PeteKing

Shenanigans: Pete King, fighting with the NYT

By Anne Schroeder Mullins
Politico
March 11, 2009

So a few weeks ago, upon Rep. Pete King's return from GITMO, the Homeland Security ranking member wrote an Op-Ed in the NYPost about his trip/findings. Within that, he wrote: "Detainees have access to live TV, books and two daily Arab newspapers plus USA Today. (I suppose it would be inhumane to subject them to The New York Times.)"

A few weeks later, the NYT fired back with an editorial taking King to task, saying he was annoyed with a recent CapHill visit by homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano because she didn't mention the word "terror," writing: "Representative Peter King of New York, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, noticed. He did not approve. 'I think it's important for us in positions of leadership to constantly remind people how real that threat is,; Mr. King told her, 'and how it's an ongoing threat.'" Adding this philosophy, "The trouble was, it did not ask the country to do anything but be afraid, the better to push its disastrous campaign of unnecessary war and trampled civil liberties."

Today King took a shot at during today's committee hearing:

"It's particularly important we have hearings like this because just last week in New York the New York Times said we shouldn't be talking about terrorism because they feel that it is wrong to scare the public about what could happen in our country. However, too many people have forgotten about 9/11 and the threats we still face everyday.... "Despite certain elements of the media that say we shouldn't talk about it, it is our responsibility to keep the public aware and engaged about terrorist threats domestically and internationally...."

Now this is a serious issue and in no way is Shenanigans downsizing it, but don't they always say, don't get into a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel, although with King, he certainly can talk up a storm, and fighting with the NYT just helps his GOP street cred.