.S. Code Title 18 Part 1 Chapter 47 Section 1001:

Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.

Before you think that O’Keefe might be headed to the slammer for five years, here’s the glaring exception:

(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to—
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.

The fact that O’Keefe had a camera on the entire time will likely provide evidence enough to either exonerate or incriminate him and his colleagues.

There’s also the Borat precedent: People have misrepresented themselves and gained access to federal employees before. Da Ali G, for instance, interviewed Thomas Pickard, assistant director of the FBI, and then went to the FBI training academy’s “Hogan’s Alley.”

Questions remain: Why were four people necessary to pull this stunt off? Did O’Keefe and his colleagues misrepresent themselves to security staff of a federal building? Is it illegal to use federal property, a telephone in this instance, under false pretenses? (If it were a computer and O’Keefe were viewing material, that would be one thing. But merely looking at a phone?) Who is responsible for criminal charges — can Landrieu have them dropped if she likes?

Here’s a portion of O’Keefe’s statement:

It has been amazing to witness the journalistic malpractice committed by many of the organizations covering this story. MSNBC falsely claimed that I violated a non-existent “gag order.” The Associated Press incorrectly reported that I “broke in” to an office which is open to the public. The Washington Post has now had to print corrections in two stories on me. And these are just a few examples of inaccurate and false reporting. The public will judge whether reporters who can’t get their facts straight have the credibility to question my integrity as a journalist.

Patterico’s Pontifications has a number of well-researched posts on O’Keefe, his game plan, and the many falsehoods printed by media (and some of the retractions), including lots of news source links: Retracto the Correction Alpaca Goes to Work on O’Keefe Stories; UPDATE: O’Keefe Speaks and Lawyer: O’Keefe & Co. Trying to Embarrass Landrieu Over Ignoring Calls Re Health Care

The “Borat precedent” is intriguing. I recall that during the presidential campaign, a Canadian radio talk show host was able to schmooze, cajole, lie, and charm his way over the phone, pretending to be French president Nicolas Sarkozy, so as to bypass the layers of security and communication buffers and then proceeded to “punk” VP running mate Sarah Palin on the phone. No repercussions or investigations, or much outcry either, there.

Some liberal journalists have tried to viciously smear O’Keefe without any evidence, comparing his activity in Louisiana to that of the notorious Watergate.

But it’s appearing to be more like that of “Sarkozy-gate.”

Categories: Government, Media & Communication, Social and Political Climate
Tags: ACORN, ACORN corruption, ACORN scandal, ACORN sting operation, Baltimore, Big Government, brothel, brotherly love, bug phones, bugging devices, California, child prostitution, Congress, conservative, El Salvador child prostitutes, filmmaker, GOP, Hannah Giles, James O'Keefe, journalism bias, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Maryland, media bias, Mexican border, Mexico, New Orleans, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, pimp, political, politics, prostitution, San Bernardino, San Diego, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Senate, sex slavery, sex slaves, sex-trafficking, smuggling, tax evasion, tax fraud, underaged prostitution, video, whore house, wire tapping, YouTube

About the author

Vicki McClure Davidson

I'm a conservative frugalist. My priorities: Watchdogging the government, making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely, living within our budgets (at home and in Washington, DC), and adhering to our Constitution and the conservative principles upon which it was developed by our founding fathers. Also, loving God, my family, and my country. Be wise, be frugal. God bless America!

Comments

2 Responses to “Journalist James O’Keefe: Looking More Innocent by the Day, to the Dismay of ACORN, Liberals, & the Media”

Obama goes ‘Nixon’ …again: “I am NOT an Ideologue! I’m NOT!” Yes you ARE, Barack! lol « VotingFemale says:

January 30, 2010 at 11:57 AM

[...] Sanity Has Finally Prevailed… NYC Is No Longer Location for 9/11 Jihadist Terrorists’ Trial and Journalist James O’Keefe: Looking More Innocent by the Day, to the Dismay of ACORN, Liberals, &amp… and Obama Tours Baltimore… Tax Breaks in Store for Small Businesses, Fingers Crossed That [...]
Abortion Activist Tebow Birther, Gloria Allred, is Allwet « VotingFemale says:

January 30, 2010 at 6:46 PM

[...] Sanity Has Finally Prevailed… NYC Is No Longer Location for 9/11 Jihadist Terrorists’ Trial and Journalist James O’Keefe: Looking More Innocent by the Day, to the Dismay of ACORN, Liberals, &amp… and Obama Tours Baltimore… Tax Breaks in Store for Small Businesses, Fingers Crossed That [...]

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